As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 13, 2015
File No. 001-36794
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 3
TO
FORM 10
GENERAL FORM FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
The Chemours Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 46-4845564 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
1007 Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware | 19898 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (302) 774-1000
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class to be so registered |
Name of each exchange on which each class is to be registered | |
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer | ¨ | Accelerated filer | ¨ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | x (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company | ¨ |
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET BETWEEN INFORMATION STATEMENT AND ITEMS OF FORM 10
Certain information required to be included in this Form 10 is incorporated by reference to specifically-identified portions of the body of the information statement filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1. None of the information contained in the information statement shall be incorporated by reference herein or deemed to be a part hereof unless such information is specifically incorporated by reference.
Item 1. | Business. |
The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled Information Statement Summary, Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements, Risk Factors, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Business, The Distribution, Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions, Our Relationship with DuPont Following the Distribution and Where You Can Find More Information. Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1A. | Risk Factors. |
The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled Risk Factors and Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements. Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2. | Financial Information. |
The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled Selected Historical Condensed Combined Financial Data, Capitalization, Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3. | Properties. |
The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled Business Chemours Production Facilities and Technical Centers. That section is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 4. | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management. |
The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management. That section is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5. | Directors and Executive Officers. |
The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled Management. That section is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 6. | Executive Compensation. |
The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled Compensation Discussion and Analysis and Executive Compensation. Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7. | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence. |
The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled Management, Executive Compensation, Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions, and Our Relationship with DuPont Following the Distribution. Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8. | Legal Proceedings. |
The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled Business Legal Proceedings. That section is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9. | Market Price of, and Dividends on, the Registrants Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters. |
The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled Risk Factors, Dividend Policy, Capitalization, The Distribution and Description of Our Capital Stock. Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 10. | Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities. |
The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled Description of Our Capital Stock Sale of Unregistered Securities. That section is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 11. | Description of Registrants Securities to be Registered. |
The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled Risk Factors, Dividend Policy, Capitalization, The Distribution and Description of Our Capital Stock. Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled Description of Our Capital Stock Limitations on Liability, Indemnification of Officers and Directors and Insurance. That section is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. |
The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled Index to Financial Statements (and the financial statements referenced therein). That section is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure. |
None.
Item 15. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(a) | Financial Statements |
The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled Index to Financial Statements (and the financial statements referenced therein). That section is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) | Exhibits |
See below.
The following documents are filed as exhibits hereto:
Exhibit Number |
Exhibit Description | |
2.1 | Form of Separation Agreement by and between E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and The Chemours Company. | |
3.1 | Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The Chemours Company. | |
3.2 | Form of Amended and Restated By-Laws of The Chemours Company. | |
10.1 | First Amended and Restated Transition Services Agreement by and between E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and The Chemours Company. | |
10.2 | Form of Tax Matters Agreement by and between E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and The Chemours Company. | |
10.3 | Form of Employee Matters Agreement by and between E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and The Chemours Company. | |
10.4 | Amended and Restated Intellectual Property Cross-License Agreement by and among E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, The Chemours Company FC, LLC and The Chemours Company TT, LLC. | |
10.5 | Offer of Employment Letter between Mark E. Newman and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, dated October 14, 2014. | |
10.6 | Offer of Employment Letter between Elizabeth Albright and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, dated September 25, 2014. | |
10.7 | Indenture, dated May 12, 2015, by and among The Chemours Company, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, Elavon Financial Services Limited, as Registrar and Transfer Agent for the Euro Notes. | |
10.8 | First Supplemental Indenture, dated May 12, 2015, by and among The Chemours Company, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. | |
10.9 | Second Supplemental Indenture, dated May 12, 2015, by and among The Chemours Company, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. | |
10.10 | Third Supplemental Indenture, dated May 12, 2015, by and among The Chemours Company, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, Elavon Financial Services Limited, UK Branch, as Paying Agent for the Euro notes and Elavon Financial Services Limited, as Registrar and Transfer Agent for the Euro notes. | |
10.11 | Form of 6.625% Notes due 2023 (included in Exhibit 10.8). | |
10.12 | Form of 7.000% Notes due 2025 (included in Exhibit 10.9). | |
10.13 | Form of 6.125% Notes due 2023 (included in Exhibit 10.10). | |
10.14 | Credit Agreement, dated May 12, 2015, among The Chemours Company, the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative agent. | |
10.15 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 12, 2015 by and among The Chemours Company, certain Guarantors party thereto and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representatives of the-Dollar Purchasers and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities plc, as representatives of the Euro Purchasers. | |
10.16 | Form of The Chemours Company Equity and Incentive Plan. | |
10.17 | Form of The Chemours Company Retirement Savings Restoration Plan. | |
10.18 | Form of The Chemours Company Management Deferred Compensation Plan. |
Exhibit Number |
Exhibit Description | |
10.19 | Form of The Chemours Company Stock Accumulation and Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors. | |
10.20 | Form of The Chemours Company Senior Executive Severance Plan. | |
21.1 | Subsidiaries of The Chemours Company.* | |
99.1 | Information Statement of The Chemours Company, preliminary and subject to completion, dated May 13, 2015. |
* | To be filed by amendment. |
| Previously filed. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
The Chemours Company | ||
By: | /s/ Nigel Pond | |
Name: | Nigel Pond | |
Title: |
Vice President |
Date: May 13, 2015
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number |
Exhibit Description | |
2.1 | Form of Separation Agreement by and between E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and The Chemours Company. | |
3.1 | Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The Chemours Company. | |
3.2 | Form of Amended and Restated By-Laws of The Chemours Company. | |
10.1 | First Amended and Restated Transition Services Agreement by and between E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and The Chemours Company. | |
10.2 | Form of Tax Matters Agreement by and between E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and The Chemours Company. | |
10.3 | Form of Employee Matters Agreement by and between E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and The Chemours Company. | |
10.4 | Amended and Restated Intellectual Property Cross-License Agreement by and among E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, The Chemours Company FC, LLC and The Chemours Company TT, LLC. | |
10.5 | Offer of Employment Letter between Mark E. Newman and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, dated October 14, 2014. | |
10.6 | Offer of Employment Letter between Elizabeth Albright and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, dated September 25, 2014. | |
10.7 | Indenture, dated May 12, 2015, by and among The Chemours Company, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, Elavon Financial Services Limited, as Registrar and Transfer Agent for the Euro Notes. | |
10.8 | First Supplemental Indenture, dated May 12, 2015, by and among The Chemours Company, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. | |
10.9 | Second Supplemental Indenture, dated May 12, 2015, by and among The Chemours Company, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. | |
10.10 | Third Supplemental Indenture, dated May 12, 2015, by and among The Chemours Company, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, Elavon Financial Services Limited, UK Branch, as Paying Agent for the Euro notes and Elavon Financial Services Limited, as Registrar and Transfer Agent for the Euro notes. | |
10.11 | Form of 6.625% Notes due 2023 (included in Exhibit 10.8). | |
10.12 | Form of 7.000% Notes due 2025 (included in Exhibit 10.9). | |
10.13 | Form of 6.125% Notes due 2023 (included in Exhibit 10.10). | |
10.14 | Credit Agreement, dated May 12, 2015, among The Chemours Company, the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative agent. | |
10.15 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 12, 2015 by and among The Chemours Company, certain Guarantors party thereto and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representatives of the-Dollar Purchasers and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities plc, as representatives of the Euro Purchasers. | |
10.16 | Form of The Chemours Company Equity and Incentive Plan. | |
10.17 | Form of The Chemours Company Retirement Savings Restoration Plan. | |
10.18 | Form of The Chemours Company Management Deferred Compensation Plan. |
Exhibit Number |
Exhibit Description | |
10.19 | Form of The Chemours Company Stock Accumulation and Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors. | |
10.20 | Form of The Chemours Company Senior Executive Severance Plan. | |
21.1 | Subsidiaries of The Chemours Company.* | |
99.1 | Information Statement of The Chemours Company, preliminary and subject to completion, dated May 13, 2015. |
* | To be filed by amendment. |
| Previously filed. |
Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(a Delaware corporation)
The Chemours Company (the Corporation), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL), hereby certifies as follows:
1. The Corporation was initially formed as a limited liability company by filing a Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 18, 2014, under the name Performance Operations, LLC. A Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Formation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 10, 2014, amending its name to The Chemours Company, LLC. A Certificate of Conversion was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to Section 265 of the DGCL on April 30, 2015, converting the Corporation from a limited liability company into a corporation with the name The Chemours Company.
2. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which restates and amends the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL by the directors and stockholders of the Corporation, acting by written consent in lieu of a meeting in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL.
3. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is The Chemours Company (the Corporation).
ARTICLE II
REGISTERED OFFICE AND REGISTERED AGENT
The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is the Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation is The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE III
CORPORATE PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK
Section 4.01 Authorized Shares. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is [NUMBER OF SHARES], consisting of: (i) [NUMBER OF SHARES] shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the Common Stock), and (ii) [NUMBER OF SHARES] shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share (the Preferred Stock).
Section 4.02 Common Stock. The powers, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the Common Stock are as follows:
(a) Ranking. The voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of the Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock of any series as may be designated by the board of directors upon any issuance of the Preferred Stock of any series.
(b) Voting. Each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote in person or by proxy for each share on all matters on which such stockholders are entitled to vote. Except as expressly set forth in the applicable Certificate of Designations with respect to any such series of Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designations) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon.
(c) Dividends. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive ratably such dividends and other distributions in cash, stock or property of the Corporation when, as and if declared thereon by the board of directors in its sole discretion from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor, subject to any preferential rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock and any other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, as may be amended from time to time.
(d) Liquidation. Upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them and subject to any preferential rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock.
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(e) No Preemptive or Subscription Rights. No holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to preemptive or subscription rights.
Section 4.03 Preferred Stock. The board of directors is hereby expressly authorized to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for the issuance of all or any of the shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting such series and the designation of such series, the voting powers, full or limited, if any, of the shares of such series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of preferred stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.
The authority of the board of directors with respect to each series of Preferred Stock shall include, but not be limited to, the determination of the following:
(a) the designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;
(b) the number of shares of the series, which number the board of directors may thereafter increase or decrease, but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding;
(c) the entitlement to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or non-cumulative) at such rates, on such conditions, and at such times and payable in preference to, or in such relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes or any other series of capital stock;
(d) the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;
(e) the terms and amount of any sinking fund, if any, provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;
(f) the amounts payable on, and the preferences, if any, of shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;
(g) whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or series, or any other security, of the Corporation or any other corporation, and, if so, the specification of such other class or series or such other security, the conversion or exchange price or prices or rate or rates, any adjustments thereof, the date or dates at which such shares shall be convertible or exchangeable and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange may be made;
(h) restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or any other class or series;
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(i) the voting rights, if any, of the holders of shares of the series generally or upon specified events; and
(j) any other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such shares,
all as may be determined from time to time by the board of directors and stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such Preferred Stock.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the resolutions providing for issuance of any series of Preferred Stock may provide that such series shall be superior or rank equally or be junior to any other series of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by law.
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.01 Election of Directors. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so require.
Section 5.02 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such date, time and place, if any, as shall be determined solely by the resolution of the board of directors in its sole and absolute discretion.
Section 5.03 Number of Directors. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the board of directors. Subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, if any, the board of directors shall consist of not less than six (6) or greater than twelve (12), the exact number of which shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire board of directors, and subject to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock, if any, the exact number may be increased or decreased by such a resolution (but not to less than six (6) or greater than twelve (12).
Section 5.04 Classes of Directors. Other than those directors, if any, elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the board of directors shall be and is divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, designated as: Class I, Class II and Class III. In case of any increase or decrease, from time to time, in the number of directors, the number of directors in each class shall be apportioned as nearly equal as possible. The preceding two sentences shall not apply, subject to Section 5.05(a), in the event the Classification Proposal (defined below) is not approved in accordance with Section 5.05(b). No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 5.05 Terms of Office.
(a) Except for the terms of such additional directors, if any, as elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of
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the third annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting at which the director was elected; provided, that each director initially appointed as a Class I director shall serve for an initial term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2016, each director initially appointed as a Class II director shall serve for an initial term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2017, and each director initially appointed as a Class III director shall serve for an initial term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2018; provided, however, that if the Classification Proposal is not approved at the 2016 annual meeting, then each director shall, commencing with the 2017 annual meeting (or, in the case of the Class I directors, the 2016 annual meeting), be elected annually for a one year term. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.05(a), each director shall continue to serve until such directors successor is duly elected and qualified or until such directors earlier death, resignation or removal.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the first sentence of Section 5.04 or Section 5.05(a), the board of directors shall submit the retention of the classification provisions contained therein (the Classification Proposal) to a vote of the holders of the Common Stock of the corporation at the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, such vote to be conducted in accordance with the immediately succeeding sentence. If the Classification Proposal is not approved by the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock of the Corporation voting thereon at the 2016 annual meeting, then (i) the Class I directors shall be elected to a one year term at the 2016 annual meeting, and the Class II and Class III directors shall, subject to the following clause (ii), continue to serve their existing term until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, or until such respective directors earlier death, resignation or removal and (ii) at the 2017 annual meeting and thereafter, all directors of the Corporation shall be elected annually at each annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation. If the Classification Proposal is approved by the holders of a majority of the shares Common Stock of the Corporation voting thereon at the 2016 annual meeting, then the Class I directors shall be elected at the 2016 annual meeting to a three year term and the provisions contained in the first sentence of Section 5.04 and Section 5.05(a) shall continue unaltered in full force and effect. For purposes of this Section 5.05(b), shares shall be deemed voting only if they are voted in favor of or against the Classification Proposal, and shares as to which the holder has abstained shall be deemed to have not been voted.
Section 5.06 Vacancies. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, vacancies on the board of directors by any reason, including by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office, or otherwise, and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall be solely filled by a majority of the directors then in office, in their sole discretion, even though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, in his or her sole discretion, and shall not be filled by the stockholders. A director elected to fill a vacancy or a newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen, subject to the election and qualification of a successor and to such directors earlier death, resignation or removal.
Section 5.07 Authority. In addition to the powers and authority hereinbefore or by statute expressly conferred upon them, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject,
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nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Certificate of Incorporation, and any Bylaws of the Corporation adopted by the stockholders; provided, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
ARTICLE VI
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 6.01 Cumulative Voting. No holder of Common Stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to exercise any right of cumulative voting.
Section 6.02 Stockholder Action. Subject to the terms of any series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, and the ability of the stockholders to consent in writing to the taking of any action in lieu of a meeting is hereby specifically denied.
Section 6.03 Special Meetings. Subject to the terms of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by: (a) the board of directors as set forth in the Corporations Bylaws and (b) the Corporate Secretary of the Corporation at the written request of holders of record of the Common Stock holding at least 25% of the outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote and proposing a proper matter for stockholder action in accordance with the DGCL, or owning a number of shares satisfying any higher voting threshold as is set forth in the Bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that the Bylaws of the Corporation may prohibit stockholders from calling a Special Meeting.
ARTICLE VII
LIMITATION ON LIABILITY;
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 7.01 Limitation on Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as it now exists and as it may hereafter be amended, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of a fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability of a director (a) for any breach of the directors duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (d) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit; provided that if the DGCL shall be amended or modified to provide for exculpation for any director in any circumstances where exculpation is prohibited pursuant to any of the preceding clauses (a) through (d), then such directors shall be entitled to exculpation to the maximum extent permitted by such amendment or modification. No amendment to, modification of or repeal of this Section 7.01 shall apply to or have any adverse effect on any right or protection of, or any limitation of the liability of, a director of the Corporation existing at
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the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment, modification or repeal.
Section 7.02 Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify, advance expenses, and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (a Covered Person) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a Proceeding), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys fees) reasonably incurred by such Covered Person. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except for claims for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) or advancement of expenses not paid in full, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Covered Person only if the commencement of such Proceeding (or part thereof) by the Covered Person was authorized in the specific case by the board of directors of the Corporation.
The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of, or in a fiduciary capacity with respect to, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such persons status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 7.02.
The right of indemnification provided in this Section 7.02 shall not be exclusive, and shall be in addition to any other right to which any person may otherwise be entitled by law, statue, under the Bylaws of the Corporation, or under any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Section 7.02 shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification
ARTICLE VIII
FORUM SELECTION
Section 8.01 Forum Selection. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, be the sole and exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporations stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided,
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however, that, in the event that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction over any such action or proceeding, the sole and exclusive forum for such action or proceeding shall be another state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, in each such case, unless the Court of Chancery (or such other state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, as applicable) has dismissed a prior action by the same plaintiff asserting the same claims because such court lacked personal jurisdiction over an indispensable party named as a defendant therein. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Company shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 8.02 of Article VIII. Failure to enforce the foregoing provisions would cause the Corporation irreparable harm and the Corporation shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunction and specific performance, to enforce the forgoing provisions.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT
Section 9.01 Certificate of Incorporation. The Corporation shall have the right, from time to time, to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation in any manner now or hereafter provided by this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Corporation or the DGCL, and all rights, preferences, privileges and powers of any kind conferred upon any director or stockholder of the Corporation by this Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment thereof are conferred subject to such right. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary (and in addition to any vote required by law), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote for the election of directors shall be required to amend, alter, change, or repeal or to adopt any provision inconsistent with Article V (other than Section 5.05(b)), Article VI, Article VII and this Article IX; provided further, that if the stockholders do not approve the Classification Proposal, then following the date of the 2016 annual meeting of the Corporation, Section 5.04 and Section 5.05(a) may be amended, altered, changed or repealed by the affirmative vote of the stockholders required by law.
Section 9.02 Bylaws. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, the board of directors is expressly authorized and empowered, without the assent or vote of the stockholders, to adopt, amend and repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the board of directors shall require the approval by the majority of the entire board of directors. The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote for the election of directors shall be required to amend, repeal or adopt any provision of the Bylaws of the Corporation.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as of this day of , 2015.
The Chemours Company | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
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Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(a Delaware corporation)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I |
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OFFICES |
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Section 1.01 |
Registered Office |
1 | ||||
Section 1.02 |
Other Offices |
1 | ||||
ARTICLE II |
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MEETINGS of the STOCKHOLDERS |
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Section 2.01 |
Place of Meetings |
1 | ||||
Section 2.02 |
Annual Meeting |
1 | ||||
Section 2.03 |
Special Meetings |
1 | ||||
Section 2.04 |
Record Date |
2 | ||||
Section 2.05 |
Notice of Meetings |
2 | ||||
Section 2.06 |
List of Stockholders |
3 | ||||
Section 2.07 |
Quorum |
3 | ||||
Section 2.08 |
Adjournments |
3 | ||||
Section 2.09 |
Conduct of Meetings |
3 | ||||
Section 2.10 |
Voting; Proxy |
4 | ||||
Section 2.11 |
Advance Notice of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals |
5 | ||||
Section 2.12 |
Inspectors at Meetings of Stockholders |
8 | ||||
ARTICLE III |
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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Section 3.01 |
General Powers |
8 | ||||
Section 3.02 |
Number; Term of Office |
9 | ||||
Section 3.03 |
Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies |
9 | ||||
Section 3.04 |
Resignation |
9 | ||||
Section 3.05 |
Reserved |
9 | ||||
Section 3.06 |
Compensation |
9 | ||||
Section 3.07 |
Regular Meetings |
9 | ||||
Section 3.08 |
Special Meetings |
9 | ||||
Section 3.09 |
Telephone Meetings |
9 | ||||
Section 3.10 |
Adjourned Meetings |
10 | ||||
Section 3.11 |
Notices |
10 | ||||
Section 3.12 |
Waiver of Notice |
10 | ||||
Section 3.13 |
Organization |
10 | ||||
Section 3.14 |
Quorum of Directors |
10 | ||||
Section 3.15 |
Action By Majority Vote |
10 | ||||
Section 3.16 |
Action Without Meeting |
11 |
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Section 3.17 |
Interested Directors; Quorum |
11 | ||||
Section 3.18 |
Committees of the Board |
11 | ||||
ARTICLE IV |
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OFFICERS |
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Section 4.01 |
Positions and Election |
12 | ||||
Section 4.02 |
Term |
12 | ||||
Section 4.03 |
Resignation |
12 | ||||
Section 4.04 |
Vacancies |
12 | ||||
Section 4.05 |
Chief Executive Officer; President |
12 | ||||
Section 4.06 |
Vice Presidents |
13 | ||||
Section 4.07 |
Secretary; Assistant Secretary |
13 | ||||
Section 4.08 |
Treasurer; Assistant Treasurer |
13 | ||||
Section 4.09 |
Delegation of Authority |
13 | ||||
Section 4.10 |
Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation |
13 | ||||
Section 4.11 |
Chair of the Board |
13 | ||||
ARTICLE V | ||||||
STOCK CERTIFICATES AND THEIR TRANSFER | ||||||
Section 5.01 |
Certificates Representing Shares |
14 | ||||
Section 5.02 |
Transfers of Stock |
14 | ||||
Section 5.03 |
Transfer Agents and Registrars |
14 | ||||
Section 5.04 |
Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates |
14 | ||||
Section 5.05 |
Dividend Record Date |
14 | ||||
Section 5.06 |
Record Owners |
15 | ||||
ARTICLE VI |
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GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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Section 6.01 |
Corporate Seal |
15 | ||||
Section 6.02 |
Fiscal Year |
15 | ||||
Section 6.03 |
Contracts |
15 | ||||
Section 6.04 |
Checks, Notes, Drafts, Etc. |
15 | ||||
Section 6.05 |
Dividends |
15 | ||||
Section 6.06 |
Conflict With Applicable Law or Certificate of Incorporation |
16 | ||||
ARTICLE VII |
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INDEMNIFICATION |
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Section 7.01 |
Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
16 |
ii
ARTICLE VIII | ||||
AMENDMENTS |
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AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(a Delaware corporation)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.01 Registered Office. The address of the registered office of The Chemours Company (the Corporation) in the State of Delaware shall be The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801.
Section 1.02 Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places within or without the State of Delaware as the board of directors of the Corporation (the Board) may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS of the STOCKHOLDERS
Section 2.01 Place of Meetings. All meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board and stated in the notice of meeting.
Section 2.02 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such date, time and place, if any, as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the notice of the meeting. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting previously scheduled by the Board.
Section 2.03 Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes shall be called pursuant to a resolution approved by the Board and shall be called by the Secretary at the request in writing of the holders of record of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereat and proposing a proper matter for stockholder action in accordance with the Delaware General Corporations Law (DGCL). A request to the Secretary shall be signed by each stockholder, or a duly authorized agent of such stockholder, requesting the special meeting and shall set forth, for each stockholder requesting the meeting, the information required to be in a stockholders notice pursuant to Section 2.11(b), Section 2.11(c) or Section 2.11(e) of this Article II, as applicable. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting called by a resolution approved by the Board.
The special meeting shall be held not more than ninety (90) days after a proper request to call the special meeting is received by the Secretary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a special meeting requested by stockholders shall not be held if (i) the business proposed to be brought before the special meeting by stockholders is not a proper subject for stockholder action under applicable law or (ii) the Board has called or calls for an annual meeting of stockholders to be held within ninety (90) days after the Secretary receives the request for the special meeting and the Board determines in good faith that the business of such annual meeting includes (among any other matters properly brought before the annual meeting) the business specified in the request. A stockholder may revoke a request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the Secretary, and if, following such revocation, there are un-revoked requests from stockholders holding in the aggregate less than the requisite number of shares entitling the stockholders to request the calling of a special meeting, the Board, in its discretion, may cancel the special meeting.
Business transacted at all special meetings shall be limited to the matters specifically stated in the Corporations notice of special meeting (or any supplement thereto). Business transacted at a special meeting requested by the stockholders shall be limited to the matters described in the request for a special meeting (or any supplement thereto); provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit the Board from submitting additional matters to stockholders at any such special meeting.
Special meetings shall be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board shall designate.
Section 2.04 Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of the stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
Section 2.05 Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the place, if any, date, hour, and means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting shall be given by the Corporation not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting (unless otherwise required by law) to every stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting. Notices of special meetings shall also specify the purpose or purposes for which the meeting has been called. Except as otherwise provided herein or permitted by applicable law, notice to stockholders shall be in writing and delivered personally or mailed (including by electronic transmission in accordance with applicable law) to
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the stockholders at their address appearing on the books of the Corporation. Any stockholder may waive notice of any meeting, either before or after the meeting. The attendance of any stockholder at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Any stockholder so waiving notice of the meeting shall be bound by the proceedings of the meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had been given.
Section 2.06 List of Stockholders. The Secretary shall prepare, or have prepared, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class of capital stock of the Corporation registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting the whole time thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as provided by applicable law, the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger and the list of stockholders or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
Section 2.07 Quorum. Unless otherwise required by law, the Corporations Certificate of Incorporation (the Certificate of Incorporation) or these Bylaws, at each meeting of the stockholders, a majority in voting power of the shares of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the chair of the meeting shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, in the manner provided in Section 2.08, until a quorum shall be present or represented.
Section 2.08 Adjournments. Any meeting of the stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, if any, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communication, if any, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.05 shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 2.09 Conduct of Meetings. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of the stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. At
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every meeting of the stockholders, the Chair of the Board, or in his or her absence or inability to act, the Chief Executive Officer, or, in his or her absence or inability to act, the person whom the Board shall appoint, shall act as chair of, and preside at, the meeting. The Secretary or, in his or her absence or inability to act, the person whom the chair of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chair of any meeting of the stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chair, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chair of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) the determination of when the polls shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting; (c) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (d) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chair of the meeting shall determine; (e) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (f) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.
Section 2.10 Voting; Proxy. Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any question brought before any meeting of the stockholders, other than the election of directors, shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of votes of the Corporations capital stock represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on such question, voting as a single class. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to Section 2.04, each stockholder represented at a meeting of the stockholders shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote for each share of the capital stock entitled to vote thereat held by such stockholder. Such votes may be cast in person or by proxy as provided in this Section 2.10. The Board, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a meeting of the stockholders, in such officers discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.
Except as provided in Section 3.03, directors shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting of stockholders. Directors need not be stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the instance where the Secretary has received a notice in accordance with these Bylaws that a stockholder has nominated a person for election to the Board at any time prior to any meeting of the stockholders or at such meeting, then the directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the annual meeting of stockholders. For purposes of this Section 2.10, a majority of the votes cast shall mean that the number of votes cast for a directors election exceeds the number of votes cast against such directors election. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted as votes cast either for or against a directors election.
Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of the stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy filed with the Secretary before or at the time of the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period
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Section 2.11 Advance Notice of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals.
(a) Timely Notice. At a meeting of the stockholders, only such nominations of persons for the election of directors and such other business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, nominations or such other business must be: (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder who: (A) is a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time such notice of meeting is delivered and at the time the notice required hereunder is delivered to the Secretary, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (C) complies with the notice procedures and disclosure requirements set forth in this Section 2.11. In addition, any proposal of business (other than the nomination of persons for election to the Board) must be a proper matter for stockholder action. For business (including, but not limited to, director nominations) to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder or stockholders of record intending to propose the business (the Proposing Stockholder) must have given timely notice thereof pursuant to this Section 2.11(a) or Section 2.11(c) below, as applicable, in writing to the Secretary even if such matter is already the subject of any notice to the stockholders or Public Disclosure from the Board. To be timely, a Proposing Stockholders notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation: (x) not later than the close of business on the 90th day, nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day in advance of the anniversary of the previous years annual meeting if such meeting is to be held on a day that is within 30 days before or after the anniversary of the previous years annual meeting; and (y) with respect to any other annual meeting of stockholders, the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the date of Public Disclosure of the date of such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting, or the Public Disclosure thereof, commence a new notice time period (or extend any notice time period).
(b) Stockholder Nominations. For the nomination of any person or persons for election to the Board whether at an annual meeting or a properly called special meeting of stockholders, a Proposing Stockholders notice to the Secretary shall set forth (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of each nominee proposed in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of each such nominee, (iii) (A) the number of shares of capital stock of the Company which are owned of record and beneficially by each such nominee and any affiliates or associates of such nominee (if any) and (B) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding of the type described in clause (vi)(D) of this section, but as it relates to each such nominee rather than the Proposing Stockholder, (iv) (A) if any such nominee is a party to any compensatory, payment or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Company, or has received any compensation or other payment from any person or entity other than the Company, in each case in connection with candidacy or service as a director of the Company, a detailed description of such agreement, arrangement or understanding and its terms or of any such compensation received and (B) such other information concerning each such nominee as would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved) or that is otherwise required to be disclosed, under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
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thereunder, (v) the consent of the nominee to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected and a representation by the nominee to the effect that, if elected, the nominee will agree to and abide by all policies of the Board as may be in place at any time and from time to time, and (vi) as to the Proposing Stockholder: (A) the name and address of the Proposing Stockholder as they appear on the Companys books and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, (B) the class and number of shares of the Company which are owned by the Proposing Stockholder (beneficially and of record) and owned by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, as of the date of the Proposing Stockholders notice, (C) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to such nomination between or among the Proposing Stockholder and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, (D) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the Proposing Stockholders notice by, or on behalf of, the Proposing Stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of the Proposing Stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates with respect to shares of stock of the Company, (E) a representation that the Proposing Stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Company entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice, (F) a representation whether the Proposing Stockholder intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Companys outstanding capital stock required to approve the election of the nominee and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such election and (G) and, with respect to (B), (C) and (D) above, a representation that the Proposing Stockholder will promptly notify the Company in writing of the same as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed. The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Company or that could be material to a reasonable stockholders understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.
(c) Other Stockholder Proposals. For all business other than director nominations, a Proposing Stockholders notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the Proposing Stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting or properly called special meeting, as the case may be: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, (ii) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the proposal and pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (iii) a description of all agreements, arrangements, or understandings between or among such Proposing Stockholder, or any affiliates or associates of such Proposing Stockholder, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business and any material interest of such Proposing Stockholder or any affiliates or associates of such Proposing Stockholder, in such business, including any anticipated
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benefit therefrom to such Proposing Stockholder, or any affiliates or associates of such Proposing Stockholder and (iv) the information required by Section 2.11(b)(vi) above.
(d) Proxy Rules. The foregoing notice requirements of Section 2.11(c) shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to inclusion in the proxy statement referenced below of a proposal with respect to business other than a nomination if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present such proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14(a)-8 of the Exchange Act and such stockholders proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.
(e) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting (x) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof (or stockholders pursuant to Section 2.03 above) or (y) provided that the Board (or stockholders pursuant to Section 2.03 above) has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 2.11 is delivered to the Secretary, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.11. If the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporations notice of meeting, if the stockholders notice required by this Section 2.10 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice of the date of the special meeting was mailed or Public Disclosure of the date of the special meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a special meeting, or the Public Disclosure thereof, commence a new time period (or extend any notice time period).
(f) Effect of Noncompliance. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary: (i) no nominations shall be made or business shall be conducted at any annual meeting or special meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.11, and (ii) unless otherwise required by law, if a Proposing Stockholder intending to propose business or make nominations at an annual meeting or special meeting pursuant to this Section 2.11 does not provide the information required under this Section 2.11 to the Corporation in accordance with the applicable timing requirements set forth in these Bylaws, or the Proposing Stockholder (or a qualified representative of the Proposing Stockholder) does not appear at the meeting to present the proposed business or nominations, such business or nominations shall not be considered, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such business or nominations may have been received by the Corporation.
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(g) For purposes of this Section 2.11:
(i) Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(ii) Public Disclosure shall mean a disclosure made in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Services, The Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a document filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Section 2.12 Inspectors at Meetings of Stockholders. The Board, by resolution, the Chair or Chief Executive Officer, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, shall appoint one or more inspectors, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and make a written report thereof. The Board may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by law, and shall (a) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, (b) determine the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum and the validity of proxies and ballots, (c) count all votes and ballots, (d) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors and (e) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of their duties. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting. No ballot, proxies, votes or any revocation thereof or change thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 3.01 General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
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Section 3.02 Number; Term of Office. The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board but shall not be less than [] () nor more than [] (). Except as otherwise provided in the Corporations Certificate of Incorporation, each director shall serve until the annual meeting of stockholders for the year in which his or her term expires and until a successor is duly elected and qualified, or until the directors earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.
Section 3.03 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to the terms of any one or more series of Preferred Stock entitled to elect directors, any newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors and any vacancies occurring in the Board shall be filled solely by a majority of the remaining members of the Board, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. A director appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board shall hold office until the earlier of the expiration of the term of office of the director whom he or she has replaced, a successor is duly elected and qualified or the earlier of such directors death, resignation or removal.
Section 3.04 Resignation. Any director may resign from the Board or any committee thereof at any time by notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of Corporation and, in the case of any committee, to the chair of such committee. Such resignation shall take effect at the date of receipt of such notice by the Corporation or at such later time as is therein specified, and acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 3.05 Reserved.
Section 3.06 Compensation. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or a stated salary for services as a director, payable in cash or securities. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for services as committee members.
Section 3.07 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such times and at such places as may be determined from time to time by the Board or its chair.
Section 3.08 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be held at such times and at such places as may be determined by the chair or the Chief Executive Officer at least twenty-four (24) hours notice to each director given by one of the means specified in Section 3.11 hereof other than by mail or on at least three (3) days notice if given by mail. Special meetings shall be called by the chair or the Chief Executive Officer in like manner and on like notice on the written request of a majority of the directors.
Section 3.09 Telephone Meetings. Unless otherwise provided in the Certification of Incorporation or the Bylaws, the Board or Board committee meetings may be held by means of telephone conference or other communications equipment by means of which all persons
9
participating in the meeting can hear each other and be heard. Participation by a director in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 3.10 Adjourned Meetings. A majority of the directors present at any meeting of the Board, including an adjourned meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn and reconvene such meeting to another time and place. At least twenty-four (24) hours notice of any adjourned meeting of the Board shall be given to each director whether or not present at the time of the adjournment, if such notice shall be given by one of the means specified in Section 3.11 hereof other than by mail, or at least three (3) days notice if by mail. Any business may be transacted at an adjourned meeting that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.
Section 3.11 Notices. Subject to Section 3.08, Section 3.10 and Section 3.12 hereof, whenever notice is required to be given to any director by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, such notice shall be deemed given effectively if given in person or by telephone, mail addressed to such director at such directors address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, facsimile, e-mail or by other means of electronic transmission.
Section 3.12 Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice to directors is required by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof, in writing signed by, or by electronic transmission by, the director entitled to the notice, whether before or after such notice is required, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance by a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except when the director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special Board or committee meeting need be specified in any waiver of notice.
Section 3.13 Organization. At each meeting of the Board, or any committee thereof, the chair, or in his or her absence, another director selected by the Board or the committee, as applicable, shall preside. Except as provided below, the Secretary shall act as secretary at each meeting of the Board and of each committee thereof. If the Secretary is absent from any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of secretary at such meeting; and in the absence from any such meeting of the Secretary and Assistant Secretaries, the person presiding at the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the members of each committee of the Board may appoint any person to act as secretary of any meeting of such committee and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation may, but need not if such committee so elects, serve in such capacity.
Section 3.14 Quorum of Directors. The presence of a majority of the Board or any Board committee shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board or committee, as applicable.
Section 3.15 Action By Majority Vote. Except as otherwise expressly required by these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board.
10
Section 3.16 Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all directors or members of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee in accordance with applicable law.
Section 3.17 Interested Directors; Quorum.
(a) No contract or other transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of the directors of the Corporation is a director or officer, or has a financial interest, shall be void or voidable, because the director is present at or participates in the meeting of the board or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because such directors vote is counted for such purpose, if:
(i) the material facts as to such directors relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board or the committee, and the Board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested Directors be less than a quorum;
(ii) the material facts as to such directors relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or
(iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Company as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board, a committee thereof, or the stockholders; and
(b) Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.
Section 3.18 Committees of the Board. The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Subject to the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed for trading, if a member of a committee shall be absent from any meeting, or disqualified from voting thereat, the remaining member or members present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by applicable law and provided in the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the
11
Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it to the extent so authorized by the Board. Unless the Board provides otherwise, at all meetings of such committee, a majority of the then authorized members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of the members of the committee present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the committee. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings. Unless the Board provides otherwise, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter and repeal rules and procedures for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules and procedures each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board conducts its business pursuant to this Article III. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article III, any resolution of the Board establishing or directing any committee of the Board or establishing or amending the charter of any such committee may establish requirements or procedures relating to the governance and/or operation of such committee that are different from, or in addition to, those set forth in these Bylaws and, to the extent that there is any inconsistency between these Bylaws and any such resolution or charter, the terms of such resolution or charter shall be controlling.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.01 Positions and Election. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers with such other titles as the Board shall determine, including one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries. The Board may appoint such other officers as it may deem appropriate. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. Officers may, but need not, be directors or stockholders of the Corporation. [The salaries of all officers shall be shall be fixed by the Board.]
Section 4.02 Term. Each officer of the Corporation shall hold office until such officers successor is duly elected and qualified or until such officers earlier death, resignation or removal. The Board may remove any officer at any time with or without cause by the majority vote of the members of the Board.
Section 4.03 Resignation. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice of his or her resignation to the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless such notice provides that the resignation is effective at some later time or upon the occurrence of some later event.
Section 4.04 Vacancies. A vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled in the same manner as provide for the election or appointment to such office.
Section 4.05 Chief Executive Officer; President. Unless the Board has designated another person as the Corporations Chief Executive Officer, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general charge and supervision of the business of the Corporation subject to the direction of the Board, and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of chief
12
executive or that are delegated to such officer by the Board. The President shall perform such other duties and shall have such other powers as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (if the President is not the Chief Executive Officer) may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.06 Vice Presidents. Each Vice President shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (or the President if there is no Chief Executive Officer). The Board may assign to any Vice President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any other title selected by the Board.
Section 4.07 Secretary; Assistant Secretary. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall attend all sessions of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall perform like duties for committees when required. He or she shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and meetings of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Corporation and have authority to affix the seal to all documents requiring it and attest to the same.
Section 4.08 Treasurer; Assistant Treasurer. The Treasurer, or an Assistant Treasurer, shall have the custody of the corporate funds and other property of the Corporation, except as otherwise provided by the Board, and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer, or an Assistant Treasurer, shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and whenever requested by the Board, shall render an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board.
Section 4.09 Delegation of Authority. The Board may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding the provisions herein.
Section 4.10 Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation. Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chief Executive Officer, any President, any Vice President or any other officer authorized to do so by the Board and any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if present. The Board may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons. Chair of the Board. The Board, in its discretion, may choose a Chair (who shall be a director but need not be elected as an officer). The Chair of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders, the Board. The Chair of the Board shall perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned by these Bylaws or by the Board.
13
ARTICLE V
STOCK CERTIFICATES AND THEIR TRANSFER
Section 5.01 Certificates Representing Shares. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates; provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any class or series shall be uncertificated shares that may be evidenced by a book-entry system maintained by the registrar of such stock. If shares are represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in the form, other than bearer form, approved by the Board. The certificates representing shares of stock of each class shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Corporation by the chair, any vice chair, the president or any vice president, and by the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer. Any or all such signatures may be facsimiles. Although any officer, transfer agent or registrar whose manual or facsimile signature is affixed to such a certificate ceases to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate has been issued, it may nevertheless be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such officer, transfer agent or registrar were still such at the date of its issue.
Section 5.02 Transfers of Stock. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record thereof, by such persons attorney lawfully constituted in writing and, in the case of certificated shares, upon the surrender of the certificate thereof, which shall be cancelled before a new certificate or uncertificated shares shall be issued. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred.
Section 5.03 Transfer Agents and Registrars. The Board may appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars.
Section 5.04 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate or uncertificated shares in place of any previously issued certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon such terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, including the presentation of reasonable evidence of such loss, theft or destructions and the giving of such indemnity and posting of such bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation or the transfer agent or registrar against any claim that may be made against them.
Section 5.05 Dividend Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no
14
record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 5.06 Record Owners. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise
ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 6.01 Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words Corporate Seal, Delaware. The seal of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise, as may be prescribed by law or custom or by the Board.
Section 6.02 Fiscal Year. Except as from time to time otherwise designated by the Board, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31.
Section 6.03 Contracts. Except as otherwise provide in these Bylaws, the Board may authorize any officer or officers to enter into any contract or to execute or deliver any instrument on behalf of the Corporation and such authority may be general or limited to specific instances. Any officer so authorized may, unless the authorizing resolution otherwise provides, delegate such authority to one or more subordinate officers, employees or agents, and such delegation may provide for further delegation.
Section 6.04 Checks, Notes, Drafts, Etc. All checks, notes, drafts or other orders for the payment of money of the Corporation shall be signed, endorsed or accepted in the name of the Corporation by such officer, officers, person or persons as from time to time may be designated by the Board or by an officer or officers authorized by the Board to make such designation.
Section 6.05 Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the requirements of the DGCL and the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board (or any action by written consent in lieu thereof in accordance with Section 3.16), and may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Corporations capital stock. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board from time to time, in its absolute discretion, deems proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for purchasing any of the shares of capital stock, warrants, rights, options, bonds, debentures, notes, scrip or other securities or evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for any proper purpose, and the Board may modify or abolish any such reserve.
15
Section 6.06 Conflict With Applicable Law or Certificate of Incorporation. These Bylaws are adopted subject to any applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation. Whenever these Bylaws may conflict with any applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, such conflict shall be resolved in favor of such law or the Certificate of Incorporation.
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 7.01 Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
(a) Each person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation (including the heirs, executors, administrators or estate of such person) shall be indemnified by the Corporation as of right to the full extent permitted by the DGCL against any liability, cost or expense asserted against such director or officer and incurred by such director or officer by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer. The right to indemnification conferred by this Section 7.01 shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending in any action, suit or proceeding in advance of its final disposition, subject to the receipt by the Corporation of such undertakings as might be required of an indemnitee by the DGCL.
(b) In any action by an indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder or by the Corporation to recover advances made hereunder, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified shall be on the Corporation. In such an action, neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board, independent legal counsel or stockholders) to have made a determination that indemnification is proper, nor a determination by the Corporation that indemnification is improper, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified or, in the case of such an action brought by the indemnitee, be a defense thereto. If successful in whole or in part in such an action, an indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending same. The Corporation may, but shall not be obligated to, maintain insurance at its expense, to protect itself and any such person against any such liability, cost or expense.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended, altered, changed, adopted and repealed or new bylaws adopted by the Board or by the stockholders as expressly provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
16
Exhibit 10.7
INDENTURE
Dated as of May 12, 2015
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY,
THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO,
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee,
ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, UK BRANCH,
as Paying Agent with respect to Euro Notes,
and
ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED,
as Registrar and Transfer Agent with respect to Euro Notes
ARTICLE I | ||||||
DEFINITIONS | ||||||
Section 1.01 | Definitions |
1 | ||||
Section 1.02 | Other Definitions |
37 | ||||
Section 1.03 | Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act |
38 | ||||
Section 1.04 | Rules of Construction |
38 | ||||
ARTICLE II | ||||||
THE NOTES | ||||||
Section 2.01 | Issuable in Series |
39 | ||||
Section 2.02 | Establishment of Terms of Series of Notes |
39 | ||||
Section 2.03 | Denominations; Provisions for Payment |
42 | ||||
Section 2.04 | Execution and Authentication |
43 | ||||
Section 2.05 | Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent |
44 | ||||
Section 2.06 | Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust |
45 | ||||
Section 2.07 | Holder Lists |
45 | ||||
Section 2.08 | Transfer and Exchange |
46 | ||||
Section 2.09 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Notes |
46 | ||||
Section 2.10 | Treasury Notes |
47 | ||||
Section 2.11 | Temporary Notes |
48 | ||||
Section 2.12 | Cancellation |
48 | ||||
Section 2.13 | Defaulted Interest |
48 | ||||
Section 2.14 | Global Notes |
48 | ||||
Section 2.15 | CUSIP Numbers, ISINs and Common Code Numbers |
51 | ||||
Section 2.16 | Benefits of the Indenture |
51 | ||||
Section 2.17 | Performance of the Transactions |
51 | ||||
ARTICLE III |
| |||||
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT |
| |||||
Section 3.01 | Notices to Trustee |
51 | ||||
Section 3.02 | Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed |
52 | ||||
Section 3.03 | Notice of Redemption |
53 | ||||
Section 3.04 | Effect of Notice of Redemption |
54 | ||||
Section 3.05 | Deposit of Redemption Price |
54 | ||||
Section 3.06 | Notes Redeemed in Part |
55 | ||||
Section 3.07 | Optional Redemption |
55 |
i
ARTICLE IV | ||||||
COVENANTS |
| |||||
Section 4.01 | Payment of Notes |
55 | ||||
Section 4.02 | Reports and Other Information |
56 | ||||
Section 4.03 | Compliance Certificate |
57 | ||||
Section 4.04 | Further Instruments and Acts |
58 | ||||
Section 4.05 | Corporate Existence |
58 | ||||
Section 4.06 | Calculation of Original Issue Discount |
58 | ||||
Section 4.07 | Restricted Payments |
58 | ||||
Section 4.08 | Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries |
65 | ||||
Section 4.09 | Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock |
68 | ||||
Section 4.10 | Asset Sales |
75 | ||||
Section 4.11 | Transactions with Affiliates |
79 | ||||
Section 4.12 | Liens |
81 | ||||
Section 4.13 | Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control |
82 | ||||
Section 4.14 | Covenant Suspension |
84 | ||||
ARTICLE V | ||||||
SUCCESSORS | ||||||
Section 5.01 | Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets |
86 | ||||
Section 5.02 | Successor Corporation Substituted |
88 | ||||
ARTICLE VI | ||||||
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES |
| |||||
Section 6.01 | Events of Default |
88 | ||||
Section 6.02 | Acceleration |
90 | ||||
Section 6.03 | Other Remedies |
91 | ||||
Section 6.04 | Waiver of Past Defaults |
92 | ||||
Section 6.05 | Control by Majority |
92 | ||||
Section 6.06 | Limitation on Suits |
92 | ||||
Section 6.07 | Rights of Holders to Receive Payment |
93 | ||||
Section 6.08 | Collection Suit by Trustee |
93 | ||||
Section 6.09 | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim |
93 | ||||
Section 6.10 | Priorities |
94 | ||||
Section 6.11 | Undertaking for Costs |
94 | ||||
Section 6.12 | Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws |
95 |
ii
ARTICLE VII | ||||||
TRUSTEE | ||||||
Section 7.01 | Duties of Trustee |
95 | ||||
Section 7.02 | Rights of Trustee |
96 | ||||
Section 7.03 | Individual Rights of Trustee |
98 | ||||
Section 7.04 | Trustees Disclaimer |
98 | ||||
Section 7.05 | Notice of Defaults |
99 | ||||
Section 7.06 | Reports by Trustee to Holders |
99 | ||||
Section 7.07 | Compensation and Indemnity |
99 | ||||
Section 7.08 | Replacement of Trustee |
100 | ||||
Section 7.09 | Successor Trustee by Merger |
101 | ||||
Section 7.10 | Eligibility; Disqualification |
102 | ||||
Section 7.11 | Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company and Guarantors |
102 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII |
| |||||
LEGAL DEFEASANCE, COVENANT DEFEASANCE AND SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE |
| |||||
Section 8.01 | Option To Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance |
102 | ||||
Section 8.02 | Legal Defeasance and Discharge |
102 | ||||
Section 8.03 | Covenant Defeasance |
103 | ||||
Section 8.04 | Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance |
104 | ||||
Section 8.05 | Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions |
105 | ||||
Section 8.06 | Repayment to the Company |
106 | ||||
Section 8.07 | Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture |
106 | ||||
Section 8.08 | Reinstatement |
108 | ||||
ARTICLE IX | ||||||
AMENDMENTS | ||||||
Section 9.01 | Without Consent of Holders |
108 | ||||
Section 9.02 | With Consent of Holders |
109 | ||||
Section 9.03 | Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers |
110 | ||||
Section 9.04 | Notation on or Exchange of Notes |
111 | ||||
Section 9.05 | Trustee to Sign Amendments |
111 | ||||
Section 9.06 | Payment for Consent |
111 |
iii
ARTICLE X | ||||||
GUARANTEES | ||||||
Section 10.01 | Guarantees |
112 | ||||
Section 10.02 | Limitation on Liability |
113 | ||||
Section 10.03 | Releases |
114 | ||||
Section 10.04 | Successors and Assigns |
115 | ||||
Section 10.05 | No Waiver |
115 | ||||
Section 10.06 | Additional Guarantees |
115 | ||||
Section 10.07 | Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors |
115 | ||||
Section 10.08 | Non-Impairment |
116 | ||||
Section 10.09 | Benefits Acknowledged |
116 | ||||
ARTICLE XI | ||||||
MISCELLANEOUS | ||||||
Section 11.01 | Trust Indenture Act Controls |
116 | ||||
Section 11.02 | Notices |
116 | ||||
Section 11.03 | Communication by Holders with Other Holders |
117 | ||||
Section 11.04 | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent |
118 | ||||
Section 11.05 | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion |
118 | ||||
Section 11.06 | Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar |
118 | ||||
Section 11.07 | Legal Holidays |
118 | ||||
Section 11.08 | Governing Law |
119 | ||||
Section 11.09 | No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders |
119 | ||||
Section 11.10 | Successors |
119 | ||||
Section 11.11 | Multiple Originals; Electronic Signatures |
119 | ||||
Section 11.12 | Waiver of Jury Trial |
119 | ||||
Section 11.13 | Table of Contents; Headings |
119 | ||||
Section 11.14 | Severability |
120 | ||||
Section 11.15 | Submission to Jurisdiction and Venue |
120 | ||||
Exhibit A | Form of Supplemental Indenture for Additional Subsidiary Guarantors |
iv
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
Trust Indenture Act Section |
Indenture Section | |
310(a)(1) |
7.10 | |
(a)(2) |
7.10 | |
(a)(3) |
N.A. | |
(a)(4) |
N.A. | |
(a)(5) |
7.10 | |
(b) |
7.08, 7.10, 11.02 | |
(c) |
N.A. | |
311(a) |
7.11 | |
(b) |
7.11 | |
312(a) |
2.07 | |
(b) |
11.03 | |
(c) |
11.03 | |
313(a) |
7.06 | |
(b)(1) |
N.A. | |
(b)(2) |
7.06 | |
(c) |
7.06, 11.02 | |
(d) |
7.06 | |
314(a) |
4.02, 4.03, 11.02 | |
(b) |
N.A. | |
(c)(1) |
7.02, 11.04, 11.05 | |
(c)(2) |
7.02, 11.04, 11.05 | |
(c)(3) |
N.A. | |
(d) |
N.A. | |
(e) |
11.05 | |
(f) |
N.A. | |
315(a) |
7.01(b), 7.02(a) | |
(b) |
7.05, 11.02 | |
(c) |
7.01 | |
(d) |
6.05, 7.01(c) | |
(e) |
6.11 | |
316(a) (last sentence) |
2.11 | |
(a)(1)(A) |
6.05 | |
(a)(1)(B) |
6.04 | |
(a)(2) |
N.A. | |
(b) |
6.07 | |
(c) |
9.03 | |
317(a)(1) |
6.08 | |
(a)(2) |
6.09 | |
(b) |
2.06 | |
318(a) |
11.01 | |
(b) |
N.A. | |
(c) |
11.01 |
* | N.A. means not applicable. |
This Cross-Reference Table is not part of this Indenture.
v
INDENTURE dated as of May 12, 2015, among THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the Company), each of the Companys subsidiaries signatory hereto or that becomes a Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Indenture (the Subsidiary Guarantors), U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, as trustee (the Trustee), ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, UK BRANCH, a limited liability company registered in Ireland limited liability company registered in Ireland with the Companies Registration Office (registered number 418442), with its registered office at Block E, Cherrywood Business Park, Loughlinstown, Dublin, Ireland acting through its UK Branch (registered number BR009373) from its offices at 5th Floor, 125 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1AR, United Kingdom, as paying agent with respect to Euro Notes, and ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, a limited liability company registered in Ireland with the Companies Registration Office (registered number 418442), with its registered office at Block E, Cherrywood Business Park, Loughlinstown, Dublin, Ireland, as registrar and transfer agent with respect to Euro Notes.
The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the notes authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (the Notes):
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 Definitions. The following terms shall have the following meanings:
Acquired Indebtedness means, with respect to any specified Person,
(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, including Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and
(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.
Affiliate of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this Indenture, control (including, with correlative meanings, the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.
Agent means any Transfer Agent, Registrar, Paying Agent and Custodian.
Asset Sale means:
(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of property or assets (including by way of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (each referred to in this definition as a disposition); or
(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries issued in compliance with Section 4.09, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions;
in each case, other than:
(a) any disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or surplus, obsolete or worn-out property or equipment in the ordinary course of business or any disposition of inventory or goods (or other assets) held for sale or no longer used in the ordinary course of business;
(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 5.01 or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control pursuant to this Indenture;
(c) the making of any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 4.07;
(d) any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of transactions with an aggregate fair market value of less than $75.0 million;
(e) any disposition of property or assets or issuance of securities by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
(f) to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or comparable law or regulation, any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in a Similar Business;
(g) the lease, assignment or sub-lease of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business or to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between joint venture parties set forth in any joint venture or similar binding agreement;
(h) any issuance or sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
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(i) foreclosures, condemnations or any similar action with respect to assets or the granting of Liens not prohibited by this Indenture;
(j) any financing transaction with respect to the acquisition or construction of property by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Original Issue Date, including Sale and Lease-Back Transactions, and asset securitizations permitted by this Indenture;
(k) the licensing and sub-licensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;
(l) the sale, discount or other disposition of inventory, accounts receivable or notes receivable in the ordinary course of business or the conversion of accounts receivable to notes receivable;
(m) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract rights or other litigation claims in the ordinary course of business;
(n) any transfer, sale or other disposition of Securitization Assets to a Securitization Special Purpose Entity in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction; and
(o) any disposition of assets effected pursuant to the Transactions.
Bankruptcy Law means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors or other relevant law in any jurisdiction of competent authority for the relief of debtors relating to moratorium, bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, winding up, liquidation, examinership or reorganization or any amendment to, succession to or change in any such law.
board of directors means, with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation, and, with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person, or board of directors of the general partner or general manager of such Person, serving a similar function.
Board Resolution means a copy of a resolution certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the board of directors of the Company or pursuant to authorization by the board of directors of the Company, including by an authorized officer, and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate, and delivered to the Trustee.
Business Day means each day that is not a Legal Holiday.
Calculation Date means the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio or the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, as applicable, shall occur.
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Capital Stock means:
(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;
(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and
(4) any other interest or participation (including, without limitation, quotas) that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
Capitalized Lease Obligation means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP; provided that any obligations of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries either existing on the Original Issue Date or created prior to any recharacterization described below (i) that were not included on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as capital lease obligations and (ii) that are subsequently recharacterized as capital lease obligations due to a change in accounting treatment or otherwise, shall for all purposes under this Indenture (including, without limitation, the calculation of Consolidated Net Income and EBITDA) not be treated as capital lease obligations, Capitalized Lease Obligations or Indebtedness.
Cash Equivalents means:
(1) United States Dollars;
(2) (a) Canadian Dollars, pounds sterling, yen, Euros, Brazilian reais, Renminbi and the New Taiwan dollar; and
(b) such other currencies held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from time to time in the ordinary course of business;
(3) securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government (or any agency or instrumentality thereof the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of the U.S. government) and European Government Obligations, in each case with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(4) certificates of deposit, time deposits and Eurodollar time deposits with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $500.0 million in the case of U.S. banks and $100.0 million (or the U.S. Dollar equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;
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(5) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (3) and (4) entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;
(6) commercial paper rated at least P-1 by Moodys or at least A-1 by S&P (or, if at any time neither Moodys nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof;
(7) marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least P-2 or A-2 from either Moodys or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moodys nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another Rating Agency) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof;
(8) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (7) above;
(9) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from either Moodys or S&P with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(10) Indebtedness or Preferred Stock issued by Persons with a rating of A or higher from S&P or A2 or higher from Moodys with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(11) Investments with average maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated AAA- (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Aaa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moodys; and
(12) Investments in money market funds with average maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition that are rated Aaa3 by Moodys and AAA by S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized rating agency).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents shall include amounts denominated in currencies other than those set forth in clause (1) or (2) above; provided that such amounts are converted into any currency listed in clause (1) or (2) as promptly as practicable and in any event within ten Business Days following the receipt of such amounts.
Change of Control means the occurrence of any one of the following:
(1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, other than to the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
5
(2) the Company becomes aware (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) of the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or
(3) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
For the purposes of this definition, the term person shall be defined as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act and the term beneficial owner shall be defined as that term is used in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act.
For the avoidance of doubt, the consummation of the Transactions shall not constitute a Change of Control.
Clearstream means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, or any successor thereto.
Common Depositary means, with respect to any Euro Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.14 as the Common Depositary with respect to Euro Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as common depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture.
Company has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture.
Company Order means a written order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer.
Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense means, with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense and capitalized fees related to any Qualified Securitization Transaction or a Receivables Facility and amortization of intangible assets, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, including the amortization of deferred financing fees of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP (excluding, in each case, amortization expense attributable to a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period).
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Consolidated Interest Expense means, with respect to any Person for any period, without duplication, the sum of:
(1) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income (including (a) amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, (b) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit or bankers acceptances, (c) non-cash interest payments (but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark to market valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments pursuant to GAAP), (d) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations and (e) net payments, if any, made (less net payments, if any, received) pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations with respect to Indebtedness but excluding (i) penalties and interest relating to taxes; (ii) accretion or accrual of discounted liabilities not constituting Indebtedness, (iii) any expense resulting from the discounting of any outstanding Indebtedness in connection with the application of purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition, (iv) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, (v) any expensing of bridge, commitment and other financing fees and (vi) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Qualified Securitization Transaction or Receivables Facility); plus
(2) consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; less
(3) interest income for such period.
For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Net Income means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the net income (loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that, without duplication,
(1) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies during such period shall be excluded,
(2) any after-tax effect of income (loss) from abandoned or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of abandoned or discontinued operations shall be excluded,
(3) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) attributable to asset dispositions or the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined in good faith by the Company, shall be excluded,
7
(4) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be excluded; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Company will be increased by the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) or Cash Equivalents to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period (other than any such proceeds that are used to make a JV Reinvestment),
(5) solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3)(a) of Section 4.07(a), the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiary Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restriction with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions has been legally waived; provided that Consolidated Net Income of the Company will be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments that are actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) or Cash Equivalents to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period, to the extent not already included therein,
(6) any after-tax effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment of Indebtedness or Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded,
(7) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down, including impairment charges or asset write-offs or write-downs related to intangible assets, physical assets (including commodities and inventory), long-lived assets or investments in debt and equity securities or as a result of a change in law or regulation, in each case, pursuant to GAAP and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP shall be excluded,
(8) any non-cash compensation or similar charge or expense or reduction of revenue, including any such charge or amount arising from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock or other rights and any cash charges associated with the rollover, acceleration or payout of Equity Interests by management, other employees or business partners of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies or subsidiaries shall be excluded,
(9) any fees, expenses or charges incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with the Transactions, any acquisition, disposition, recapitalization, Investment, Asset Sale, issuance, repayment or amendment of Indebtedness, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (in each case, including any such transaction consummated prior to the Original Issue Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed), any non-cash expenses or charges recorded in accordance
8
with GAAP relating to currency valuation of foreign denominated debt and any charges or non- recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction including, without limitation, any non-cash expenses or charges recorded in accordance with GAAP relating to equity interests issued to non-employees in exchange for services provided in connection with any acquisition or business arrangement (in each case, including any such transaction consummated prior to the Original Issue Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed) shall be excluded,
(10) all extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring charges, gains and losses (whether cash or non-cash) (including, without limitation, all restructuring costs, facilities relocation costs, acquisition integration costs and fees, including cash severance payments made in connection with acquisitions, and any expense or charge related to the repurchase of Capital Stock or warrants or options to purchase Capital Stock), and the related tax effects according to GAAP shall be excluded,
(11) inventory purchase accounting adjustments and amortization and impairment charges resulting from other purchase accounting adjustments in connection with acquisition transactions shall be excluded,
(12) the following items shall be excluded:
(a) any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from Hedging Obligations and the application of ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging; and
(b) foreign currency and other non-operating gain or loss and foreign currency gain (loss) included in other operating expenses including any net unrealized gain or loss (after any offset) resulting in such period from currency translation gains or losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from hedge agreements for currency exchange risk).
In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall include the amount of proceeds actually received from business interruption insurance and reimbursements of any expenses and charges that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any Permitted Investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under this Indenture.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.07 only (other than clause (3)(d) of Section 4.07(a)), there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any income arising from any sale or other disposition of Restricted Investments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repurchases and redemptions of Restricted Investments from the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any repayments of loans and advances which constitute Restricted Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, any sale of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case to the extent such amounts increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under Section 4.07 pursuant to clause (3)(c) or (3)(d) thereof.
9
Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio means, as of the date of determination, the ratio of (a) the Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of determination less Unrestricted Cash of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of determination (in each case, determined after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence of Indebtedness, and each other incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, retirement and extinguishment of Indebtedness as of such date of determination) to (b) EBITDA of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recent four fiscal quarter period ending immediately prior to such determination date for which internal financial statements are available. For purposes of determining the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio, EBITDA shall be subject to the adjustments applicable to EBITDA as provided for in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
Contingent Obligations means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (primary obligations) of any other Person (the primary obligor) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent,
(1) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,
(2) to advance or supply funds,
(a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation, or
(b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, or
(3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.
Credit Facilities means, with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, one or more debt facilities, including the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, or other financing arrangements (including, without limitation, commercial paper facilities or indentures), providing for revolving credit loans, term loans or letters of credit or other long-term indebtedness, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or
10
alters the maturity thereof (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 4.09) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender, investor or group of lenders.
Custodian means (other than as used and defined in Article VI) the Trustee, as custodian with respect to any Dollar Notes in global form, and the Common Depositary, as custodian with respect to any Euro Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.
Default means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
Definitive Note means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Article II hereof.
Depositary means the Dollar Depositary or the Common Depositary, as applicable.
Designated Non-cash Consideration means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, executed by the principal financial officer of the Company, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of or collection on such Designated Non-cash Consideration.
Designated Preferred Stock means Preferred Stock of the Company or any parent corporation thereof (in each case other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued for cash (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock pursuant to an Officers Certificate executed by the principal financial officer of the Company on the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of Section 4.07(a).
Disqualified Stock means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person that, by its terms, or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is putable or exchangeable, or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale and other than redeemable for Capital Stock of such Person that is not itself Disqualified Stock) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale and other than redeemable for Capital Stock of such Person that is not itself Disqualified Stock), in whole or in part, in each case prior to the date that is 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes; provided, however, that if such Capital Stock is issued to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.
11
Distribution Date means the date that the shares of the Companys common stock are distributed to DuPonts stockholders pursuant to the separation and distribution.
Dollar means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debt.
Dollar Depositary means, with respect to any Dollar Notes issuable or issued, in whole or in part, in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.14 as the Dollar Depositary with respect to Dollar Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as dollar depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture.
Dollar Notes means Notes that are denominated in Dollars.
Domestic Restricted Subsidiary means any Restricted Subsidiary that is organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia other than any such Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a controlled foreign corporation within the meaning of Section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
DTC means The Depository Trust Company or its successors.
DuPont means E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, a Delaware corporation.
EBITDA means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period:
(1) increased (without duplication) by the following, in each case (other than clause (g)) to the extent deducted (and not added back) in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:
(a) provision for taxes based on income or profits or capital gains, including, without limitation, state, franchise and similar taxes, and foreign withholding taxes and penalties and interest relating to taxes of such Person paid or accrued during such period; plus
(b) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period, together with items excluded from the definition of Consolidated Interest Expense pursuant to clauses (1)(u) through (z) thereof to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in calculating Consolidated Net Income; plus
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(c) Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period; plus
(d) the amount of any restructuring charges, integration, business optimization and acquisition, investment or disposal-related costs (whether incurred prior to, or after, the consummation of any such acquisition, investment or disposal), retention charges, stock option and any other equity-based compensation expenses deducted (and not added back) in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income, including any one-time costs incurred in connection with acquisitions, investments or disposals before or after the Original Issue Date and costs related to the closure and/or consolidation of facilities or headcount reductions or other similar actions (including severance charges in respect of employee terminations); plus
(e) any other non-cash charges, including any write-offs or write-downs, reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period (provided that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period); plus
(f) income attributable to non-controlling interests in Subsidiaries to the extent deducted (and not added back) in such period in calculating Consolidated Net Income; plus
(g) the amount of net cost savings and operating expense reductions projected by the Company in good faith to be realized as a result of actions initiated or to be initiated or taken on or prior to the date that is 12 months after the Distribution Date or 12 months after the consummation of any acquisition, amalgamation, merger or operational change or other action, plan or transaction and prior to or during such period (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings had been realized on the first day of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided that (x) such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and quantifiable and (y) no cost savings shall be added pursuant to this clause (g) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges relating to such cost savings that are either excluded in computing Consolidated Net Income or included (i.e., added back) in computing EBITDA for such period; provided, further, that the adjustments pursuant to this clause (g) may be incremental to (but not duplicative of) pro forma adjustments made pursuant to the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio; provided, further, that the aggregate amount of add backs made pursuant to this clause (g) shall not exceed an amount equal to 15% of EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to the determination date (without giving effect to any adjustments pursuant to this clause (g)); plus
(h) any costs or expense incurred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash
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proceeds contributed to the capital of the Company or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of Section 4.07(a); plus
(i) the amount of any earn-out payments, contingent consideration or deferred purchase price of any kind in conjunction with acquisitions; plus
(j) losses to the extent reimbursable by third parties in connection with any acquisition permitted hereunder, as determined in good faith by the Company; and
(2) decreased by (without duplication) non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, excluding any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash item that reduced EBITDA in any prior period.
Equity Interests means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock, but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock.
Euro means the lawful currency of participating member states of the European Union.
Euro Agent means Elavon Financial Services Limited, UK Branch, as initial Paying Agent in respect of the Euro Notes.
Euro Notes means Notes that are denominated in Euros.
Euroclear means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system, or any successor thereto.
European Government Obligations means direct, non-callable and non-redeemable obligations denominated in Euros of any member state of the European Union that is a member of the European Union as of the date of this Indenture and that has a rating of A or higher from S&P or A2 or higher from Moodys at the time that the relevant obligation was acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Excluded Contribution means net cash proceeds, marketable securities or Qualified Proceeds received by the Company from
(1) contributions to its common equity capital, or
(2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Company) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Company,
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in each case after the Original Issue Date and in each case designated as an Excluded Contribution pursuant to an Officers Certificate executed by the principal financial officer of the Company on the date such capital contribution is made or the date such Capital Stock is sold, as the case may be, which shall be excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (3) of Section 4.07(a).
fair market value means, with respect to any asset or liability, the fair market value of such asset or liability as determined by the Company in good faith.
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs, assumes, guarantees, redeems, retires or extinguishes any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) or issues or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, redemption, retirement or extinguishment of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.
For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations and disposed operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis, assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations and disposed operations (and the change in any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or disposed operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or disposed operation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.
For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, disposed operation or any other transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible
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financial or accounting officer of the Company (and may include, for the avoidance of doubt and without duplication, cost savings and operating expense reduction resulting from such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, disposed operation or other transaction, in each case calculated in the manner described in the definition of EBITDA herein). If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period except as set forth in the first paragraph of this definition. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a Eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.
Fixed Charges means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of:
(1) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period;
(2) all cash dividends or other distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock during such period; and
(3) all cash dividends or other distributions paid or accrued (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Disqualified Stock during such period.
Foreign Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that is not organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia and any Restricted Subsidiary of such Foreign Subsidiary.
Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company means, with respect to any Person, (a) any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that is a controlled foreign corporation for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (a CFC) and (b) any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person substantially all of whose assets consist of Equity Interests and/or Indebtedness of one or more CFCs and intellectual property relating to such CFCs and any other assets incidental thereto.
Form 10 means the Information Statement on Form 10 filed by the Company with the SEC on December 18, 2014 (including all exhibits thereto), as amended or supplemented from time to time through to the date hereof, pursuant to which the Company will conduct the business described in the Offering Circular and in such Form 10.
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GAAP means (1) generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America which are in effect on the Original Issue Date or (2) if elected by the Company by written notice to the Trustee in connection with the delivery of financial statements and information, the accounting standards and interpretations (IFRS) adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board, as in effect on the first date of the period for which the Company is making such election; provided, that (a) any such election once made shall be irrevocable, (b) all financial statements and reports required to be provided after such election pursuant to this Indenture shall be prepared on the basis of IFRS, (c) from and after such election, all ratios, computations and other determinations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture shall be computed in conformity with IFRS and (d) in connection with the delivery of financial statements (x) for any of its first three financial quarters of any financial year, it shall restate its consolidated interim financial statements for such interim financial period and the comparable period in the prior year to the extent previously prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Original Issue Date and (y) for delivery of audited annual financial information, it shall provide consolidated historical financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS for the prior most recent fiscal year to the extent previously prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Original Issue Date.
Global Note when used with respect to any Series of Notes issued hereunder, means, individually and collectively, Notes executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all the Outstanding Notes of such Series or any portion thereof, in either case having the same terms, including, without limitation, the same original issue date, date or dates on which principal is due, and interest rate or method of determining interest and which shall bear the legend as prescribed by Section 2.14(c).
Global Note Legend means the legend set forth in Section 2.14(c), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture and any global note legend required by a supplemental indenture or Officers Certificate with respect to one or more series of Notes in addition to or in replacement thereof.
Government Securities means securities that are:
(1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged;
(2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a
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specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depository receipt; or
(3) AAA rated money market mutual funds, where 100% of the holdings are in securities described in clauses (1) or (2) of this definition of Government Securities or repurchase agreements that are fully collateralized by securities described in clauses (1) or (2) of this definition of Government Securities.
Governmental Authority means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, 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 a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.
Guarantee means the guarantee by any Guarantor of the Companys Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.
Guarantor means each Subsidiary Guarantor and any other Person that becomes a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
Hedging Obligations means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, commodity swap agreement, commodity cap agreement, commodity collar agreement, foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, currency collar agreement or similar agreement providing for the transfer, modification or mitigation of interest rate, commodity or currency risks either generally or under specific contingencies.
Holder means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the applicable Registrars books.
Indebtedness means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:
(1) any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:
(a) in respect of borrowed money;
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(b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);
(c) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), except (i) any such balance that constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case accrued in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any earn- out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP; or
(d) representing net payment obligations under any Hedging Obligations;
if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;
(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise on, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (1) of a third Person (whether or not such items would appear upon the balance sheet of such obligor or guarantor), other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business; and
(3) to the extent not otherwise included, the obligations of the type referred to in clause (1) of a third Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such first Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such first Person, the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the value of such asset or the amount of the obligation so secured;
provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (a) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or (b) any obligations under or in respect of operating leases or Sale and Lease-back Transactions (except any resulting Capitalized Lease Obligations).
Indenture means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
Independent Financial Advisor means an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith judgment of the Company, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.
Interest Payment Date when used with respect to any Series of Notes, means the date specified in such Notes for the payment of any installment of interest on those Notes.
Internal Revenue Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.
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Investment Grade Rating means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moodys and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency.
Investment Grade Securities means:
(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);
(2) debt securities or debt instruments with an Investment Grade Rating, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among the Company and its Subsidiaries;
(3) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) (which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment or distribution thereof); and
(4) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments.
Investments means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit, advances to customers, commission, travel and similar advances to directors, officers, employees and consultants in each case made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes) of the Company in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary and Section 4.07:
(1) Investments shall include the portion (proportionate to the Companys equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to:
(a) the Companys Investment in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; less
(b) the portion (proportionate to the Companys equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and
(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value at the time of such transfer.
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The amount of any Investment outstanding at any time shall be the original cost of such Investment, reduced by any dividend, distribution, interest payment, return of capital, repayment or other amount received in cash or Cash Equivalents by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Investment.
JV Reinvestment means any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in a joint venture to the extent funded with the proceeds of a cash dividend or other cash distribution made by such joint venture.
Lien means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.
Maturity Date, when used with respect to any Note or installment of principal thereof, means the date on which the principal of such Note or such installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity Date or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.
Net Income means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.
Net Proceeds means the aggregate cash proceeds and Cash Equivalents received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, including any cash and Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions, any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such assets (other than required by clause (1) of Section 4.10(b)) and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and
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retained by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.
Notes has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture.
Obligations means any principal, interest (including any interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable state, federal or foreign law), premium, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers acceptances), damages and other liabilities, and guarantees of payment of such principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
Offering Circular means the offering circular of the Company with respect to the Notes issued on the Original Issue Date, dated May 5, 2015.
Officer means the Chairman of the board of directors, the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company or a Guarantor.
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by an Officer of the Company or on behalf of a Guarantor by an Officer of such Guarantor (or if such Guarantor is a general partnership, one of the partners of the Guarantor).
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.
Original Issue Date means May 12, 2015.
Original Issue Discount Note means any Note that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02.
Outstanding means, as of the date of determination, all Notes (or Series of Notes, as applicable) theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(1) Notes theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
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(2) Notes for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent); provided that if such Notes are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture;
(3) Notes that have been defeased pursuant to the procedures specified in Article VIII; and
(4) Notes that have been paid in lieu of reissuance relating to lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificates, or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Notes have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Notes have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Notes owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgees right so to act with respect to such Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.
Participant means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include other indirect participants in The Depository Trust Company serving a similar function).
Permitted Asset Swap means the substantially concurrent purchase and sale or exchange of Related Business Assets or a combination of Related Business Assets and cash or Cash Equivalents between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided, that any cash or Cash Equivalents received must be applied in accordance with Section 4.10.
Permitted Investment means:
(1) any Investment in the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Person that will become a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Investment;
(2) any Investment in cash or Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;
(3) any Investment acquired after the Original Issue Date as a result of the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of another Person, including by way of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the
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Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 5.01, to the extent that such Investments were not made in anticipation or contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;
(4) any Investment in securities or other assets, including earn-outs, not constituting Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to Section 4.10(a) or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;
(5) any Investment existing on the Original Issue Date or made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the Original Issue Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or renewal of any such Investment or binding commitment existing on the Original Issue Date; provided, that the amount of any such Investment may be increased pursuant to such extension, modification or renewal only (a) as required by the terms of such Investment or binding commitment as in existence on the Original Issue Date (including as a result of the accrual or accretion of interest or original issue discount or the issuance of pay-in-kind securities) or (b) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;
(6) any Investment acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries:
(a) consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;
(b) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable, endorsements for collection or deposit held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable (including any trade counterparty or customer); or
(c) in satisfaction of judgments against other Persons; or
(d) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;
(7) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 4.09(b)(10);
(8) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; provided, however, that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3) of Section 4.07(a);
(9) guarantees of Indebtedness of the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary permitted under Section 4.09;
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(10) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.11(b) (except transactions described in clause (2), (4) or (6) of such Section);
(11) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, material or equipment;
(12) additional Investments having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (12) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $400.0 million and 6.50% of Total Assets (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);
(13) guarantees of Indebtedness of joint ventures of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted by Section 4.09(b)(26);
(14) Investments (including debt obligations and Equity Interests) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers or in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business or upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;
(15) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries or joint ventures of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (15) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $350.0 million and 5.50% of Total Assets (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);
(16) JV Reinvestments;
(17) any Investment in a Similar Business having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (17) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $250.0 million and 4.00% of Total Assets (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);
(18) loans and advances to, or guarantees of Indebtedness of, officers, directors and employees not in excess of $15.0 million outstanding at any one time, in the aggregate;
(19) advances, loans or extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(20) any Investment in any Subsidiary or any joint venture in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements or related activities arising in the ordinary course of business;
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(21) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of assets or services in the ordinary course of business;
(22) Investments made in the ordinary course of business in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client contacts;
(23) Investments in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility and workers compensation, performance and similar deposits entered into as a result of the operations of the business in the ordinary course of business;
(24) repurchases of Notes;
(25) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of Uniform Commercial Code Article 3 endorsements for collection of deposit and Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers;
(26) Investments in the ordinary course of business in connection with joint marketing arrangements with another Person (including the licensing or contribution of intellectual property in connection therewith);
(27) Investments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in a Securitization Special Purpose Entity or any Investment by a Securitization Special Purpose Entity in any other Person, in each case, in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction, including Investments of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Qualified Securitization Transaction or any related Indebtedness; and
(28) Investments made as part of the Transactions in a manner consistent in all material respects with the disclosures set forth in the Form 10 and the Offering Circular.
Permitted Liens means, with respect to any Person:
(1) pledges or deposits by such Person under workmens compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(2) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers, warehousemens and mechanics Liens, in each case for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;
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(3) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or not yet payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person to the extent required by GAAP;
(4) Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations or in favor of issuers of performance, surety, bid or appeal bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;
(5) survey exceptions, title defects, encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties that, in all cases, were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and that do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;
(6) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (4), (10), (18) or (23) of Section 4.09(b);
(7) Liens existing on the Original Issue Date;
(8) Liens on property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided, however, such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided further, however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(9) Liens on property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such acquisition; provided further, however, that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(10) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred in accordance with Section 4.09;
(11) Liens on specific items of inventory of other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Persons obligations in respect of bankers acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;
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(12) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business that do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and that do not secure any Indebtedness;
(13) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings (or similar filings under applicable law) regarding operating leases, consignment of goods or similar arrangements entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and Liens of a collecting bank arising in the ordinary course of business under Section 4-208 (or the applicable corresponding section) of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the relevant jurisdiction covering only the items being collected upon;
(14) Liens in favor of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor;
(15) Liens on equipment of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business to the Companys clients;
(16) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clause (6), (7), (8) or (9) to the extent that the Indebtedness secured by such new Lien is an amount equal to the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clause (6), (7), (8) or (9) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement; provided, however, that in each case such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property);
(17) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;
(18) other Liens securing obligations not to exceed the greater of $400.0 million and 6.25% of Total Assets at any one time outstanding (as adjusted to give pro forma effect to any assets purchased with the proceeds of the Indebtedness that is subject to such Lien, provided that such assets are acquired substantially concurrently with the incurrence of such Indebtedness);
(19) Liens securing Indebtedness of any non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred under this Indenture, to the extent such Liens relate only to the assets and properties of a non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary (and for the avoidance of doubt, any Liens permitted by this clause (19) at the time of incurrence thereof shall continue to be permitted by this clause (19) if such non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary later provides a Guarantee of the Notes);
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(20) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 6.01(5) so long as such Liens are adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings that may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment have not been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired;
(21) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;
(22) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code or any comparable or successor provision on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) in favor of banking institutions arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of setoff) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;
(23) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 4.09; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreement;
(24) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 4.09(b)(25);
(25) Liens that are contractual rights of setoff (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts or other cash management arrangements of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(26) Liens securing Indebtedness and other obligations to the extent permitted to be incurred under Credit Facilities, including any letter of credit facility relating thereto, incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(1);
(27) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to capital stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;
(28) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
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(29) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;
(30) Liens securing the Notes (other than any Additional Note) or the Guarantees thereof;
(31) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are located;
(32) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;
(33) Liens on Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that secure Indebtedness or other obligations of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;
(34) Liens on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted under this Indenture to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment;
(35) any interest or title of a lessor, sub-lessor, licensor or sub-licensor or secured by a lessors, sub-lessors, licensors or sub-licensors interest under leases or licenses entered into by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(36) deposits of cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased and operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business of the Company and such Subsidiary to secure the performance of the Companys or such Subsidiarys obligations under the terms of the lease for such premises;
(37) prior to the date on which a Permitted Investment is consummated, Liens arising from any escrow arrangement pursuant to which the proceeds of any equity issuance or other funds used to finance all or a portion of such Permitted Investment are required to be held in escrow pending release to consummate such Permitted Investment;
(38) Liens in connection with contracts for the sale of assets, including customary provisions with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of any Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;
(39) Liens on trusts, cash or Cash Equivalents or other funds in connection with the defeasance (whether by covenant or legal defeasance), discharge or redemption of Indebtedness pending consummation of a strategic transaction, or similar obligations; provided that such defeasance, discharge or redemption is otherwise permitted by this Indenture; and
(40) any Liens arising from the Transactions in a manner consistent in all material respects with the disclosures set forth in the Form 10 and the Offering Circular.
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In the event that a Permitted Lien meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Permitted Liens (at the time of incurrence or at a later date), the Company in its sole discretion may divide, classify or from time to time reclassify all or any portion of such Permitted Lien in any manner that complies with this definition and such Permitted Lien shall be treated as having been made pursuant only to the clause or clauses of the definition of Permitted Lien to which such Permitted Lien has been classified or reclassified.
Person means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
Preferred Stock means any Equity Interest with preferential rights of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.
Qualified Proceeds means assets that are used or useful in, or Capital Stock of any Person engaged in, a Similar Business.
Qualified Securitization Transaction means any transaction or series of transactions entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary sells, conveys, grants a security interest in or otherwise transfers to a Securitization Special Purpose Entity, and such Securitization Special Purpose Entity sells, conveys, grants a security interest in or otherwise transfers to one or more other Persons, any Securitization Assets (whether now existing or arising in the future).
Rating Agencies means Moodys and S&P or if Moodys or S&P or both shall not make a rating on the Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Company which shall be substituted for Moodys or S&P or both, as the case may be.
Receivables Facility means any receivables financing facilities or factoring (or reverse factoring) agreements or facilities, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or refunded from time to time, the obligations in respect of which are non-recourse (except for customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made in connection with such facilities) to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries sells its accounts receivable to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary.
Related Business Assets means assets (other than cash or Cash Equivalents) used or useful in a Similar Business; provided that any assets received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for assets transferred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed to be Related Business Assets if they consist of securities of a Person, unless upon receipt of the securities of such Person, such Person would become a Restricted Subsidiary.
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Responsible Officer with respect to the Trustee, means any vice president, assistant vice president, trust officer, assistant trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee within the corporate trust department of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the above designated officers or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such Persons knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
Restricted Investment means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
Restricted Subsidiary means, at any time, any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company (including any Foreign Subsidiary and Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company) that is not then an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Upon an Unrestricted Subsidiary ceasing to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall be a Restricted Subsidiary.
S&P means Standard & Poors, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.
Sale and Lease-Back Transaction means any arrangement providing for the leasing by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to a third Person in contemplation of such leasing.
SEC means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Secured Indebtedness means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by a Lien.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Securitization Assets means (i) all receivables, inventory or royalty or other revenue streams transferred in connection with asset securitization transactions by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to documents relating to any Qualified Securitization Transaction, (ii) all rights arising under the documentation governing or related to receivables (including rights in respect of Liens securing such receivables and other credit support in respect of such receivables), any proceeds of such receivables and any lockboxes or accounts in which such proceeds are deposited, spread accounts and other similar accounts (and any amounts on deposit therein) established in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction, any warranty, indemnity, dilution and other intercompany claim, arising out of the documents relating to such Qualified Securitization Transaction and other assets that are transferred or in respect of which security interests are granted in connection with asset securitizations involving accounts receivable, and (iii) all collections (including recoveries) and other proceeds of the assets described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii).
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Securitization Fees means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any participation interest issued or sold in connection with, and other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Qualified Securitization Transaction.
Securitization Special Purpose Entity means a Person (including, without limitation, a Restricted Subsidiary) created in connection with the transactions contemplated by a Qualified Securitization Transaction, which Person engages in no activities and holds no assets other than those incidental to such Qualified Securitization Transaction.
Senior Indebtedness means any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor that ranks pari passu in right of payment with the Notes or the Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be. For the avoidance of doubt, any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor that is permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture shall constitute Senior Indebtedness for the purposes of this Indenture unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is subordinate in right of payment to the Notes or any related Guarantee.
Senior Secured Credit Facilities means the Senior Credit Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015, by and among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other agents and lenders party thereto, including any guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof.
separation and distribution means (1) the series of internal transactions among DuPont and its Subsidiaries (including the Company and its Subsidiaries) pursuant to which the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries is separated from DuPont and its other Subsidiaries, as described in the Form 10 and the Offering Circular, and (2) DuPonts distribution of the shares of the Companys common stock to DuPonts stockholders.
Separation and Distribution Documents means each of the following agreements between DuPont and the Company in connection with the separation and distribution to be dated as of or prior to the Distribution Date: the Separation Agreement, the Transition Services Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement, the Intellectual Property Cross-License Agreement (each as referred to in the Form 10 and the Offering Circular) and any other instruments, assignments, documents and agreements executed in connection with the implementation of the Transactions.
Series or Series of Notes means each series of Notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.02 hereof.
Significant Subsidiary means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a significant subsidiary as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the Original Issue Date.
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Similar Business means any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the Original Issue Date or any business that is similar, reasonably related, incidental or ancillary thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of such business.
Standard Securitization Undertakings means all representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities, performance guarantees and servicing obligations entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary (other than a Securitization Special Purpose Entity) that are customary in connection with any Qualified Securitization Transaction.
Stated Maturity Date, when used with respect to any Note, means the date specified in such Note as the fixed date on which an amount equal to the principal amount of such Note is due and payable.
Subordinated Indebtedness means, with respect to the Notes,
(1) any Indebtedness of the Company that is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, and
(2) any Indebtedness of any Subsidiary Guarantor that is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such entity of the Notes.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person:
(1) any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; and
(2) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which
(a) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or otherwise, and
(b) such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a general partner or otherwise controls such entity.
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Subsidiary Guarantor has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture.
TIA means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) and the rules and regulations thereunder as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, TIA means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.
Total Assets means the total assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as shown on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company or such other Person as may be expressly stated, as the case may be (giving pro forma effect to any acquisitions or dispositions of assets or properties that have been made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, including through mergers or consolidations).
Transactions means (1) (A) the separation and distribution, (B) any other transactions contemplated by, or pursuant to, the Separation and Distribution Documents or otherwise in connection with the separation and distribution (including, but not limited to, any cancellation or termination of Indebtedness, agreements, arrangements, dividends, true-ups, adjustments, commitments or understandings, including intercompany accounts payables, receivables or Indebtedness, between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and DuPont or any of its other Subsidiaries, on the other hand, and making certain intercompany contributions and dividend payments, including, without limitation, the dividend to be paid to DuPont that is financed from the net proceeds of the senior secured term loan and the Notes issued on the Original Issue Date as described in the Form 10) and (C) any other transactions pursuant to agreements or arrangements in effect as of the Distribution Date, in each case on substantially the terms described in, or otherwise consistent in all material respects with, the Offering Circular, or, in the case of clauses (B) and (C), any amendment, modification, addition or supplement to any such agreement or arrangement or replacement thereof, as long as the terms of such agreement or arrangement, as so amended, modified, added, supplemented or replaced are not materially more disadvantageous to the Holders of Notes when taken as a whole compared to the applicable agreements or arrangements as described in the Offering Circular (as determined in good faith by the Company), (2) the payment of a cash dividend to DuPont in connection with the separation and distribution as described in the Offering Circular, (3) the issuance of the Notes on the Original Issue Date, (4) entering into the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the borrowing of the term loans thereunder and (5) the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing.
Trustee means the party named as such in the preamble to this Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, Trustee as used with respect to the Notes of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Notes of that Series.
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Unrestricted Cash means, at any time, all cash and Cash Equivalents held by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such time; provided that such cash and Cash Equivalents (a) do not appear (and would not be required to appear) as restricted on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company prepared in conformity with GAAP (unless such classification results solely from any Lien referred to in clause (b) below) and (b) are not controlled by or subject to any Lien or other preferential arrangement in favor of any creditor, other than Liens created under a Credit Facility.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means:
(1) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the Company, as provided below); and
(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
The Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than solely any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided that
(1) such designation complies with Section 4.07; and
(2) each of the Subsidiary to be so designated and its Subsidiaries has not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.
The Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, immediately after giving effect to such designation, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and either:
(1) the Company could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a); or
(2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.
Any such designation by the Company shall be notified by the Company to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the board of directors of the Company or any committee thereof giving effect to such designation and an Officers Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.
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Actions taken by an Unrestricted Subsidiary will not be deemed to have been taken, directly or indirectly, by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.
Voting Stock of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such Person.
Weighted Average Life to Maturity means, when applied to any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:
(1) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment; by
(2) the sum of all such payments.
SECTION 1.02 Other Definitions.
Term | Defined in Section | |
Acceptable Commitment |
4.10 | |
Additional Amounts |
4.09 | |
Additional Notes |
2.02 | |
Affiliate Transaction |
4.11 | |
Asset Sale Offer |
4.10 | |
Change of Control Offer |
4.13 | |
Change of Control Payment |
4.13 | |
Change of Control Payment Date |
4.13 | |
Covenant Defeasance |
8.03 | |
Covenant Suspension Event |
4.14 | |
Event of Default |
6.01 | |
Excess Proceeds Threshold |
4.10 | |
Guaranteed Obligations |
10.01 | |
incur |
4.09 | |
Legal Defeasance |
8.02 | |
Legal Holiday |
11.07 | |
OID |
4.06 | |
Paying Agent |
2.05 | |
Refinancing Indebtedness |
4.09 | |
Refunding Capital Stock |
4.07 | |
Registrar |
2.05 | |
Regular Record Date |
2.03 | |
Reversion Date |
4.14 | |
Successor Company |
5.01 | |
Successor Person |
5.01 |
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Term | Defined in Section | |
Suspended Covenants |
4.14 | |
Suspension Period |
4.14 | |
Transfer Agent |
2.05 | |
Treasury Capital Stock |
4.07 | |
Trustee Notice Requirement |
4.02 |
SECTION 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. When qualified under the TIA, this Indenture shall be subject to the mandatory provisions of the TIA, which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. Whether or not this Indenture is so qualified, the following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
indenture securities means the Notes;
indenture security Holder means a Holder of a Note;
indenture to be qualified means this Indenture;
indenture trustee or institutional trustee means the Trustee; and
obligor on the Notes means the Company and each Guarantor, until a successor replaces the Company or a Guarantor and thereafter means, as to such replaced Company or Guarantor, its successor.
When qualified under the TIA, all other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by the TIAs reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA shall have the meanings so assigned to them.
SECTION 1.04 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) or is not exclusive;
(4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;
(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;
(6) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time;
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(7) the term consolidated with respect to any Person refers to such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and excludes from such consolidation any Unrestricted Subsidiary as if such Unrestricted Subsidiary were not an Affiliate of such Person; and
(8) all covenant basket sizes set forth herein, including any definitions relating thereto, are as specified in Dollars, including with respect to any Euro Notes.
ARTICLE II
THE NOTES
SECTION 2.01 Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Notes may be issued in one or more Series. All Notes of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to the authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Notes of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers Certificate may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, Maturity Date, Regular Record Date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Notes may differ between Series in respect of any matters.
SECTION 2.02 Establishment of Terms of Series of Notes. At or prior to the issuance of any Notes within a Series, the Company may establish (as to the Series generally, in the case of subsection 2.02(a) and either as to such Notes within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of subsections 2.02(b) through 2.02(x)) by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution the following terms applicable to such Notes:
(a) the title of the Notes of the Series (which shall distinguish the Notes of that particular Series from the Notes of any other Series);
(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes of the Series);
(c) the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the Notes of the Series are payable;
(d) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable per annum) at which the Notes of the Series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of determining such rate or rates, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the
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Interest Payment Dates on which such interest, if any, shall be payable or the method by which such dates will be determined, the Regular Record Dates (in the case of Notes in registered form), and the basis upon which such interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;
(e) the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which Notes of the Series shall be denominated, the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the office of the Trustee where the principal, premium and interest with respect to Notes of such Series shall be payable or the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;
(f) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Notes of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part at the option of the Company or otherwise, including the applicability of, and any addition to or change in, the provisions (and the related definitions) set forth in Article III which applies to Notes of the Series;
(g) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay the Notes of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Notes of the Series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligations;
(h) the terms, if any, upon which the Notes of the Series may be convertible into or exchanged for any of the Companys ordinary shares, preferred shares, other debt securities or warrants for ordinary shares, preferred shares or other securities of any kind and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange period and any other additional provisions;
(i) if other than denominations of (1) $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, in the case of Dollar Notes, or (2) 100,000 and any integral multiple of 1,000 in excess thereof, in the case of Euro Notes, the denominations in which the Notes of the Series shall be issuable;
(j) if the amount of principal, premium or interest with respect to the Notes of the Series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;
(k) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity Date of Notes of the Series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such Stated Maturity Date, the amount that will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any Maturity Date other than the Stated Maturity Date and which will be deemed to be Outstanding as of any such date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined), and if necessary, the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in Dollars or Euros, as the case may be;
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(l) any changes or additions to Article VIII;
(m) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Notes of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02;
(n) the terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge or assignment as security for the Notes of the Series of any properties, assets, moneys, proceeds, securities or other collateral, including whether any provisions of the TIA are applicable and any corresponding changes to provisions of this Indenture as then in effect;
(o) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Notes of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Series of Notes to declare the principal amount of, premium, if any, and interest on such Series of Notes due and payable pursuant to Section 6.02;
(p) if the Notes of the Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Note, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Note may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Definitive Notes of such Series, the Depositary for such Global Note and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Note in addition to or in lieu of the Global Note Legend;
(q) any Trustee, authenticating agent, Paying Agent, transfer agent or Registrar;
(r) the applicability of, and any addition to or change in, the covenants (and the related definitions) set forth in Article IV or Article V which applies to Notes of the Series;
(s) with regard to Notes of the Series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the Trustee;
(t) the intended United States federal income tax consequences of the Notes;
(u) the terms applicable to Original Issue Discount Notes, including the rate or rates at which original issue discount will accrue; and
(v) any other terms of Notes of the Series (which terms shall not be prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture).
All Notes of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers Certificate referred to above, and the authorized principal amount of any Series may not be increased to provide for issuances of additional Notes of such Series, unless otherwise provided in such Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers Certificate. Any Notes issued after the Original Issue Date are herein referred to as Additional Notes.
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SECTION 2.03 Denominations; Provisions for Payment. The Notes shall be issuable and may be transferred only, except as otherwise provided with respect to any Series of Notes pursuant to Section 2.02, as registered Notes in the denominations of (1) $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, in the case of Dollar Notes, or (2) 100,000 and any integral multiple of 1,000 in excess thereof, in the case of Euro Notes, subject to Section 2.02(k). The Notes of any Series shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rate specified with respect to that Series. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.02 with respect to Notes of any Series, the principal of and the interest on the Notes of any Series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption thereof prior to maturity, shall be payable in Dollars, in the case of Dollar Notes, or Euros, in the case of Euro Notes. Such payment shall be made (x) in the case of the Dollar Notes, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, and (y) in the case of the Euro Notes, at the office or agency of the paying agent or registrar of the Euro Notes maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders of the Notes at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to (i) Dollar Notes represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holder or Holders thereof, and (ii) Euro Notes represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of a nominee of and held by the common depository for Euroclear and Clearstream will be made by the wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holder or Holders thereof. The rights of holders of beneficial interests in the Euro Notes to receive payment on such Euro Notes are subject to applicable procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream. The Company hereby designates the office of the Trustee as one such office or agency with respect to Dollar Notes and the Company hereby designates the office of the Euro Agent as one such office or agency with respect to Euro Notes. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.02, interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.
The interest installment on any Note that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Notes of that Series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest installment. In the event that any Note of any Series or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a Regular Record Date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Note will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Note as provided in Section 3.05 and Section 3.06.
Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate establishing the terms of any Series of Notes pursuant to Section 2.02 hereof, the term Regular Record Date as used in this Indenture with respect to Notes of any Series with respect to any Interest Payment Date for such Series
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shall mean (i) either the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such Series pursuant to Section 2.02 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day, or (ii) the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such Series pursuant to Section 2.02 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Note of a Series delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note of such Series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Note.
SECTION 2.04 Execution and Authentication. One or more Officers shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile signature. If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid. A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The manual signature of the Trustee shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture. The Notes may contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage, but which shall not affect the rights, duties or immunities of the Trustee.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Notes for original issue in the principal amount provided in a Company Order. Such Company Order shall specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the issue of Notes is to be authenticated, the number of separate Notes to be authenticated, the registered Holder of each Note and delivery instructions. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers Certificate.
The aggregate principal amount of Notes of any Series Outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02, except as provided in Section 2.09.
Prior to the first issuance of Notes of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.02) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers Certificate establishing the form of the Notes of that Series or of Notes within that Series and the terms of the Notes of that Series or of Notes within that Series, (b) an Officers Certificate with respect to both the issuance and authentication of such Notes, and (c) other than with respect to Notes issued on the Original Issue Date, an Opinion of Counsel with respect to both the issuance and authentication of such Notes which shall also state: (i) that such Notes, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will
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constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors rights and to general equity principles; (ii) that the Guarantees relating to such Notes constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors rights and to general equity principles; (iii) that this Indenture and any such supplemental indenture constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors rights and to general equity principles; and (iv) all conditions precedent, if any, in connection with the execution of such supplemental indenture have been satisfied.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Notes of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken; (b) if the Trustee shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then Outstanding Series of Notes or otherwise exposes the Trustee to liability hereunder or under any Series of Notes; or (c) if the issue of such Notes will adversely affect the Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under the Notes and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
SECTION 2.05 Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent. The Company shall maintain one or more offices or agencies where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (each, a Registrar) and one or more offices or agencies where Notes may be presented for payment (each, a Paying Agent). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-Registrars and one or more additional Paying Agents. The term Registrar includes any co-Registrar and the term Paying Agent includes any additional Paying Agent. The Company shall also maintain a transfer agent with respect to any Euro Notes (a Transfer Agent). The Transfer Agent shall be responsible for, among other things, facilitating any transfers or exchanges of beneficial interests in Euro Notes represented by global notes between Holders.
The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such co-Registrar or additional Paying Agents and of any change in the name or address of any such Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such, or
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appoint any necessary Registrar or Paying Agent. The Company may change the Paying Agents, the Registrars or the Transfer Agent without prior notice to the Holders. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as a Paying Agent or Registrar with respect to any Dollar Notes. If and for so long as any Euro Notes are listed on the Global Exchange Market and the rules of the Irish Stock Exchange so permit, the Company shall publish a notice of any change of Paying Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent on the official website of the Irish Stock Exchange (http://www.ise.ie).
The Company undertakes that, so long as any Euro Notes remain outstanding, it will ensure that it maintains a Paying Agent with respect to such Euro Notes in a member state of the European Union that will not be obligated to withhold or deduct tax pursuant to the Council of the European Union Directive 2003/48/EC (as amended from time to time) or any other law or directive implementing the conclusions of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting of 26 and 27 November 2000 on the taxation of savings income, or any law implementing, or complying with or introduced in order to conform to, such directive. The applicable Paying Agent will make payments on the Notes on behalf of the Company.
The Company hereby appoints the Trustee to be the initial Registrar and initial Paying Agent for any Dollar Notes. The Company hereby appoints Elavon Financial Services Limited, UK Branch, to be the initial Paying Agent for any Euro Notes. The Company hereby appoints Elavon Financial Services Limited to be the initial Registrar and initial Transfer Agent for any Euro Notes.
SECTION 2.06 Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust. Each Paying Agent, other than the Trustee, agrees that it will hold in trust, for the benefit of Holders of any Series of Notes or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.06 to the contrary, (i) the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 2.06 is subject to the provisions of Section 8.06, and (ii) the Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms and conditions as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent (if other than the Company) shall be released from all further liability with respect to the money. If the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Holders of any Series of Notes all money held by it as Paying Agent. The Euro Agent hereby agrees to the terms of this Section 2.06.
SECTION 2.07 Holder Lists. (a) The Registrar shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders of each Series of
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Notes and the Company undertakes to provide, or cause the Depositary to provide, such a list at the Registrars or Trustees reasonable request but in any case no more often than at stated intervals of six months, unless the Company and the Trustee or Registrar shall otherwise agree. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Holders of each Series of Notes.
(b) The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 2.07(a) upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
SECTION 2.08 Transfer and Exchange. When Notes of a Series are presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon a Company Order, shall authenticate, Notes. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment from the transferring or exchanging Holder, as the case may be, of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Section 2.11, 3.06 or 9.04).
Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Notes of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business 30 days immediately preceding the mailing of a notice of redemption of Notes of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (b) to register the transfer or exchange of Notes of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Notes selected, called or being called for redemption in part.
All Notes presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section 2.08, shall be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee, duly executed by the registered Holder or by such Holders duly authorized attorney in writing and, if necessary, by the transferee or such transferees duly authorized attorney in writing.
The provisions of this Section 2.08 are, with respect to any Global Note, subject to Section 2.14 hereof.
SECTION 2.09 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Notes. If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee (in the case of Dollar Notes) or the applicable Registrar (in the case of Euro Notes), the Company shall execute and the Trustee, upon a Company Order, shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Note of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
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If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee or such Registrar (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee or such Registrar that such Note has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee or such Registrar, upon a Company Order, shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Note, a new Note of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Note, pay such Note (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Note) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee or such Registrar such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.
Upon the issuance of any new Note under this Section 2.09, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee or such Registrar) connected therewith.
Every new Note of any Series issued pursuant to this Section 2.09 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes of that Series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section 2.09 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights and remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary, with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes, negotiable instruments or other securities.
SECTION 2.10 Treasury Notes. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, Notes of a Series owned by the Company or any Guarantor, or any of their respective subsidiaries, shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Notes of a Series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Subject to the foregoing, only Notes Outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.
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SECTION 2.11 Temporary Notes. Until Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes upon a Company Order. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes, which shall not affect the rights, duties or immunities of the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee, upon a Company Order, shall authenticate Definitive Notes of the same Series and Maturity Date in exchange for temporary Notes. Until so exchanged, temporary Notes shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the Definitive Notes.
SECTION 2.12 Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Notes surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act and its customary practices) and, upon request, provide evidence of the cancellation of all cancelled Notes to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that they have paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, notice of such cancellation to the Company Announcements Office of the Irish Stock Exchange (as long as any Euro Notes are admitted to the Official List and to trading on the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange and the rules of the Irish Stock Exchange so require).
SECTION 2.13 Defaulted Interest. If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner, plus, to the extent permitted by law and if the terms of such Series so provide, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the persons who are Holders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least 10 days before the record date, the Company shall mail or deliver to the Trustee and to each Holder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid, including any defaulted interest and interest thereon.
SECTION 2.14 Global Notes. (a) Terms of Notes. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers Certificate shall establish whether the Notes of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Notes and the Depositary for such Global Note or Notes.
(b) Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.08 of this Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Note shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.08 of this Indenture for Notes registered
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in the names of Holders (and held in definitive form) other than the Depositary for such Note or its nominee only if (i) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Note or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days of such event, and (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers Certificate (and any other deliverables required hereunder) stating that such Global Note shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Note that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Notes registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Note with like tenor and terms.
Except as provided in this Section 2.14(b), a Global Note may only be transferred in whole but not in part (i) by the Depositary with respect to such Global Note to a nominee of such Depositary, (ii) by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or (iii) by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.
(c) Legend. Any Global Note issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form; provided that any global note legend required by a supplemental indenture or Officers Certificate with respect to one or more series of Notes shall be appended in addition to or in replacement of the following form:
This Note is held by the Depositary (as defined in the Indenture governing this Note) or its nominee in custody for the benefit of the beneficial owners hereof, and is not transferable to any person under any circumstances except that (a) the Trustee or the Registrar may make such notations hereon as may be required pursuant to Section 2.04 of the Indenture, (b) this Note may be exchanged in whole but not in part pursuant to Section 2.14(b) of the Indenture, (c) this Global Note may be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to Section 2.12 of the Indenture and (d) except as otherwise provided in Section 2.14(b) of the Indenture, this Note may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only (x) by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, (y) by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or (z) by the Depositary or any nominee to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
(d) Acts of Holders. (i) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the Act of Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.
(ii) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by any reasonable manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.
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(iii) The ownership of registered securities shall be proved by the register maintained by the Registrar.
(iv) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.
(v) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act, the Company may, at its option, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Notes have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Notes shall be computed as of such record date; provided, that such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall not be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture within six months after the record date.
The Depositary, as a Holder, may establish procedures for beneficial owners of Notes who hold interests in the Notes through Participants to provide any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that a Holder is entitled to give or take under this Indenture and it may take actions as Holder consistent with such instructions in accordance with such procedures. Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any duty, obligation, responsibility or liability with respect to any Depositarys procedures, action or inaction.
(e) Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Note shall be made to the Holder thereof.
(f) Depositaries. The Company hereby appoints DTC to act as initial Dollar Depositary with respect to any Dollar Notes. The Company hereby appoints Elavon Financial Services Limited to act as initial Common Depositary with respect to any Euro Notes.
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SECTION 2.15 CUSIP Numbers, ISINs and Common Code Numbers. The Company in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and Common Code numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Company shall use CUSIP numbers, ISINs or Common Code numbers in notices of redemption as provided in Section 3.03; provided that (i) neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for any defect in the CUSIP number, ISIN or Common Code number that appears on any Note, check, advice of payment or redemption notice, (ii) any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption, (iii) reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Notes and (iv) any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall notify the Trustee of changes in the CUSIP number, ISIN or Common Code number for the Notes of which it becomes aware.
SECTION 2.16 Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the Holders of the Notes, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the Holders of the Notes.
SECTION 2.17 Performance of the Transactions. Notwithstanding any provision of this Indenture or the Notes, nothing herein or therein shall be deemed to prevent, restrict or otherwise impose limitations on the ability of DuPont, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries to enter into and perform the Transactions (including the Separation and Distribution Documents) and to consummate the separation and distribution and no such action, in and of itself, shall be deemed to constitute or result in a Default or an Event of Default.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
SECTION 3.01 Notices to Trustee. The Company may, with respect to any Series of Notes, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Notes or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Notes or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity Date thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Series of Notes. If a Series of Notes is
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redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity Date thereof all or part of the Series of Notes pursuant to the terms of such Notes, the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Notes of the Series to be redeemed and the redemption price. Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.03, the Company shall give such written notice to the Trustee in the form of an Officers Certificate at least 10 days before notice of redemption is required to be mailed or caused to be mailed to Holders pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period.
If and for so long as any Euro Notes are listed on the Official List of the Irish Stock Exchange and admitted to trading on the Global Exchange Market and the rules of the Irish Stock Exchange so require, any such notice to the holder of the relevant Euro Notes shall also be released by the Company through the Companies Announcement Office of the Irish Stock Exchange and, in connection with any redemption, the Company will notify the Irish Stock Exchange of any change in the principal amount of Euro Notes outstanding.
SECTION 3.02 Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed. Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate, if less than all of the Notes of a Series are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed or purchased as follows:
(1) if the Company notifies the Trustee in writing that the Notes are listed on an exchange, in compliance with the requirements of such exchange; or
(2) on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable, or, if a pro rata basis is not practicable or permitted for any reason, by lot or by such other method as may be prescribed by, in respect of Dollar Notes, DTCs applicable procedures, or, in respect of Euro Notes, Euroclears and Clearstreams applicable procedures.
No Dollar Notes of $2,000 of principal amount or less (or, in the case of any Series of Dollar Notes established in denominations less than $2,000, the principal amount or less of such denomination) will be redeemed in part. No Euro Notes of 100,000 of principal amount or less (or, in the case of any Series of Euro Notes established in denominations less than 100,000, the principal amount or less of such denomination) will be redeemed in part. Except as provided in the two preceding sentences, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption. The Trustee shall make the selection from Outstanding Notes of a Series not previously called for redemption.
If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to such Note of the same Series and Stated Maturity Date shall state the portion of the principal amount of that Note to be redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note presented for redemption will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue or accrete on Notes or portions of them called for redemption.
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SECTION 3.03 Notice of Redemption. Unless otherwise provided for a particular Series of Notes by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall deliver electronically or mail or cause to be mailed, by first-class mail, postage prepaid (or otherwise delivered in accordance with the procedures of DTC with respect to Dollar Notes or the procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream with respect to Euro Notes), a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.
The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:
(1) the redemption date;
(2) the redemption price, which will include interest accrued and unpaid to the date fixed for redemption;
(3) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Note;
(4) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(5) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest on Notes (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(7) the paragraph of the Notes and/or provision of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed;
(8) the CUSIP number, ISIN and Common Code number, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed;
(9) any applicable conditions precedent and the procedures for notice to the Trustee and Holders of any failure or delay to satisfy such conditions;
(10) whether payment of the redemption price and the performance of the Companys obligations with respect to such redemption will be performed by another Person; and
(11) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, ISIN or Common Code number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.
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At the Companys request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Companys name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, at least 10 days prior to the intended delivery or mailing of any such notice (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Trustee), an Officers Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as required by this Section.
SECTION 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is delivered or mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof and any conditions set forth therein have been satisfied, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price, subject to the following paragraph. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other Holder.
Notice of any redemption may be given prior to the completion of any offering or other corporate transaction, and any redemption or notice may, at the Companys discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, the completion of the related offering or corporate transaction.
SECTION 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price. No later than 10:00 a.m. local time on the redemption date in the place of payment of such redemption, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the applicable Paying Agent money in Dollars (in the case of Dollar Notes) and Euros (in the case of Euro Notes) sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes (or portions of Notes) to be redeemed on that date. Neither the Trustee nor the applicable Paying Agent shall be obligated to make payments to Holders or the Depositary without receipt of such sufficient funds. Each Euro amount payable hereunder shall be paid unconditionally by credit transfer in Euros and freely transferable, cleared funds on the date specified above, except as otherwise agreed between the Paying Agent for the applicable Euro Notes and the Company, to such account with such bank as the Paying Agent for such Euro Notes shall, by four Business Days prior notice to the Company, specify for such purpose. The Company shall procure that, before 10:00 a.m. (Luxembourg Time) on the third Business Day before each redemption date, the bank effecting payment to the Paying Agent for such Euro Notes confirms by authenticated SWIFT message to the Paying Agent for such Euro Notes the irrevocable payment instructions relating to such payment. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall as promptly as practicable return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed. If such money is then held by the Company in trust and is not required for such purpose it shall be discharged from such trust.
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If the Company complies with the provisions of the immediately preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed on or after a Regular Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid on the redemption date to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and, to the extent permitted by law and if the terms of such Series so provide, on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes.
SECTION 3.06 Notes Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute and the Trustee, upon a Company Order and receipt of the deliverables required hereunder, shall authenticate for the Holder (at the Companys expense) a new Note of the same Series and Stated Maturity Date equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.
SECTION 3.07 Optional Redemption. The Company may redeem all or part of the Notes within a Series pursuant to the terms of any Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers Certificate pursuant to which such Series was established.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.01 Payment of Notes. The Company covenants and agrees, for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Notes, that it will duly and punctually make all payments in respect of each Series of Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in such Series of Notes and this Indenture. Principal, premium, if any, and interest will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 10:00 a.m. local time in the place of payment on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, then due. Such payments shall be considered made on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with this Indenture, money sufficient to make all payments with respect to such Notes then due and the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture. Neither the Trustee nor the applicable Paying Agent shall be obligated to make payments to Holders or the Depositary without receipt of such sufficient funds.
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SECTION 4.02 Reports and Other Information.
(a) For so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company will file with the SEC (subject to the next sentence), and provide to the Trustee and holders of the Notes, within the time periods specified in such Sections:
(i) all quarterly and annual reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such reports; and
(ii) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.
All such reports will be prepared in all material respects in accordance with the rules and regulations applicable to such reports. While the Company remains subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Company agrees that it will not take any action for the purpose of causing the SEC not to accept such filings.
(b) If, at any time, the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for any reason, the Company will nevertheless post the substance of the reports specified in Section 4.01(a) (other than separate financial statements or condensed consolidating financial information required by Rule 3-10 or 3-16 of Regulation S-X) on its website and will provide those to the Trustee (but will not be required to file such reports with the SEC), in each case within the time periods that would apply if the Company were required to file those reports with the SEC; provided that, (1) with respect to the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company may provide the information required by this Section 4.02(b) with respect to such quarter at any time on or prior to June 30, 2015, including by means of an amendment to the Form 10, (2) with respect to the quarter ended June 30, 2015, if the separation and distribution have not occurred on or prior to August 14, 2015, the Company may provide the information required by this Section 4.02(b) with respect to such quarter at any time on or prior to September 30, 2015, including by means of an amendment to the Form 10 and (3) with respect to the quarter ended September 30, 2015, if the separation and distribution have not occurred on or prior to November 16, 2015, the Company may provide the information required by this Section 4.02(b) with respect to such quarter at any time on or prior to November 30, 2015, including by means of an amendment to the Form 10.
(c) For purposes of this Section 4.02, the Company will be deemed to have provided a required report to the Trustee and holders of the Notes if it has timely filed such report with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system (or any successor system).
(d) At any time when the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company will furnish to the holders of the Notes and to prospective investors, upon the requests of such holders, any information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act so long as the Notes are not freely transferable under the Securities Act.
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(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any direct or indirect parent company of the Company becomes a Guarantor, the Company may satisfy its obligations pursuant to this Section 4.02 with respect to financial information relating to the Company by furnishing or filing the required financial information relating to such direct or indirect parent company.
(f) In addition, (i) the Trustee shall be entitled (but not obligated) and (ii) holders of not less than 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of a series shall be entitled, each at any time, to request in writing that the Company provide to the Trustee, within 20 Business Days following such request, an Officers Certificate confirming whether or not the Company, as at the end of the most recently ended quarterly period, had designated any of its Subsidiaries to be Unrestricted Subsidiaries that, alone or taken together, represented either (a) 10% or more of the total assets of the Company as at the end of the relevant period, (b) 10% or more of the consolidated net income of the Company for the relevant most recent consecutive four-quarter period, or (c) 10% or more of the consolidated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization of the Company for the relevant most recent consecutive four- quarter period (the Trustee Notice Requirement). A copy of any such request delivered by the relevant holders pursuant to clause (ii) above shall be provided to the Trustee. If the Trustee Notice Requirement is satisfied, the Officers Certificate to be delivered pursuant to the foregoing requirement shall specify (a) the Total Assets, the Consolidated Net Income and the EBITDA of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) the total assets, the consolidated net income and the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries. The Trustee shall deliver such Officers Certificate to the Holders of the Notes within five Business Days of the date of receipt by the Trustee of the Officers Certificate, and the Trustee shall not have any responsibility or liability for any information set forth in such Officers Certificate or for any analysis thereof.
(g) Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section 4.02 is for informational purposes only, and the Trustees receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Companys compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely on Officers Certificates). The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for the content, filing or timeliness of any report to be issued or filed by the Company or Guarantors, as applicable.
SECTION 4.03 Compliance Certificate. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company an Officers Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Company and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that, to such Officers knowledge, the Company and each of its Restricted
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Subsidiaries has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which such Officer has knowledge and what action the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are taking or propose to take, if any, with respect thereto).
SECTION 4.04 Further Instruments and Acts. The Company and the Guarantors shall execute and deliver to the Trustee such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.
SECTION 4.05 Corporate Existence. Subject to Article V hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:
(1) its existence in accordance with its organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time); and
(2) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise if the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.
SECTION 4.06 Calculation of Original Issue Discount. If the Notes are issued with original issue discount (other than de minimis original issue discount) (OID), as defined under the Internal Revenue Code, the Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of OID (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Outstanding Notes as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such OID as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code.
SECTION 4.07 Restricted Payments.
(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any payment or distribution on account of the Companys, or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Equity Interests, including any dividend or distribution payable in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, other than:
(A) dividends or distributions by the Company payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; or
(B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities;
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(ii) purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company, or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, including any such purchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition or retirement in connection with any merger or consolidation;
(iii) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case, prior to any scheduled repayment, sinking fund payment or maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness, other than (a) Indebtedness permitted under Section 4.09(b)(7) or (8) or (b) the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition of Subordinated Indebtedness in anticipation of satisfying a rescheduled payment, sinking fund obligation, principal installment or maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance or acquisition; or
(iv) make any Restricted Investment
(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (I) through (IV) above (other than any exceptions thereto) being collectively referred to as Restricted Payments), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:
(1) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 4.09(a); and
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(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Original Issue Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07(b)(1), but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07(b)), is less than the sum of (without duplication):
(a) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) beginning on April 1, 2015 to the end of the Companys most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment, or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit; plus
(b) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by the Company since immediately after the Original Issue Date (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness, or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(12)(a)) from the issue or sale of:
(i) Equity Interests of the Company, including Treasury Capital Stock, but excluding cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received from the sale of:
(x) Equity Interests to any present, former or future employees, directors, officers, managers or consultants of the Company or any of the Companys Subsidiaries after the Original Issue Date to the extent such amounts have been applied to the amount of available Restricted Payments in accordance with Section 4.07(b)(5); and
(y) Designated Preferred Stock; and
(ii) debt securities of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests of the Company;
provided, however, that this clause (b) shall not include the proceeds from (W) Refunding Capital Stock (as defined below), (X) Equity Interests or convertible debt securities of the Company sold to a Restricted Subsidiary, (Y) Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have been converted into Disqualified Stock or (Z) Excluded Contributions; plus
(c) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value of marketable securities or other property received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary by means of:
(i) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries and repayments of loans or advances that constitute Restricted Investments by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case after the Original Issue Date; or
(ii) the sale (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4.07(b)(11) or (17) or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment) or a distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case, after the Original Issue Date; plus
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(d) in the case of the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Company, provided that if such fair market value may exceed $50.0 million, such determination shall be made by the board of directors of the Company and evidenced by a board resolution) of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of the redesignation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary other than to the extent the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4.07(b)(11) or (17) or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment.
(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) will not prohibit:
(1) the payment of any dividend or distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof or the giving of the irrevocable redemption notice, as applicable, if at the date of declaration or notice such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;
(2) (a) the redemption, repurchase, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (Treasury Capital Stock) or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of the Company to the extent contributed to the Company (in each case, other than any Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) (Refunding Capital Stock) and (b) if immediately prior to the retirement of Treasury Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under Section 4.07(b)(7), the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock in an aggregate per annum amount no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Treasury Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement;
(3) any other Restricted Payment made in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than any Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock);
(4) the redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor made in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially
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concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, that in each case is incurred in compliance with Section 4.09 but only:
(a) to the extent that the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value, plus the amount of any premium to be paid, defeasance costs and any fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness, and any excess amount is otherwise permitted under this Indenture;
(b) if such new Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the applicable Guarantee at least to the same extent, if at all, as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value;
(c) if such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired; and
(d) if such new Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired;
(5) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager or consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management, director or employee benefit plan or agreement (x) upon the death or disability of such employee, director, officer, manager or consultant or (y) upon the resignation or other termination of employment of such employee, director, officer, manager or consultant; provided, however, that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (5) do not exceed in any calendar year $40.0 million (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years); provided further that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:
(a) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to employees, directors, officers, managers or consultants of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that occurs after the Original Issue Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of Section 4.07(a)(4); plus
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(b) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Original Issue Date; less
(c) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clause (a) or (b) of this clause (5);
and provided further that (i) cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from any future, present or former employees, directors, officers, managers or consultants of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Company and (ii) the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of options, warrants or similar instruments if such Equity Interests represents all or a portion of the exercise price thereof or payments, in lieu of the issuance of fractional Equity Interests or withholding to pay other taxes payable in connection therewith, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this covenant or any other provision of this Indenture;
(6) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or of Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case issued in accordance with Section 4.09;
(7) (a) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued by the Company after the Original Issue Date; (b) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to Section 4.07(b)(2);
provided, however, in the case of each of subclauses (a) and (b) of this clause (7), that for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock or Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance or declaration on a pro forma basis, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;
(8) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur (i) upon the exercise of stock options, warrants or other equity-based awards if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options, warrants or awards or (ii) for the purposes of satisfying any required tax withholding obligation upon the exercise or vesting of a grant or award of any stock options, warrants or other equity-based awards;
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(9) the declaration and payment of ordinary dividends or distributions in respect of, or repurchases of, the Companys common stock in an aggregate amount not to exceed (a) for dividends declared and paid or distributions made in respect of, or repurchases during, the period commencing on the Original Issue Date and ending on December 31, 2015, an aggregate of $200.0 million in respect of, or repurchases during, such period and (b) for dividends declared and paid or distributions made in respect of any subsequent fiscal year, an aggregate of $400.0 million in respect of such period;
(10) Restricted Payments in an amount equal to the amount of Excluded Contributions previously received;
(11) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (11) not to exceed the greater of $350.0 million and 5.50% of Total Assets;
(12) Restricted Payments comprising the payment or distribution of any Securitization Fees;
(13) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness in accordance with the provisions similar to those set forth in Sections 4.10 and 4.13; provided that all Notes tendered in connection with a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have first been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value;
(14) the distribution, by dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries the primary assets of which are cash and/or Cash Equivalents);
(15) any Restricted Payment made as part of the Transactions in a manner consistent in all material respects with the disclosures set forth in the Form 10 and the Offering Circular; provided that immediately after giving effect to the separation and distribution, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall, subject to the adjustment procedures for Cash Equivalents (as such term is defined in the Separation Agreement) set forth in the Separation Agreement in relation to such requirement, have not less than $200.0 million in Cash Equivalents (as such term is defined in the Separation Agreement);
(16) payments made or expected to be made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of withholding or similar taxes payable by any present, former or future employees, director, officers, managers or consultants of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; and
(17) the making of other Restricted Payments if, at the time of the making of such Restricted Payment, and after giving pro forma effect thereto (including, without limitation, the incurrence of any Indebtedness to finance such Restricted Payment and the application of the net proceeds thereof), the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio of the Company would not exceed 3.00 to 1.00;
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provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (3), (9), (11), (14) and (17), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.
(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.07, in the event that a proposed Restricted Payment (or a portion thereof) meets the criteria of clauses (1) through (17) of Section 4.07(b) or is entitled to be made pursuant to Section 4.07(a), the Company will be entitled to classify or later reclassify (based on circumstances existing on the date of such reclassification) such Restricted Payment (or a portion thereof) between such clauses (1) through (17) and Section 4.07(a) in any manner that otherwise complies with this Section 4.07.
(d) The Company will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the provisions of the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary. For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of Investments. Such designation will be permitted only if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time, whether pursuant to Section 4.07(a) or under clause (3), (10), (11) or (17) of Section 4.07(b), or if it is a Permitted Investment, and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants set forth in this Indenture.
SECTION 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries.
(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to:
(1) (A) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor on its Capital Stock, or
(B) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor;
(2) make loans or advances to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor; or
(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor.
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(b) The restrictions in Section 4.08(a) shall not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:
(1) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Original Issue Date, including pursuant to the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the related documentation and Hedging Obligations in effect on the Original Issue Date and any related documentation;
(2) this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees thereof;
(3) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in Section 4.08(a)(3) above on the property so acquired;
(4) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation, order, approval, license, permit or other similar restriction, including under contracts with domestic or foreign governments or agencies thereof entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(5) any agreement or other instrument (including an instrument governing Capital Stock or Indebtedness) of a Person acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries in existence at the time of such acquisition or at the time it merges with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person (but, in any such case, not created in anticipation or contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired or the property or assets so assumed;
(6) contracts for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of any Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;
(7) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Sections 4.09 and 4.12 to the extent limiting the right of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to dispose of assets subject to such Lien;
(8) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(9) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Original Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.09; provided that such encumbrances and restrictions apply only to such Restricted Subsidiary and its assets; and provided, further, that the Company has determined in good faith, at the time of creation of each such encumbrance or restriction, that such encumbrances and restrictions would not individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the Companys ability to make required payments in respect of the Notes;
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(10) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements or arrangements relating solely to such joint venture;
(11) customary provisions contained in leases, licenses or similar agreements, including with respect to intellectual property and other agreements, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(12) non-assignment provisions of any contract or any lease of any Restricted Subsidiary entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(13) restrictions on the transfer of assets subject to any Lien permitted under this Indenture imposed by the holder of such Lien;
(14) any agreement or instrument governing Capital Stock of any Person that is acquired;
(15) restrictions or conditions contained in any trading, netting, operating, construction, service, supply, purchase, sale or other agreement to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party entered into in the ordinary course of business; provided that such agreement prohibits the encumbrance solely of the property or assets of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary that are subject to such agreement, the payment rights arising thereunder or the proceeds thereof and does not extend to any other asset or property of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary or the assets or property of another Restricted Subsidiary;
(16) contractual requirements of a Securitization Special Purpose Entity in connection with a Qualified Securitization Transaction; provided that such restrictions apply only to such Securitization Special Purpose Entity;
(17) any encumbrances, restrictions, contractual requirements or other provisions of the Separation and Distribution Documents or in connection with any of the Transactions in a manner consistent in all material respects with the disclosures set forth in the Form 10 and the Offering Circular;
(18) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in Sections 4.08(a)(1) and (2) above to the extent that such encumbrances or restrictions do not materially adversely affect the consolidated cash position of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors;
(19) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in Sections 4.08(a)(1), (2) and (3) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (17) of this Section 4.08(b); provided that such
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amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Company, either (i) not materially more restrictive with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions taken as a whole than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing, or (ii) ordinary and customary with respect to such instruments and obligations at the time of such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing; or
(20) restrictions created in connection with any Receivables Facility that are customarily entered into in relation to transactions of that nature.
SECTION 4.09 Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.
(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise (collectively, incur and each instance thereof, an incurrence), with respect to any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), and the Company will not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may incur indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock and issue shares of Preferred Stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries most recently ended four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.
(b) The provisions of Section 4.09(a) shall not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness:
(1) the incurrence of Indebtedness pursuant to Credit Facilities by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof), up to an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (a) $3,200 million and (b) 375.0% of the EBITDA of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the most
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recently ended four fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the date of such incurrence for which internal financial statements are available determined on a pro forma basis in a manner consistent with the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio;
(2) the incurrence by the Company and any Subsidiary Guarantor of Indebtedness under the Notes issued on the Original Issue Date (including Guarantees thereof) and any Notes (including Guarantees thereof) issued in exchange for such Notes pursuant to a registration rights agreement;
(3) Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Original Issue Date;
(4) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) and Disqualified Stock incurred or issued by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and the issuance of Preferred Stock by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, to finance the purchase, lease or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment that is used or useful in a Similar Business, whether through the direct purchase of assets or the purchase of Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets, in an aggregate principal amount at the date of such incurrence (including all Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance any other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4)) not to exceed the greater of $300.0 million and 4.75% of Total Assets (as adjusted to give pro forma effect to any assets purchased with the proceeds of the Indebtedness to be incurred, provided that such assets are acquired substantially concurrently with the incurrence of such Indebtedness); provided, however, that such Indebtedness exists at the date of such purchase or transaction or is created within 365 days thereafter (for the avoidance of doubt, the purchase date for any asset shall be the later of the date of completion of installation and the beginning of the full productive use of such asset);
(5) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business, including letters of credit in respect of workers compensation claims, death, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers compensation claims; provided, however, that upon the drawing of such letters of credit or the incurrence of such Indebtedness, such obligations (a) are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing or incurrence or (b) are permitted to be incurred (and thereupon shall deemed to be incurred) pursuant to clause (4) above following the expiry of such 30 day period;
(6) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, including earnouts, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary, other than
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guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition; provided, however, that such Indebtedness is not reflected on the balance sheet of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (contingent obligations referred to in a footnote to financial statements and not otherwise reflected on the balance sheet will not be deemed to be reflected on such balance sheet for purposes of this clause (6));
(7) Indebtedness of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Notes; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in the Restricted Subsidiary holding such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (7);
(8) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if a Subsidiary Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of the Notes of such Subsidiary Guarantor; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Indebtedness being held by a person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or any subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (8);
(9) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed in each case to be an issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (9);
(10) Hedging Obligations (excluding Hedging Obligations entered into for speculative purposes) for the purpose of limiting interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09, exchange rate risk or commodity pricing risk;
(11) obligations in respect of self-insurance and obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal, stay, surety, customs and replevin bonds and performance and completion guarantees provided by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
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(12) (a) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary equal to 100.0% of the net cash proceeds received by the Company since immediately after the Original Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company or cash contributed to the capital of the Company (in each case, other than proceeds of Disqualified Stock, Designated Preferred Stock or sales of Equity Interests to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with Section 4.07(a)(3)(c) to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied pursuant to such clauses to make Restricted Payments or to make other Investments, payments or exchanges pursuant to Section 4.07(b) or to make a Permitted Investment and (b) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference that, when aggregated with the principal amount and liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this clause (12)(b), does not exceed the greater of $350.0 million and 5.50% of Total Assets (as adjusted to give pro forma effect to any assets purchased with the proceeds of the Indebtedness to be incurred, provided that such assets are acquired substantially concurrently with the incurrence of such Indebtedness);
(13) the incurrence or issuance by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, and the issuance by any Restricted Subsidiary of Preferred Stock, in each case that serves to refund, refinance, replace, renew, extend or defease any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued as permitted under Section 4.09(a) or clause (2), (3), (4) or (12)(a) of this Section 4.09(b), this clause (13) or clause (14) of this Section 4.09(b) or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock previously incurred or issued to so refund, refinance, replace, renew, extend or defease such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, including additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock incurred or issued to pay premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, accrued interest, fees and expenses in connection therewith (the Refinancing Indebtedness) prior to its respective maturity; provided, however, that such Refinancing Indebtedness:
(a) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred that is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded, refinanced, replaced, renewed, extended or defeased (or requires no or nominal payments in cash prior to the date that is 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes);
(b) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refunds, refinances, replaces, renews, extends or defeases (i) Subordinated Indebtedness, such Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of
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payment to the Notes or the Guarantee thereof at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness being refunded, refinanced, replaced, renewed, extended or defeased or (ii) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness must be Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, respectively; and
(c) shall not include:
(i) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company;
(ii) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Subsidiary Guarantor; or
(iii) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
and, provided, further, that subclause (a) of this clause (13) will not apply to any refunding, refinancing, replacement, renewal, extension or defeasance of any Secured Indebtedness;
(14) (x) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company and Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary incurred or issued to finance an acquisition (or other purchase of assets) or (y) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Persons that are acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or merged into or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided that in the case of (x) and (y) after giving effect to such acquisition, merger or consolidation, either (a) the Company would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first sentence of this covenant or (b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries is greater than immediately prior to such acquisition;
(15) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business;
(16) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to Credit Facilities, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;
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(17) (a) any guarantee by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the incurrence of such Indebtedness incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture, and
(b) any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Company;
(18) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(19) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company to the extent described in Section 4.07(b)(4);
(20) Indebtedness consisting of cash management services incurred in the ordinary course of business, including in respect of credit card obligations, overdrafts and related liabilities arising from treasury, depositary and cash management services or in connection with any automated clearinghouse transfers of funds;
(21) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods purchased in the ordinary course of business;
(22) Indebtedness owed on a short-term basis of no longer than 30 days to banks and other financial institutions incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with such banks or financial institutions and arising in connection with ordinary banking arrangements to manage cash balances of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(23) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with bankers acceptances or discounted bills of exchange, in each case incurred or undertaken consistent with past practice or in the ordinary course of business;
(24) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries of the Company in an amount not to exceed, at any one time outstanding and together with any other Indebtedness incurred under this clause (24), the greater of $250.0 million and 4.00% of Total Assets;
(25) Indebtedness incurred by a Securitization Special Purpose Entity pursuant to a Qualified Securitization Transaction that is without recourse to the Company or to any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Standard Securitization Undertakings);
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(26) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, any obligations incurred as part of the Transactions in a manner consistent in all material respects with the disclosures set forth in the Form 10 and the Offering Circular; and
(27) Indebtedness representing guarantees of Indebtedness of joint ventures of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary not to exceed the greater of $100.0 million and 1.50% of Total Assets.
(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, (1) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in clauses (1) through (27) of Section 4.09(b) or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a), the Company, in its sole discretion, will classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in one of the above clauses or under the first paragraph of this covenant; and (2) at the time of incurrence, the Company will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Sections 4.09(a) and (b) above; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities on the Original Issue Date will be treated as incurred under clause (1) of Section 4.09(b).
(d) Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 4.09, Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors may not incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.09(a) or clause (12), (13), (14) or (24) of Section 4.09(b) if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), the aggregate amount of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.09(a) and clause (12), (13), (14) and (24) of Section 4.09(b) at any one time outstanding would exceed the greater of $500.0 million and 8.00% of Total Assets (as adjusted to give pro forma effect to any assets purchased with the proceeds of the Indebtedness to be incurred, provided that such assets are acquired substantially concurrently with the incurrence of such Indebtedness).
(e) Accrual of interest or dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness and the payment of dividends in the form of additional Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, will in each case not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09.
(f) For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. Dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. Dollar-equivalent
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principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. Dollar denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. Dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed (a) the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced, plus (b) the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums (including tender premiums) and other costs and expenses (including original issue discount, upfront fees or similar fees) incurred in connection with such refinancing.
(g) The principal amount of any Indebtedness incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.
(h) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) that is expressly subordinated or junior in right of payment to any Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantors Guarantee to the extent and on substantially identical terms as such Indebtedness is subordinated to other Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be.
(i) For purposes of this Section 4.09, (1) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinated or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured and (2) Senior Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinated or junior to any other Senior Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral or because such other Senior Indebtedness is guaranteed by other obligors.
SECTION 4.10 Asset Sales.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale, unless:
(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Company at the time of contractually agreeing to such Asset Sale) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of or the Equity Interests issued; and
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(2) except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the following shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this provision and for no other purpose:
(A) any liabilities (as reflected in the Companys or such Restricted Subsidiarys most recent balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto or, if incurred, increased or accrued subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, such liabilities that would have been shown on the Companys or such Restricted Subsidiarys balance sheet or in the footnotes thereto if such incurrence, increase or accrual had taken place on the date of such balance sheet, as determined in good faith by the Company) of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than Contingent Obligations and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or the applicable Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a written agreement that releases or indemnifies the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from such liabilities or that are otherwise extinguished by the transferee in connection with such transaction;
(B) any securities, notes or other similar obligations received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received) within 180 days of the receipt thereof;
(C) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (C) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $200.0 million and 3.25% of Total Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value; and
(D) Capital Stock of a Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary or of a Person engaged in a Similar Business that shall become a Restricted Subsidiary immediately upon the acquisition thereof by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.
(b) Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, at its option, may apply an amount equal to the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale,
(1) to permanently reduce Indebtedness as follows:
(A) to permanently reduce Secured Indebtedness, including Indebtedness under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, in each case, that is secured by a Lien that is permitted by this Indenture and (if applicable) to permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto;
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(B) to permanently reduce Obligations under other Senior Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor (and (if applicable) to permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto), provided that the Company shall equally and ratably reduce (or offer to reduce, as applicable) Obligations under the Notes; provided further that all reductions of Obligations under the Notes shall be made as provided under any applicable optional redemption provisions or through open-market purchases (to the extent such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest) or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all Holders of Notes to purchase their Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest, if any, on the amount of Notes of the applicable Series that would otherwise be prepaid; or
(C) if the assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale are the property or assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, to permanently reduce Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(2) to make (A) an Investment in any one or more businesses; provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary, (B) capital expenditures or (C) acquisitions of other businesses, properties, assets or intellectual property rights that, in the case of each of (A), (B) and (C), are used or useful in a Similar Business; and/or
(3) to make an Investment in (A) any one or more businesses; provided that such Investment in any business is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock and results in the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, owning an amount of the Capital Stock of such business such that it constitutes a Restricted Subsidiary, (B) properties or (C) acquisitions of other businesses, properties, assets or intellectual property rights that, in the case of each of (A), (B) and (C), replace the businesses, properties, assets or intellectual property rights that are the subject of such Asset Sale;
provided that, in the case of clauses (2) and (3) of this Section 4.10(b), a binding commitment entered into not later than the end of such 365-day period shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as
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the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into such commitment with the good faith expectation that an amount equal to the Net Proceeds will be applied to satisfy such commitment within 180 days of the end of such 365-day period (an Acceptable Commitment) and, in the event any Acceptable Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before an amount equal to the Net Proceeds is so applied, then the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary shall be permitted to apply an amount equal to the Net Proceeds in any manner set forth above before the expiration of such 180-day period and, in the event the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary fails to do so, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds.
(c) Any Net Proceeds from the Asset Sale that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in Section 4.10(b) will be deemed to constitute Excess Proceeds. When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $100.0 million (the Excess Proceeds Threshold), the Company shall make an offer to all Holders of the Notes and, if required by the terms of any Senior Indebtedness, to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (an Asset Sale Offer), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Notes and such Senior Indebtedness that, in the case of Dollar Notes, is an integral multiple of $1,000 (but in minimum amounts of $2,000 of principal amount) and, in the case of Euro Notes, is an integral multiple of 1,000 (but in minimum amounts of 100,000 of principal amount) that may be purchased with such Excess Proceeds at an offer price, in the case of the Notes, in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, and in the case of any Senior Indebtedness at the offer price required by the terms thereof but not to exceed 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, in each case in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture. The Company will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within 10 Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed the Excess Proceeds Threshold by delivering the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee for delivery to Holders. The Company may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale by making an Asset Sale Offer with respect to such Net Proceeds prior to the expiration of the relevant 365-day period. Upon the completion of each Asset Sale Offer (including a voluntary Asset Sale Offer with respect to all Excess Proceeds even though less than the Excess Proceeds Threshold), the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset to zero.
(d) To the extent that the aggregate principal amount of Notes and such Senior Indebtedness, as the case may be, tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any purposes not otherwise prohibited under this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes or Senior Indebtedness, as the case may be, surrendered by such holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, such Notes or Senior Indebtedness, as the case may be, will be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the accreted value or principal amount of such Notes or Senior Indebtedness, as the case may be, tendered (and the Trustee or applicable Registrar will select the tendered Notes of tendering holders on a pro rata basis, or such other basis in accordance with DTC procedures with respect to the Dollar Notes or the procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream with respect to the Euro Notes, based on the amount of Notes tendered).
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(e) Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the holder of such Net Proceeds may apply such Net Proceeds temporarily to reduce Indebtedness outstanding under a revolving credit facility or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.
(f) The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations set forth in this Indenture by virtue thereof.
(g) The provisions under this Indenture relative to the Companys obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Notes as a result of an Asset Sale may be waived or modified, with respect to a Series of Notes, with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of the applicable series then outstanding.
SECTION 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into, or make or amend, any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each of the foregoing, an Affiliate Transaction) involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $25.0 million, unless:
(1) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable, taken as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Company, to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arms-length basis; and
(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee, with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $50.0 million, a resolution adopted by the majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors of the Company approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officers Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (1) above.
(b) Section 4.11(a) shall not apply to the following:
(1) transactions between or among the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
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(2) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.07 and the definition of Permitted Investment;
(3) the payment of reasonable and customary compensation and fees paid to, and indemnities provided for the benefit of, or employment, service or benefit plan agreements with or for the benefit of, former, current or future officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(4) transactions in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor either stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or stating that such terms are not materially less favorable to the Company or its relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person on an arms-length basis;
(5) any agreement as in effect as of the Original Issue Date, or any amendment, supplement, modification, extension or renewal thereto or thereof or any transaction contemplated thereby (including pursuant to any amendment, supplement, modification, extension or renewal thereto or thereof) or by any replacement agreement thereto (so long as any such amendment or replacement agreement is not more disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Original Issue Date as determined in good faith by the Company);
(6) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture that are fair to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as determined in good faith by the Company, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party;
(7) the sale and/or issuance of Equity Interests of the Company to any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(8) any issuances of securities or other payments, awards, grants in cash, securities or otherwise or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees or consultants of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to, or for the funding of, employment arrangements or agreements, stock option plans, stock ownership plans and other similar arrangements with such employees or consultants which, in each case, are approved by the Company in good faith;
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(9) any transaction with any Person that is an Affiliate of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that would constitute an Affiliate Transaction solely because the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary owns (directly or indirectly) an equity interest in, or controls (including pursuant to any management agreement or otherwise), such Person;
(10) transactions with joint ventures on terms that are not materially less favorable, taken as a whole, to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (as applicable), as determined in good faith by the Company, than the other joint venture partner(s);
(11) the Transactions and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Transactions;
(12) transactions effected as part of a Qualified Securitization Transaction;
(13) transactions with Affiliates solely in their capacity as holders of Indebtedness or Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary where such Affiliate receives the same consideration or is treated in the same manner as non-Affiliates that are party to (or have the benefit of) such transaction; and
(14) any agreement that grants SEC registration rights or customary exchange offer rights to the direct or indirect securityholders of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (and the performance of any such agreement).
SECTION 4.12 Liens.
(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens) that secures obligations under any Indebtedness or any related Guarantee of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, on any asset or property of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, unless:
(1) in the case of any Liens securing Subordinated Indebtedness, the Notes and related Guarantees are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Liens; and
(2) in all other cases, the Notes or the Guarantees are equally and ratably secured, except that the foregoing shall not apply to or restrict Liens securing obligations in respect of the Notes and the related Guarantees.
(b) Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes pursuant to this Section 4.12 shall be deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of each of the Lien (other than a release as a result of the enforcement of remedies in respect of such Lien or the Obligations secured by such Lien) that gave rise to the obligation to secure the Notes or such Guarantee pursuant to Section 4.12(a).
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SECTION 4.13 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.
(a) If a Change of Control occurs after the Original Issue Date, unless the Company has previously or concurrently mailed a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes under the applicable optional redemption provisions, the Company will make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the Change of Control Offer) at a price in cash (the Change of Control Payment) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of the Notes of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date. For the avoidance of doubt, the separation and distribution will not be deemed to be a Change of Control. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will deliver notice of such Change of Control Offer with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the security register or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC with respect to the Dollar Notes or the procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream with respect to the Euro Notes, with the following information:
(1) that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to Section 4.13 under this Indenture and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment by the Company;
(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent (the Change of Control Payment Date), except in the case of a conditional Change of Control Offer made in advance of a Change of Control as described below;
(3) that any Note not properly tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;
(4) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment required to be made, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Payment Date;
(5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender such Notes, with the form entitled Option of Holder to Elect Purchase on the reverse of such Notes completed, to the paying agent specified in the notice at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;
(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Company to purchase such Notes; provided that the applicable paying agent receives, not later than the close of business on the expiration date of the Change of Control Offer, a telegram, telex, facsimile
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transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder of the Notes, the principal amount of Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes and its election to have such Notes purchased;
(7) the other instructions, as determined by the Company, consistent with the covenant described hereunder, that a Holder must follow; and
(8) if such notice is sent prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, stating that the Change of Control Offer is conditional upon the occurrence of such Change of Control.
(b) The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.13, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations set forth in this Section 4.13 by virtue of such conflict.
(c) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent permitted by law,
(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer,
(2) deposit with the applicable paying agent an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered, and
(3) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes so accepted together with an Officers Certificate to the Trustee stating that such Notes or portions thereof have been tendered to, and purchased by, the Company.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.13 applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making the Change of Control Offer.
(f) The provisions under this Section 4.13 relating to the Companys obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Notes as a result of a Change of Control
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may be waived or modified, with respect to any Series of Notes, with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of the applicable series then outstanding, including after the entry into of an agreement that would result in the need to make a Change of Control Offer.
(g) If and for so long as any Euro Notes are listed on the Official List of the Irish Stock Exchange and admitted to trading on the Global Exchange Market and the rules of the Irish Stock Exchange so require, notices of any amendment, supplement or waiver shall be published through the Companies Announcement Office of the Irish Stock Exchange and/or, to the extent and in the manner permitted by the rules of the Irish Stock Exchange, on the official website of the Irish Stock Exchange.
SECTION 4.14 Covenant Suspension.
(a) If on any date following the Original Issue Date (i) the Notes of a series have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies, and (ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, then, beginning on that day (the Suspension Date and, the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a Covenant Suspension Event) and continuing until the occurrence of the Reversion Date, (i) the Company shall promptly provide notice of such Covenant Suspension Event to the Trustee and (ii) the covenants specifically listed under the following sections of this Indenture will not be applicable to such Notes (collectively, the Suspended Covenants):
(1) Section 4.10;
(2) Section 4.07;
(3) Section 4.09;
(4) Section 5.01(a)(4);
(5) Section 4.11; and
(6) Section 4.08.
(b) During any period that the foregoing Sections have been suspended, the Company may not designate any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, unless such designation would have complied with Section 4.07 as if such Section were in effect during such period.
(c) In the event that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the Reversion Date) one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraw their Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the rating assigned to the applicable Notes below an Investment Grade Rating, then (i) the Company shall promptly provide notice of such Reversion Date to the Trustee and (ii) the
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Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture with respect to future events. The period of time between the Suspension Date and the Reversion Date is referred to in this Indenture as the Suspension Period. Upon the occurrence of a Covenant Suspension Event, the amount of Excess Proceeds from Asset Sales shall be reset to zero.
(d) During any Suspension Period, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction; provided, however, that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction if (i) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred a Lien to secure the Indebtedness attributable to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction pursuant to Section 4.12 without equally and ratably securing the Notes pursuant to the covenant described therein; and (ii) the consideration received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in that Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is at least equal to the fair market value of the property sold and otherwise complies with Section 4.10; provided, further, that this Section 4.14(d) shall cease to apply on and subsequent to any Reversion Date.
(e) During the Suspension Period, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be entitled to incur Liens to the extent provided for under Section 4.12 (including, without limitation, Permitted Liens) to the extent provided for in such covenant, and any Permitted Liens that refer to one or more Suspended Covenants shall be interpreted as though such applicable Suspended Covenant(s) continued to be applicable during the Suspension Period (but solely for purposes of Section 4.12 and for no other covenant).
(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any such reinstatement, no action taken or omitted to be taken by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the Suspension Period shall give rise to a Default or Event of Default under any of the Suspended Covenants; provided that (1) after such reinstatement, the amount of Restricted Payments since the Original Issue Date will be calculated as though Section 4.07 had been in effect prior to, but not during, the Suspension Period; (2) all Indebtedness incurred, or Disqualified Stock issued, during the Suspension Period will be classified to have been incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(3); (3) any Affiliate Transaction entered into after such reinstatement pursuant to an agreement entered into during any Suspension Period shall be deemed to be permitted pursuant to Section 4.11(b)(11); and (4) any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to take any action described in clauses (1) through (3) of Section 4.08(a) that becomes effective during any Suspension Period shall be deemed to be permitted pursuant to Section 4.08(b)(1).
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ARTICLE V
SUCCESSORS
SECTION 5.01 Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets.
(a) The Company. The Company may not, directly or indirectly, consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation) or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Companys properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:
(1) the Company is the surviving entity or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership (including a limited partnership), trust or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of the Company or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the Successor Company); provided that in the case where the Successor Company is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation;
(2) the Successor Company, if other than the Company, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes, pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other documents or instruments;
(3) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists;
(4) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period,
(a) the Company or the Successor Company, as applicable, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) or
(b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company (or, if applicable, the Successor Company) and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be equal to or greater than such ratio of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;
(5) each Subsidiary Guarantor, unless (i) it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case Section 5.01(b)(1)(b) shall apply or (ii) the Company is the surviving entity, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Persons obligations under this Indenture and the applicable Notes; and
(6) the Company (or, if applicable, the Successor Company) shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture, if any, complies with this Indenture.
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The Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Company under this Indenture, the Guarantees and the Notes, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (3) and (4),
(1) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with or merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, and
(2) the Company may merge with an Affiliate of the Company, as the case may be, solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof or for the sole purpose of forming or collapsing a holding company structure.
(b) Subsidiary Guarantors. No Subsidiary Guarantor shall, and the Company shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to, any Person unless:
(1) (a) such Guarantor is the surviving entity or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor, as the case may be, or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (such Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the Successor Person);
(b) the Successor Person, if other than a Guarantor, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture and such Guarantors related Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other documents or instruments;
(c) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and
(d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture, if any, complies with this Indenture;
(2) the transaction is made in compliance with Section 4.10, if applicable; or
(3) in the case of assets comprised of Equity Interests of Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, such Equity Interests are sold, assigned, transferred, leased, conveyed or otherwise disposed of to one or more Restricted Subsidiaries.
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Subject to Section 5.02, the Successor Person will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor under this Indenture and such Guarantors Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary Guarantor may (1) merge or consolidate with or into, wind up into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Subsidiary Guarantor or the Company, (2) merge with an Affiliate of the Company solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Subsidiary Guarantor in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, (3) convert into a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or trust organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Subsidiary Guarantor or (4) liquidate or dissolve or change its legal form if the Company determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of the Company, in each case, without regard to the requirements set forth in the preceding paragraph.
SECTION 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof, in which the Company is not the continuing corporation, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the Company shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of, premium on, if any, and interest, if any, on, the Notes except in the case of a sale of all of the Companys assets in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
SECTION 6.01 Events of Default. Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series of Notes by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers Certificate, each of the following constitutes an Event of Default with respect to each Series of Notes:
(1) default in payment when due and payable (whether at maturity, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise) of principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes of such Series;
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(2) default for 30 days or more in the payment when due of interest on or with respect to the Notes of such Series;
(3) failure by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor for 60 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of a series (with a copy to the Trustee) to comply with any of its other obligations, covenants or agreements (other than a default referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above) contained in this Indenture or the applicable Notes;
(4) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee exists on the Original Issue Date or is created after the issuance of the Notes, if both:
(a) such default either results from the failure to pay any principal of such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay principal of any such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity and results in the holder or holders of such Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; and
(b) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $100.0 million or more;
(5) failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments for the payment of money aggregating in excess of $100.0 million, which final judgments remain unpaid, undischarged and unstayed for a period of more than 60 days after such judgment becomes final and non-appealable, and in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed;
(6) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(A) commences a voluntary case, files for suspension of payments or any similar relief;
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(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, files for bankruptcy or commences a similar insolvency proceeding;
(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property; or
(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;
(7) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(A) is for relief against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;
(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary for all or substantially all of its property; or
(C) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary;
or any similar relief is granted under any foreign law or laws, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days;
(8) the Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary shall for any reason cease to be in full force and effect or be declared null and void, or any responsible officer of any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary denies in writing that it has any further liability under its Guarantee or gives notice to such effect, other than by reason of the termination of this Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture.
The term Custodian means, for the purposes of this Article VI only, any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
The Company shall, within 30 days of any Officer becoming aware of any continuing Default, deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default and steps to be taken to cure such Default.
SECTION 6.02 Acceleration. (a) If an Event of Default with respect to any Series of Notes at the time Outstanding (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(6) or (7)) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of that Series by notice to the Company (and to the Trustee, if notice is given by the Holders), may declare the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Notes of that Series, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Note), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Notes of that Series to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such amounts shall be due and payable
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immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(6) or (7) occurs, the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Notes of that Series, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Note), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Notes of each Series of Note shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
(b) At any time after the principal of the Notes of any Series of Notes shall have been so declared due and payable (or have become immediately due and payable), and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of that Series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Notes of that Series and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any and all Notes of that Series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum expressed in the Notes of that Series to the date of such payment or deposit and all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee (including reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustees counsel) and compensation for the Trustees services) and (ii) any and all Events of Default under this Indenture with respect to such Series of Notes, other than the nonpayment of principal (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Notes of that Series, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Note) and interest, if any, on Notes of that Series that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.04. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.
(c) In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(4), such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Notes) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 30 days after such Event of Default arose:
(1) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged;
(2) holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default; or
(3) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured.
SECTION 6.03 Other Remedies. If an Event of Default with respect to any Series of Notes occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders by such appropriate judicial proceedings as shall be most effectual to
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protect and enforce such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
The Trustee may institute and maintain a suit or legal proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes of a Series or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default with respect to any Series of Notes shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
SECTION 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of any Series may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes of such Series by written notice to the Trustee, waive an existing Default except (i) a Default in the payment of the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Notes of that Series, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Note), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on a Note of that Series, (ii) a Default arising from the failure to redeem or purchase any Note of that Series when required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or (iii) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder of that Series affected; provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration in accordance with Section 6.02. When a Default is waived, it shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.
SECTION 6.05 Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of any Series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to that Series, provided that (i) such direction shall not conflict with law or this Indenture or expose the Trustee to personal liability, or be unduly prejudicial to Holders not joining therein, and (ii) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to taking any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against all fees, losses and expenses related to taking or not taking such action. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to execute any of the rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.
SECTION 6.06 Limitation on Suits. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Notes, the portion thereby specified in the
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terms of such Note), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes of any Series held by such Holder when due, no Holder of a Note of that Series may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes of that Series unless:
(i) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default with respect to the applicable Series of Notes is continuing;
(ii) Holders of at least 25% in the aggregate principal amount of all Outstanding Notes of such Series have requested in writing that the Trustee pursue the remedy;
(iii) Holders of the applicable Notes have offered the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense in connection therewith;
(iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and
(v) Holders of a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Notes of such Series have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.
A Holder of Notes of any Series may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of that Series or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of that Series.
SECTION 6.07 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Notes, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Note), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes held by such Holder, on or after their Maturity Dates, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after their Maturity Dates, is absolute and unconditional and shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any unpaid interest to the extent lawful) and any amounts provided for hereunder.
SECTION 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the
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reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company and the Guarantors, their creditors or their property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee or liquidator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee hereunder. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
SECTION 6.10 Priorities. Any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI with respect to any Series of Notes shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee, and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the Notes and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: to the Trustee acting in any capacity hereunder and any Agent, for all amounts due hereunder;
SECOND: to Holders, for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes of that Series for the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Notes of that Series, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Note), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes of that Series for the principal amount of (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Notes of that Series, the portion thereby specified in the terms of such Note), premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, respectively; and
THIRD: to the Company.
SECTION 6.11 Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing, by any party litigant in the suit, of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes of any Series.
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SECTION 6.12 Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) agrees that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead or in any manner whatsoever claim to take the benefit or advantage of any stay or extension law, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
ARTICLE VII
TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01 Duties of Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to any Series of Notes, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in the exercise thereof, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to any Series of Notes:
(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture with respect to the Notes of that Series, as modified or supplemented by a supplemental indenture hereto, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(2) in the absence of willful misconduct on its part, the Trustee may, with respect to Notes of that Series, conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein nor shall the Trustee have any responsibility or liability for any information set forth therein).
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(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05; and
(4) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.
(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
SECTION 7.02 Rights of Trustee. (a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, notice, report, bond, request, direction, consent, order or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person or Persons. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it shall receive an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.
(c) The Trustee may act through agents or attorneys and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney appointed by it with due care. No Depositary shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for or have any liability for any act or omission by any Depositary.
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(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided, however, that the Trustees conduct does not constitute negligence or willful misconduct.
(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its choice, and the advice or opinion of counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in reliance thereon.
(f) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company, and the Trustee may rely thereon.
(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes of any Series unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of such a Default is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the office of the Trustee, and such notice references such Notes and this Indenture and states that it is a notice of Default.
(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee hereunder, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to and shall be enforceable by the Trustee in each of its capacities and any Agent.
(i) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the fees, costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the Trustee in compliance with such request or direction.
(j) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney.
(k) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(l) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its duties or powers hereunder.
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(m) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate of incumbency setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.
(n) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or other force majeure events, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use commercially reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
(o) The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, as amended, the Trustee, in accordance with requirements applicable to financial institutions, may be required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. Each party to this Indenture agrees that it will provide the Trustee with such information as the Trustee may request in order for the Trustee to comply with the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act applicable to the Trustee.
(p) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential losses or damages (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(q) Whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of willful misconduct on its part, rely upon an Officers Certificate.
SECTION 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent, Registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
SECTION 7.04 Trustees Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Companys uses of the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company or the Guarantors in this Indenture, in the
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Notes or in any document executed in connection with the sale of the Notes, other than those set forth in the Trustees certificate of authentication. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Guarantors, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility or liability for their correctness.
SECTION 7.05 Notice of Defaults. If a Default with respect to Notes of any Series occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail (or electronically deliver in accordance with the procedures of DTC, Euroclear and/or Clearstream, as applicable) to each Holder of that Series notice of the Default within 60 days after it occurs, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived. The Trustee may withhold the notice (except in the case of a Default in payment of principal, premium or interest) if and so long as the Trustee determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of such Series of Notes.
SECTION 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders. If this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers Certificate, within 60 days after each May 12 beginning with May 12, 2016 for so long as Notes remain Outstanding, the Trustee shall mail or otherwise deliver to each Holder a brief report dated as of such reporting date in accordance with and to the extent required under § 313(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall also comply with § 313(b)(2) of the TIA.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with each stock exchange (if any) on which the Notes are listed, if required by the rules of such stock exchange. The Company agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Notes become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.
SECTION 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity. The Company and the Guarantors shall pay to the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) and any Agent from time to time compensation for all services rendered by the Trustee as the Company and the Trustee shall agree in writing. The Trustees compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company and the Guarantors shall reimburse the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) and any Agent upon request for all reasonable and duly documented out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by it in accordance with any provision of this Indenture, including costs of collection and the fees, expenses and disbursements of their respective agents and counsel, in addition to the reasonable compensation for their respective services. The Company and Guarantors shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) or any Agent and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents against any and all loss, liability or expense incurred on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The Trustee or any Agent shall
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notify the Company of any claim for which it may seek indemnity promptly upon obtaining actual knowledge thereof; provided, however, that any failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company and Guarantors of their indemnity obligations hereunder, except to the extent that the rights of the Company or the Guarantors are actually prejudiced by such failure. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will need to reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by an indemnified party attributable to such partys own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order. The Company and the Guarantors shall not be obligated to pay any settlement effected without their prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld).
To secure the Companys and the Guarantors payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, other than money or property held in trust to pay the principal of and/or interest on particular Notes.
The Companys and the Guarantors payment obligations pursuant to this Section 7.07 and the rights, protections and indemnities afforded to the Trustee and any Agent under this Article VII shall survive the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture or the resignation or removal of the Trustee or any Agent, as the case may be. When the Trustee or any Agent incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(6) or (7) with respect to the Company, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.
Any right, protection and indemnity provided to the Trustee hereunder shall also be afforded to any Agent hereunder or under any supplemental indenture.
SECTION 7.08 Replacement of Trustee. The Trustee may resign with respect to the Notes of any Series by so notifying the Company in writing at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed resignation. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of any Series may remove the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee with respect to such Series of Notes by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such removal. The Company shall remove the Trustee with respect to Notes of one or more Series if:
(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
(2) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;
(3) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(4) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of any Series and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.
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A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Notes for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail or otherwise deliver a notice of its succession to Holders of that Series of Notes. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07.
If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes of that Series may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Holder of that Series of Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Companys obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to fees, expenses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement. The retiring or removed Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for the action or inaction of any successor Trustee.
SECTION 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business or assets to, another Person, the resulting, surviving or transferee Person without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and if at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any such successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
Any corporation into which the Trustee or any Paying Agent may be merged or converted, or any corporation with which the Trustee or Paying Agent may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee or Paying Agent shall be a party, or any corporation, including
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affiliated corporations, to which the Trustee or Paying Agent shall sell or otherwise transfer: (a) all or substantially all of its assets or (b) all or substantially all of its corporate trust business shall, on the date when the merger, conversion, consolidation or transfer becomes effective and to the extent permitted by any applicable laws and subject to any credit rating requirements set out in this Indenture become the successor Trustee or Paying Agent under this Indenture or any supplemental indenture without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties to this Indenture, unless otherwise required by the Company, and after the said effective date all references in this Indenture or supplemental indenture to the Trustee or any Paying Agent shall be deemed to be references to such successor corporation. Written notice of any such merger, conversion, consolidation or transfer shall immediately be given to the Company by the Trustee or Paying Agent, as applicable.
SECTION 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA § 310(b)(1) the following: (i) each Series of Notes issued under this Indenture and (ii) any other indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA § 310(b)(1) are met.
SECTION 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company and Guarantors. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or has been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated.
ARTICLE VIII
LEGAL DEFEASANCE, COVENANT DEFEASANCE
AND SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
SECTION 8.01 Option To Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Company may, at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all Outstanding Notes of any Series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article VIII.
SECTION 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Companys exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02 with respect to any Series of Notes, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all Outstanding Notes of that Series on the date the
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conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, Legal Defeasance). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be Outstanding only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
(a) the Companys obligations with respect to such Notes of that Series under Sections 2.05, 2.06, 2.08 and 2.09 hereof;
(b) the rights, indemnities and immunities of the Trustee (and any Agent) hereunder and the Companys and Guarantors obligations in connection therewith (including, but not limited to, the rights of the Trustee (and any Agent) and the duties of the Company and Guarantors under Section 7.07, which shall survive despite the satisfaction in full of all obligations hereunder); and
(c) Sections 8.02, 8.04, 8.05, 8.06, 8.07 and 8.08 hereof.
Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof. In the event that the Company terminates all of its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (with respect to such Series of Notes) by exercising the Legal Defeasance option or the Covenant Defeasance option, the obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee of such Notes shall be terminated simultaneously with the termination of such obligations.
SECTION 8.03 Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Companys exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 with respect to any Series of Notes, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11 and 4.12 of this Indenture (if applicable to such Series) and any covenants made applicable to the Series of Notes that are subject to defeasance under the terms of a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers Certificate with respect to the Outstanding Notes of that Series on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, Covenant Defeasance), and the Notes of that Series shall thereafter be deemed not Outstanding for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed Outstanding for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed Outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Notes of that Series, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant,
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whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Companys exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 with respect to any Series of Notes, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(3) (only with respect to defeased covenants hereunder), 6.01(4) and 6.01(5) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default with respect to such Notes. In the event that the Company terminates all of its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (with respect to such Series of Notes) by exercising the Legal Defeasance option or the Covenant Defeasance option, the obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee of such Notes shall be terminated simultaneously with the termination of such obligations.
SECTION 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the Outstanding Notes:
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to any Series of Notes:
(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit or cause to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of that Series of Notes, (a) with respect to Dollar Notes, cash in Dollars, Government Securities or a combination thereof and (b) with respect to Euro Notes, cash in Euros, European Government Obligations or a combination of both, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Outstanding Notes of that Series on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be;
(2) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company shall have delivered, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that (a) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (b) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(3) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company shall have delivered, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that the Holders of the Outstanding Notes of that Series will not
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recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(4) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date the Company makes such deposits (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the granting of Liens in connection therewith);
(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Senior Secured Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting with respect to any Indebtedness being defeased from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make the deposit required to effect such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to such Indebtedness, and the granting of Liens in connection therewith);
(6) the Company shall have delivered, or shall have caused to be delivered, to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Company or any Guarantor or others; and
(7) the Company shall have delivered, or shall have caused to be delivered, to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.
SECTION 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money, Government Securities and European Government Obligations (including any proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the Outstanding Notes of the Series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Company and Guarantors shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash, Government Securities or European Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 8.04
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hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the Outstanding Notes of that Series.
Anything in this Article VIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money, Government Securities or European Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof that, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
SECTION 8.06 Repayment to the Company. Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof as general creditors, unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times or The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
SECTION 8.07 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. If at any time:
(a) either:
(i) all Notes of a Series theretofore authenticated and delivered, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii) all Notes of such Series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise, will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name,
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and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust (x) solely for the benefit of the Holders of any Dollar Notes of such Series, cash in Dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, and (y) solely for the benefit of the Holders of any Euro Notes of such Series, cash in Euros, Government Securities, European Government Obligations or a combination thereof, in each case, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes of such Series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;
(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and
(c) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes of such Series at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be; and
(d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers Certificate, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Series have been complied with,
then this Indenture shall thereupon cease to be of further effect with respect to such Series except for the rights, indemnities and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Companys and the Guarantors obligations in connection therewith (including, but not limited to, the rights of the Trustee and the duties of the Company and the Guarantors under Section 7.07, which shall survive despite the satisfaction in full of all obligations hereunder) and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to this Section 8.07:
(i) the Companys obligations with respect to such Notes of that Series under Sections 2.05, 2.06, 2.08 and 2.09 hereof;
(ii) the agreements of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors set forth in Article V; and
(iii) Sections 8.02, 8.04, 8.05, 8.06, 8.07, 8.08 and 11.11 hereof,
shall each survive until the Notes have been paid in full.
Upon the Companys exercise of this Section 8.07, the Trustee, on demand of the Company and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to such Series.
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SECTION 8.08 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any Dollars, Euros, Government Securities or European Government Obligations in accordance with this Article VIII, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or Governmental Authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Companys and the Guarantors obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article VIII until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance this Article VIII; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of their obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 9.01 Without Consent of Holders. The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes without the consent of any Holder:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;
(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes or to alter the provisions of this Indenture relating to the form of the Notes (including the related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any Holder (as determined in good faith by the Company);
(3) to comply with Section 5.01;
(4) to provide for the assumption of the Companys or any Guarantors obligations to the Holders;
(5) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder (as determined in good faith by the Company);
(6) to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or any Guarantor;
(7) to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee hereunder pursuant to the requirements hereof;
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(8) to provide for the issuance of exchange Notes or private exchange Notes that are identical to exchange Notes except that they are not freely transferable;
(9) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with this Indenture;
(10) to add a Guarantor under this Indenture and to allow a Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or guarantee the Notes or to release a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;
(11) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes to any provisions of the Description of Notes in the Offering Circular to the extent that such provision in such Description of Notes was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, Guarantee or Notes (as determined in good faith by the Company);
(12) to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes; provided, however, that (i) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes (in each case, as determined in good faith by the Company);
(13) to provide for the issuance of the Notes in a manner consistent with the terms of this Indenture; or
(14) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.
SECTION 9.02 With Consent of Holders. Except as provided below, this Indenture, any Guarantee and the Notes (in each case with respect to one or more Series of Notes) may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of the applicable Series then Outstanding, including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes and any existing Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes issued hereunder may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of the applicable Series then Outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of or tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes). However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or supplement may not, with respect to any Notes of such Series held by a non-consenting Holder:
(1) make any change in the percentage of the principal amount of such Notes required for amendments or waivers;
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(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed final maturity of any such Note or change the date on which any Notes may be subject to redemption or reduce the redemption price therefor;
(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note of such Series;
(4) (A) waive a Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes of such Series, except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all then Outstanding Notes of such Series, and a waiver of the Event of Default under Section 6.01(1) or 6.01(2) that resulted from such acceleration, or (B) waive a Default in respect of a covenant or provision contained in this Indenture or any Guarantee which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of all Holders;
(5) make any Dollar Note payable in money other than Dollars or make any Euro Note payable in money other than Euros;
(6) make any change in Section 9.01 or this Section 9.02;
(7) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on such Holders Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holders Notes or the Guarantees; or
(8) make any change to or modify the ranking of the Notes of such Series that would adversely affect the Holders thereof.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or supplement, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After an amendment or supplement under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail or otherwise deliver to all affected Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment or supplement. The failure to give such notice to all such Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment or supplement under this Section.
For purposes of determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes of a Series have taken any action under this Indenture, the principal amount of Notes shall be deemed to be the principal amount of Notes as of (i) if a record date has been set with respect to the taking of such action, such date or (ii) if no such record date has been set, the date the taking of such action by the Holders of such requisite principal amount is certified to the Trustee by the Company.
SECTION 9.03 Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers. A consent to an amendment, supplement or a waiver by a Holder of a Note shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Note or portion of the Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holders Note, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent
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or waiver as to such Holders Note or portion of the Note if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder of each Series affected by such amendment, supplement or waiver.
SECTION 9.04 Notation on or Exchange of Notes. If an amendment changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Note regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Trustee or the Company so determine, the Company in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee, upon a Company Order, shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Note shall not affect the validity of such amendment.
SECTION 9.05 Trustee to Sign Amendments. Upon the request of the Company, the Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not affect the rights, duties or immunities of the Trustee under this Indenture or otherwise. If it does, the Trustee may, but need not, sign it. In signing any amendment, supplement or waiver the Trustee shall be provided with and shall be fully protected in relying upon an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors rights and to general equity principles. The Trustee shall also be entitled to request indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it in connection with signing an amendment, supplement or waiver or taking any action (or refraining from taking any action) thereunder or in connection therewith.
SECTION 9.06 Payment for Consent. Neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid to all Holders, ratably, that so consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement. The Trustee shall have no duty or obligation with respect to the Companys obligations under this Section 9.06.
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ARTICLE X
GUARANTEES
SECTION 10.01 Guarantees.
(a) Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, to each Holder and the Trustee and their successors and assigns (i) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations of the Company under this Indenture (including obligations to the Trustee) and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes and all other monetary obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Notes and (ii) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Company whether for fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise under this Indenture and the Notes, on the terms set forth in this Indenture by executing this Indenture (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the Guaranteed Obligations). Each Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from each such Guarantor, and that such Guarantor shall remain bound under this Article X notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.
(b) Each Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Company of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Guarantor waives notice of any Default under the Notes or the Guaranteed Obligations.
(c) Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein constitutes a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Holder or the Trustee to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.
(d) Except as expressly set forth in Section 10.02, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise.
(e) Subject to Section 10.02 and 10.03 hereof, each Guarantor agrees that its Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment of, or any part thereof, principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Holder or the Trustee upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise.
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(f) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Holder or the Trustee has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Company to pay the principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to perform or comply with any other Guaranteed Obligation, each Guarantor hereby promises to and shall, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid principal amount of such Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (but only to the extent not prohibited by applicable law) and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Company to the Trustee.
(g) Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Trustee in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI for the purposes of any Guarantee herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations as provided in Article VI, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by such Guarantor for the purposes of this Section 10.01.
(h) Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all fees, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.01.
(i) Each Guarantor shall promptly execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.
SECTION 10.02 Limitation on Liability. Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that, any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum aggregate amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereunder by any Guarantor shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed without rendering this Indenture, as it relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally. Each Guarantor that makes a payment under its Guarantee shall be entitled upon payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations under this Indenture to a contribution
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from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantors pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.
SECTION 10.03 Releases. A Guarantee as to any Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, without further action required on the part of the Guarantor, the Trustee or any Holder of Notes, upon:
(1) (a) any direct or indirect sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition (by merger, consolidation or otherwise) of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor, after which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, if such sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition is not in violation of the applicable terms of this Indenture;
(b) the release or discharge of the Indebtedness or guarantee of Indebtedness by such Guarantor that resulted in the creation of such Guarantee except a release or discharge by or as a result of payment under such guarantee (it being understood that a release subject to a contingent reinstatement will constitute a release for the purposes of this provision);
(c) the direct or indirect sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor, in a transaction that is not in violation of the applicable terms of this Indenture, to any Person who is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(d) the release or discharge of such Guarantor from its guarantee, and of all pledges and security, if any, granted by such Guarantor in connection with the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, except a release or discharge by or as a result of payment under such guarantee (it being understood that a release subject to a contingent reinstatement will constitute a release for the purposes of this provision); provided that at the time of such release or discharge, such Guarantor is not then a guarantor or an obligor in respect of any other Indebtedness that would require a Guarantee of the Notes under this Indenture;
(e) the proper designation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 4.07 and the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary;
(f) the merger or consolidation of any Guarantor with and into the Company or another Guarantor or upon the liquidation of such Guarantor following the transfer of all of its assets to the Company or another Guarantor; or
(g) the Company exercising its Legal Defeasance option or Covenant Defeasance option with respect to the Notes of such Series pursuant to Article VIII or the Companys obligations under this Indenture being discharged with respect to the Notes in accordance with Article VIII;
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and, in the case of this clause (1), such Guarantor delivering to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the release of such Guarantee shall have been complied with; or
(2) the consent of Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of each applicable Series.
SECTION 10.04 Successors and Assigns. This Article X shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the Holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any Holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the Notes shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.
SECTION 10.05 No Waiver. Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee or the Holders in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article X shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the Holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article X at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.
SECTION 10.06 Additional Guarantees. The Company shall cause each Domestic Restricted Subsidiary, other than a Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company of the Company, that (a) incurs or guarantees any Indebtedness under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, or (b) guarantees other Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $75 million, to guarantee the Notes.
SECTION 10.07 Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors. Each Subsidiary that is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to Section 10.06 shall promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor under this Article X and shall guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers Certificate each stating that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Subsidiary and that, subject to the application
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of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer and other similar laws relating to creditors rights generally and to the principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity, the Guarantee of such Guarantor is a valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms.
SECTION 10.08 Non-Impairment. The failure to endorse a Guarantee on any Notes shall not affect or impair the validity thereof.
SECTION 10.09 Benefits Acknowledged. Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the Guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls. If this Indenture is qualified under the TIA and any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, the required or deemed provision shall control.
SECTION 11.02 Notices. Any notice or communication shall be in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, electronic mail, facsimile transmission or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery addressed as follows:
If to the Company:
The Chemours Company
1007 Market Street,
Wilmington, Delaware 19898
Attention: General Counsel
Email: david.c.shelton@chemours.com
with copies for information purposes only to
Skadden, Arps, Slate and Meagher & Flom LLP
Four Times Square
New York, New York 10036
Attention: Stacy J. Kanter
Facsimile: (917) 777-3497
Email: stacy.kanter@skadden.com
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If to the Trustee:
U.S. Bank National Association
Corporate Trust Services
21 South Street
Morristown, NJ 07960
Attention: Stephanie Roche
Facsimile: (973) 682-4540
Email: stephanie.roche@usbank.com
The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested) to the Holder at the Holders address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed (or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable).
Notices given by publication or electronic delivery will be deemed given on the first date on which publication or electronic delivery is made and notices given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, will be deemed given five calendar days after mailing or transmitting.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture or any Notes, where this Indenture or any Note provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption) to a Holder of a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Note (or its designee) pursuant to the customary procedures of such Depositary.
Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
So long as any Notes are admitted to the Official List and to trading on the Global Exchange Market of the Irish Stock Exchange and the rules of the Irish Stock Exchange so require, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, all notices to Holders to the Company Announcements Office of the Irish Stock Exchange. If publication as provided above is not practicable, notice will be given in such other manner, and shall be deemed to have been given on such date.
SECTION 11.03 Communication by Holders with Other Holders. Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
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SECTION 11.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(1) an Officers Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(2) an Opinion of Counsel stating that all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
SECTION 11.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(1) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition (and the related definitions);
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.
SECTION 11.06 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Holders. The Registrar and the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.
SECTION 11.07 Legal Holidays. Unless otherwise provide by Board Resolution, Officers Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for any particular Series, a Legal Holiday is a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions are required to be closed in the State of New York or a place of payment with respect to the Notes. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a Regular Record Date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.
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SECTION 11.08 Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 11.09 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders. No present, past or future director, officer, employee, member, partner, incorporator or equityholder of the Company, any Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Company or any of their respective direct or indirect parent companies (except for the Company or any Subsidiary in its capacity as obligor or guarantor in respect of the Notes and not in its capacity as equityholder of any Subsidiary Guarantor) shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees, this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting the Notes waives and releases all such liability. This waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
SECTION 11.10 Successors. All agreements of the Company and the Guarantors in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.
SECTION 11.11 Multiple Originals; Electronic Signatures. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
SECTION 11.12 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES, THE GUARANTEES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
SECTION 11.13 Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
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SECTION 11.14 Severability. If any provision in this Indenture is deemed unenforceable, it shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision set forth herein, or of this Indenture as a whole.
SECTION 11.15 Submission to Jurisdiction and Venue. ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST ANY PARTY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING HERETO, MAY BE BROUGHT IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN THE STATE, COUNTY AND CITY OF NEW YORK. BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS INDENTURE, EACH PARTY HERETO, FOR ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS PROPERTIES, IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO AND ACCEPTS GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF SUCH COURTS; AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO THE APPLICABLE PARTY; AGREES THAT SERVICE AS PROVIDED ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER THE APPLICABLE PARTY IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT; AND AGREES EACH OTHER PARTY RETAINS THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY PARTY IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION HAVING JURISDICTION OVER SUCH PARTY.
[Signatures on following page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY TT, LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
INTERNATIONAL DIOXCIDE, INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
CHEMFIRST INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
FIRST CHEMICAL CORPORATION | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
FIRST CHEMICAL TEXAS, L.P. | ||||
By FT CHEMICAL INC., its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
FT CHEMICAL, INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
FIRST CHEMICAL HOLDINGS, LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||||||
By: | /s/ Stephanie Roche | |||||
Name: | Stephanie Roche | |||||
Title: | Vice President | |||||
ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, UK BRANCH, as Paying Agent with respect to Euro Notes | ||||||
By: | /s/ Hamyd Mazrae | |||||
Name: | Hamyd Mazrae | |||||
Title: | Authorised Signatory | |||||
By: | /s/ Laurence Griffiths | |||||
Name: | Laurence Griffiths | |||||
Title: | Authorised Signatory | |||||
ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, as Registrar and Transfer Agent with respect to Euro Notes | ||||||
By: | /s/ Hamyd Mazrae | |||||
Name: | Hamyd Mazrae | |||||
Title: | Authorised Signatory | |||||
By: | /s/ Laurence Griffiths | |||||
Name: | Laurence Griffiths | |||||
Title: | Authorised Signatory |
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE FOR
ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture), dated as of [ ], 20[ ], among [ ] (the Guaranteeing Subsidiary) a subsidiary of THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the Company), the other Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein), U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee under the indenture referred to below (the Trustee), ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, UK BRANCH, as paying agent with respect to Euro Notes, and ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, as registrar and transfer agent with respect to Euro Notes.
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the Indenture), dated as of May 12, 2015, among the Company, the Guarantors named therein and the Trustee, providing for the issuance from time to time of notes (the Notes);
WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Companys obligations under the Notes and the Indenture (the Subsidiary Guarantee); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Sections 9.01, 10.06 and 10.07 of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Company and the other Guarantors are authorized and required to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, the parties hereto mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:
1. Capitalized Terms. Unless otherwise defined in this Supplemental Indenture, capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
2. Agreement to be Bound; Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby becomes a party to the Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor and as such will have all of the rights and be subject to all of the obligations (including the Guaranteed Obligations) and agreements of a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall be deemed a Subsidiary Guarantor for purposes of Article X of the Indenture, including, without limitation, Section 10.02 thereof.
A-1
3. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
4. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
5. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
6. The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Company.
7. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indenture Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
[Signature Page Follows]
A-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.
[GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY] | ||||
By: |
| |||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY | ||||
By: |
| |||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC | ||||
By: |
| |||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY TT, LLC | ||||
By: |
| |||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
INTERNATIONAL DIOXCIDE, INC. | ||||
By: |
| |||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
CHEMFIRST INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
FIRST CHEMICAL CORPORATION | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
FIRST CHEMICAL TEXAS, L.P. | ||
By FT CHEMICAL, INC., its general partner | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
FT CHEMICAL, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
FIRST CHEMICAL HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, UK BRANCH, as Paying Agent with respect to Euro Notes | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, as Registrar and Transfer Agent with respect to Euro Notes | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit 10.8
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Dated as of May 12, 2015
to
INDENTURE
Dated as of May 12, 2015
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY,
THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO
and
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Trustee
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE | ||||||
ARTICLE I |
5 | |||||
SECTION 1.01 |
Definitions |
5 | ||||
SECTION 1.02 |
Other Definitions |
8 | ||||
ARTICLE II DESIGNATION AND TERMS OF THE NOTES |
8 | |||||
SECTION 2.01 |
Title and Aggregate Principal Amount |
8 | ||||
SECTION 2.02 |
Execution |
8 | ||||
SECTION 2.03 |
Other Terms and Form of the Notes |
8 | ||||
SECTION 2.04 |
Further Issues |
9 | ||||
SECTION 2.05 |
Interest and Principal |
9 | ||||
SECTION 2.06 |
Place of Payment |
9 | ||||
SECTION 2.07 |
Form and Dating |
9 | ||||
SECTION 2.08 |
Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable |
10 | ||||
SECTION 2.09 |
Depositary; Registrar |
10 | ||||
SECTION 2.10 |
Optional Redemption |
10 | ||||
SECTION 2.11 |
Special Mandatory Redemption |
12 | ||||
ARTICLE III TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE |
12 | |||||
SECTION 3.01 |
Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes |
12 | ||||
SECTION 3.02 |
Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes |
13 | ||||
SECTION 3.03 |
Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes |
16 | ||||
SECTION 3.04 |
Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests |
18 | ||||
SECTION 3.05 |
Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes |
20 | ||||
SECTION 3.06 |
Registered Exchange Offer |
22 | ||||
SECTION 3.07 |
Legends |
23 | ||||
SECTION 3.08 |
Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes |
26 | ||||
SECTION 3.09 |
General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges |
26 | ||||
ARTICLE IV LEGAL DEFEASANCE, COVENANT DEFEASANCE AND SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE |
28 | |||||
SECTION 4.01 |
Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance and Satisfaction and Discharge |
28 | ||||
ARTICLE V COVENANTS |
28 | |||||
SECTION 5.01 |
Special Interest |
28 |
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ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS | 28 | |||||
SECTION 6.01 |
Ratification of Original Indenture; Supplemental Indenture Part of Original Indenture |
28 | ||||
SECTION 6.02 |
Concerning the Trustee |
28 | ||||
SECTION 6.03 |
Multiple Originals; Electronic Signatures |
29 | ||||
SECTION 6.04 |
GOVERNING LAW |
29 |
Exhibit A |
Form of 6.625% Senior Note due 2023 |
|||
Exhibit B |
Form of Certificate of Transfer |
|||
Exhibit C |
Form of Certificate of Exchange |
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FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of May 12, 2015 (this First Supplemental Indenture), to the Indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Original Indenture), among THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the Company), each of the subsidiary guarantors party hereto or that becomes a guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Original Indenture (the Guarantors) and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, as trustee (the Trustee).
WHEREAS, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee have heretofore executed and delivered the Original Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of Notes (as defined in the Original Indenture) of the Company, to be issued in one or more Series;
WHEREAS, the Original Indenture provides, among other things, that the Company and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the Original Indenture for, among other things, the purpose of establishing the form and terms of Notes of any Series pursuant to the Original Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Company (i) desires the issuance of a Series of Notes to be designated as hereinafter provided and (ii) has requested the Trustee to enter into this First Supplemental Indenture for the purpose of establishing the form and terms of the Notes of such Series;
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the creation of an issue of its 6.625% Senior Notes Due 2023 (the Notes), which expression includes (i) any further Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.04 hereof and (ii) if and when issued pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined herein), the Companys Exchange Notes (as defined herein) issued in the Exchange Offer (as defined herein) in exchange for any outstanding Notes previously issued hereunder, in each case, forming a single Series therewith of substantially the tenor and amount hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, all action on the part of the Company necessary to authorize the issuance of the Notes under the Original Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture (the Original Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, being hereinafter called the Indenture) has been duly taken.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
That, in order to establish the form and terms of the Notes and in consideration of the acceptance of the Notes by the Holders thereof and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
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ARTICLE I
SECTION 1.01. Definitions.
(a) Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Original Indenture.
(b) The rules of interpretation set forth in the Original Indenture shall be applied hereto as if set forth in full herein.
(c) For all purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
144A Global Note means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.
Applicable Premium means, as calculated by the Company with respect to any Note on any Redemption Date, the greater of:
(1) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note; and
(2) the excess, if any, of (a) the present value at such Redemption Date of the redemption price of such Note at May 15, 2018 (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 2.10(d)), plus all required interest payments due on such Note through May 15, 2018 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over (b) the principal amount of such Note.
Applicable Procedures means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.
Definitive Note means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Article III hereof substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, except that such Notes shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto.
Equity Offering means any public or private sale of common stock or Preferred Stock of the Company (excluding Disqualified Stock), other than:
(1) public offerings with respect to the Companys common stock registered on Form S-8;
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(2) issuances to any Subsidiary of the Company or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Company; and
(3) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.
Exchange Notes means the exchange notes to be issued with respect to the Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
Exchange Offer has the meaning given to the term Registered Exchange Offer set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Global Note Legend means the legend set forth in Section 3.07(b), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued hereunder.
Global Notes means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto, issued in accordance with Section 2.14 of the Original Indenture and Section 2.07 hereof.
Indirect Participant means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.
Initial Purchaser means any initial purchaser identified as such in the Plan of Distribution section of the Offering Circular.
Letter of Transmittal means the letter of transmittal to be prepared by the Company and sent to all Holders for use by such Holders in connection with the Exchange Offer.
Non-U.S. Person means a Person who is not a U.S. person, as defined in Regulation S.
Participant means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).
Private Placement Legend means the legend set forth in Section 3.07(a), to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.
6
QIB means any qualified institutional buyer, as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
Registration Rights Agreement means the Registration Rights Agreement dated May 12, 2015, among the Company, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities plc as representatives of the initial purchasers.
Regulation S means Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Regulation S Global Note means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Regulation S.
Restricted Definitive Note means a Definitive Note bearing a Private Placement Legend.
Restricted Global Note means a Global Note bearing a Private Placement Legend.
Restricted Period means the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.
Rule 144 means Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
Rule 144A means Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
Rule 903 means Rule 903 under the Securities Act.
Rule 904 means Rule 904 under the Securities Act.
Shelf Registration Statement means the Shelf Registration Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Special Interest means, at any time, all additional interest then owing pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
Treasury Rate means, as of any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity as of such Redemption Date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date (or in connection with a discharge, two Business Days prior to the date of deposit with the Trustee or any paying agent hereunder, as applicable) (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to May 15, 2018; provided, however, that if the period from the Redemption Date to the stated maturity
7
date of the Notes to be redeemed is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Treasury Rate, determined as provided above, would otherwise be less than zero, then the Treasury Rate shall be deemed to be zero for all purposes.
Unrestricted Definitive Note means one or more Definitive Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear any Private Placement Legend.
Unrestricted Global Note means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary, representing a Series of Notes that do not bear any Private Placement Legend.
SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.
Term | Defined in Section | |
Interest Payment Date | 2.05 | |
Record Date | 2.05 | |
Redemption Date | 2.10 | |
Special Mandatory Redemption | 2.11 | |
Special Mandatory Redemption Date | 2.11 | |
Special Mandatory Redemption Event | 2.11 | |
Special Mandatory Redemption Notice Date | 2.11 | |
Special Mandatory Redemption Price | 2.11 |
ARTICLE II
DESIGNATION AND TERMS OF THE NOTES
SECTION 2.01. Title and Aggregate Principal Amount. There is hereby created one Series of Notes designated: 6.625% Senior Notes Due 2023 in an initial aggregate principal amount of $1,350,000,000.
SECTION 2.02. Execution. The Notes may forthwith be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication and delivery by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture.
SECTION 2.03. Other Terms and Form of the Notes. The Notes shall have and be subject to such other terms as provided in the Original Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture and shall be evidenced by one or more Global Notes in the form of Exhibit A hereof and as set forth in Section 2.07 hereof.
8
SECTION 2.04. Further Issues. The Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes and in accordance with the Original Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture, create and issue further notes having the same terms and conditions as the Notes in all respects (or in all respects except for the first payment of interest) so as to form a single Series with the Notes. The Notes, any such further notes and any Exchange Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture; provided that if any such further notes are not fungible with the Notes for U.S. Federal income tax purposes, such further notes will have a separate CUSIP number, if applicable. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include any such further notes and any Exchange Notes.
SECTION 2.05. Interest and Principal. The Notes will mature on May 15, 2023 and will bear interest at the rate of 6.625% per annum. The Company will pay interest on the Notes on each May 15 and November 15, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an Interest Payment Date), beginning on November 15, 2015, to the Holders of record on the immediately preceding May 1 or November 1 (each a Record Date), respectively. Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance. Payments of the principal of and interest on the Notes shall be made in Dollars, and the Notes shall be denominated in Dollars.
SECTION 2.06. Place of Payment. The place of payment where the Notes issued in the form of Definitive Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, where the principal of and interest and any other payments due on the Notes issued in the form of Definitive Notes are payable and where the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Original Indenture, and the office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose shall initially be the office of the Trustee. All payments on Notes issued in the form of Global Notes shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Depositary and, at the option of the Company, payment of interest on the Notes issued in the form of Definitive Notes may be made by check mailed to registered Holders.
SECTION 2.07. Form and Dating.
(a) General. The Notes will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The terms and provisions contained in the Notes will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this First Supplemental Indenture and the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
9
(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto). Each Global Note will represent such of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes as will be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby will be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Article III hereof.
SECTION 2.08. Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable. The provisions of the Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System and Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking and Customer Handbook of Clearstream, in each case, as in effect from time to time, shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream. The Trustee shall have no duty, responsibility, liability or obligation with respect to any such procedures.
SECTION 2.09. Depositary; Registrar. The Company hereby appoints DTC to act as initial Depositary with respect to the Global Notes. The Company hereby appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and the Paying Agent with respect to the Notes.
SECTION 2.10. Optional Redemption.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 2.10(b), 2.10(c) or 2.11, the Company shall not be entitled to redeem the Notes at its option prior to May 15, 2018.
(b) At any time prior to May 15, 2018, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption (the Redemption Date), subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.
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(c) At any time prior to May 15, 2018, the Company may, at its option, on one or more occasions, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued by it at a redemption price equal to 106.625% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of Notes of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that:
(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under this Indenture (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and
(2) each such redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.
(d) On and after May 15, 2018, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, if redeemed beginning on May 15 of the years indicated below:
Date |
Percentage | |||
2018 |
104.969 | % | ||
2019 |
103.313 | % | ||
2020 |
101.656 | % | ||
2021 and thereafter |
100.000 | % |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for all of the outstanding Notes at a price of at least 100% of the principal amount of the Notes tendered, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the applicable tender settlement date (including any Change of Control Offer), if Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Company, or (in the case of a Change of Control Offer) any third party making such a tender offer in lieu of the Company, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Company or such third party will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem all Notes that remain Outstanding following such purchase at a price equal to the price offered to each other Holder in such tender offer plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.
(e) Any redemption made pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be made in accordance with Article III of the Original Indenture, except as expressly set forth in this Section 2.10.
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SECTION 2.11. Special Mandatory Redemption. If (1) the separation and distribution have not been completed on or before November 30, 2015, or (2) prior to November 30, 2015, DuPont has delivered to the Trustee and the Company an Officers Certificate indicating that it has abandoned the separation and distribution (the earlier to occur of (1) or (2), the Special Mandatory Redemption Event), then the Company will, on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (as defined below), redeem all Notes that are Outstanding (the Special Mandatory Redemption) at a redemption price (the Special Mandatory Redemption Price) equal to (a) 100% of the initial issue price of the Notes if the Special Mandatory Redemption Date is on or before August 15, 2015, or (b) 101% of the principal amount of the Notes if the Special Mandatory Redemption Date is after August 15, 2015, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest from the Original Issue Date to, but not including, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).
Special Mandatory Redemption Date means the date that is 30 days after the Special Mandatory Redemption Notice Date.
Notice of the Special Mandatory Redemption will be delivered electronically or mailed by the Company no later than three Business Days following a Special Mandatory Redemption Event to each Holder of Notes at its registered address and the Trustee (such date of mailing, the Special Mandatory Redemption Notice Date). On or prior to the Special Mandatory Redemption Date, the Company shall pay to the applicable Paying Agent for payment to each Holder of Notes the Special Mandatory Redemption Price for such Holders Notes.
ARTICLE III
TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE
SECTION 3.01. Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.08 of the Original Indenture for Definitive Notes if:
(a) the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary;
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(b) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee; or
(c) an Event of Default with respect to the Notes represented by such Global Note shall have occurred and be continuing and the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes have requested the Company to issue Definitive Notes.
Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (a), (b) or (c) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Company and the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.09 and 2.11 of the Original Indenture. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 3.01; however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 3.02 or 3.03 hereof.
SECTION 3.02. Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes will be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with either subparagraph (a) or (b) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(a) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend. Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 3.02(a).
(b) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 3.02(a) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:
(A) both:
(1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and
(2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or
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(B) both:
(1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and
(2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above.
Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Company in accordance with Section 3.06 hereof, the requirements of this Section 3.02(b) shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the instructions contained in the Letters of Transmittal delivered by the Holders of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 3.08 hereof.
(c) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 3.02(b) above and the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; and
(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof.
(d) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any
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Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 3.02(b) above and:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a broker-dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or
(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in the case of clauses (D)(1) and (D)(2), an Opinion of Counsel stating that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
If any such transfer is effected at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred. Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.
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SECTION 3.03. Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.
(a) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Subject to the terms hereof, if any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;
(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or
(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c),
the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 3.08 hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee, upon a Company Order, shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 3.03 shall be registered in such name or names and in such
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authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 3.03(a) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.
(b) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Subject to the terms hereof, a holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a broker-dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note that does not bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or
(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in the case of clauses (D)(1) and (D)(2), an Opinion of Counsel stating that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
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(c) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Subject to the terms hereof, if any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.02(b) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 3.08 hereof, and the Company will execute and the Trustee, upon a Company Order, will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 3.03(c) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 3.03(c) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.
SECTION 3.04. Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.
(a) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. Subject to the terms of hereof, if any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;
(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
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(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or
(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,
the Trustee will cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note.
(b) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a broker-dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or
(2) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in
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the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in the case of clauses (D)(1) and (D)(2), an Opinion of Counsel stating that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 3.04(b), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.
(c) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.
If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraph (b) or (c) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.
SECTION 3.05. Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holders compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.05, the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 3.05.
(a) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
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(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and
(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.
(b) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors;
(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) any such transfer is effected by a broker-dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or
(2) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in the case of clauses (D)(1) and (D)(2), an Opinion of Counsel stating that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
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(c) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.
SECTION 3.06. Registered Exchange Offer.
(a) Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate:
(A) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (1) they are not broker-dealers, (2) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (3) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors; and
(B) Unrestricted Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (1) they are not broker-dealers, (2) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (3) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors.
Concurrently with the issuance of such Exchange Notes, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Company will execute and the Trustee, upon a Company Order, will authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal amount.
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SECTION 3.07. Legends. The following legends will appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this First Supplemental Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture.
(a) Private Placement Legend.
(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:
(1) For Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A and other Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend not sold in reliance on Regulation S:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, RESOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF OR THEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS ACQUIRED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR SUCH INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE) THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE HEREOF OR ANY OTHER ISSUE DATE IN RESPECT OF A FURTHER ISSUANCE OF DEBT SECURITIES OF THE SAME SERIES AS THIS SECURITY AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE CHEMOURS COMPANY (THE COMPANY) OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY OR SUCH INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION (OR ANY PREDECESSOR THEREOF), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (RULE 144A), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A) THAT IS ACQUIRING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS IN OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANYS AND THE TRUSTEES RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.
BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS AND AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (1) IT IS (A) A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A
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TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A OR (B) A NON-U.S. PERSON THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (2) IT WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE AND OTHER TRANSFER RESTRICTION REFERRED TO ABOVE AND THAT THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, THAT SUCH PURCHASER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AS TO THE MATTERS IN CLAUSE (1) OF THIS SENTENCE AND THAT SUCH PURCHASER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED TO NOTIFY ITS SUBSEQUENT TRANSFEREES AS TO THE FOREGOING.
(2) For Notes sold in reliance on Regulation S:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF OR THEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS ACQUIRED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR SUCH INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE) THAT IS 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE OFFERING OF DEBT SECURITIES WHICH THIS SECURITY IS A PART AND THE ISSUE DATE HEREOF, ONLY (A) TO THE CHEMOURS COMPANY (THE COMPANY) OR ANY SUBSIDIARY OF THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (RULE 144A), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A) THAT IS ACQUIRING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS IN OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANYS AND THE TRUSTEES RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.
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BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS AND AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (1) IT IS (A) A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A OR (B) A NON-U.S. PERSON THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (2) IT WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE AND OTHER TRANSFER RESTRICTION REFERRED TO ABOVE AND THAT THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, THAT SUCH PURCHASER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AS TO THE MATTERS IN CLAUSE (1) OF THIS SENTENCE AND THAT SUCH PURCHASER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED TO NOTIFY ITS SUBSEQUENT TRANSFEREES AS TO THE FOREGOING.
(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to Sections 3.02(d), 3.03(b), 3.03(c), 3.04(b), 3.04(c), 3.05(b), 3.05(c) or 3.06 of this Article III (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.
(b) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note will bear a legend in substantially the following form:
THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO ARTICLE III OF THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.12 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH
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NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (DTC), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENTS FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
SECTION 3.08. Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes.
At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.12 of the Original Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
SECTION 3.09. General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(a) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture.
(b) No service charge will be made to a Holder of a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.06 and 9.04 of the Original Indenture).
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(c) The Registrar will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
(d) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes will be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(e) The Company will not be required:
(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 30 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 of the Original Indenture and ending at the close of business on the day of selection;
(B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or
(C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.
(f) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(g) The Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture.
(h) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to Article III to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.
(i) Each Holder agrees to indemnify the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) against any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or assignment of such Holders Note in violation of any provision of this Indenture and/or applicable United States federal or state securities law. Neither the Trustee nor the Registrar shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
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ARTICLE IV
LEGAL DEFEASANCE, COVENANT DEFEASANCE
AND SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
SECTION 4.01. Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance and Satisfaction and Discharge. Article VIII of the Original Indenture shall be applicable to the Notes.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
SECTION 5.01. Special Interest. The Company will pay all Special Interest, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. In the event the Company is required to pay Special Interest pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will provide written notice to the Trustee of the Companys obligation to pay Special Interest no later than 15 days prior to the next Interest Payment Date, which notice shall set forth the amount of Special Interest to be paid by the Company. The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to the Company, any Holders or any other Person to determine whether any such Special Interest is payable or the amount thereof. In the absence of such written notice from the Company, the Trustee shall be entitled to assume that no Special Interest is due.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 6.01. Ratification of Original Indenture; Supplemental Indenture Part of Original Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Original Indenture, including Section 11.18 thereof regarding submission to jurisdiction, is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This First Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Original Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
SECTION 6.02. Concerning the Trustee. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except with respect to the Trustees certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture or of the Notes.
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SECTION 6.03. Multiple Originals; Electronic Signatures. This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this First Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original First Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
SECTION 6.04. GOVERNING LAW. THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE OF THE SERIES CREATED HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY TT, LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
INTERNATIONAL DIOXCIDE, INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
CHEMFIRST INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
FIRST CHEMICAL CORPORATION | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
FIRST CHEMICAL TEXAS, L.P. By FT CHEMICAL INC., its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
FT CHEMICAL, INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
FIRST CHEMICAL HOLDINGS, LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||||||
By: | /s/ Stephanie Roche | |||||
Name: | Stephanie Roche | |||||
Title: | Vice President |
EXHIBIT A
[Face of Note]
[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
[Insert the 144A or Regulation S Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
CUSIP/ISIN [ ]
6.625% Senior Notes Due 2023
No. [ ] | $[ ] |
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY promises to pay to [ ] or registered assigns, the principal sum of [ ] Dollars on May 15, 2023 or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated in Schedule A hereto.
Interest Payment Dates: May 15 and November 15
Record Dates: May 1 and November 1
Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.
A-1
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
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TRUSTEES CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This Note is one of the 6.625% Senior Notes Due 2023 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated: | ||
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
by |
| |
Authorized Signatory |
A-3
[Reverse of Note]
6.625% Senior Notes Due 2023
1. | Indenture |
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company, designated as its 6.625% Senior Notes Due 2023 (herein called the Notes, which expression includes any further notes issued pursuant to Section 2.04 of the First Supplemental Indenture (as hereinafter defined) and forming a single Series therewith), issued and to be issued under an indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (herein called the Original Indenture), as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the First Supplemental Indenture, and together with the Original Indenture, the Indenture), among THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the Company), each of the Companys subsidiaries signatory thereto or that becomes a Guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Indenture (the Subsidiary Guarantors), U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, as trustee (the Trustee) and the other agents party thereto. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto relevant to the Notes for a complete description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Notes. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Note shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.
Each Note is subject to, and qualified by, all such terms as set forth in the Indenture certain of which are summarized herein and each Holder of a Note is referred to the corresponding provisions of the Indenture for a complete statement of such terms. To the extent that there is any inconsistency between the summary provisions set forth in the Notes and the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern.
2. | Interest |
The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate per annum shown above plus Special Interest, if any, payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. The Company will pay interest semiannually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, commencing November 15, 2015. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from May 12, 2015. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
3. | Paying Agent and Registrar |
Initially the Trustee will act as paying agent and registrar. The Company may appoint and change any paying agent or registrar without notice. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as paying agent or registrar.
A-4
4. | Defaults and Remedies; Waiver |
Article VI of the Original Indenture sets forth the Events of Default and related remedies applicable to the Notes.
5. | Amendment |
Article IX of the Original Indenture sets forth the terms by which the Notes and the Indenture may be amended.
6. | Change of Control |
Section 4.13 of the Original Indenture sets forth the terms by which the Company will be required to make an offer to purchase the Notes if a Change of Control occurs.
7. | Obligations Absolute |
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligations of the Company, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Note at the place, at the respective times, at the rate and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.
8. | Sinking Fund |
The Notes will not have the benefit of any sinking fund.
9. | Denominations; Transfer; Exchange |
The Notes are issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 principal amount and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. When Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without payment of any service charge but with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.06 and 9.04 of the Original Indenture).
The Company and the Registrar shall not be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 30 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 of the Original Indenture and ending at the close of business on the day of selection; (b) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or (c) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.
A-5
10. | Further Issues |
The Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes and in accordance with the Indenture, create and issue further notes having the same terms and conditions as the Notes in all respects (or in all respects except for the first payment of interest) so as to form a single Series with the Notes.
11. | Optional Redemption |
The Notes are subject to redemption at the option of the Company, as described in Section 2.10 of the First Supplemental Indenture.
12. | Special Mandatory Redemption |
The Notes are subject to Special Mandatory Redemption, as described in Section 2.11 of the First Supplemental Indenture.
13. | Persons Deemed Owners |
The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the register maintained by the Registrar.
14. | No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders |
No present, past or future director, officer, employee, member, partner, incorporator or equityholder of the Company, any Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Company or any of their respective direct or indirect parent companies (except for the Company or any Subsidiary in its capacity as obligor or guarantor in respect of the Notes and not in its capacity as equityholder of any Subsidiary Guarantor) shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any of the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees, this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting the Notes waives and releases all such liability. This waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
15. | Discharge and Defeasance |
Subject to certain conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Company at any time may terminate some or all of its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if it deposits with the Trustee money and/or certain specified government securities for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.
16. | Unclaimed Money |
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if
A-6
any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust. Thereafter the Holder of such Note shall look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
17. | Trustee Dealings with the Company |
Subject to certain limitations imposed by the TIA, the Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights.
18. | Abbreviations |
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).
19. | CUSIP Numbers |
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and have directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
19. | Additional Rights of Holders |
In addition to the rights provided to Holders under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers named therein.
A-7
20. | Governing Law |
THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
The Company will furnish to any Holder of Notes upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement.
A-8
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to |
| |
(Insert assignees legal name) |
|
(Insert assignees soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.) |
|
|
|
|
(Print or type assignees name, address and zip code) |
and irrevocably appoint to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date: |
|
Your Signature: |
| |
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) |
Signature Guarantee*:
* | Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee). |
A-9
Option of Holder to Elect Purchase
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.13 of the Original Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
¨ Section 4.10 ¨ Section 4.13
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.13 of the Original Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:
$
Date:
Your Signature: |
| |
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) |
Tax Identification No.: |
|
Signature Guarantee*: |
|
* | Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee). |
A-10
Schedule A
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:
Date of Exchange |
Amount of decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Note |
Amount of increase in Principal Amount of this Global Note |
Principal Amount of this Global Note following such decrease or increase |
Signature of authorized signatory of Trustee or Custodian | ||||
* | This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in Global Form. |
A-11
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
The Chemours Company
1007 Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19898
Attention: General Counsel
U.S. Bank National Association
Corporate Trust Services
Registered Transfers
West Side Flats South-2nd N
Mail Code: EP-MN-WS2N
60 Livingston Ave
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55107
Re: | The Chemours Company Senior Notes |
6.625% Senior Notes Due 2023
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Original Indenture), as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the First Supplemental Indenture, and together with the Original Indenture, the Indenture), as further amended from time to time, between, inter alios, The Chemours Company (the Company), and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
(the Transferor) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $ in such Note[s] or interests (the Transfer), to (the Transferee), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:
[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
1. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account
B-1
is a qualified institutional buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
2. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
3. ¨ Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):
(a) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
or
(b) ¨ such Transfer is being effected to Holdings or a Subsidiary thereof;
or
(c) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;
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4. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.
(a) ¨ Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
(b) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
(c) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
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This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.
[Insert Name of Transferor]
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Dated:
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ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
1. | The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following: |
[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]
(a) | ¨ a beneficial interest in the: |
(i) | ¨ 144A Global Note (CUSIP ), or |
(ii) | ¨ Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP ), or |
(b) | ¨ a Restricted Definitive Note. |
2. | After the Transfer the Transferee will hold: |
[CHECK ONE]
(a) | ¨ a beneficial interest in the: |
(i) | ¨ 144A Global Note (CUSIP ), or |
(ii) | ¨ Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP ), or |
(iii) | ¨ Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP ); or |
(b) | ¨ a Restricted Definitive Note; or |
(c) | ¨ an Unrestricted Definitive Note, |
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
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EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
The Chemours Company
1007 Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19898
Attention: General Counsel
U.S. Bank National Association
Corporate Trust Services
Registered Transfers
West Side Flats South-2nd N
Mail Code: EP-MN-WS2N
60 Livingston Ave
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55107
Re: | The Chemours Company Senior Notes |
6.625% Senior Notes Due 2023
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Original Indenture), as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the First Supplemental Indenture, and together with the Original Indenture, the Indenture), as further amended from time to time, between, inter alios, The Chemours Company (the Company), and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
(the Owner) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $ in such Note[s] or interests (the Exchange). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:
[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
1. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note
(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owners beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global
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Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owners beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(c) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Owners Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(d) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Owners Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
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2. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes
(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owners beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owners Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] ¨ 144A Global Note, ¨ Regulation S Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.
[Insert Name of Transferor]
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Dated
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Exhibit 10.9
SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Dated as of May 12, 2015
to
INDENTURE
Dated as of May 12, 2015
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY,
THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO
and
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Trustee
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE | ||||||
ARTICLE I |
5 | |||||
SECTION 1.01 |
Definitions |
5 | ||||
SECTION 1.02 |
Other Definitions |
7 | ||||
ARTICLE II DESIGNATION AND TERMS OF THE NOTES |
7 | |||||
SECTION 2.01 |
Title and Aggregate Principal Amount |
7 | ||||
SECTION 2.02 |
Execution |
7 | ||||
SECTION 2.03 |
Other Terms and Form of the Notes |
8 | ||||
SECTION 2.04 |
Further Issues |
8 | ||||
SECTION 2.05 |
Interest and Principal |
8 | ||||
SECTION 2.06 |
Place of Payment |
8 | ||||
SECTION 2.07 |
Form and Dating |
8 | ||||
SECTION 2.08 |
Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable |
9 | ||||
SECTION 2.09 |
Depositary; Registrar |
9 | ||||
SECTION 2.10 |
Optional Redemption |
9 | ||||
SECTION 2.11 |
Special Mandatory Redemption |
10 | ||||
ARTICLE III TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE |
11 | |||||
SECTION 3.01 |
Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes |
11 | ||||
SECTION 3.02 |
Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes |
11 | ||||
SECTION 3.03 |
Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes |
14 | ||||
SECTION 3.04 |
Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests |
17 | ||||
SECTION 3.05 |
Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes |
19 | ||||
SECTION 3.06 |
Registered Exchange Offer |
20 | ||||
SECTION 3.07 |
Legends |
21 | ||||
SECTION 3.08 |
Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes |
24 | ||||
SECTION 3.09 |
General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges |
25 | ||||
ARTICLE IV LEGAL DEFEASANCE, COVENANT DEFEASANCE AND SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE |
26 | |||||
SECTION 4.01 |
Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance and Satisfaction and Discharge |
26 | ||||
ARTICLE V COVENANTS |
26 | |||||
SECTION 5.01 |
Special Interest |
26 |
2
ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS | 27 | |||||
SECTION 6.01 |
Ratification of Original Indenture; Supplemental Indenture Part of Original Indenture |
27 | ||||
SECTION 6.02 |
Concerning the Trustee |
27 | ||||
SECTION 6.03 |
Multiple Originals; Electronic Signatures |
27 | ||||
SECTION 6.04 |
GOVERNING LAW |
27 |
Exhibit A | Form of 7.000% Senior Note due 2025 | |
Exhibit B | Form of Certificate of Transfer | |
Exhibit C | Form of Certificate of Exchange |
3
SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of May 12, 2015 (this Second Supplemental Indenture), to the Indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Original Indenture), among THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the Company), each of the subsidiary guarantors party hereto or that becomes a guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Original Indenture (the Guarantors) and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, as trustee (the Trustee).
WHEREAS, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee have heretofore executed and delivered the Original Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of Notes (as defined in the Original Indenture) of the Company, to be issued in one or more Series;
WHEREAS, the Original Indenture provides, among other things, that the Company and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the Original Indenture for, among other things, the purpose of establishing the form and terms of Notes of any Series pursuant to the Original Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Company (i) desires the issuance of a Series of Notes to be designated as hereinafter provided and (ii) has requested the Trustee to enter into this Second Supplemental Indenture for the purpose of establishing the form and terms of the Notes of such Series;
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the creation of an issue of its 7.000% Senior Notes Due 2025 (the Notes), which expression includes (i) any further Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.04 hereof and (ii) if and when issued pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined herein), the Companys Exchange Notes (as defined herein) issued in the Exchange Offer (as defined herein) in exchange for any outstanding Notes previously issued hereunder, in each case, forming a single Series therewith of substantially the tenor and amount hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, all action on the part of the Company necessary to authorize the issuance of the Notes under the Original Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture (the Original Indenture, as supplemented by this Second Supplemental Indenture, being hereinafter called the Indenture) has been duly taken.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
That, in order to establish the form and terms of the Notes and in consideration of the acceptance of the Notes by the Holders thereof and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
4
ARTICLE I
SECTION 1.01. Definitions.
(a) Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Original Indenture.
(b) The rules of interpretation set forth in the Original Indenture shall be applied hereto as if set forth in full herein.
(c) For all purposes of this Second Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
144A Global Note means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.
Applicable Procedures means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.
Definitive Note means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Article III hereof substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, except that such Notes shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto.
Exchange Notes means the exchange notes to be issued with respect to the Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
Exchange Offer has the meaning given to the term Registered Exchange Offer set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Global Note Legend means the legend set forth in Section 3.07(b), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued hereunder.
Global Notes means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto, issued in accordance with Section 2.14 of the Original Indenture and Section 2.07 hereof.
5
Indirect Participant means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.
Initial Purchaser means any initial purchaser identified as such in the Plan of Distribution section of the Offering Circular.
Letter of Transmittal means the letter of transmittal to be prepared by the Company and sent to all Holders for use by such Holders in connection with the Exchange Offer.
Non-U.S. Person means a Person who is not a U.S. person, as defined in Regulation S.
Participant means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).
Private Placement Legend means the legend set forth in Section 3.07(a), to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.
QIB means any qualified institutional buyer, as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
Registration Rights Agreement means the Registration Rights Agreement dated May 12, 2015, among the Company, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities plc as representatives of the initial purchasers.
Regulation S means Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Regulation S Global Note means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Regulation S.
Restricted Definitive Note means a Definitive Note bearing a Private Placement Legend.
Restricted Global Note means a Global Note bearing a Private Placement Legend.
Restricted Period means the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.
Rule 144 means Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
6
Rule 144A means Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
Rule 903 means Rule 903 under the Securities Act.
Rule 904 means Rule 904 under the Securities Act.
Shelf Registration Statement means the Shelf Registration Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Special Interest means, at any time, all additional interest then owing pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
Unrestricted Definitive Note means one or more Definitive Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear any Private Placement Legend.
Unrestricted Global Note means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary, representing a Series of Notes that do not bear any Private Placement Legend.
SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.
Term | Defined in Section | |||
Interest Payment Date |
2.05 | |||
Record Date |
2.05 | |||
Redemption Date |
2.10 | |||
Special Mandatory Redemption |
2.11 | |||
Special Mandatory Redemption Date |
2.11 | |||
Special Mandatory Redemption Event |
2.11 | |||
Special Mandatory Redemption Notice Date |
2.11 | |||
Special Mandatory Redemption Price |
2.11 |
ARTICLE II
DESIGNATION AND TERMS OF THE NOTES
SECTION 2.01. Title and Aggregate Principal Amount. There is hereby created one Series of Notes designated: 7.000% Senior Notes Due 2025 in an initial aggregate principal amount of $750,000,000.
SECTION 2.02. Execution. The Notes may forthwith be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication and delivery by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture.
7
SECTION 2.03. Other Terms and Form of the Notes. The Notes shall have and be subject to such other terms as provided in the Original Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture and shall be evidenced by one or more Global Notes in the form of Exhibit A hereof and as set forth in Section 2.07 hereof.
SECTION 2.04. Further Issues. The Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes and in accordance with the Original Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture, create and issue further notes having the same terms and conditions as the Notes in all respects (or in all respects except for the first payment of interest) so as to form a single Series with the Notes. The Notes, any such further notes and any Exchange Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture; provided that if any such further notes are not fungible with the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such further notes will have a separate CUSIP number, if applicable. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include any such further notes and any Exchange Notes.
SECTION 2.05. Interest and Principal. The Notes will mature on May 15, 2025 and will bear interest at the rate of 7.000% per annum. The Company will pay interest on the Notes on each May 15 and November 15, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an Interest Payment Date), beginning on November 15, 2015, to the Holders of record on the immediately preceding May 1 or November 1 (each a Record Date), respectively. Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance. Payments of the principal of and interest on the Notes shall be made in Dollars, and the Notes shall be denominated in Dollars.
SECTION 2.06. Place of Payment. The place of payment where the Notes issued in the form of Definitive Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, where the principal of and interest and any other payments due on the Notes issued in the form of Definitive Notes are payable and where the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Original Indenture, and the office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose shall initially be the office of the Trustee. All payments on Notes issued in the form of Global Notes shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Depositary and, at the option of the Company, payment of interest on the Notes issued in the form of Definitive Notes may be made by check mailed to registered Holders.
SECTION 2.07. Form and Dating.
(a) General. The Notes will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The terms and provisions contained in the Notes will constitute, and are hereby
8
expressly made, a part of this Second Supplemental Indenture and the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto). Each Global Note will represent such of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes as will be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby will be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Article III hereof.
SECTION 2.08. Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable. The provisions of the Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System and Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking and Customer Handbook of Clearstream, in each case, as in effect from time to time, shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream. The Trustee shall have no duty, responsibility, liability or obligation with respect to any such procedures.
SECTION 2.09. Depositary; Registrar. The Company hereby appoints DTC to act as initial Depositary with respect to the Global Notes. The Company hereby appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and the Paying Agent with respect to the Notes.
SECTION 2.10. Optional Redemption.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 2.11, the Company shall not be entitled to redeem the Notes at its option prior to May 15, 2020.
(b) On and after May 15, 2020, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to the date of redemption (the
9
Redemption Date), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, if redeemed beginning on May 15 of the years indicated below:
Date |
Percentage | |||
2020 |
103.500 | % | ||
2021 |
102.333 | % | ||
2022 |
101.167 | % | ||
2023 and thereafter |
100.000 | % |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for all of the outstanding Notes at a price of at least 100% of the principal amount of the Notes tendered, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the applicable tender settlement date (including any Change of Control Offer), if Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Company, or (in the case of a Change of Control Offer) any third party making such a tender offer in lieu of the Company, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Company or such third party will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem all Notes that remain Outstanding following such purchase at a price equal to the price offered to each other Holder in such tender offer plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.
(c) Any redemption made pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be made in accordance with Article III of the Original Indenture, except as expressly set forth in this Section 2.10.
SECTION 2.11. Special Mandatory Redemption. If (1) the separation and distribution have not been completed on or before November 30, 2015, or (2) prior to November 30, 2015, DuPont has delivered to the Trustee and the Company an Officers Certificate indicating that it has abandoned the separation and distribution (the earlier to occur of (1) or (2), the Special Mandatory Redemption Event), then the Company will, on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (as defined below), redeem all Notes that are Outstanding (the Special Mandatory Redemption) at a redemption price (the Special Mandatory Redemption Price) equal to (a) 100% of the initial issue price of the Notes if the Special Mandatory Redemption Date is on or before August 15, 2015, or (b) 101% of the principal amount of the Notes if the Special Mandatory Redemption Date is after August 15, 2015, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest from the Original Issue Date to, but not including, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).
Special Mandatory Redemption Date means the date that is 30 days after the Special Mandatory Redemption Notice Date.
10
Notice of the Special Mandatory Redemption will be delivered electronically or mailed by the Company no later than three Business Days following a Special Mandatory Redemption Event to each Holder of Notes at its registered address and the Trustee (such date of mailing, the Special Mandatory Redemption Notice Date). On or prior to the Special Mandatory Redemption Date, the Company shall pay to the applicable Paying Agent for payment to each Holder of Notes the Special Mandatory Redemption Price for such Holders Notes.
ARTICLE III
TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE
SECTION 3.01. Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.08 of the Original Indenture for Definitive Notes if:
(a) the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary;
(b) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee; or
(c) an Event of Default with respect to the Notes represented by such Global Note shall have occurred and be continuing and the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes have requested the Company to issue Definitive Notes.
Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (a), (b) or (c) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Company and the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.09 and 2.11 of the Original Indenture. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 3.01; however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 3.02 or 3.03 hereof.
SECTION 3.02. Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Second Supplemental Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in
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the Restricted Global Notes will be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with either subparagraph (a) or (b) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(a) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend. Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 3.02(a).
(b) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 3.02(a) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:
(A) both:
(1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and
(2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or
(B) both:
(1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and
(2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above.
Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Company in accordance with Section 3.06 hereof, the requirements of this Section 3.02(b) shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the instructions contained in the Letters of Transmittal delivered by the Holders of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or
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exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 3.08 hereof.
(c) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 3.02(b) above and the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; and
(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof.
(d) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 3.02(b) above and:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a broker-dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or
(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
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and, in the case of clauses (D)(1) and (D)(2), an Opinion of Counsel stating that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
If any such transfer is effected at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred. Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.
SECTION 3.03. Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.
(a) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Subject to the terms hereof, if any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;
(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
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(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or
(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c),
the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 3.08 hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee, upon a Company Order, shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 3.03 shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 3.03(a) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.
(b) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Subject to the terms hereof, a holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
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(C) such transfer is effected by a broker-dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note that does not bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or
(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in the case of clauses (D)(1) and (D)(2), an Opinion of Counsel stating that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(c) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Subject to the terms hereof, if any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.02(b) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 3.08 hereof, and the Company will execute and the Trustee, upon a Company Order, will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 3.03(c) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 3.03(c) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.
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SECTION 3.04. Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.
(a) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. Subject to the terms of hereof, if any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;
(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or
(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,
the Trustee will cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note.
(b) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a
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broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a broker-dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or
(2) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in the case of clauses (D)(1) and (D)(2), an Opinion of Counsel stating that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 3.04(b), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.
(c) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.
If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraph (b) or (c) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.
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SECTION 3.05. Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holders compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.05, the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 3.05.
(a) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and
(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.
(b) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors;
(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
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(C) any such transfer is effected by a broker-dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or
(2) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in the case of clauses (D)(1) and (D)(2), an Opinion of Counsel stating that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(c) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.
SECTION 3.06. Registered Exchange Offer.
(a) Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate:
(A) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (1) they are not broker-dealers, (2) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (3) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors; and
(B) Unrestricted Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (1) they are not broker-dealers, (2) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (3) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors.
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Concurrently with the issuance of such Exchange Notes, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Company will execute and the Trustee, upon a Company Order, will authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal amount.
SECTION 3.07. Legends. The following legends will appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Second Supplemental Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Second Supplemental Indenture.
(a) Private Placement Legend.
(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:
(1) For Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A and other Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend not sold in reliance on Regulation S:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, RESOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF OR THEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS ACQUIRED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR SUCH INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE) THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE HEREOF OR ANY OTHER ISSUE DATE IN RESPECT OF A FURTHER ISSUANCE OF DEBT SECURITIES OF THE SAME SERIES AS THIS SECURITY AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE CHEMOURS COMPANY (THE COMPANY) OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY OR SUCH INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION (OR ANY PREDECESSOR THEREOF), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (RULE 144A), TO A PERSON IT
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REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A) THAT IS ACQUIRING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS IN OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANYS AND THE TRUSTEES RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.
BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS AND AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (1) IT IS (A) A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A OR (B) A NON-U.S. PERSON THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (2) IT WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE AND OTHER TRANSFER RESTRICTION REFERRED TO ABOVE AND THAT THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, THAT SUCH PURCHASER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AS TO THE MATTERS IN CLAUSE (1) OF THIS SENTENCE AND THAT SUCH PURCHASER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED TO NOTIFY ITS SUBSEQUENT TRANSFEREES AS TO THE FOREGOING.
(2) For Notes sold in reliance on Regulation S:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF OR THEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS ACQUIRED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR SUCH INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE RESALE
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RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE) THAT IS 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE OFFERING OF DEBT SECURITIES WHICH THIS SECURITY IS A PART AND THE ISSUE DATE HEREOF, ONLY (A) TO THE CHEMOURS COMPANY (THE COMPANY) OR ANY SUBSIDIARY OF THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (RULE 144A), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A) THAT IS ACQUIRING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS IN OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANYS AND THE TRUSTEES RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.
BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS AND AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (1) IT IS (A) A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A OR (B) A NON-U.S. PERSON THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (2) IT WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE AND OTHER TRANSFER RESTRICTION REFERRED TO ABOVE AND THAT THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, THAT SUCH PURCHASER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AS TO THE MATTERS IN CLAUSE (1) OF THIS SENTENCE AND THAT SUCH PURCHASER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED TO NOTIFY ITS SUBSEQUENT TRANSFEREES AS TO THE FOREGOING.
(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to Sections 3.02(d), 3.03(b), 3.03(c), 3.04(b), 3.04(c), 3.05(b), 3.05(c) or 3.06 of this Article III (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.
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(b) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note will bear a legend in substantially the following form:
THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO ARTICLE III OF THE SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.12 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (DTC), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENTS FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
SECTION 3.08. Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes.
At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.12 of the Original Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of
24
the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
SECTION 3.09. General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(a) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture.
(b) No service charge will be made to a Holder of a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.06 and 9.04 of the Original Indenture).
(c) The Registrar will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
(d) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes will be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(e) The Company will not be required:
(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 30 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 of the Original Indenture and ending at the close of business on the day of selection;
(B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or
(C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.
(f) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name
25
any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(g) The Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture.
(h) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to Article III to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.
(i) Each Holder agrees to indemnify the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) against any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or assignment of such Holders Note in violation of any provision of this Indenture and/or applicable United States federal or state securities law. Neither the Trustee nor the Registrar shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
ARTICLE IV
LEGAL DEFEASANCE, COVENANT DEFEASANCE
AND SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
SECTION 4.01. Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance and Satisfaction and Discharge. Article VIII of the Original Indenture shall be applicable to the Notes.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
SECTION 5.01. Special Interest. The Company will pay all Special Interest, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. In the event the Company is required to pay Special Interest pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will provide written notice to the Trustee of the Companys obligation to pay Special Interest no later than 15 days prior to the next Interest Payment Date, which notice shall set forth the amount of Special Interest to be paid by the Company. The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to the Company, any Holders or any other Person to determine whether any such Special Interest is payable or the amount thereof. In the absence of such written notice from the Company, the Trustee shall be entitled to assume that no Special Interest is due.
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ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 6.01. Ratification of Original Indenture; Supplemental Indenture Part of Original Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Original Indenture, including Section 11.18 thereof regarding submission to jurisdiction, is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Second Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Original Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
SECTION 6.02. Concerning the Trustee. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except with respect to the Trustees certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Second Supplemental Indenture or of the Notes.
SECTION 6.03. Multiple Originals; Electronic Signatures. This Second Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Second Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Second Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Second Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
SECTION 6.04. GOVERNING LAW. THIS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE OF THE SERIES CREATED HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Second Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY TT, LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
INTERNATIONAL DIOXCIDE, INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
CHEMFIRST INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
FIRST CHEMICAL CORPORATION | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
FIRST CHEMICAL TEXAS, L.P. | ||||
By FT CHEMICAL INC., its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
FT CHEMICAL, INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
FIRST CHEMICAL HOLDINGS, LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||||||
By: | /s/ Stephanie Roche | |||||
Name: | Stephanie Roche | |||||
Title: | Vice President |
EXHIBIT A
[Face of Note]
[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
[Insert the 144A or Regulation S Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
CUSIP/ISIN [ ]
7.000% Senior Notes Due 2025
No. [ ] | $[ ] |
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY promises to pay to [ ] or registered assigns, the principal sum of [ ] Dollars on May 15, 2025 or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated in Schedule A hereto.
Interest Payment Dates: May 15 and November 15
Record Dates: May 1 and November 1
Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
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TRUSTEES CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This Note is one of the 7.000% Senior Notes Due 2025 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
by |
| |
Authorized Signatory |
A-3
[Reverse of Note]
7.000% Senior Notes Due 2025
1. Indenture
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company, designated as its 7.000% Senior Notes Due 2025 (herein called the Notes, which expression includes any further notes issued pursuant to Section 2.04 of the Second Supplemental Indenture (as hereinafter defined) and forming a single Series therewith), issued and to be issued under an indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (herein called the Original Indenture), as supplemented by a second supplemental indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Second Supplemental Indenture, and together with the Original Indenture, the Indenture), among THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the Company), each of the Companys subsidiaries signatory thereto or that becomes a Guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Indenture (the Subsidiary Guarantors), U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, as trustee (the Trustee) and the other agents party thereto. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto relevant to the Notes for a complete description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Notes. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Note shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.
Each Note is subject to, and qualified by, all such terms as set forth in the Indenture certain of which are summarized herein and each Holder of a Note is referred to the corresponding provisions of the Indenture for a complete statement of such terms. To the extent that there is any inconsistency between the summary provisions set forth in the Notes and the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern.
2. Interest
The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate per annum shown above plus Special Interest, if any, payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. The Company will pay interest semiannually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, commencing November 15, 2015. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from May 12, 2015. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar
Initially the Trustee will act as paying agent and registrar. The Company may appoint and change any paying agent or registrar without notice. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as paying agent or registrar.
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4. Defaults and Remedies; Waiver
Article VI of the Original Indenture sets forth the Events of Default and related remedies applicable to the Notes.
5. Amendment
Article IX of the Original Indenture sets forth the terms by which the Notes and the Indenture may be amended.
6. Change of Control
Section 4.13 of the Original Indenture sets forth the terms by which the Company will be required to make an offer to purchase the Notes if a Change of Control occurs.
7. Obligations Absolute
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligations of the Company, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Note at the place, at the respective times, at the rate and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.
8. Sinking Fund
The Notes will not have the benefit of any sinking fund.
9. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange
The Notes are issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 principal amount and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. When Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without payment of any service charge but with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.06 and 9.04 of the Original Indenture).
The Company and the Registrar shall not be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 30 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 of the Original Indenture and ending at the close of business on the day of selection; (b) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or (c) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.
A-5
10. Further Issues
The Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes and in accordance with the Indenture, create and issue further notes having the same terms and conditions as the Notes in all respects (or in all respects except for the first payment of interest) so as to form a single Series with the Notes.
11. Optional Redemption
The Notes are subject to redemption at the option of the Company, as described in Section 2.10 of the Second Supplemental Indenture.
12. Special Mandatory Redemption
The Notes are subject to Special Mandatory Redemption, as described in Section 2.11 of the Second Supplemental Indenture.
13. Persons Deemed Owners
The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the register maintained by the Registrar.
14. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders
No present, past or future director, officer, employee, member, partner, incorporator or equityholder of the Company, any Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Company or any of their respective direct or indirect parent companies (except for the Company or any Subsidiary in its capacity as obligor or guarantor in respect of the Notes and not in its capacity as equityholder of any Subsidiary Guarantor) shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any of the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees, this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting the Notes waives and releases all such liability. This waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
15. Discharge and Defeasance
Subject to certain conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Company at any time may terminate some or all of its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if it deposits with the Trustee money and/or certain specified government securities for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.
16. Unclaimed Money
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if
A-6
any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust. Thereafter the Holder of such Note shall look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
17. Trustee Dealings with the Company
Subject to certain limitations imposed by the TIA, the Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights.
18. Abbreviations
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).
19. CUSIP Numbers
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and have directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
19. Additional Rights of Holders
In addition to the rights provided to Holders under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers named therein.
A-7
20. Governing Law
THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
The Company will furnish to any Holder of Notes upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement.
A-8
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to |
| |
(Insert assignees legal name) |
(Insert assignees soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
(Print or type assignees name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date: |
Your Signature: |
| |
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) |
Signature Guarantee*:
* | Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee). |
A-9
Option of Holder to Elect Purchase
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.13 of the Original Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
¨ Section 4.10 | ¨ Section 4.13 |
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.13 of the Original Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:
$
Date:
Your Signature: |
|
|||
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) |
Tax Identification No.: |
|
Signature Guarantee*: |
|
* | Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee). |
A-10
Schedule A
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:
Date of Exchange |
Amount of decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Note |
Amount of increase in Principal Amount of this Global Note |
Principal Amount of this Global Note following such decrease or increase |
Signature of authorized signatory of Trustee or Custodian | ||||
* | This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in Global Form. |
A-11
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
The Chemours Company
1007 Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19898
Attention: General Counsel
U.S. Bank National Association
Corporate Trust Services
Registered Transfers
West Side Flats South-2nd N
Mail Code: EP-MN-WS2N
60 Livingston Ave
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55107
Re: | The Chemours Company Senior Notes |
7.000% Senior Notes Due 2025
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Original Indenture), as supplemented by a second supplemental indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Second Supplemental Indenture, and together with the Original Indenture, the Indenture), as further amended from time to time, between, inter alios, The Chemours Company (the Company), and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
(the Transferor) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $ in such Note[s] or interests (the Transfer), to (the Transferee), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:
[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
1. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which
B-1
such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a qualified institutional buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
2. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
3. ¨ Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):
(a) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
or
(b) ¨ such Transfer is being effected to Holdings or a Subsidiary thereof;
or
(c) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
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4. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.
(a) ¨ Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
(b) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
(c) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
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This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.
|
[Insert Name of Transferor] |
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Dated:
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ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
1. | The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following: |
[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]
(a) | ¨ a beneficial interest in the: |
(i) | ¨ 144A Global Note (CUSIP ), or |
(ii) | ¨ Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP ), or |
(b) | ¨ a Restricted Definitive Note. |
2. | After the Transfer the Transferee will hold: |
[CHECK ONE]
(a) | ¨ a beneficial interest in the: |
(i) | ¨ 144A Global Note (CUSIP ), or |
(ii) | ¨ Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP ), or |
(iii) | ¨ Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP ); or |
(b) | ¨ a Restricted Definitive Note; or |
(c) | ¨ an Unrestricted Definitive Note, |
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
B-5
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
The Chemours Company
1007 Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19898
Attention: General Counsel
U.S. Bank National Association
Corporate Trust Services
Registered Transfers
West Side Flats South-2nd N
Mail Code: EP-MN-WS2N
60 Livingston Ave
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55107
Re: The Chemours Company Senior Notes
7.000% Senior Notes Due 2025
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Original Indenture), as supplemented by a second supplemental indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Second Supplemental Indenture, and together with the Original Indenture, the Indenture), as further amended from time to time, between, inter alios, The Chemours Company (the Company), and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
(the Owner) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $ in such Note[s] or interests (the Exchange). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:
[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
1. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note
(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owners beneficial interest in a
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Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owners beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(c) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Owners Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(d) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Owners Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain
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compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
2. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes
(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owners beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owners Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] ¨ 144A Global Note, ¨ Regulation S Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.
|
[Insert Name of Transferor] |
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Dated
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Exhibit 10.10
THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Dated as of May 12, 2015
to
INDENTURE
Dated as of May 12, 2015
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY,
THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO,
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee,
ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, UK BRANCH,
as Paying Agent,
and
ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED,
as Registrar and Transfer Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE | ||||||
ARTICLE I |
5 | |||||
SECTION 1.01 |
Definitions |
5 | ||||
SECTION 1.02 |
Other Definitions |
8 | ||||
ARTICLE II DESIGNATION AND TERMS OF THE NOTES |
8 | |||||
SECTION 2.01 |
Title and Aggregate Principal Amount |
8 | ||||
SECTION 2.02 |
Execution |
9 | ||||
SECTION 2.03 |
Other Terms and Form of the Notes |
9 | ||||
SECTION 2.04 |
Further Issues |
9 | ||||
SECTION 2.05 |
Interest and Principal |
9 | ||||
SECTION 2.06 |
Place of Payment |
9 | ||||
SECTION 2.07 |
Form and Dating |
10 | ||||
SECTION 2.08 |
Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable |
10 | ||||
SECTION 2.09 |
Depositary; Registrar; Transfer Agent |
10 | ||||
SECTION 2.10 |
Optional Redemption |
10 | ||||
SECTION 2.11 |
Special Mandatory Redemption |
12 | ||||
SECTION 2.12 |
Payment of Additional Amounts |
12 | ||||
SECTION 2.13 |
Redemption of Notes for Tax Reasons |
15 | ||||
ARTICLE III TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE |
15 | |||||
SECTION 3.01 |
Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes |
15 | ||||
SECTION 3.02 |
Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes |
16 | ||||
SECTION 3.03 |
Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes |
19 | ||||
SECTION 3.04 |
Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests |
21 | ||||
SECTION 3.05 |
Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes |
23 | ||||
SECTION 3.06 |
Registered Exchange Offer |
25 | ||||
SECTION 3.07 |
Legends |
26 | ||||
SECTION 3.08 |
Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes |
29 | ||||
SECTION 3.09 |
General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges |
29 | ||||
ARTICLE IV LEGAL DEFEASANCE, COVENANT DEFEASANCE AND SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE |
31 | |||||
SECTION 4.01 |
Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance and Satisfaction and Discharge |
31 |
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ARTICLE V COVENANTS |
31 | |||||
SECTION 5.01 |
Special Interest |
31 | ||||
ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS |
31 | |||||
SECTION 6.01 |
Ratification of Original Indenture; Supplemental Indenture Part of Original Indenture |
31 | ||||
SECTION 6.02 |
Concerning the Trustee |
31 | ||||
SECTION 6.03 |
Multiple Originals; Electronic Signatures |
32 | ||||
SECTION 6.04 |
GOVERNING LAW |
32 |
Exhibit A | Form of 6.125% Senior Note due 2023 | |
Exhibit B | Form of Certificate of Transfer | |
Exhibit C | Form of Certificate of Exchange |
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THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of May 12, 2015 (this Third Supplemental Indenture), to the Indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Original Indenture), among THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the Company), each of the subsidiary guarantors party hereto or that becomes a guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Original Indenture (the Guarantors), U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, as trustee (the Trustee), ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, UK BRANCH, a limited liability company registered in Ireland with the Companies Registration Office (registered number 418442), with its registered office at Block E, Cherrywood Business Park, Loughlinstown, Dublin, Ireland acting through its UK Branch (registered number BR009373) from its offices at 5th Floor, 125 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1AR, United Kingdom, as paying agent (the Paying Agent), and ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, a limited liability company registered in Ireland with the Companies Registration Office (registered number 418442), with its registered office at Block E, Cherrywood Business Park, Loughlinstown, Dublin, Ireland, as registrar (the Registrar) and transfer agent (the Transfer Agent and, together with the Paying Agent and the Registrar, the Euro Agents).
WHEREAS, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Euro Agents have heretofore executed and delivered the Original Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of Notes (as defined in the Original Indenture) of the Company, to be issued in one or more Series;
WHEREAS, the Original Indenture provides, among other things, that the Company and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the Original Indenture for, among other things, the purpose of establishing the form and terms of Notes of any Series pursuant to the Original Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Company (i) desires the issuance of a Series of Notes to be designated as hereinafter provided and (ii) has requested the Trustee to enter into this Third Supplemental Indenture for the purpose of establishing the form and terms of the Notes of such Series;
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the creation of an issue of its 6.125% Senior Notes Due 2023 (the Notes), which expression includes (i) any further Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.04 hereof and (ii) if and when issued pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined herein), the Companys Exchange Notes (as defined herein) issued in the Exchange Offer (as defined herein) in exchange for any outstanding Notes previously issued hereunder, in each case, forming a single Series therewith of substantially the tenor and amount hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, all action on the part of the Company necessary to authorize the issuance of the Notes under the Original Indenture and this Third Supplemental Indenture (the Original Indenture, as supplemented by this Third Supplemental Indenture, being hereinafter called the Indenture) has been duly taken.
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NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
That, in order to establish the form and terms of the Notes and in consideration of the acceptance of the Notes by the Holders thereof and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
SECTION 1.01. Definitions.
(a) Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Original Indenture.
(b) The rules of interpretation set forth in the Original Indenture shall be applied hereto as if set forth in full herein.
(c) For all purposes of this Third Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
144A Global Note means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.
Applicable Premium means, as calculated by the Company with respect to any Note on any Redemption Date, the greater of:
(1) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note; and
(2) the excess, if any, of (a) the present value at such Redemption Date of the redemption price of such Note at May 15, 2018 (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 2.10(d)), plus all required interest payments due on such Note through May 15, 2018 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Bund Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points; over (b) the principal amount of such Note.
Applicable Procedures means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.
Bund Rate means, as of any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity as of such Redemption Date of the most recently issued direct obligations of the Federal Republic of Germany (Bunds or Bundesanleihen) with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent financial statistics that have become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date (or in connection with a
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discharge, two Business Days prior to the date of deposit with the Trustee or any paying agent hereunder, as applicable) (or, if such financial statistics are no longer published or not available, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to May 15, 2018; provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to May 15, 2018 is not equal to the constant maturity of the direct obligation of the Federal Republic of Germany for which a weekly average yield is given, the Bund Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of direct obligations of the Federal Republic of Germany for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to May 15, 2018 is less than a year, the weekly average yield on actually traded direct obligations of the Federal Republic of Germany adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Bund Rate, determined as provided above, would otherwise be less than zero, then the Bund Rate shall be deemed to be zero for all purposes.
Definitive Note means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Article III hereof substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, except that such Notes shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto.
Equity Offering means any public or private sale of common stock or Preferred Stock of the Company (excluding Disqualified Stock), other than:
(1) public offerings with respect to the Companys common stock registered on Form S-8;
(2) issuances to any Subsidiary of the Company or to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Company; and
(3) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.
Exchange Notes means the exchange notes to be issued with respect to the Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
Exchange Offer has the meaning given to the term Registered Exchange Offer set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Global Note Legend means the legend set forth in Section 3.07(b), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued hereunder.
Global Notes means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of
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and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto, issued in accordance with Section 2.14 of the Original Indenture and Section 2.07 hereof.
Indirect Participant means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.
Initial Purchaser means any initial purchaser identified as such in the Plan of Distribution section of the Offering Circular.
Letter of Transmittal means the letter of transmittal to be prepared by the Company and sent to all Holders for use by such Holders in connection with the Exchange Offer.
Non-U.S. Person means a Person who is not a U.S. person, as defined in Regulation S.
Participant means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).
Private Placement Legend means the legend set forth in Section 3.07(a), to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.
QIB means any qualified institutional buyer, as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
Registration Rights Agreement means the Registration Rights Agreement dated May 12, 2015, among the Company, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities plc as representatives of the initial purchasers.
Regulation S means Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Regulation S Global Note means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Regulation S.
Restricted Definitive Note means a Definitive Note bearing a Private Placement Legend.
Restricted Global Note means a Global Note bearing a Private Placement Legend.
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Restricted Period means the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.
Rule 144 means Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
Rule 144A means Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
Rule 903 means Rule 903 under the Securities Act.
Rule 904 means Rule 904 under the Securities Act.
Shelf Registration Statement means the Shelf Registration Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Special Interest means, at any time, all additional interest then owing pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
Unrestricted Definitive Note means one or more Definitive Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear any Private Placement Legend.
Unrestricted Global Note means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary, representing a Series of Notes that do not bear any Private Placement Legend.
SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.
Term | Defined in Section | |
Interest Payment Date | 2.05 | |
Record Date | 2.05 | |
Redemption Date | 2.10 | |
Special Mandatory Redemption | 2.11 | |
Special Mandatory Redemption Date | 2.11 | |
Special Mandatory Redemption Event | 2.11 | |
Special Mandatory Redemption Notice Date | 2.11 | |
Special Mandatory Redemption Price | 2.11 |
ARTICLE II
DESIGNATION AND TERMS OF THE NOTES
SECTION 2.01. Title and Aggregate Principal Amount. There is hereby created one Series of Notes designated: 6.125% Senior Notes Due 2023 in an initial aggregate principal amount of 360,000,000.
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SECTION 2.02. Execution. The Notes may forthwith be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication and delivery by the Trustee, or an Authenticating Agent duly appointed, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture.
SECTION 2.03. Other Terms and Form of the Notes. The Notes shall have and be subject to such other terms as provided in the Original Indenture and this Third Supplemental Indenture and shall be evidenced by one or more Global Notes in the form of Exhibit A hereof and as set forth in Section 2.07 hereof.
SECTION 2.04. Further Issues. The Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes and in accordance with the Original Indenture and this Third Supplemental Indenture, create and issue further notes having the same terms and conditions as the Notes in all respects (or in all respects except for the first payment of interest) so as to form a single Series with the Notes. The Notes, any such further notes and any Exchange Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture; provided that if any such further notes are not fungible with the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such further notes will have a separate Common Code number, if applicable. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include any such further notes and any Exchange Notes.
SECTION 2.05. Interest and Principal. The Notes will mature on May 15, 2023 and will bear interest at the rate of 6.125% per annum. The Company will pay interest on the Notes on each May 15 and November 15, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an Interest Payment Date), beginning on November 15, 2015, to the Holders of record on the immediately preceding May 1 or November 1 (each a Record Date), respectively. Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance. Payments of the principal of and interest on the Notes shall be made in Euros, and the Notes shall be denominated in Euros.
SECTION 2.06. Place of Payment. The place of payment where the Notes issued in the form of Definitive Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, where the principal of and interest and any other payments due on the Notes issued in the form of Definitive Notes are payable and where the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Original Indenture, and the office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose shall initially be the office of the Paying Agent or Registrar. All payments on Notes issued in the form of Global Notes shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Depositary and, at the option of the Company, payment of interest on the Notes issued in the form of Definitive Notes may be made by check mailed to registered Holders.
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SECTION 2.07. Form and Dating.
(a) General. The Notes will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The terms and provisions contained in the Notes will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
(b) Global Notes. Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto). Each Global Note will represent such of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes as will be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby will be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Article III hereof.
SECTION 2.08. Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable. The provisions of the Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System and Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking and Customer Handbook of Clearstream, in each case, as in effect from time to time, shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream. The Trustee shall have no duty, responsibility, liability or obligation with respect to any such procedures.
SECTION 2.09. Depositary; Registrar; Transfer Agent. The Company hereby appoints Elavon Financial Services Limited to act as the initial Registrar and initial Transfer Agent with respect to the Notes. The Company hereby appoints Elavon Financial Services Limited, UK Branch to act as the initial Paying Agent with respect to the Notes.
SECTION 2.10. Optional Redemption.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 2.10(b), 2.10(c), 2.11 or 2.13, the Company shall not be entitled to redeem the Notes at its option prior to May 15, 2018.
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(b) At any time prior to May 15, 2018, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption (the Redemption Date), subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.
(c) At any time prior to May 15, 2018, the Company may, at its option, on one or more occasions, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued by it at a redemption price equal to 106.125% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of Notes of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that:
(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under this Indenture (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption; and
(2) each such redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of closing of each such Equity Offering.
(d) On and after May 15, 2018, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to the Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, if redeemed beginning on May 15 of the years indicated below:
Date |
Percentage | |||
2018 |
104.594 | % | ||
2019 |
103.063 | % | ||
2020 |
101.531 | % | ||
2021 and thereafter |
100.000 | % |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with any tender offer for all of the outstanding Notes at a price of at least 100% of the principal amount of the Notes tendered, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the applicable tender settlement date (including any Change of Control Offer), if Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in such tender offer and the Company, or (in the case of a Change of Control Offer) any third party making such a tender offer in lieu of the Company, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the
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Company or such third party will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase date, to redeem all Notes that remain Outstanding following such purchase at a price equal to the price offered to each other Holder in such tender offer plus, to the extent not included in the tender offer payment, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.
(e) Any redemption made pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be made in accordance with Article III of the Original Indenture, except as expressly set forth in this Section 2.10.
SECTION 2.11. Special Mandatory Redemption. If (1) the separation and distribution have not been completed on or before November 30, 2015, or (2) prior to November 30, 2015, DuPont has delivered to the Trustee and the Company an Officers Certificate indicating that it has abandoned the separation and distribution (the earlier to occur of (1) or (2), the Special Mandatory Redemption Event), then the Company will, on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (as defined below), redeem all Notes that are Outstanding (the Special Mandatory Redemption) at a redemption price (the Special Mandatory Redemption Price) equal to (a) 100% of the initial issue price of the Notes if the Special Mandatory Redemption Date is on or before August 15, 2015, or (b) 101% of the principal amount of the Notes if the Special Mandatory Redemption Date is after August 15, 2015, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest from the Original Issue Date to, but not including, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).
Special Mandatory Redemption Date means the date that is 30 days after the Special Mandatory Redemption Notice Date.
Notice of the Special Mandatory Redemption will be delivered electronically or mailed by the Company no later than three Business Days following a Special Mandatory Redemption Event to each Holder of Notes at its registered address and the Trustee (such date of mailing, the Special Mandatory Redemption Notice Date). On or prior to the Special Mandatory Redemption Date, the Company shall pay to the applicable Paying Agent for payment to each Holder of Notes the Special Mandatory Redemption Price for such Holders Notes.
SECTION 2.12. Payment of Additional Amounts.
All payments of principal and interest on the Notes by the Company will be made free and clear of and without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by the United States (as defined below), unless the Company is required to withhold or deduct such taxes, assessments or other governmental charge by law or the official interpretation or administration thereof. The Company will, subject to the exceptions and limitations set
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forth below, pay as additional interest on Euro Notes such additional amounts (the additional amounts) as are necessary in order that the net payment by the Company of the principal of and interest on such Notes to a Holder who is not a United States person (as defined below), after withholding or deduction for any present or future tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by the United States, will not be less than the amount provided in such Notes to be then due and payable; provided, however, that the foregoing obligation to pay additional amounts shall not apply:
1. to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed by reason of the Holder (or the beneficial owner for whose benefit such Holder holds such Note), or a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of the Holder if the Holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation, or a person holding a power over an estate or trust administered by a fiduciary holder, being considered as:
a. being or having been engaged in a trade or business in the United States or having or having had a permanent establishment in the United States;
b. having a current or former connection with the United States (other than a connection arising solely as a result of the ownership of such Notes, the receipt of any payment or the enforcement of any rights in respect of the Notes), including being or having been a citizen or resident of the United States;
c. being or having been a foreign or domestic personal holding company, a passive foreign investment company or a controlled foreign corporation for United States income tax purposes or a corporation that has accumulated earnings to avoid United States federal income tax;
d. being or having been a 10-percent shareholder of the Company as defined in section 871(h)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) or any successor provision; or
e. being or having been a bank receiving payments on an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business, as described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code or any successor provision;
2. to any Holder that is not the sole beneficial owner of such Notes, or a portion of such Notes, or that is a fiduciary, partnership or limited liability company, but only to the extent that a beneficial owner with respect to the Holder, a beneficiary or settlor with respect to the fiduciary, or a beneficial owner or member of the partnership or limited liability company would not have been entitled to the payment of an additional amount had the beneficiary, settlor, beneficial owner or member received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment;
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3. to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for the failure of the Holder or beneficial owner to submit an applicable United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or appropriate substitute or successor form with any required attachments) to establish the status as a non-United States person as required for purposes of the portfolio interest exemption or IRS Form W-9 to establish the status as a United States person, or comply with other certification, identification or information reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the United States of the Holder or beneficial owner of such Notes, if compliance is required by statute, by regulation of the United States or by an applicable income tax treaty to which the United States is a party as a precondition to exemption from such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;
4. to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed otherwise than by deduction or withholding by the Company or a paying agent from the payment;
5. to any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, wealth, capital gains or personal property tax or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;
6. to any withholding or deduction that is imposed on a payment and that is required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC or any other Directive amending, supplementing or replacing such Directive, or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such Directive or Directives;
7. to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge required to be withheld by any paying agent from any payment of principal of or interest on any Note as a result of the presentation of any Note for payment (where presentation is required) by or on behalf of a holder of Euro Notes, if such payment could have been made without such withholding by presenting the relevant note to at least one other paying agent in a member state of the European Union;
8. to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed or levied but for the presentation by the Holder of any Note, where presentation is required, for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;
9. to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed under sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as of the issue date (or any amended or successor provisions that are substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to section 1471(b) of the Code or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such sections of the Code; or
10. in the case of any combination of items (1) through (9) above.
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The Notes are subject in all cases to any tax, fiscal or other law or regulation or administrative or judicial interpretation applicable to the Notes. Except as specifically provided under this Section 2.12, the Company will not be required to make any payment for any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by any government or a political subdivision or taxing authority of or in any government or political subdivision.
As used under this Section 2.12 and Section 2.13, the term United States means the United States of America, the states of the United States, and the District of Columbia, including in each case, any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein having power to tax, and the term United States person means any individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia, or any estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.
SECTION 2.13. Redemption of Notes for Tax Reasons. If, as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws (or any regulations or rulings promulgated under the laws) of the United States, or any change in, or amendments to, an official position regarding the application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings (including by virtue of a holding, judgment or order by a court of competent jurisdiction or a change in published administrative practice), which change or amendment is announced or becomes effective on or after the date of this Indenture, the Company becomes or, based on a written opinion of independent counsel selected by the Company, will become, obligated to pay additional amounts pursuant to Section 2.12 with respect to the Notes (such change or amendment, a Change in Tax Law), then the Company may at any time at the Companys option redeem, in whole, but not in part, the Notes on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to, but excluding, the redemption date.
ARTICLE III
TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE
SECTION 3.01. Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.08 of the Original Indenture for Definitive Notes if:
(a) the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary;
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(b) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee; or
(c) an Event of Default with respect to the Notes represented by such Global Note shall have occurred and be continuing and the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes have requested the Company to issue Definitive Notes.
Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (a), (b) or (c) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Company and the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.09 and 2.11 of the Original Indenture. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 3.01; however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 3.02 or 3.03 hereof.
SECTION 3.02. Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes will be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with either subparagraph (a) or (b) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(a) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend. Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 3.02(a).
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(b) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 3.02(a) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:
(A) both:
(1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and
(2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or
(B) both:
(1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and
(2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above.
Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Company in accordance with Section 3.06 hereof, the requirements of this Section 3.02(b) shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the instructions contained in the Letters of Transmittal delivered by the Holders of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 3.08 hereof.
(c) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 3.02(b) above and the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; and
(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof.
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(d) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 3.02(b) above and:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a broker-dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or
(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in the case of clauses (D)(1) and (D)(2), an Opinion of Counsel stating that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
If any such transfer is effected at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order
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in accordance with Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred. Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.
SECTION 3.03. Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.
(a) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Subject to the terms hereof, if any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;
(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or
(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c),
the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 3.08 hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee, upon a Company Order, shall authenticate and deliver to the Person
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designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 3.03 shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 3.03(a) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.
(b) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Subject to the terms hereof, a holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a broker-dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note that does not bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or
(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
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and, in the case of clauses (D)(1) and (D)(2), an Opinion of Counsel stating that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(c) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Subject to the terms hereof, if any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.02(b) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 3.08 hereof, and the Company will execute and the Trustee, upon a Company Order, will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 3.03(c) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 3.03(c) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.
SECTION 3.04. Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.
(a) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. Subject to the terms of hereof, if any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;
(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
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(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;
(E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or
(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,
the Trustee will cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note.
(b) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a broker-dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or
(2) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in
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the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in the case of clauses (D)(1) and (D)(2), an Opinion of Counsel stating that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 3.04(b), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.
(c) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.
If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraph (b) or (c) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.
SECTION 3.05. Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holders compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.05, the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 3.05.
(a) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
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(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and
(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.
(b) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a broker-dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors;
(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) any such transfer is effected by a broker-dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(1) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or
(2) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in the case of clauses (D)(1) and (D)(2), an Opinion of Counsel stating that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
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(c) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.
SECTION 3.06. Registered Exchange Offer.
(a) Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate:
(A) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (1) they are not broker-dealers, (2) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (3) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors; and
(B) Unrestricted Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (1) they are not broker-dealers, (2) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (3) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of the Guarantors.
Concurrently with the issuance of such Exchange Notes, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Company will execute and the Trustee, upon a Company Order, will authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal amount.
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SECTION 3.07. Legends. The following legends will appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Third Supplemental Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture.
(a) Private Placement Legend.
(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:
(1) For Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A and other Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend not sold in reliance on Regulation S:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, RESOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF OR THEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS ACQUIRED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR SUCH INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE) THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE HEREOF OR ANY OTHER ISSUE DATE IN RESPECT OF A FURTHER ISSUANCE OF DEBT SECURITIES OF THE SAME SERIES AS THIS SECURITY AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE CHEMOURS COMPANY (THE COMPANY) OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY OR SUCH INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION (OR ANY PREDECESSOR THEREOF), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (RULE 144A), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A) THAT IS ACQUIRING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS IN OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANYS AND THE TRUSTEES RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.
BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS AND AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (1) IT IS (A) A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A
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TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A OR (B) A NON-U.S. PERSON THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (2) IT WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE AND OTHER TRANSFER RESTRICTION REFERRED TO ABOVE AND THAT THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, THAT SUCH PURCHASER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AS TO THE MATTERS IN CLAUSE (1) OF THIS SENTENCE AND THAT SUCH PURCHASER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED TO NOTIFY ITS SUBSEQUENT TRANSFEREES AS TO THE FOREGOING.
(2) For Notes sold in reliance on Regulation S:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF OR THEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS ACQUIRED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR SUCH INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE) THAT IS 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE OFFERING OF DEBT SECURITIES WHICH THIS SECURITY IS A PART AND THE ISSUE DATE HEREOF, ONLY (A) TO THE CHEMOURS COMPANY (THE COMPANY) OR ANY SUBSIDIARY OF THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (RULE 144A), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A) THAT IS ACQUIRING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS IN OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANYS AND THE TRUSTEES RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.
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BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS AND AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (1) IT IS (A) A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A OR (B) A NON-U.S. PERSON THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (2) IT WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE AND OTHER TRANSFER RESTRICTION REFERRED TO ABOVE AND THAT THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, THAT SUCH PURCHASER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AS TO THE MATTERS IN CLAUSE (1) OF THIS SENTENCE AND THAT SUCH PURCHASER SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED TO NOTIFY ITS SUBSEQUENT TRANSFEREES AS TO THE FOREGOING.
(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to Sections 3.02(d), 3.03(b), 3.03(c), 3.04(b), 3.04(c), 3.05(b), 3.05(c) or 3.06 of this Article III (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.
(b) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note will bear a legend in substantially the following form:
THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO ARTICLE III OF THE THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.12 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH
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NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENTS FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF USB NOMINEES (UK) LIMITED OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO USB NOMINEES (UK) LIMITED OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, USB NOMINEES (UK) LIMITED, HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
SECTION 3.08. Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes.
At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.12 of the Original Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
SECTION 3.09. General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(a) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture.
(b) No service charge will be made to a Holder of a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.06 and 9.04 of the Original Indenture).
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(c) The Registrar will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
(d) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes will be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(e) The Company will not be required:
(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 30 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 of the Original Indenture and ending at the close of business on the day of selection;
(B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or
(C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.
(f) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(g) The Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture.
(h) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to Article III to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.
(i) Each Holder agrees to indemnify the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee against any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or assignment of such Holders Note in violation of any provision of this Indenture and/or applicable United States federal or state securities law. Neither the Trustee nor the Registrar shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
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ARTICLE IV
LEGAL DEFEASANCE, COVENANT DEFEASANCE
AND SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
SECTION 4.01. Legal Defeasance, Covenant Defeasance and Satisfaction and Discharge. Article VIII of the Original Indenture shall be applicable to the Notes.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
SECTION 5.01. Special Interest. The Company will pay all Special Interest, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. In the event the Company is required to pay Special Interest pursuant to any Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will provide written notice to the Trustee of the Companys obligation to pay Special Interest no later than 15 days prior to the next Interest Payment Date, which notice shall set forth the amount of Special Interest to be paid by the Company. The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to the Company, any Holders or any other Person to determine whether any such Special Interest is payable or the amount thereof. In the absence of such written notice from the Company, the Trustee shall be entitled to assume that no Special Interest is due.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 6.01. Ratification of Original Indenture; Supplemental Indenture Part of Original Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Original Indenture, including Section 11.18 thereof regarding submission to jurisdiction, is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Third Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Original Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
SECTION 6.02. Concerning the Trustee. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except with respect to the Trustees certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Third Supplemental Indenture or of the Notes.
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SECTION 6.03. Multiple Originals; Electronic Signatures. This Third Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Third Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Third Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Third Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
SECTION 6.04. GOVERNING LAW. THIS THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE OF THE SERIES CREATED HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Third Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY TT, LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
INTERNATIONAL DIOXCIDE, INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
CHEMFIRST INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief | |||
Financial Officer | ||||
FIRST CHEMICAL CORPORATION | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief | |||
Financial Officer | ||||
FIRST CHEMICAL TEXAS, L.P. | ||||
By FT CHEMICAL INC., its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief | |||
Financial Officer | ||||
FT CHEMICAL, INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief | |||
Financial Officer | ||||
FIRST CHEMICAL HOLDINGS, LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief | |||
Financial Officer |
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||||||
By: | /s/ Stephanie Roche | |||||
Name: | Stephanie Roche | |||||
Title: | Vice President | |||||
ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, UK BRANCH, as Paying Agent | ||||||
By: | /s/ Hamyd Mazrae | |||||
Name: | Hamyd Mazrae | |||||
Title: | Authorised Signatory | |||||
By: | /s/ Laurence Griffiths | |||||
Name: | Laurence Griffiths | |||||
Title: | Authorised Signatory | |||||
ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, as Registrar and Transfer Agent | ||||||
By: | /s/ Hamyd Mazrae | |||||
Name: | Hamyd Mazrae | |||||
Title: | Authorised Signatory | |||||
By: | /s/ Laurence Griffiths | |||||
Name: | Laurence Griffiths | |||||
Title: | Authorised Signatory |
EXHIBIT A
[Face of Note]
[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
[Insert the 144A or Regulation S Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
Common Code/ISIN [ ]
6.125% Senior Notes Due 2023
No. [ ] | [ ] |
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY promises to pay to [USB Nominees (UK) Limited] or registered assigns, the principal sum of [ ] Euros on May 15, 2023 or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated in Schedule A hereto.
Interest Payment Dates: May 15 and November 15
Record Dates: May 1 and November 1
Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.
A-1
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
A-2
TRUSTEES CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This Note is one of the 6.125% Senior Notes Due 2023 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, UK BRANCH, as Authenticating Agent | ||
by |
| |
Authorized Signatory | ||
by |
| |
Authorized Signatory |
A-3
[Reverse of Note]
6.125% Senior Notes Due 2023
1. | Indenture |
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company, designated as its 6.125% Senior Notes Due 2023 (herein called the Notes, which expression includes any further notes issued pursuant to Section 2.04 of the Third Supplemental Indenture (as hereinafter defined) and forming a single Series therewith), issued and to be issued under an indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (herein called the Original Indenture), as supplemented by a third supplemental indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Third Supplemental Indenture, and together with the Original Indenture, the Indenture), among THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the Company), each of the Companys subsidiaries signatory thereto or that becomes a Guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Indenture (the Subsidiary Guarantors), U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, as trustee (the Trustee), ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, UK BRANCH, a limited liability company registered in Ireland with the Companies Registration Office (registered number 418442), with its registered office at Block E, Cherrywood Business Park, Loughlinstown, Dublin, Ireland acting through its UK Branch (registered number BR009373) from its offices at 5th Floor, 125 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1AR, United Kingdom, as paying agent (the Paying Agent), and ELAVON FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED, a limited liability company registered in Ireland with the Companies Registration Office (registered number 418442), with its registered office at Block E, Cherrywood Business Park, Loughlinstown, Dublin, Ireland, as registrar (the Registrar) and transfer agent (the Transfer Agent and, together with the Paying Agent and the Registrar, the Euro Agents). Reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto relevant to the Notes for a complete description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Notes. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Note shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.
Each Note is subject to, and qualified by, all such terms as set forth in the Indenture certain of which are summarized herein and each Holder of a Note is referred to the corresponding provisions of the Indenture for a complete statement of such terms. To the extent that there is any inconsistency between the summary provisions set forth in the Notes and the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern.
2. | Interest |
The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate per annum shown above plus Special Interest, if any, payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. The Company will pay interest semiannually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, commencing November 15, 2015. Interest on the Notes
A-4
will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from May 12, 2015. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
3. | Paying Agent and Registrar |
Initially Elavon Financial Services Limited, UK Branch will act as paying agent and Elavon Financial Services Limited will act as registrar. The Company may appoint and change any paying agent or registrar without notice. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as paying agent or registrar.
4. | Defaults and Remedies; Waiver |
Article VI of the Original Indenture sets forth the Events of Default and related remedies applicable to the Notes.
5. | Amendment |
Article IX of the Original Indenture sets forth the terms by which the Notes and the Indenture may be amended.
6. | Change of Control |
Section 4.13 of the Original Indenture sets forth the terms by which the Company will be required to make an offer to purchase the Notes if a Change of Control occurs.
7. | Obligations Absolute |
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligations of the Company, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Note at the place, at the respective times, at the rate and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.
8. | Sinking Fund |
The Notes will not have the benefit of any sinking fund.
9. | Denominations; Transfer; Exchange |
The Notes are issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of 100,000 principal amount and any integral multiple of 1,000 in excess thereof. When Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without payment of any service charge but with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.06 and 9.04 of the Original Indenture).
A-5
The Company and the Registrar shall not be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 30 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 of the Original Indenture and ending at the close of business on the day of selection; (b) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or (c) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.
10. | Further Issues |
The Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes and in accordance with the Indenture, create and issue further notes having the same terms and conditions as the Notes in all respects (or in all respects except for the first payment of interest) so as to form a single Series with the Notes.
11. | Optional Redemption; Redemption for Tax Reasons |
The Notes are subject to redemption at the option of the Company, as described in Sections 2.10 and 2.13 of the Third Supplemental Indenture.
12. | Special Mandatory Redemption |
The Notes are subject to Special Mandatory Redemption, as described in Section 2.11 of the Third Supplemental Indenture.
13. | Persons Deemed Owners |
The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the register maintained by the Registrar.
14. | No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders |
No present, past or future director, officer, employee, member, partner, incorporator or equityholder of the Company, any Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Company or any of their respective direct or indirect parent companies (except for the Company or any Subsidiary in its capacity as obligor or guarantor in respect of the Notes and not in its capacity as equityholder of any Subsidiary Guarantor) shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any of the Guarantors under the Notes, the Guarantees, this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting the Notes waives and releases all such liability. This waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
A-6
15. | Discharge and Defeasance |
Subject to certain conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Company at any time may terminate some or all of its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if it deposits with the Trustee money and/or certain specified government securities for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.
16. | Unclaimed Money |
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust. Thereafter the Holder of such Note shall look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
17. | Trustee Dealings with the Company |
Subject to certain limitations imposed by the TIA, the Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights.
18. | Abbreviations |
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).
19. | Common Code Numbers |
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused Common Code numbers to be printed on the Notes and have directed the Trustee to use Common Code numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
A-7
19. | Additional Rights of Holders |
In addition to the rights provided to Holders under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers named therein.
20. | Governing Law |
THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
The Company will furnish to any Holder of Notes upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement.
A-8
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to |
| |
(Insert assignees legal name) |
|
(Insert assignees soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.) |
|
|
|
|
(Print or type assignees name, address and zip code) |
and irrevocably appoint to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date: |
|
Your Signature: |
| |
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) |
Signature Guarantee*:
* | Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee). |
A-9
Option of Holder to Elect Purchase
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.13 of the Original Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
¨ Section 4.10 ¨ Section 4.13
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.13 of the Original Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:
Date:
Your Signature: |
| |
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) |
Tax Identification No.: |
|
Signature Guarantee*: |
|
* | Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee). |
A-10
Schedule A
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:
Date of Exchange |
Amount of decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Note |
Amount of increase in Principal Amount of this Global Note |
Principal Amount of this Global Note following such decrease or increase |
Signature of authorized signatory of Trustee or Custodian | ||||
* | This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in Global Form. |
A-11
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
The Chemours Company
1007 Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19898
Attention: General Counsel
Elavon Financial Services Limited
Block E, Cherrywood Business Park
Loughlinstown
Dublin
Ireland
Attn: Agency Services
Re: | The Chemours Company Senior Notes |
6.125% Senior Notes Due 2023
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Original Indenture), as supplemented by a third supplemental indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Third Supplemental Indenture, and together with the Original Indenture, the Indenture), as further amended from time to time, between, inter alios, The Chemours Company (the Company), and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
(the Transferor) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of in such Note[s] or interests (the Transfer), to (the Transferee), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:
[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
1. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a qualified institutional buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction
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meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
2. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
3. ¨ Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):
(a) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
or
(b) ¨ such Transfer is being effected to Holdings or a Subsidiary thereof;
or
(c) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
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4. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.
(a) ¨ Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
(b) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
(c) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
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This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.
|
[Insert Name of Transferor] |
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Dated:
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ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
1. | The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following: |
[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]
(a) | ¨ a beneficial interest in the: |
(i) | ¨ 144A Global Note (Common Code ), or |
(ii) | ¨ Regulation S Global Note (Common Code ), or |
(b) | ¨ a Restricted Definitive Note. |
2. | After the Transfer the Transferee will hold: |
[CHECK ONE]
(a) | ¨ a beneficial interest in the: |
(i) | ¨ 144A Global Note (Common Code ), or |
(ii) | ¨ Regulation S Global Note (Common Code ), or |
(iii) | ¨ Unrestricted Global Note (Common Code ); or |
(b) | ¨ a Restricted Definitive Note; or |
(c) | ¨ an Unrestricted Definitive Note, |
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
B-5
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
The Chemours Company
1007 Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19898
Attention: General Counsel
Elavon Financial Services Limited
Block E, Cherrywood Business Park
Loughlinstown
Dublin
Ireland
Attn: Agency Services
Re: | The Chemours Company Senior Notes |
6.125% Senior Notes Due 2023
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Original Indenture), as supplemented by a third supplemental indenture, dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Third Supplemental Indenture, and together with the Original Indenture, the Indenture), as further amended from time to time, between, inter alios, The Chemours Company (the Company), and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
(the Owner) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of in such Note[s] or interests (the Exchange). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:
[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
1. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note
(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owners beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the
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beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owners beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(c) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Owners Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(d) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Owners Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
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2. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes
(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owners beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owners Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] ¨ 144A Global Note, ¨ Regulation S Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.
|
[Insert Name of Transferor] |
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Dated
C-3
Exhibit 10.14
CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of May 12, 2015,
among
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY,
as Borrower,
The Lenders and Issuing Banks Party Hereto,
and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC, CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC,
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED, CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC. and BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
as Joint Bookrunners
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC, CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC,
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED, CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC., BARCLAYS BANK PLC, HSBC
SECURITIES (USA) INC. and RBC CAPITAL MARKETS 1 ,
as Joint Lead Arrangers
CREDIT SUISSE AG, GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., CITIBANK,
N.A. and BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
as Syndication Agents
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION and ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,
as Documentation Agents
MIZUHO BANK, LTD.,
as Senior Managing Agent
SANTANDER BANK, N.A., THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD., BNP PARIBAS and
TD BANK, N.A.,
as Co-Agents
1 | RBC Capital Markets is a brand name for the capital markets activities of Royal Bank of Canada and its affiliates. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I | ||||||
Definitions | ||||||
SECTION 1.01. |
Defined Terms |
1 | ||||
SECTION 1.02. |
Classification of Loans and Borrowings |
53 | ||||
SECTION 1.03. |
Terms Generally |
53 | ||||
SECTION 1.04. |
Accounting Terms; GAAP |
54 | ||||
SECTION 1.05. |
Pro Forma Calculations |
54 | ||||
SECTION 1.06. |
Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents |
55 | ||||
ARTICLE II | ||||||
The Credits | ||||||
SECTION 2.01. |
Commitments |
56 | ||||
SECTION 2.02. |
Loans and Borrowings |
56 | ||||
SECTION 2.03. |
Requests for Borrowings |
57 | ||||
SECTION 2.04. |
Swingline Loans |
58 | ||||
SECTION 2.05. |
Letters of Credit |
60 | ||||
SECTION 2.06. |
Funding of Borrowings |
67 | ||||
SECTION 2.07. |
Interest Elections |
68 | ||||
SECTION 2.08. |
Termination and Reduction of Commitments |
70 | ||||
SECTION 2.09. |
Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt |
70 | ||||
SECTION 2.10. |
Amortization of Term Loans |
71 | ||||
SECTION 2.11. |
Prepayment of Loans |
72 | ||||
SECTION 2.12. |
Fees |
76 | ||||
SECTION 2.13. |
Interest |
77 | ||||
SECTION 2.14. |
Alternate Rate of Interest |
78 | ||||
SECTION 2.15. |
Increased Costs |
79 | ||||
SECTION 2.16. |
Break Funding Payments |
81 | ||||
SECTION 2.17. |
Taxes |
81 | ||||
SECTION 2.18. |
Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Setoffs |
85 | ||||
SECTION 2.19. |
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders |
87 | ||||
SECTION 2.20. |
Defaulting Lenders |
88 | ||||
SECTION 2.21. |
Incremental Extensions of Credit |
90 | ||||
SECTION 2.22. |
Extension of Maturity Date |
95 | ||||
SECTION 2.23. |
Refinancing Facilities |
97 |
i
ARTICLE III | ||||||
Representations and Warranties | ||||||
SECTION 3.01. |
Organization; Powers |
99 | ||||
SECTION 3.02. |
Authorization; Due Execution and Delivery; Enforceability |
99 | ||||
SECTION 3.03. |
Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts |
100 | ||||
SECTION 3.04. |
Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change |
100 | ||||
SECTION 3.05. |
Properties |
101 | ||||
SECTION 3.06. |
Litigation and Environmental Matters |
102 | ||||
SECTION 3.07. |
Compliance with Laws and Agreements |
102 | ||||
SECTION 3.08. |
Anti-Terrorism Laws; Anti-Corruption Laws |
102 | ||||
SECTION 3.09. |
Investment Company Status |
102 | ||||
SECTION 3.10. |
Federal Reserve Regulations |
102 | ||||
SECTION 3.11. |
Taxes |
103 | ||||
SECTION 3.12. |
ERISA |
103 | ||||
SECTION 3.13. |
Disclosure |
104 | ||||
SECTION 3.14. |
Subsidiaries |
104 | ||||
SECTION 3.15. |
Labor Matters |
104 | ||||
SECTION 3.16. |
Solvency |
105 | ||||
SECTION 3.17. |
Collateral Matters |
105 | ||||
ARTICLE IV | ||||||
Conditions | ||||||
SECTION 4.01. |
Effective Date |
106 | ||||
SECTION 4.02. |
Each Credit Event |
109 | ||||
ARTICLE V | ||||||
Affirmative Covenants | ||||||
SECTION 5.01. |
Financial Statements and Other Information |
110 | ||||
SECTION 5.02. |
Notices of Material Events |
112 | ||||
SECTION 5.03. |
Information Regarding Collateral |
113 | ||||
SECTION 5.04. |
Existence; Conduct of Business |
113 | ||||
SECTION 5.05. |
Payment of Taxes |
114 | ||||
SECTION 5.06. |
Maintenance of Properties |
114 | ||||
SECTION 5.07. |
Insurance |
114 | ||||
SECTION 5.08. |
Books and Records; Inspection and Audit Rights |
115 | ||||
SECTION 5.09. |
Compliance with Laws |
115 | ||||
SECTION 5.10. |
Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit |
115 | ||||
SECTION 5.11. |
Additional Subsidiaries |
116 | ||||
SECTION 5.12. |
Further Assurances |
116 | ||||
SECTION 5.13. |
Designation of Subsidiaries |
117 | ||||
SECTION 5.14. |
Spin-Off Documentation |
117 | ||||
SECTION 5.15. |
Rated Credit Facilities |
118 | ||||
SECTION 5.16. |
Post-Closing Matters |
118 |
ii
ARTICLE VI | ||||||
Negative Covenants | ||||||
SECTION 6.01. |
Indebtedness; Certain Equity Securities |
118 | ||||
SECTION 6.02. |
Liens |
122 | ||||
SECTION 6.03. |
Fundamental Changes |
124 | ||||
SECTION 6.04. |
Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions |
126 | ||||
SECTION 6.05. |
Asset Sales |
129 | ||||
SECTION 6.06. |
Sale and Leaseback Transactions |
130 | ||||
SECTION 6.07. |
Hedging Agreements |
130 | ||||
SECTION 6.08. |
Restricted Payments |
131 | ||||
SECTION 6.09. |
Transactions with Affiliates |
132 | ||||
SECTION 6.10. |
Restrictive Agreements |
133 | ||||
SECTION 6.11. |
Amendment of Material Documents |
133 | ||||
SECTION 6.12. |
Interest Expense Coverage Ratio |
134 | ||||
SECTION 6.13. |
Total Net Leverage Ratio |
134 | ||||
SECTION 6.14. |
Changes in Fiscal Periods |
134 | ||||
ARTICLE VII | ||||||
Events of Default | ||||||
ARTICLE VIII | ||||||
The Administrative Agent | ||||||
ARTICLE IX | ||||||
Miscellaneous | ||||||
SECTION 9.01. |
Notices |
144 | ||||
SECTION 9.02. |
Waivers; Amendments |
145 | ||||
SECTION 9.03. |
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver |
149 | ||||
SECTION 9.04. |
Successors and Assigns |
151 | ||||
SECTION 9.05. |
Survival |
157 | ||||
SECTION 9.06. |
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness |
158 | ||||
SECTION 9.07. |
Severability |
158 | ||||
SECTION 9.08. |
Right of Setoff |
158 | ||||
SECTION 9.09. |
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process |
159 | ||||
SECTION 9.10. |
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
159 | ||||
SECTION 9.11. |
Headings |
160 | ||||
SECTION 9.12. |
Confidentiality |
160 |
iii
SECTION 9.13. |
Interest Rate Limitation |
161 | ||||
SECTION 9.14. |
Release of Liens and Guarantees |
161 | ||||
SECTION 9.15. |
USA PATRIOT Act Notice |
162 | ||||
SECTION 9.16. |
No Fiduciary Relationship |
162 | ||||
SECTION 9.17. |
Non-Public Information |
162 | ||||
SECTION 9.18. |
Authorization to Distribute Certain Materials to Public-Siders; Security Clearances |
163 |
iv
SCHEDULES:
Schedule 1.01 | | Existing Letters of Credit | ||
Schedule 1.02 | | Mortgaged Property | ||
Schedule 2.01 | | Commitments | ||
Schedule 2.04 | | Swingline Commitments | ||
Schedule 3.05 | | Real Property | ||
Schedule 3.14 | | Subsidiaries | ||
Schedule 6.01 | | Existing Indebtedness | ||
Schedule 6.02 | | Existing Liens | ||
Schedule 6.04 | | Existing Investments | ||
Schedule 6.09 | | Existing Transactions with Affiliates | ||
Schedule 6.10 | | Existing Restrictions | ||
EXHIBITS: | ||||
Exhibit A | | Form of Assignment and Assumption | ||
Exhibit B | | Form of Collateral Agreement | ||
Exhibit C | | Form of Perfection Certificate | ||
Exhibit D | | Form of Supplemental Perfection Certificate | ||
Exhibit E | | Form of Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination Agreement | ||
Exhibit F | | Auction Procedures | ||
Exhibit G | | Form of Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption | ||
Exhibit H | | Form of Maturity Date Extension Request | ||
Exhibit I-1 | | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate for Non-U.S. Lenders that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes | ||
Exhibit I-2 | | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate for Non-U.S. Participants that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes | ||
Exhibit I-3 | | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate for Non-U.S. Participants that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes | ||
Exhibit I-4 | | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate for Non-U.S. Lenders that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes | ||
Exhibit J | | Form of Solvency Certificate |
v
CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of May 12, 2015 (this Agreement), among The Chemours Company, a Delaware corporation, the LENDERS and ISSUING BANKS party hereto, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
The Borrower has requested that (a) the Tranche B Term Lenders extend credit in the form of Tranche B Term Loans on the Effective Date in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $1,500,000,000 and (b) the Revolving Lenders extend credit in the form of Revolving Loans, the Swingline Lender extend credit in the form of Swingline Loans and the Issuing Banks issue Letters of Credit, in each case at any time and from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period such that the Aggregate Revolving Exposure will not exceed $1,000,000,000 at any time. The proceeds of the Tranche B Term Loans will be used (i) to pay a portion of the DuPont Distributions, (ii) to pay fees and expenses in connection therewith and (iii) with respect to any cash remaining on the balance sheet of the Borrower after giving effect to the Transactions, for working capital and other general corporate purposes (including Permitted Acquisitions). The proceeds of the Revolving Loans after the Effective Date and of the Swingline Loans will be used only for working capital and other general corporate purposes (including Permitted Acquisitions) and other transactions not prohibited by this Agreement. Letters of Credit will be used only by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for general corporate purposes.
The Lenders are willing to extend such credit to the Borrower, and the Issuing Banks are willing to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement (including in the introductory paragraphs hereto), the following terms have the meanings specified below:
ABR, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.
Additional Lender has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(c).
Adjusted EURIBO Rate means, with respect to any EURIBOR Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) equal to the EURIBO Rate for such Interest Period.
Adjusted LIBO Rate means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any Interest Period (or, solely for purposes of clause (c) of the defined term Alternate Base Rate, for purposes of determining the Alternate Base Rate as of any date), an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) equal to (a) for Borrowings denominated in dollars, (i) the LIBO Rate for dollars for such Interest Period (or such date, as
applicable) multiplied by (ii) the Statutory Reserve Rate and (b) for Borrowings denominated in a Permitted Foreign Currency (other than Euro), the LIBO Rate for such currency for such Interest Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of Tranche B Term Loans, in no event shall the Adjusted LIBOR Rate at any time be less than 0.75% per annum.
Administrative Agent means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Article VIII.
Administrative Questionnaire means an administrative questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
Affiliate means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, from and after the Spin-Off Date, neither DuPont nor any subsidiary of DuPont that is not a Subsidiary of the Borrower shall be deemed to be an Affiliate for purposes of this Agreement.
Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and a Purchasing Borrower Party (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit G or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
Aggregate Revolving Commitment means, at any time, the sum of the Revolving Commitments of all the Revolving Lenders at such time.
Aggregate Revolving Exposure means, at any time, the sum of the Revolving Exposures of all the Revolving Lenders at such time.
Agreement has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory statement to this Credit Agreement.
Alternate 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 Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1.00% per annum and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate on such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1.00% per annum. If the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Effective Rate for any reason, including the inability or failure of the Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with the terms of the definition thereof, then the Alternate Base Rate shall be determined without regard to clause (b) of the preceding sentence until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. For purposes of clause (c) above, the Adjusted LIBO Rate on any day shall be based on the rate per annum appearing on the applicable Reuters screen page (currently page LIBOR01) displaying interest rates for dollar deposits in the London interbank market (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) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such day for deposits in dollars with a maturity of one month; provided
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that if such rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of Tranche B Term Loans, in no event shall the Alternate Base Rate at any time be less than 1.75% per annum.
Alternative Incremental Facility Debt means any Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower in the form of one or more series of senior secured notes, second lien secured notes or term loans or senior unsecured notes or terms loans; provided that (a) if such Indebtedness is secured, such Indebtedness shall be secured by the Collateral on a pari passu or junior basis with the Loan Document Obligations and shall not be secured by any property or assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (b) the stated final maturity of such Indebtedness shall not be earlier than the Latest Maturity Date (except for any such Indebtedness in the form of a bridge or other interim credit facility intended to be refinanced or replaced with long-term Indebtedness, which such Indebtedness, upon the maturity thereof, automatically converts into Indebtedness that satisfies the requirements set forth in this definition), (c) such Indebtedness shall not be required to be repaid, prepaid, redeemed, repurchased or defeased, whether on one or more fixed dates, upon the occurrence of one or more events or at the option of any holder thereof (except, in each case, (x) upon the occurrence of an event of default, asset sale, event of loss, or a change in control and (y) in the case of any such Alternative Incremental Facility Debt in the form of a bridge or other interim credit facility intended to be refinanced or replaced with long-term Indebtedness, upon the occurrence of such refinancing or replacement Indebtedness as long as such refinancing or replacement Indebtedness satisfies the requirements set forth in this definition) prior to the Latest Maturity Date; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, scheduled amortization payments (however denominated) of such Indebtedness shall be permitted so long as the weighted average life to maturity of such Indebtedness is not shorter than the weighted average life to maturity of the then-remaining Term Loans, (d) such Indebtedness shall have covenants no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those applicable to the Commitments and the Loans (except for covenants or other provisions (i) applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date in effect at the time such Alternative Incremental Facility Debt is issued or (ii) that are also for the benefit of all other Lenders in respect of Loans and Commitments outstanding at the time such Alternative Incremental Facility Debt is incurred), as determined in good faith by the Borrower (it being understood that such Indebtedness may include one or more financial maintenance covenants with which the Borrower shall be required to comply; provided that any such financial maintenance covenant shall also be for the benefit of all other Lenders in respect of all Loans and Commitments outstanding at the time that such Alternative Incremental Facility Debt is incurred), (e) if such Indebtedness is secured, the security agreement relating to such Indebtedness shall not be materially more favorable (when taken as a whole) to the holders providing such Indebtedness than the existing Security Documents are to the Lenders (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), (f) if such Indebtedness is secured, a trustee or note agent acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to customary intercreditor arrangements mutually agreed with the Administrative Agent and (g) such Indebtedness shall not be guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than the Loan Parties.
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Anti-Corruption Laws means all laws, rules and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or the Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, corruption or money laundering.
Applicable Percentage means, at any time with respect to any Revolving Lender, the percentage of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment represented by such Lenders Revolving Commitment at such time; provided that, in the case of Section 2.20, when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, Applicable Percentage shall mean the percentage of the total Revolving Commitments (disregarding any Defaulting Lenders Revolving Commitment) represented by such Lenders Revolving Commitment. If the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Revolving Exposures of the Lenders in effect at the time of such determination.
Applicable Rate means, for any day, (a) with respect to any Loan that is a Tranche B Term Loan, (i) 2.00% per annum, in the case of an ABR Loan, and (ii) 3.00% per annum, in the case of a Eurocurrency Loan, and (b) with respect to any Loan that is a Revolving Loan or a Swingline Loan, or with respect to the commitment fees payable hereunder, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption ABR Spread, Eurocurrency Spread and EURIBOR Spread or Commitment Fee Rate, as applicable, based upon the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the end of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which consolidated financial statements have heretofore been most recently delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b); provided that until the delivery to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) as of and for the first fiscal quarter of the Borrower beginning after the Effective Date, the Applicable Rate shall be the applicable rate per annum set forth below in Level II:
Level |
Total Net Leverage Ratio: |
ABR Spread |
Eurocurrency Spread and EURIBOR Spread |
Commitment Fee Rate |
||||||||||
I |
Greater than 4.50 to 1.00 | 1.25 | % | 2.25 | % | 0.35 | % | |||||||
II |
Greater than 3.50 to 1.00 but less than or equal to 4.50 to 1.00 | 1.00 | % | 2.00 | % | 0.30 | % | |||||||
III |
Greater than 2.50 to 1.00 but less than or equal to 3.50 to 1.00 | 0.75 | % | 1.75 | % | 0.25 | % | |||||||
IV |
Less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00 | 0.50 | % | 1.50 | % | 0.20 | % |
For purposes of the foregoing, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be effective during the period commencing on and including the date of delivery to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) of the consolidated financial statements indicating such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change; provided that the Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be deemed to be in Level I at the option of the Administrative Agent or at the request of the Required Lenders if the Borrower fails to deliver the consolidated financial
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statements required to be delivered by it pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) or the certificate of a Financial Officer required pursuant to Section 5.01(c) during the period from the expiration of the time for delivery thereof until such consolidated financial statements and such certificate are delivered.
Approved Fund means any Person (other than a natural person and any holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
Arrangers means, collectively, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and RBC Capital Markets 2 , each in its capacity as a joint lead arranger and, other than in the case of HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and RBC Capital Markets, joint bookrunner for the credit facilities provided for herein.
Arrangement and Commitment Letter means that certain Arrangement and Commitment Letter dated as of April 6, 2015 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time), among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Credit Suisse AG, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and the Borrower.
Assignment and Assumption means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any Person whose consent is required by Section 9.04) and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
Attributable Receivables Indebtedness at any time shall mean the principal amount of Indebtedness which (a) if a Permitted Receivables Facility is structured as a secured lending agreement, would constitute the principal amount of such Indebtedness or (b) if a Permitted Receivables Facility is structured as a purchase agreement, would be outstanding at such time under the Permitted Receivables Facility if the same were structured as a secured lending agreement rather than a purchase agreement.
Auction means an auction pursuant to which a Purchasing Borrower Party offers to purchase Term Loans pursuant to the Auction Procedures.
Auction Manager means any financial institution or advisor employed by the Borrower (whether or not an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent) to act as an arranger in connection with any Auction; provided that the Borrower shall not designate the Administrative Agent as the Auction Manager without the written consent of the Administrative Agent (it being understood and agreed that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to agree to act as the Auction Manager).
2 | RBC Capital Markets is a brand name for the capital markets activities of Royal Bank of Canada and its affiliates. |
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Auction Procedures means the procedures set forth in Exhibit F.
Auction Purchase Offer means an offer by a Purchasing Borrower Party to purchase Term Loans of one or more Classes pursuant to an auction process conducted in accordance with the Auction Procedures and otherwise in accordance with Section 9.04(f).
Available Amount means, at any time, (a) the sum of (i) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (taken as one period) beginning on April 1, 2015, to the end of the Borrowers most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b), as applicable, plus (ii) the Net Proceeds from any sale or issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Borrower to the extent such Net Proceeds are received by the Borrower, plus (iii) the aggregate amount of prepayments declined by the Term Lenders and retained by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.11(e) (provided that any increase in the Available Amount pursuant to this clause (iii) shall not be used to make any Restricted Payment) plus (iv) the amount of any investment made using the Available Amount of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any Unrestricted Subsidiary that has been re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary or that has been merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; plus (v) to the extent not otherwise included in the Consolidated Net Income, the aggregate amount of cash returns to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of investments made pursuant to Section 6.04(u) in reliance on the Available Amount minus (b) the sum at such time of (i) investments, loans and advances previously or concurrently made under Section 6.04(u) in reliance on the Available Amount, plus (ii) Restricted Payments previously or concurrently made under Section 6.08(h) in reliance on the Available Amount.
Bankruptcy Event means, with respect to any Person, that such Person has become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment; provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority; provided, further, that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States of America or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.
Board of Governors means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
Borrower means The Chemours Company, a Delaware corporation.
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Borrowing means (a) Loans of the same Class, Type and currency, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans and EURIBOR Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, or (b) a Swingline Loan.
Borrowing Minimum means (a) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in dollars, $1,000,000, (b) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in any Permitted Foreign Currency or a EURIBOR Borrowing, the smallest amount of such Permitted Foreign Currency that is an integral multiple of 100,000 units of such currency and that has a Dollar Equivalent in excess of $1,000,000 and (c) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, $500,000.
Borrowing Multiple means (a) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in dollars, $500,000, (b) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in any Permitted Foreign Currency or a EURIBOR Borrowing, the smallest amount of such Permitted Foreign Currency that is an integral multiple of 100,000 units of such currency and that has a Dollar Equivalent in excess of $500,000 and (c) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, $100,000.
Borrowing Request means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.04, as applicable, which shall be, in the case of a written Borrowing Request, in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and otherwise consistent with the requirements of Section 2.03 or 2.04, as applicable.
Business Day means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that (a) when used in connection with a Eurocurrency Loan, the term Business Day shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in deposits in the applicable currency in the London interbank market or any day on which banks in London are not open for general business and (b) when used in connection with any EURIBOR Loan, the term Business Day shall also exclude any day which is not a TARGET Day or any day on which banks in London are not open for general business.
Calculation Date means (a) the last Business Day of each calendar quarter, (b) each date (with such date to be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent) that is on or about the date of (i) a Borrowing Request or an Interest Election Request with respect to any Revolving Loan or (ii) the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit, (c) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any Business Day as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion and (d) any other date requested by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.
Capital Expenditures means, for any period, (a) the additions to property, plant and equipment and other capital expenditures of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are (or should be) set forth in a consolidated statement of cash flows of the Borrower for such period prepared in accordance with GAAP and (b) Capital Lease Obligations incurred by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period, but excluding in each case any such expenditure (i) constituting reinvestment of the Net Proceeds of any event described in clause (a) or (b) of the definition of the term Prepayment Event, to the extent permitted by
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Section 2.11(c), (ii) made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary as payment of the consideration for a Permitted Acquisition, (iii) made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to effect leasehold improvements to any property leased by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary as lessee, to the extent that such expenses have been reimbursed by the landlord, (iv) in the form of a substantially contemporaneous exchange of similar property, plant, equipment or other capital assets, except to the extent of cash or other consideration (other than the assets so exchanged), if any, paid or payable by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (v) accounted for as capital expenditures by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and that actually are paid for by a Person other than the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and for which neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary has provided or is required to provide or incur, directly or indirectly, any consideration or obligation to such Person or any other Person (whether before, during or after such period), (vi) constituting any non-cash costs reflected as additions to property, plant or equipment in the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any non-cash costs in respect of a cash cost in a prior period to the extent not otherwise included in Capital Expenditures for such prior period in accordance with this definition); provided that any cash payment made with respect to any such non-cash cost in a subsequent period shall be included in Capital Expenditures for such subsequent period to the extent not already included in accordance with this definition) and (vii) made with the Net Proceeds from the issuance of Qualified Equity Interests.
Capital Lease Obligations of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of Section 6.02, a Capital Lease Obligation shall be deemed to be secured by a Lien on the property being leased and such property shall be deemed to be owned by the lessee.
Cash Equivalents means:
(a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America or the European Union (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America or the European Union, as applicable), in each case maturing up to one year from the date of acquisition thereof;
(b) investments in commercial paper maturing up to 12 months from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a credit rating of at least (i) A-2 by S&P or (ii) P-2 by Moodys;
(c) investments in certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances and demand or time deposits, in each case maturing up to one year from the date of acquisition thereof, issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any commercial bank (whether domestic or foreign) that has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than an amount the Dollar Equivalent of which is $500,000,000;
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(d) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above;
(e) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moodys and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000;
(f) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (e) above; and
(g) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, other short-term investments that are analogous to the foregoing, are of comparable credit quality and are customarily used by companies in the jurisdiction of such Foreign Subsidiary for cash management purposes.
Cash Management Services means any treasury management services (including controlled disbursements, zero balance arrangements, cash sweeps, corporate credit card and other card services, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts, temporary advances, interest and fees and interstate depository network services) provided to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.
CFC means (a) a Person that is a controlled foreign corporation for purposes of the Code and (b) each subsidiary of any such Person.
Change in Control means (a) prior to the consummation of the Spin-Off, the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person other than DuPont or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries of any Equity Interests in the Borrower; (b) after the consummation of the Spin-Off, the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Exchange Act and the rules of the SEC thereunder), of Equity Interests representing more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower (determined on a fully diluted basis); or (c) the occurrence of any change in control (or similar event, however denominated) with respect to the Borrower under and as defined in any indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing, governing the rights of the holders of, or otherwise relating to, any Material Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any certificate of designations (or other provision of the organizational documents of the Borrower) relating to, or any other agreement governing the rights of the holders of, any Disqualified Equity Interests.
Change in Law means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement (or with respect to any Lender, if later, the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender), of any of the following: (a) the adoption of or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, 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, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules,
9
guidelines or directives promulgated thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States of America or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, in each case shall be deemed to be a Change in Law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, promulgated or issued.
Charges has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.13.
Class, when used in reference to (a) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Incremental Revolving Loans, Tranche B Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans or Swingline Loans, (b) any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Commitment, a Tranche B Term Commitment or a Commitment in respect of any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Loans and (c) any Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or a Commitment with respect to a particular Class. Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Loans that have different terms and conditions (together with the Commitments in respect thereof) shall be construed to be in different Classes.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Collateral means any and all assets, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, on which Liens are purported to be granted pursuant to the Security Documents as security for the Obligations.
Collateral Agreement means the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.
Collateral and Guarantee Requirement means, at any time, the requirement that:
(a) the Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrower and each Designated Subsidiary either (i) a counterpart of the Collateral Agreement duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person or (ii) in the case of any Person that becomes a Designated Subsidiary after the Effective Date, a supplement to the Collateral Agreement, in the form specified therein, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, together with opinions and documents of the type referred to in paragraphs (b) and (c) of Section 4.01 with respect to such Person;
(b) (i) all outstanding Equity Interests of each Restricted Subsidiary that is a wholly owned Material Subsidiary, in each case owned by any Loan Party, shall have been pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreement; provided that the Loan Parties shall not be required to pledge Equity Interests (A) representing more than 65% of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding voting Equity Interests of any CFC or any Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company or (B) which are otherwise classified as Excluded Equity Interests (as defined in the Collateral Agreement) and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall, to the extent required by the Collateral Agreement, have received certificates or other instruments representing all such Equity Interests, together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;
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(c) all Indebtedness of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary, and all other Indebtedness of any Person in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or more, in each case that is owing to any Loan Party, shall be evidenced by a promissory note and shall have been pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreement, and the Administrative Agent shall have received all such promissory notes, together with undated instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;
(d) all documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, required by law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the Security Documents and to perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Security Documents shall have been filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Administrative Agent for filing, registration or recording;
(e) the Administrative Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of a Mortgage with respect to each Mortgaged Property duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such Mortgaged Property, (ii) a policy or policies of title insurance issued by Fidelity National Title Insurance Company or another nationally recognized title insurance company insuring the Lien of each such Mortgage as a valid and enforceable first Lien on the Mortgaged Property described therein, free of any other Liens except as expressly permitted by Section 6.02, together with such endorsements, coinsurance and reinsurance as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, (iii) a completed standard life of loan flood hazard determination form with respect to each Mortgaged Property, (iv) if any Mortgaged Property is located in an area determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to have special flood hazards, evidence of such flood insurance as may be required under applicable law, including Regulation H of the Board of Governors, and (v) such surveys, legal opinions and other documents as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request with respect to any such Mortgage or Mortgaged Property;
(f) the Administrative Agent shall have received a counterpart, duly executed and delivered by the applicable Loan Party and the applicable depositary bank or securities intermediary, as applicable, of a Control Agreement with respect to (i) each deposit account maintained by any Loan Party with any depositary bank (other than (A) any deposit account the funds in which are used, in the ordinary course of business, solely for the payment of salaries and wages, workers compensation and similar expenses, (B) deposit accounts the daily balance in which does not at any time exceed $5,000,000 for any such account or $20,000,000 for all such accounts, (C) any deposit account that is a zero-balance disbursement account and (D) any deposit account the funds in which consist solely of (1) funds held by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in trust for any director, officer or employee of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any employee benefit plan maintained by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (2) funds representing deferred compensation for the directors and employees of the
11
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries) and (ii) each securities account maintained by any Loan Party with any securities intermediary (other than any securities account the securities entitlements in which consist solely of (A) securities entitlements held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in trust for any director, officer or employee of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any employee benefit plan maintained by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (B) securities entitlements representing deferred compensation for the directors and employees of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries); and
(g) each Loan Party shall have obtained all consents and approvals required to be obtained by it in connection with the execution and delivery of all Security Documents to which it is a party, the performance of its obligations thereunder and the granting by it of the Liens thereunder.
The foregoing definition shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to, particular assets of the Loan Parties, or the provision of Guarantees by any Designated Subsidiary, other than as set forth herein and otherwise if and for so long as the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower, determines that the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets, or obtaining such title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables in respect of such assets, or providing such Guarantees (taking into account any adverse tax consequences to the Borrower and its Affiliates (including the imposition of withholding or other material Taxes on Lenders)), shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom. The Administrative Agent may grant extensions of time for the creation and perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to particular assets or the provision of Guarantees by any Designated Subsidiary (including extensions beyond the Effective Date or in connection with assets acquired, or Subsidiaries formed or acquired, after the Effective Date) where it determines that such perfection or obtaining of title insurance or legal opinions cannot be accomplished without undue effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the Security Documents.
Commitment means (a) with respect to any Lender, such Lenders Revolving Commitment, Tranche B Term Commitment, commitment in respect of any Incremental Revolving Loans or commitment in respect of any Incremental Term Loans or any combination thereof (as the context requires) and (b) with respect to any Swingline Lender, such Swingline Lenders Swingline Commitment.
Commodity Exchange Act means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).
Communications means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated herein or therein that is distributed to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to Section 9.01, including through the Platform.
Consenting Lender has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).
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Consolidated Cash Interest Expense means, for any period, the excess of (a) the sum of, without duplication, (i) the interest expense (including imputed interest expense in respect of Capital Lease Obligations) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (ii) any interest accrued during such period in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is required to be capitalized rather than included in consolidated interest expense of the Borrower for such period in accordance with GAAP, (iii) any cash payments made during such period in respect of obligations referred to in clause (b)(iii) below that were amortized or accrued in a previous period, (iv) all cash dividends paid or payable during such period in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests of the Borrower; provided that such dividends shall be multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the effective combined tax rate of the Borrower (expressed as a decimal) for such period (as estimated by a Financial Officer in good faith) and (v) the cash interest component of all Attributable Receivables Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period minus (b) the sum of, without duplication, (i) cash interest income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (ii) to the extent included in such consolidated interest expense for such period, non-cash amounts attributable to amortization or write-off of capitalized interest or other financing costs paid in a previous period and (iii) to the extent included in such consolidated interest expense for such period, non-cash amounts attributable to amortization of debt discounts or accrued interest payable in kind for such period. Consolidated Cash Interest Expense shall be deemed to be (a) for the four fiscal quarter period ended June 30, 2015, Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for the period from the Effective Date to and including June 30, 2015, multiplied by a fraction equal to (x) 365 divided by (y) the number of days actually elapsed from the Effective Date to June 30, 2015, (b) for the four fiscal quarter period ended September 30, 2015, Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for the period from the Effective Date to and including September 30, 2015, multiplied by a fraction equal to (x) 365 divided by (y) the number of days actually elapsed from the Effective Date to September 30, 2015, and (c) for the four fiscal quarter period ended December 31, 2015, Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for the period from the Effective Date to and including December 31, 2015, multiplied by a fraction equal to (x) 365 divided by (y) the number of days actually elapsed from the Effective Date to December 31, 2015.
Consolidated EBITDA means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of (i) consolidated interest expense for such period, (ii) consolidated income tax expense for such period, (iii) all amounts attributable to depreciation and amortization for such period (excluding amortization expense attributable to a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period), (iv) non-cash charges for such period (but excluding any such non-cash charge in respect of an item that was included in Consolidated Net Income in a prior period and, at any time after the date occurring one year after the Spin-Off Date, any such charge that results from the write-down or write-off of inventory; provided that the amount of any non-cash charges in respect of the write-down or write-off of inventory occurring on or prior to the date that is one year after the Spin-Off Date and included in this clause (iv) shall not exceed $30,000,000), (v) non-recurring fees and expenses incurred during such period in connection with the Transactions, (vi) non-recurring charges incurred during such period in respect of restructurings, plant closings, headcount reductions or other similar actions, including
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severance charges in respect of employee terminations, in an amount not to exceed $125,000,000 in respect of any such charges incurred during the period commencing on the Spin-Off Date and ending on the first anniversary of the Spin-Off Date and $20,000,000 in respect of any such charges incurred during each one-year period ending on each successive anniversary of the Spin-Off Date, (vii) non-cash expenses during such period resulting from the grant of stock options or other equity-related incentives to any director, officer or employee of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to a written plan or agreement approved by the board of directors of the Borrower, (viii) non-cash exchange, translation or performance losses during such period relating to any foreign currency hedging transactions or currency fluctuations, (ix) any losses during such period attributable to early extinguishment of Indebtedness or obligations under any Hedging Agreement, (x) any losses during such period resulting from the sale or disposition of any asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary outside the ordinary course of business and (xi) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles; provided that any cash payment made with respect to any noncash items added back in computing Consolidated EBITDA for any prior period pursuant to this clause (a) (or that would have been added back had this Agreement been in effect during such period) shall be subtracted in computing Consolidated EBITDA for the period in which such cash payment is made, and minus (b) without duplication and (except in the case of subclause (v) of this clause (b)) to the extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of (i) any non-cash gains for such period (other than any such non-cash gains (A) in respect of which cash was received in a prior period or will be received in a future period and (B) that represent the reversal of any accrual in a prior period for, or the reversal of any cash reserves established in a prior period for, anticipated cash charges), (ii) non-cash exchange, translation or performance gains relating to any foreign currency hedging transactions or currency fluctuations, (iii) all gains during such period resulting from the sale or disposition of any asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary outside the ordinary course of business, (iv) any gains attributable to early extinguishment of Indebtedness or obligations under any Hedging Agreement, (v) any amounts contributed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash to any defined benefits pension or post-retirement benefit plans during such period, (vi) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and (vii) solely for purposes of the calculation set forth in Section 6.12, cash interest income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. In the event any Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Restricted Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by the Borrower, all amounts added back in computing Consolidated EBITDA for any period pursuant to clause (a) above, and all amounts subtracted in computing Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clause (b) above, to the extent such amounts are, in the reasonable judgment of a Financial Officer, attributable to such Restricted Subsidiary, shall be reduced by the portion thereof that is attributable to the noncontrolling interest in such Restricted Subsidiary. Consolidated EBITDA shall be $201,000,000, $230,000,000, $227,000,000 and $217,000,000 for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014, September 30, 2014, and December 31, 2014, respectively.
Consolidated Net Income means, for any period, the net income or loss of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income of any Person (other than the Borrower) that is not a consolidated Subsidiary, except to the extent of the amount of cash dividends or other cash distributions actually paid by such Person to the
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Borrower or, subject to clauses (b) and (c) of this proviso, any consolidated Restricted Subsidiary during such period, (b) the income of, and any amounts referred to in clause (a) of this proviso paid to, any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that, on the date of determination, the declaration or payment of cash dividends or other cash distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of that income is not at the time permitted by a Requirement of Law or any agreement or instrument applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary, unless such restrictions with respect to the payment of cash dividends and other similar cash distributions have been legally and effectively waived, (c) the income or loss of, and any amounts referred to in clause (a) of this proviso paid to, any consolidated Restricted Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by the Borrower to the extent such income or loss or such amounts are attributable to the noncontrolling interest in such consolidated Restricted Subsidiary; (d) any impairment charge or asset write-off or write-down, including impairment charges or asset write-offs or write-downs related to intangible assets, long-lived assets or investments in debt and equity securities or as a result of a change in law or regulation, in each case, pursuant to GAAP and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP (other than, in any case, the write-off or write-down of inventory), (e) any fees, expenses or charges incurred during such period, or any amortization thereof for such period, in connection with any acquisition, disposition, recapitalization, investment, asset sale, issuance, repayment or amendment of Indebtedness, issuance of Equity Interests, refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument (in each case, including any such transaction consummated prior to the Effective Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed), any non-cash expenses or charges recorded in accordance with GAAP relating to currency valuation of foreign denominated debt and any charges or non-recurring merger costs incurred during such period as a result of any such transaction including any non-cash expenses or charges recorded in accordance with GAAP relating to equity interests issued to non-employees in exchange for services provided in connection with any acquisition or business arrangement (in each case, including any such transaction consummated prior to the Effective Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed) and (f) all extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring charges, gains and losses (including all restructuring costs, facilities relocation costs, acquisition integration costs and fees, including cash severance payments made in connection with acquisitions, and any expense or charge related to the repurchase of capital stock or warrants or options to purchase capital stock), and the related tax effects in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Total Assets means, as of any date, the total amount of assets which appear on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies, or the dismissal or appointment of the management, of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. Controlling and Controlled have meanings correlative thereto.
Control Agreement means, with respect to any deposit account or securities account maintained by any Loan Party, a control agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and the depositary bank or the securities intermediary, as applicable, with which such account is maintained.
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Credit Party means the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, each Swingline Lender and each other Lender.
Customer Financing Guarantee means a Guarantee by the Borrower of any account receivable or similar obligation owing by a customer of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to a third party financial institution, which third party financial institution purchased such account receivable or similar obligation from the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary.
Declining Lender has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).
Default means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, constitute an Event of Default.
Defaulting Lender means any Revolving Lender that (a) has failed, within two Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans or (iii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Revolving Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Revolving Lenders good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified in such writing, including, if applicable, by reference to a specific Default) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Revolving Lenders good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified in such writing, including, if applicable, by reference to a specific Default) cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three Business Days after request by a Credit Party, made in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Revolving Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans; provided that such Revolving Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Credit Partys receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Revolving Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Revolving Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.20) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower, each Issuing Bank, each Swingline Lender and each other Lender.
Designated Non-Cash Consideration means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a disposition pursuant to Section 6.05 that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of an executive officer, setting forth the basis of such valuation (which amount will be reduced by the fair market value of the portion of the non-cash consideration converted to cash within 180 days following the consummation of such disposition).
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Designated Subsidiary means each wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary other than (a) a Restricted Subsidiary that is (i) a CFC, (ii) a Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company or (iii) a Subsidiary of a CFC or a Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company; (b) a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary; provided that the term Designated Subsidiary shall include any Restricted Subsidiary described in clause (b) of this definition that is designated as a Designated Subsidiary in accordance with Section 5.11(b); (c) a Restricted Subsidiary that is a captive insurance subsidiary, a not-for-profit subsidiary or a special purpose entity; (d) a Restricted Subsidiary that is not permitted by law, regulation or contract to provide the Guarantee required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement (so long as any such contractual restriction is not incurred in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary), or would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to provide such Guarantee, unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received, or for which the provision of such Guarantee would result in a material adverse tax consequence to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower) or (e) a Receivables Entity.
Disqualified Equity Interest means any Equity Interest that (a) requires the scheduled payment of any dividends in cash; (b) matures or is mandatorily redeemable or subject to mandatory repurchase or redemption or repurchase at the option of the holders thereof, in each case in whole or in part and whether upon the occurrence of any event, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation on a fixed date or otherwise, prior to the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date (determined as of the date of issuance thereof or, in the case of any such Equity Interests outstanding on the date hereof, as of the date hereof), other than (i) upon payment in full of the Loan Document Obligations, reduction of the LC Exposure to zero and termination of the Commitments or (ii) upon a change in control; provided that any payment required pursuant to this clause (ii) is contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Loan Document Obligations on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and such requirement is applicable only in circumstances that are market on the date of issuance of such Equity Interests; (c) requires the maintenance or achievement of any financial performance standards other than as a condition to the taking of specific actions or provide remedies to holders thereof (other than voting and management rights and increases in pay-in-kind dividends); or (d) is convertible or exchangeable, automatically or at the option of any holder thereof, into (i) any Indebtedness (other than any Indebtedness described in clause (j) of the definition thereof) or (ii) any Equity Interests or other assets other than Qualified Equity Interests, in each case at any time prior to the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date (determined as of the date of issuance thereof or, in the case of any such Equity Interests outstanding on the date hereof, as of the date hereof); provided that an Equity Interest in any Person that is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees or by any such plan to such employees shall not constitute a Disqualified Equity Interest solely because it may be required to be repurchased by such Person or any of its subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employees termination, death or disability.
Disqualified Institutions has the meaning assigned to such term in the Arrangement and Commitment Letter.
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Dollar Equivalent means, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in dollars, such amount and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any Permitted Foreign Currency, the equivalent amount thereof in dollars at such time as determined in accordance with Section 1.06(a) using the Exchange Rate with respect to such Permitted Foreign Currency at the time in effect under the provisions of such Section (except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 2.05(e)).
dollars or $ refers to lawful money of the United States of America.
Domestic Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.
DuPont means E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, a Delaware corporation.
DuPont Distribution means any payment, on or after the Effective Date (but no later than the Spin-Off Date), of a cash distribution by the Borrower to DuPont as described in the Form 10.
Effective Date means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).
Effective Date Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio means 1.50 to 1.00.
Effective Date Total Net Leverage Ratio means 4.25 to 1.00.
Eligible Assignee means (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender, (c) an Approved Fund and (d) any other Person, other than, in each case, a natural person (and any holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person), a Defaulting Lender, a Disqualified Institution (provided that the list of Disqualified Institutions has been provided to the Lenders), the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Affiliate of the Borrower.
Environmental Laws means all treaties, laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating to (a) the protection of the environment, (b) the preservation or reclamation of natural resources, (c) the generation, management, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material or (d) with respect to Hazardous Materials, the protection of human health and safety.
Environmental Liability means any liability, obligation, loss, claim, action, order or cost, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of medical monitoring, costs of environmental remediation or restoration, administrative oversight costs, consultants fees, fines, penalties and indemnities) resulting from or based upon (a) any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law or permit, license or approval issued thereunder, (b) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (c) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (d) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
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Equity Interests means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests (whether voting or non-voting) in, or interests in the income or profits of, a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing (other than, prior to the date of such conversion, Indebtedness that is convertible into Equity Interests).
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
ERISA Affiliate means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or 414(c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(m) or 414(o) of the Code.
ERISA Event means (a) any reportable event, as defined in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived), (b) any failure by any Plan to satisfy the minimum funding standard (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) applicable to such Plan, whether or not waived, (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan, (d) a determination that any Plan is, or is expected to be, in at-risk status (as defined in Section 430(i)(4) of the Code or Section 303(i)(4) of ERISA), (e) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan, (f) the receipt by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, (g) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (h) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, or in endangered or critical status, within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA or (i) any Foreign Benefit Event.
EURIBO Rate means, with respect to any EURIBOR Borrowing for any Interest Period, a rate per annum equal to the Euro interbank offered rate as administered by the Banking Federation of the European Union (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for a deposit in Euro (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 EURIBOR 01) 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 EURIBO Screen Rate), at approximately 11:00 a.m., Brussels time, on the Quotation Day for such Interest Period. If no EURIBO Screen Rate shall be available for a particular Interest Period but EURIBO Screen Rates shall be available for maturities both longer and shorter than such Interest Period, then the EURIBO Rate for such Interest Period shall be the Interpolated Screen Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the EURIBO Rate, determined as provided above, would otherwise be less than zero, then the EURIBO Rate shall be deemed to be zero for all purposes.
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EURIBOR, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted EURIBO Rate.
EURIBO Screen Rate has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of EURIBO Rate.
Euro or means the single currency of the European Union as constituted by the Treaty on European Union and as referred to in the EMU Legislation.
Eurocurrency, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.
Event of Default has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.
Excess Cash Flow means, for any fiscal year of the Borrower, the sum (without duplication) of:
(a) the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, adjusted to exclude (i) net income (or loss) of any consolidated Restricted Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by the Borrower to the extent such income or loss is attributable to the noncontrolling interest in such consolidated Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) any gains or losses attributable to Prepayment Events; plus
(b) depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges or losses deducted in determining such consolidated net income (or loss) for such fiscal year (excluding any non-cash charge to the extent it represents an accrual or reserve for potential cash charges in any future period or amortization of prepaid cash charges that were paid in a prior period); plus
(c) the sum of the amount, if any, by which Net Working Capital decreased during such fiscal year (except as a result of the reclassification of items from short-term to long-term or vice-versa); minus
(d) the sum of (i) any non-cash gains included in determining such consolidated net income (or loss) for such fiscal year (excluding any non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for a potential cash charge that reduced consolidated net income of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in any prior period if Excess Cash Flow was not increased by the amount of the corresponding non-cash charge in such prior period) and (ii) the amount, if any, by which Net Working Capital increased during such fiscal year (except as a result of the reclassification of items from long-term to short-term or vice-versa); minus
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(e) the sum (without duplication) of (i) Capital Expenditures made in cash for such fiscal year (except to the extent attributable to the incurrence of Capital Lease Obligations or otherwise financed from Excluded Sources) and (ii) cash consideration paid during such fiscal year to make acquisitions or other long-term investments (other than Cash Equivalents) (except to the extent financed from Excluded Sources); minus
(f) the aggregate principal amount of Long-Term Indebtedness repaid or prepaid by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such fiscal year, excluding (i) Indebtedness in respect of Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit or other revolving credit facilities (unless there is a corresponding reduction in the Aggregate Revolving Commitment or the commitments in respect of such other revolving credit facilities, as applicable), (ii) Term Loans prepaid pursuant to Section 2.11(a), (c) or (d) and (iii) repayments or prepayments of Long-Term Indebtedness financed from Excluded Sources; minus
(g) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made by the Borrower in cash during such fiscal year pursuant to Section 6.08 (other than clauses (a), (f), (g), (h), (i), (k) and (l) of Section 6.08), except Restricted Payments financed from Excluded Sources.
Exchange Act means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Exchange Rate means, on any day, with respect to the applicable Permitted Foreign Currency, the rate at which such currency may be exchanged into dollars, as set forth at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such day on the Reuters World Currency Page FX= for such currency. In the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters World Currency Page, then the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower or, in the absence of such agreement, such Exchange Rate shall instead be the arithmetic average of the spot rates of exchange of the Administrative Agent in the market where its foreign currency exchange operations in respect of such currency are then being conducted, at or about 10:00 a.m., Local Time, on such date for the purchase of dollars for delivery two Business Days later; provided that if at the time of any such determination, for any reason, no such spot rate is being quoted, the Administrative Agent, after consultation with the Borrower, may use any reasonable and customary method it deems appropriate to determine such rate, and such determination shall be presumed correct absent manifest error.
Excluded Sources means (a) proceeds of any incurrence or issuance of Long-Term Indebtedness or Capital Lease Obligations and (b) proceeds of any issuance or sale of Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than issuances or sales of Equity Interests to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) or any capital contributions to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any capital contributions made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary).
Excluded Swap Guarantor means any Subsidiary Loan Party all or a portion of whose Guarantee of, or grant of a security interest to secure, any Specified Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof).
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Excluded Swap Obligations means, with respect to any Subsidiary Loan Party, any Specified Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Subsidiary Loan Party of, or the grant by such Subsidiary Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Specified Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof). If a Specified Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Specified Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.
Excluded Taxes means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient: (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes and branch profits Taxes, in each case (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in such Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.19(b) or 9.02(c)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lenders assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in such Loan or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipients failure to comply with Section 2.17(f) and (d) any U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
Existing Letters of Credit means each letter of credit previously issued for the account of, or guaranteed by, the Borrower that is (a) outstanding on the Effective Date and (b) listed on Schedule 1.01.
Existing Maturity Date has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).
Existing Revolving Borrowings has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(d).
Extension Effective Date has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).
Fair Labor Standards Act means the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 201 et seq.
FATCA means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantially comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code.
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Federal Funds Effective Rate means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, 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 Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) 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.
Financial Officer means, with respect to any Person, the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of such Person. Unless otherwise specified, Financial Officer means a Financial Officer of the Borrower.
Foreign Benefit Event means, with respect to any Foreign Pension Plan, (a) the existence of unfunded liabilities in excess of the amount permitted under any applicable law, or in excess of the amount that would be permitted absent a waiver from a Governmental Authority, (b) the failure to make the required contributions or payments, under any applicable law, on or before the due date for such contributions or payments, (c) the receipt of a notice by a Governmental Authority relating to the intention to terminate any such Foreign Pension Plan or to appoint a trustee or similar official to administer any such Foreign Pension Plan, or alleging the insolvency of any such Foreign Pension Plan, (d) the incurrence of any liability by the Borrower or any Subsidiary under any applicable law on account of the complete or partial termination of such Foreign Pension Plan or the complete or partial withdrawal of any participating employer therein or (e) the occurrence of any transaction that is prohibited under any applicable law and that would reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any liability by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or the imposition on the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any fine, excise tax or penalty resulting from any noncompliance with any applicable law.
Foreign Jurisdiction Deposit means a deposit or Guarantee incurred in the ordinary course of business and required by any Governmental Authority in a foreign jurisdiction as a condition of doing business in such jurisdiction.
Foreign Lender means any Lender that is not a U.S. Person.
Foreign Pension Plan means any benefit plan sponsored, maintained or contributed to by, or required to be contributed to by, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or in respect of which Borrower or any Subsidiary has any actual or contingent liability, that under applicable law of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America is required to be funded through a trust or other funding vehicle other than a trust or funding vehicle maintained exclusively by a Governmental Authority.
Foreign Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.
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Foreign Subsidiary Disposition has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(h).
Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company means any Restricted Subsidiary substantially all of whose assets consist of Equity Interests and/or Indebtedness of one or more CFCs.
Form 10 means the registration statement on Form 10, originally filed by the Borrower with the SEC on December 18, 2014, as amended on February 12, 2015, and on April 21, 2015, and (except as such term is used in Section 3.04(d), Section 3.06 or Section 5.14 or as otherwise expressly provided herein) as further amended.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.
Governmental Authority means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether State or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supranational bodies exercising such powers or functions, such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
Granting Lender has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(e).
Guarantee of or by any Person (the guarantor) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the primary obligor) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or other obligation; provided that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The amount, as of any date of determination, of any Guarantee shall be the principal amount outstanding on such date of the Indebtedness or other obligation guaranteed thereby (or, in the case of (i) any Guarantee the terms of which limit the monetary exposure of the guarantor or (ii) any Guarantee of an obligation that does not have a principal amount, the maximum monetary exposure as of such date of the guarantor under such Guarantee (as determined, in the case of clause (i), pursuant to such terms or, in the case of clause (ii), reasonably and in good faith by a Financial Officer)). The term Guarantee used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
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Hazardous Materials means all explosive, radioactive, hazardous or toxic substances, materials, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum by-products or distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting substances or mold which are regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
Hedging Agreement means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction, or any option or similar agreement, involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of the foregoing transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Hedging Agreement.
Incremental Extensions of Credit has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).
Incremental Facility Amendment has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(c).
Incremental Facilities has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).
Incremental Revolving Commitment has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).
Incremental Revolving Loans has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).
Incremental Term Loans has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).
Indebtedness of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (d) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding trade accounts payable and other accrued obligations, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed by such Person, (f) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (g) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (h) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers acceptances, (j) all Attributable Receivables Indebtedness and (k) all Disqualified Equity Interests in such Person, valued, as of the date of determination, at the greater of (i) the maximum aggregate amount that would be payable upon maturity, redemption,
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repayment or repurchase thereof (or of Disqualified Equity Interests or Indebtedness into which such Disqualified Equity Interests are convertible or exchangeable) and (ii) the maximum liquidation preference of such Disqualified Equity Interests. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Persons ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide that such Person is not liable therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Indebtedness shall not include post-closing purchase price adjustments or earnouts except to the extent that the amount payable pursuant to such purchase price adjustment or earnout is, or becomes, reasonably determinable. The amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (e) above shall (unless such Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person or such Person has otherwise become liable for the payment thereof) be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and (ii) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith.
Indemnified Taxes means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a) of this definition, Other Taxes.
Indemnitee has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(b).
Information Memorandum means the Confidential Information Memorandum dated April 2015, relating to the Transactions.
Initial Lender means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination Agreement means the Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E pursuant to which intercompany obligations and advances owed by any Loan Party are subordinated to the Obligations.
Interest Election Request means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing or Term Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07, which shall be, in the case of a written Interest Election Request, in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and otherwise consistent with the requirements of Section 2.07.
Interest Payment Date means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (including a Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June, September and December and (b) with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan or EURIBOR Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing or EURIBOR Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months duration after the first day of such Interest Period.
Interest Period means, except as provided in the last sentence of this definition, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of
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such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter (or twelve months thereafter if, at the time of the relevant Borrowing, all Lenders participating therein agree to make an interest period of such duration available), as the Borrower may elect; provided that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (b) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) the initial Interest Period with respect to any Eurocurrency Term Borrowing made on the Effective Date shall commence on the Effective Date and end on June 30, 2015, (y) any Interest Period with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing that would otherwise end not more than one month after the relevant Maturity Date but for the operation of this clause (y) shall instead end on such Maturity Date and (z) if, as a result of the application of clause (a) of the proviso in the first sentence of this definition, an Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Term Borrowing would end on a Business Day that is not the last day of a calendar month, then the Borrower may elect that the immediately subsequent Interest Period for the Term Loans comprising such Eurocurrency Term Borrowing end on the last day of a calendar month.
Interpolated Screen Rate means (a) with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any Interest Period, a rate per annum which results from interpolating on a linear basis between (i) the applicable LIBO Screen Rate for the longest maturity for which a LIBO Screen Rate is available that is shorter than such Interest Period and (ii) the applicable LIBO Screen Rate for the shortest maturity for which a LIBO Screen Rate is available that is longer than such Interest Period, in each case at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the Quotation Day for such Interest Period, and (b) with respect to any EURIBOR Borrowing for any Interest Period, a rate per annum which results from interpolating on a linear basis between (i) the applicable EURIBO Screen Rate for the longest maturity for which a EURIBO Screen Rate is available that is shorter than such Interest Period and (ii) the applicable EURIBO Screen Rate for the shortest maturity for which a EURIBO Screen Rate is available that is longer than such Interest Period, in each case at approximately 11:00 a.m., Brussels time, on the Quotation Day for such Interest Period.
Investment Company Act means the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940.
Investment Grade Ratings Period means any period (a) commencing on the date on which (i) the public corporate credit rating for the Borrower established by S&P is at least BBB- (with a stable or better outlook) and (ii) the public corporate family rating for the Borrower established by Moodys is at least Baa3 (with a stable or better outlook) and (b) ending on the date on which either of the ratings conditions specified in clause (a) ceases to be satisfied (including as a result of the Borrower ceasing to have such a rating from either rating agency).
IRS means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
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ISP means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the International Standby Practices 1998 published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).
Issuing Bank means (a) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., (b) Credit Suisse AG, (c) Goldman Sachs Bank USA, (d) Bank of America, N.A., (e) Citibank N.A., (f) Barclays Bank PLC, (g) solely with respect to each Existing Letter of Credit, the Lender that issued such Existing Letter of Credit and (h) each Revolving Lender that shall have become an Issuing Bank hereunder as provided in Section 2.05(j) (other than any Person that shall have ceased to be an Issuing Bank as provided in Section 2.05(k)), each in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder. Each Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank, in which case the term Issuing Bank shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.
Latest Maturity Date means, at any time, the latest of the Maturity Dates in respect of the Classes of Loans and Commitments that are outstanding at such time.
LC Disbursement means a payment made by an Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.
LC Exposure means, at any time, the sum of (a) the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time and (b) the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be such Lenders Applicable Percentage of the aggregate LC Exposure at such time.
LC Exposure Sublimit means $400,000,000; provided that (a) the Letters of Credit for which JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (together with its successors and assigns) acts as Issuing Bank shall not exceed $68,160,000 at any time, (b) the Letters of Credit for which Credit Suisse AG (together with its successors and assigns) acts as Issuing Bank shall not exceed $68,120,000 at any time and (c) the Letters of Credit for which Goldman Sachs Bank USA (together with its successors and assigns) acts as Issuing Bank shall not exceed $68,120,000 at any time, (d) the Letters of Credit for which Bank of America, N.A. (together with its successors and assigns) acts as Issuing Bank shall not exceed $65,200,000 at any time, (e) the Letters of Credit for which Citibank N.A. (together with its successors and assigns) acts as Issuing Bank shall not exceed $65,200,000 at any time, (f) the Letters of Credit for which Barclays Bank PLC (together with its successors and assigns) acts as Issuing Bank shall not exceed $65,200,000 at any time and (g) the Letters of Credit for which any Revolving Lender (together with its successors and assigns) that becomes an Issuing Bank after the date hereof shall not exceed at any time an amount to be agreed by the Borrower and such Issuing Bank (in each case, as such amount may be increased from time to time in the sole discretion of the applicable Issuing Bank, so long as such amount does not exceed the LC Exposure Sublimit and notice of such increase is provided to the Administrative Agent).
Lenders means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, an Incremental Facility Amendment or a Refinancing Facility Agreement, other than any such Person that shall
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have ceased to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption; provided, however, that Section 9.03 shall continue to apply to each such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption as if such Person is a Lender. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term Lenders includes the Swingline Lenders.
Letter of Credit means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement and, upon the consummation of the Spin-Off, any Existing Letter of Credit, other than any such letter of credit that shall have ceased to be a Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder pursuant to Section 9.05.
LIBO Rate means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing in any currency for any Interest Period, a rate per annum equal to the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for the relevant currency) for deposits in such currency (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 LIBO Screen Rate), at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the Quotation Day for such Interest Period. If no LIBO Screen Rate shall be available for a particular Interest Period but LIBO Screen Rates shall be available for maturities both longer and shorter than such Interest Period, then the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period shall be the Interpolated Screen Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the LIBO Rate, determined as provided above, would otherwise be less than zero, then the LIBO Rate shall be deemed to be zero for all purposes.
LIBO Screen Rate has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term LIBO Rate.
Lien means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest or other encumbrance in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.
Loan Document Obligations means (a) the due and punctual payment by the Borrower of (i) the principal of and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (ii) each payment required to be made by the Borrower under this Agreement in respect of any Letter of Credit, when and as due, including payments in respect of reimbursement of disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, including obligations to pay fees, expense reimbursement obligations (including with respect to attorneys fees) and indemnification obligations, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise
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(including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), (b) the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Borrower under or pursuant to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents and (c) the due and punctual payment and performance of all the obligations of each other Loan Party under or pursuant to each of the Loan Documents (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), in each case of clauses (a), (b) and (c), whether now or hereafter owing.
Loan Documents means this Agreement, any Incremental Facility Amendment, any Refinancing Facility Agreement, the Collateral Agreement, the other Security Documents, the Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination Agreement, any agreement designating an additional Issuing Bank as contemplated by Section 2.05(j) and, except for purposes of Section 9.02, any promissory notes delivered pursuant to Section 2.09(c) (and, in each case, any amendment, restatement, waiver, supplement or other modification to any of the foregoing).
Loan Parties means, collectively, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties.
Loans means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, including pursuant to any Incremental Facility Amendment or any Refinancing Facility Agreement.
Local Time means (a) with respect to any Loan or Borrowing denominated in dollars or any Letter of Credit denominated in dollars, New York City time, and (b) with respect to any Loan or Borrowing denominated in a Permitted Foreign Currency or any Letter of Credit denominated in a Permitted Foreign Currency, London time.
Long-Term Indebtedness means any Indebtedness (excluding Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(d)) that, in accordance with GAAP, constitutes (or, when incurred, constituted) a long-term liability.
Majority in Interest, when used in reference to Lenders of any Class, means, at any time, (a) in the case of the Revolving Lenders, Lenders having Revolving Exposures and unused Revolving Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the Aggregate Revolving Exposure and the unused Aggregate Revolving Commitment at such time and (b) in the case of the Term Lenders of any Class, Lenders holding outstanding Term Loans of such Class representing more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans of such Class outstanding at such time.
Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, property, operations or financial condition of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Loan Party to perform any of its payment obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or (c) the rights of or remedies available to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
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Material Indebtedness means Indebtedness (other than the Loans, the Letters of Credit and the Guarantees under the Loan Documents), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $75,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the principal amount of the obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Hedging Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Hedging Agreement were terminated at such time.
Material Subsidiary means each Subsidiary (a) the consolidated total assets of which equal 5% or more of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (b) the consolidated revenues of which equal 5% or more of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case as of the end of or for the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) (or, prior to the first delivery of any such financial statements, as of the end of or for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower most recently ended prior to the date of this Agreement); provided that if, at the end of or for any such most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, the combined consolidated total assets or combined consolidated revenues of all Restricted Subsidiaries that under clauses (a) and (b) above would not constitute Material Subsidiaries shall have exceeded 7.5% of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries or 7.5% of the consolidated revenues of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, respectively, then one or more of such excluded Restricted Subsidiaries shall for all purposes of this Agreement be deemed to be Material Subsidiaries in descending order based on the amounts of their consolidated total assets or consolidated revenues, as applicable, until such excess shall have been eliminated.
Maturity Date means the Revolving Maturity Date, the Tranche B Term Maturity Date or the maturity date with respect to any Class of Incremental Extensions of Credit, as the context requires.
Maturity Date Extension Request means a request by the Borrower, in the form of Exhibit H hereto or such other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent, for the extension of the applicable Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.22.
Maximum Rate has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.13.
MNPI means material information concerning the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing or their securities that has not been disseminated in a manner making it available to investors generally, within the meaning of Regulation FD under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. For purposes of this definition, material information means information concerning the Borrower, the Subsidiaries or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing or any of their securities that would reasonably be expected to be material for purposes of the United States Federal and State securities laws and, where applicable, foreign securities laws.
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Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.
Mortgage means a mortgage, deed of trust, assignment of leases and rents, leasehold mortgage or other security document granting a Lien on any Mortgaged Property to secure the Obligations. Each Mortgage shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent.
Mortgaged Property means, initially, each parcel of real property and the improvements thereto owned or leased by a Loan Party and identified on Schedule 1.02, and includes each other parcel of real property and the improvements thereto owned or leased by a Loan Party with respect to which a Mortgage is required to be granted pursuant to Section 5.11 or 5.12.
Multiemployer Plan means a multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, that is or, within the five preceding calendar years, was subject to ERISA and in respect of which the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates is an employer as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.
Net Proceeds means, with respect to any event, (a) the cash proceeds received in respect of such event, including (i) any cash received in respect of any non-cash proceeds (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment or earnout, but excluding any reasonable interest payments), but only as and when received, (ii) in the case of a casualty, insurance proceeds and (iii) in the case of a condemnation or similar event, condemnation awards and similar payments, minus (b) the sum, without duplication, of (i) all bona fide fees and out-of-pocket expenses paid in connection with such event by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries to Persons other than Affiliates of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) in the case of a sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of an asset (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction or a casualty or a condemnation or similar proceeding), the amount of all payments that are permitted hereunder and are made by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such event to repay Indebtedness (other than the Loans) secured by such asset or otherwise subject to mandatory prepayment as a result of such event and (iii) the amount of all taxes paid (or reasonably estimated to be payable) by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, and the amount of any reserves established by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP to fund purchase price adjustment, indemnification and similar contingent liabilities (other than any earnout obligations) reasonably estimated to be payable, in each case during the year that such event occurred or the next succeeding year and that are directly attributable to the occurrence of such event (as determined reasonably and in good faith by a Financial Officer). For purposes of this definition, in the event any contingent liability reserve established with respect to any event as described in clause (b)(iii) above 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 reserve has been established, be deemed to be receipt, on the date of such reduction, of cash proceeds in respect of such event.
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Net Working Capital means, at any date, (a) the consolidated current assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date (excluding cash and Cash Equivalents) minus (b) the consolidated current liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date (excluding current liabilities in respect of Indebtedness). Net Working Capital at any date may be a positive or negative number. Net Working Capital increases when it becomes more positive or less negative and decreases when it becomes less positive or more negative.
Non-Consenting Lender has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(c).
Obligations means, collectively, (a) all the Loan Document Obligations, (b) all the Secured Cash Management Obligations, (c) all the Secured Hedging Obligations and (d) the Secured Customer Financing Obligations.
OFAC means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Other Connection Taxes means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Taxes (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in this Agreement or any other Loan Document).
Other Taxes means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document except such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.19(b) or 9.02(c)).
Participant has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).
Participant Register has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).
PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.
Perfection Certificate means a certificate in the form of Exhibit C or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
Permitted Acquisition means any transaction or series of related transactions for the purpose of or resulting in the acquisition by the Borrower or any other Loan Party that is a wholly owned Subsidiary of all the outstanding Equity Interests (other than directors qualifying shares) in, all or substantially all the assets of or all or substantially all the assets constituting a business unit, division, product line or line of business of a Person if (a) no Event of Default has
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occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (b) such acquisition and all transactions related thereto are consummated in accordance with applicable laws in all material respects, (c) all actions required to be taken with respect to such acquired or newly formed Subsidiary or such acquired assets under Sections 5.11 and 5.12 shall have been taken as promptly as practicable after the date of such acquisition and, in any event, within 20 Business Days after the date of such acquisition (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, agree in writing), (d) the Borrower is in compliance with the covenant contained in Section 6.13, recomputed on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such acquisition as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower (or, if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated and the Revolving Exposure has been reduced to zero, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such acquisition as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower, is less than 4.50 to 1.00), (e) the business of such Person or such assets, as applicable, constitutes a business permitted by Section 6.03(b) and (f) with respect to any transaction or series of related transactions involving consideration of more than $50,000,000, the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer to the effect set forth in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) above, together with all relevant financial information for the Person or assets to be acquired and setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with clause (d) above (which calculations shall, if made as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which the Borrower has not delivered to the Administrative Agent the financial statements and certificate of a Financial Officer required to be delivered by Section 5.01(a) or (b) and Section 5.01(d), respectively, be accompanied by a reasonably detailed calculation of Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for the relevant period).
Permitted Encumbrances means:
(a) Liens imposed by law for Taxes that are (i) not yet due and delinquent (or in default) or (ii) being contested in compliance with Section 5.05;
(b) carriers, warehousemens, mechanics, materialmens, repairmens, landlords and other like Liens imposed by law (other than any Lien imposed pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Code or Section 303(k) of ERISA or a violation of Section 436 of the Code), arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.05;
(c) pledges and deposits made (i) in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws and (ii) in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments issued for the account of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business supporting obligations of the type set forth in clause (i) above;
(d) pledges and deposits made (i) to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for payment of Indebtedness), leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business and (ii) in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments issued for the account of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business supporting obligations of the type set forth in clause (i) above;
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(e) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII;
(f) easements, zoning restrictions, restrictions on the use of real property, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on title to real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(g) Liens arising from Cash Equivalents described in clause (d) of the definition of the term Cash Equivalents;
(h) bankers liens, rights of setoff or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with depository institutions and securities accounts and other financial assets maintained with a securities intermediary; provided that such deposit accounts or funds and securities accounts or other financial assets are not established or deposited for the purpose of providing collateral for any Indebtedness and are not subject to restrictions on access by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in excess of those required by applicable banking regulations;
(i) Liens arising by virtue of Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings (or similar filings under applicable law) regarding operating leases, consignment of goods (but, with respect to any assets constituting Collateral, only if the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, has properly perfected its security interest in the assets subject to such consignment arrangement) or similar arrangements entered into by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(j) Liens of a collecting bank arising in the ordinary course of business under Section 4-208 (or the applicable corresponding section) of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the relevant jurisdiction covering only the items being collected upon;
(k) Liens representing any interest or title of a licensor, lessor or sublicensor or sublessor, or a licensee, lessee or sublicensee or sublessee, in the property subject to any lease, license or sublicense or concession agreement permitted by this Agreement;
(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) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries are located and other Liens affecting the interest of any landlord (and any underlying landlord) of any real property leased by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, so long as such ground lease does not interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
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(n) Liens securing insurance premium financing arrangements; provided that such Liens are limited to the applicable unearned insurance premiums;
(o) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Persons obligations in respect of bankers acceptances issued or created in the ordinary course of business for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;
(p) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off; and
(q) right of set-off relating to purchase orders and other similar arrangements entered into with customers or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;
provided that the term Permitted Encumbrances shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness, other than Liens referred to in clauses (c) and (d) above securing letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments.
Permitted Foreign Currency means, with respect to any Revolving Loan or Letter of Credit, Euros and any other foreign currency reasonably requested by the Borrower from time to time and in which each Revolving Lender (in the case of any Revolving Loans to be denominated in such other foreign currency) and each applicable Issuing Bank (in the case of any Letters of Credit to be denominated in such other foreign currency) has reasonably agreed, in accordance with its policies and procedures in effect at such time, to lend Revolving Loans or issue Letters of Credit, as applicable.
Permitted Pari Passu Refinancing Debt shall mean any secured Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower in the form of one or more series of senior secured notes; provided that (a) such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis to the Obligations and is not secured by any property or assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (b) such Indebtedness constitutes Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness in respect of Term Loans (including portions of Classes of Term Loans), (c) the security agreements relating to such Indebtedness are not materially more favorable (when taken as a whole) to the holders providing such Indebtedness than the existing Security Documents are to the Lenders (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), (d) such Indebtedness is not guaranteed by any Restricted Subsidiaries other than the Loan Parties and (e) such Indebtedness is subject to customary intercreditor arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
Permitted Receivables Facility means the receivables facility or facilities created under the Permitted Receivables Facility Documents providing for the sale or pledge by the Borrower and/or one or more other Receivables Sellers of Permitted Receivables Facility Assets (thereby providing financing to the Borrower and the Receivables Sellers) to the Receivables Entity (either directly or through another Receivables Seller) for fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), which in turn shall sell or pledge interests in the respective Permitted Receivables Facility Assets to third-party lenders or investors pursuant to the Permitted Receivables Facility Documents (with the Receivables Entity permitted to issue notes or other evidences of Indebtedness secured by Permitted Receivables Facility Assets or investor certificates, purchased interest certificates or other similar documentation evidencing
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interests in the Permitted Receivables Facility Assets) in return for the cash used by the Receivables Entity to purchase the Permitted Receivables Facility Assets from the Borrower and/or the respective Receivables Sellers, in each case as more fully set forth in the Permitted Receivables Facility Documents.
Permitted Receivables Facility Assets means (a) Receivables (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries which are transferred or pledged to the Receivables Entity pursuant to the Permitted Receivables Facility and any related Permitted Receivables Related Assets which are also so transferred or pledged to the Receivables Entity and all proceeds thereof and (b) loans to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries secured by Receivables (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries which are made pursuant to the Permitted Receivables Facility.
Permitted Receivables Facility Documents means each of the documents and agreements entered into in connection with the Permitted Receivables Facility, including all documents and agreements relating to the issuance, funding and/or purchase of certificates and purchased interests, or the issuance of notes or other evidence of Indebtedness secured by such notes, all of which documents and agreements shall be in form and substance reasonably customary for transactions of this type, in each case as such documents and agreements may be amended, modified, supplemented, refinanced or replaced from time to time so long as (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) either (a) the terms as so amended, modified, supplemented, refinanced or replaced are reasonably customary for transactions of this type or (b)(x) any such amendments, modifications, supplements, refinancings or replacements do not impose any conditions or requirements on the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, are more restrictive in any material respect than those in existence immediately prior to any such amendment, modification, supplement, refinancing or replacement as determined by the Borrower in good faith and (y) any such amendments, modifications, supplements, refinancings or replacements are not adverse in any material respect to the interests of the Lenders as determined by the Borrower in good faith.
Permitted Receivables Related Assets means any other assets that are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving receivables similar to Receivables and any collections or proceeds of any of the foregoing.
Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt shall mean any secured Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower in the form of one or more series of senior secured notes or loans; provided that (a) such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a second lien, subordinated basis to the Obligations and is not secured by any property or assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the Collateral, (b) such Indebtedness constitutes Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness in respect of Term Loans (including portions of Classes of Term Loans), (c) the security agreements relating to such Indebtedness are not materially more favorable (when taken as a whole) to the lenders or holders providing such Indebtedness than the existing Security Documents are to the Lenders (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), (d) such Indebtedness is not guaranteed by any Restricted Subsidiaries other than the Loan Parties and (e) such Indebtedness is subject to customary intercreditor arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
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Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt shall mean unsecured Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower in the form of one or more series of senior or subordinated unsecured notes or loans; provided that (a) such Indebtedness constitutes Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness in respect of Term Loans (including portions of Classes of Term Loans), (b) such Indebtedness is not guaranteed by any Subsidiaries other than the Loan Parties, (c) such Indebtedness is not secured by any Lien or any property or assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and (d) if such Indebtedness is contractually subordinated to the Obligations, such subordination terms shall be market terms at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness.
Person means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
Plan means any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan), that is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an employer as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.
Platform has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(d).
Prepayment Event means:
(a) any non-ordinary course sale, transfer, lease or other disposition (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction and by way of merger or consolidation) (for purposes of this defined term, collectively, dispositions) of any asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, pursuant to Section 6.05(h), other than dispositions resulting in aggregate Net Proceeds not exceeding (i) $30,000,000 in the case of any single disposition or series of related dispositions and (ii) $50,000,000 for all such dispositions during any fiscal year of the Borrower;
(b) any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary with a fair market value immediately prior to such event equal to or greater than $15,000,000; or
(c) the incurrence by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01 or permitted by the Required Lenders pursuant to Section 9.02.
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.
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Private Side Lender Representatives means, with respect to any Lender, representatives of such Lender that are not Public Side Lender Representatives.
Pro Forma Basis means, with respect to the calculation of the financial covenants contained in Sections 6.12 and 6.13 or otherwise for purposes of determining the Total Net Leverage Ratio, Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Cash Interest Expense or Consolidated Total Assets as of any date, that such calculation shall give pro forma effect to all Permitted Acquisitions, all issuances, incurrences or assumptions of Indebtedness (with any such Indebtedness being deemed to be amortized over the applicable testing period in accordance with its terms) and all sales, transfers or other dispositions of any Equity Interests in a Subsidiary or all or substantially all the assets of a Subsidiary or division or line of business of a Subsidiary outside the ordinary course of business (and any related prepayments or repayments of Indebtedness) that have occurred during (or, if such calculation is being made for the purpose of determining whether any proposed acquisition will constitute a Permitted Acquisition or any Incremental Extension of Credit may be made or whether any other transaction under Article VI hereof may be consummated, since the beginning of) the four consecutive fiscal quarter period of the Borrower most recently ended on or prior to such date as if they occurred on the first day of such four consecutive fiscal quarter period (including expected cost savings (without duplication of actual cost savings) to the extent (a) such cost savings would be permitted to be reflected in pro forma financial information complying with the requirements of GAAP and Article 11 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act as interpreted by the Staff of the SEC, and as certified by a Financial Officer or (b) in the case of an acquisition, such cost savings are factually supportable and have been realized or are reasonably expected to be realized within 365 days following such acquisition; provided that (i) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Borrower, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, certifying that such cost savings meet the requirements set forth in this clause (b), together with reasonably detailed evidence in support thereof, (ii) if any cost savings included in any pro forma calculations based on the expectation that such cost savings will be realized within 365 days following such acquisition shall at any time cease to be reasonably expected to be so realized within such period, then on and after such time pro forma calculations required to be made hereunder shall not reflect such cost savings and (iii) the aggregate amount of cost savings included in any calculation based upon this clause (b) shall not exceed, for any period of four fiscal quarters of the Borrower, 15% of Consolidated EBITDA for such four fiscal quarter period (determined prior to the adjustment contemplated by this clause (b)). If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Agreement has a remaining term in excess of 12 months).
Proposed Change has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(c).
Public Side Lender Representatives means, with respect to any Lender, representatives of such Lender that do not wish to receive MNPI.
Purchasing Borrower Party means any of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.
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Qualified Equity Interests means Equity Interests of the Borrower other than Disqualified Equity Interests.
Quotation Day means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing or EURIBOR Borrowing and any Interest Period, the day on which it is market practice in the relevant interbank market for prime banks to give quotations for deposits in the currency of such Borrowing for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period. If such quotations would normally be given by prime banks on more than one day, the Quotation Day will be the last of such days.
Receivables means all accounts receivable (including all rights to payment created by or arising from sales of goods, leases of goods or the rendition of services rendered no matter how evidenced whether or not earned by performance).
Receivables Entity means a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of Receivables of the Receivables Sellers and that is designated (as provided below) as the Receivables Entity (a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary (excluding Guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary in any way (other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings) or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, (b) with which neither the Borrower nor any other Restricted Subsidiary has any contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than pursuant to the Permitted Receivables Facility Documents (including with respect to fees payable in the ordinary course of business in connection with the servicing of accounts receivable and related assets)) on terms less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Borrower (as determined by the Borrower in good faith), and (c) to which neither the Borrower nor any other Restricted Subsidiary has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entitys financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results. Any such designation shall be evidenced to the Administrative Agent by filing with the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower certifying that, to the best of such officers knowledge and belief after consultation with counsel, such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.
Receivables Sellers means the Borrower and those Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Receivables Entities) that are from time to time party to the Permitted Receivables Facility Documents.
Recipient means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Bank, as applicable.
Reference Rate means, for any day, the Adjusted LIBO Rate as of such day for a Eurocurrency Borrowing with an Interest Period of three months duration (without giving effect to the last sentence of the definition of the term Adjusted LIBO Rate herein).
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Refinanced Commitments has the meaning set forth in the definition of Refinancing Revolving Commitments.
Refinanced Debt has the meaning set forth in the definition of Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness.
Refinancing Effective Date has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23(a).
Refinancing Facility Agreement means a Refinancing Facility Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and one or more Refinancing Term Lenders or Refinancing Revolving Lenders, as the case may be, establishing commitments in respect of Refinancing Term Loans and/or Refinancing Revolving Commitments and effecting such other amendments hereto and to the other Loan Documents as are contemplated by Section 2.23.
Refinancing Indebtedness means, in respect of any Indebtedness (the Original Indebtedness), any Indebtedness that extends, renews or refinances such Original Indebtedness (or any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof); provided that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Original Indebtedness except by an amount no greater than accrued and unpaid interest with respect to such Original Indebtedness and any bona fide fees, premium and expenses relating to such extension, renewal or refinancing; (b) the stated final maturity of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be earlier than the earlier of (i) the stated final maturity of such Original Indebtedness and (ii) the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date in effect on the date of such extension, renewal or refinancing (except for any such Indebtedness in the form of a bridge or other interim credit facility intended to be refinanced or replaced with long-term Indebtedness, which such Indebtedness, upon the maturity thereof, automatically converts into Indebtedness that satisfies the requirements set forth in this definition); (c) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be required to be repaid, prepaid, redeemed, repurchased or defeased, whether on one or more fixed dates, upon the occurrence of one or more events or at the option of any holder thereof (except, in each case, (x) upon the occurrence of an event of default or a change in control or as and to the extent such repayment, prepayment, redemption, repurchase or defeasance would have been required pursuant to the terms of such Original Indebtedness and (y) in the case of any such Refinancing Indebtedness in the form of a bridge or other interim credit facility intended to be refinanced or replaced with long-term Indebtedness, upon the incurrence of such refinancing or replacement Indebtedness so long as such refinancing or replacement Indebtedness would have constituted Refinancing Indebtedness if originally incurred to refinance such Original Indebtedness) prior to the earlier of (i) the maturity of such Original Indebtedness and (ii) the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date in effect on the date of such extension, renewal or refinancing; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, scheduled amortization payments (however denominated) of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be permitted so long as the weighted average life to maturity of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be no shorter than the shorter of (x) the weighted average life to maturity of such Original Indebtedness remaining as of the date of such extension, renewal or refinancing and (y) the weighted average life to maturity of each Class of the Term Loans remaining as of the date of such extension, renewal or refinancing; (d) such Refinancing
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Indebtedness shall not constitute an obligation (including pursuant to a Guarantee) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case that shall not have been (or, in the case of after-acquired Restricted Subsidiaries, shall not have been required to become pursuant to the terms of the Original Indebtedness) an obligor in respect of such Original Indebtedness, and, in each case, shall constitute an obligation of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary only to the extent of their obligations in respect of such Original Indebtedness; (e) if such Original Indebtedness shall have been subordinated to the Loan Document Obligations, such Refinancing Indebtedness shall also be subordinated to the Loan Document Obligations on terms not less favorable in any material respect to the Lenders; and (f) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be secured by any Lien on any asset other than the assets that secured such Original Indebtedness (or would have been required to secure such Original Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof) or, in the event Liens securing such Original Indebtedness shall have been contractually subordinated to any Lien securing the Loan Document Obligations, by any Lien that shall not have been contractually subordinated to at least the same extent.
Refinancing Revolving Commitments means one or more Classes of revolving credit commitments obtained pursuant to a Refinancing Facility Agreement, in each case obtained in exchange for, or to extend, renew, refinance or replace, in whole or in part, existing Revolving Commitments hereunder (including any successive Refinancing Revolving Commitments) (such existing Revolving Commitments and successive Refinancing Revolving Commitments, the Refinanced Commitments); provided that (a) the amount of such Refinancing Revolving Commitments shall not exceed the amount of the Refinanced Commitments; (b) the stated final maturity of such Refinancing Revolving Commitments (and the Refinancing Revolving Loans of the same Class) shall not be earlier than, and such Refinancing Revolving Commitments shall not be subject to any scheduled reduction prior to, the Latest Maturity Date of such Refinanced Commitments; (c) such Refinancing Revolving Commitments (and the Refinancing Revolving Loans of the same Class) shall not constitute an obligation (including pursuant to a Guarantee) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, in each case that shall not have been (or, in the case of after-acquired Subsidiaries, shall not have been required to become pursuant to the terms of the Refinanced Commitments) an obligor in respect of such Refinanced Commitments (and the Revolving Loans of the same Class), and, in each case, shall constitute an obligation of the Borrower or such Subsidiary to the extent of its obligations in respect of such Refinanced Debt; and (d) such Refinancing Revolving Commitments (and the Refinancing Revolving Loans of the same Class) shall contain terms and conditions that are not materially more favorable (when taken as a whole), as determined by the Borrower in good faith, to the investors providing such Refinancing Revolving Commitments than those applicable to the existing Revolving Commitments and Revolving Loans being refinanced (other than (A) with respect to pricing, optional prepayments and redemption, (B) covenants or other provisions (i) applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date or (ii) made applicable to the existing Revolving Commitments and Revolving Loans and (C) any financial maintenance covenants described in subclause (I) of Section 2.23(a)(iv)), as determined in good faith by the Borrower, on the date such Refinancing Revolving Commitments are incurred.
Refinancing Revolving Lender means any Person that provides a Refinancing Revolving Commitment.
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Refinancing Revolving Loans means revolving loans incurred by the Borrower under this Agreement in respect of Refinancing Revolving Commitments.
Refinancing Term Lender means any Person that provides a Refinancing Term Loan.
Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness means (a) Permitted Pari Passu Refinancing Debt, (b) Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt, (c) Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt or (d) Refinancing Term Loans obtained pursuant to a Refinancing Facility Agreement, in each case, issued, incurred or otherwise obtained (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Indebtedness) in exchange for, or to extend, renew, refinance or replace, in whole or part, existing Term Loans hereunder (including any successive Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness) (such existing Term Loans and successive Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness, the Refinanced Debt); provided that (i) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness shall not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Refinanced Debt except by an amount equal to the sum of accrued and unpaid interest, accrued fees and premiums (if any) with respect to such Refinanced Debt and fees and expenses associated with the refinancing of such Refinanced Debt with such Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness; provided, however, that, as part of the same incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness as such Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness, the Borrower may incur or issue an additional amount of Indebtedness under Section 6.01 without violating this clause (i) (and, for purposes of clarity, (x) such additional amount of Indebtedness shall not constitute Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness and (y) such additional amount of Indebtedness shall reduce the applicable basket under Section 6.01, if any, on a dollar-for-dollar basis); (ii) the stated final maturity of such Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness shall not be earlier than 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date of such Refinanced Debt (except for any such Indebtedness in the form of a bridge or other interim credit facility intended to be refinanced or replaced with long-term Indebtedness, which such Indebtedness, upon the maturity thereof, automatically converts into Indebtedness that satisfies the requirements set forth in this definition); (iii) such Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness shall not be required to be repaid, prepaid, redeemed, repurchased or defeased, whether on one or more fixed dates, upon the occurrence of one or more events or at the option of any holder thereof (except, in each case, (x) on the stated final maturity date as permitted pursuant to the preceding clause (ii), (y) upon the occurrence of an event of default, asset sale or a change in control or as and to the extent such repayment, prepayment, redemption, repurchase or defeasance would have been required pursuant to the terms of such Refinanced Debt and (z) in the case of any such Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness in the form of a bridge or other interim credit facility intended to be refinanced or replaced with long-term Indebtedness, upon the incurrence of such refinancing or replacement Indebtedness so long as such refinancing or replacement Indebtedness would have constituted Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness if originally incurred to refinance such Refinanced Debt) prior to the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date in effect on the date of such extension, renewal or refinancing; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, scheduled amortization payments (however denominated) of such Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness in the form of Refinancing Term Loans shall be permitted so long as the weighted average life to maturity of such Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness in the form of Refinancing Term Loans shall be no shorter than 91 days after the weighted average life to maturity of such Refinanced Debt remaining as of the date of such extension, replacement or refinancing; (iv)
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such Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness shall not constitute an obligation (including pursuant to a Guarantee) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, in each case that shall not have been (or, in the case of after-acquired Subsidiaries, shall not have been required to become pursuant to the terms of the Refinanced Debt) an obligor in respect of such Refinanced Debt, and, in each case, shall constitute an obligation of the Borrower or such Subsidiary to the extent of its obligations in respect of such Refinanced Debt; and (v) such Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness shall contain terms and conditions that are not materially more favorable (when taken as a whole), as determined by the Borrower in good faith, to the investors providing such Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness than those applicable to the existing Term Loans of the applicable Class being refinanced (other than (A) with respect to pricing, optional prepayments and redemption, (B) covenants or other provisions (i) applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date or (ii) made applicable to the existing Term Loans and (C) any financial maintenance covenants described in subclause (I) of Section 2.23(a)(iv)), on the date such Refinancing Term Loans are incurred and, in any event, any Refinancing Term Loan will not contain mandatory prepayment provisions that are more favorable to the lenders in respect thereof than the mandatory prepayment provisions applicable to the Tranche B Term Lenders hereunder.
Refinancing Term Loans shall mean one or more Classes of term loans incurred by the Borrower under this Agreement pursuant to a Refinancing Facility Agreement; provided that such Indebtedness constitutes Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness in respect of Term Loans (including portions of Classes of Term Loans).
Register has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).
Related Parties means, with respect to any specified Person, such Persons Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, managers, advisors, representatives and controlling persons of such Person.
Release means any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into or through the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or within any building, structure or facility.
Repricing Transaction means the prepayment or refinancing of all or a portion of the Tranche B Term Borrowings concurrently with the incurrence by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any long-term bank debt financing or any other financing similar to the Tranche B Term Borrowings (other than notes or similar instruments), in each case having a lower all-in yield (including, in addition to the applicable coupon, any interest rate floors, upfront or similar fees and original issue discount payable to the holders of such Indebtedness (in their capacities as such) with respect to such Indebtedness) than the Applicable Rate in respect of the Tranche B Term Loans (based on the definition of the term Applicable Rate as in effect on the Effective Date). For purposes of this defined term, original issue discount and upfront fees shall be equated to interest based on an assumed four-year life to maturity (or, if less, the remaining life to maturity).
Required Lenders means, at any time, Lenders having Revolving Exposures, Term Loans and unused Commitments (other than Swingline Commitments) representing more than 50% of the sum of the Aggregate Revolving Exposure, outstanding Term Loans and unused Commitments (other than Swingline Commitments) at such time.
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Requirement of Law means, with respect to any Person, (a) the charter, articles or certificate of organization or incorporation and bylaws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person and (b) any law (including common law), statute, ordinance, treaty, rule, regulation, order, decree, writ, injunction, settlement agreement or determination of any arbitrator or court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.
Reset Date has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.06(a).
Responsible Officer means, with respect to any Person, the chief executive officer, president, chief operating officer, general counsel or any Financial Officer of such Person, except that, with respect to financial matters, Responsible Officer will be limited to any Financial Officer of such Person.
Restricted means, when used in reference to cash or Cash Equivalents of any Person, that such cash or Cash Equivalents (a) appear (or would be required to appear) as restricted on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person prepared in conformity with GAAP (unless such classification results solely from any Lien referred to in clause (b) below) or (b) are controlled by or subject to any Lien or other preferential arrangement in favor of any creditor, other than Liens created under the Loan Documents.
Restricted Payment means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any payment or distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, exchange, conversion, cancelation or termination of any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any other payment (including any payment under any Hedging Agreement) that has a substantially similar effect to any of the foregoing.
Restricted Subsidiary means each Subsidiary other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Resulting Revolving Borrowings has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(d).
Revolving Availability Period means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Revolving Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments.
Revolving Commitment means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum possible aggregate amount of such Lenders Revolving Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08, (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.21 and (c) and reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or
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to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lenders Revolving Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption or Incremental Facility Amendment pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders Revolving Commitments is $1,000,000,000.
Revolving Commitment Increase has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).
Revolving Commitment Increase Lender means, with respect to any Revolving Commitment Increase, each Additional Lender providing a portion of such Revolving Commitment Increase.
Revolving Exposure means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of (a) the Dollar Equivalent of the outstanding principal amount of such Lenders Revolving Loans, (b) such Lenders LC Exposure and (c) such Lenders Swingline Exposure, in each case at such time.
Revolving Lender means a Lender with a Revolving Commitment or, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, a Lender with Revolving Exposure.
Revolving Lender Parent means, with respect to any Revolving Lender, any Person as to which such Revolving Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.
Revolving Loan means a Loan made pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.01.
Revolving Maturity Date means the date that is five years after the Effective Date, as the same may be extended pursuant to Section 2.22.
S&P means Standard & Poors Ratings Services, a division of McGraw-Hill Financial, Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.
Sanctioned Country means a country or territory which is itself the subject or target of any comprehensive Sanctions.
Sanctioned Person means (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State or by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, (b) any Person organized under the laws of or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons.
Sanctions means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or Her Majestys Treasury of the United Kingdom.
SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
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Section 5.14 Spin-Off Documents has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.14(b).
Secured Cash Management Obligations means the due and punctual payment and performance of any and all obligations of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary (whether absolute or contingent and however and whenever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor)) arising in respect of Cash Management Services that (a) are owed to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or an Affiliate of any of the foregoing, or to any Person that, at the time such obligations were incurred, was the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or an Affiliate of any of the foregoing, (b) are owed on the Effective Date to a Person that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender as of the Effective Date or (c) are owed to a Person that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time such obligations are incurred.
Secured Customer Financing Obligations means the due and punctual payment and performance of any and all obligations of the Borrower under each Customer Financing Guarantee that (a) are owed to the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or an Affiliates of any of the foregoing, or to any Person that, at the time such obligations were incurred, was the Administrative Agent, an Arranger or an Affiliate of the foregoing, (b) are owed on the Effective Date to a Person that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender as of the Effective Date or (c) are owed to a Person that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time such obligations are incurred.
Secured Hedging Obligations means the due and punctual payment and performance of any and all obligations of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary arising under each Hedging Agreement that (a) is with a counterparty that is the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or an Affiliate of any of the foregoing, or any Person that, at the time such Hedging Agreement was entered into, was the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or an Affiliate of any of the foregoing, (b) is in effect on the Effective Date with a counterparty that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender as of the Effective Date or (c) is entered into after the Effective Date with a counterparty that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Hedging Agreement is entered into. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of any Excluded Swap Guarantor, Secured Hedging Obligations shall not include Excluded Swap Obligations of such Excluded Swap Guarantor.
Secured Parties means, collectively, (a) each Lender, (b) the Administrative Agent, (c) each Arranger, (d) each Issuing Bank, (e) each provider of Cash Management Services the obligations under which constitute Secured Cash Management Obligations, (f) each counterparty to any Hedging Agreement the obligations under which constitute Secured Hedging Obligations, (g) each counterparty to the Customer Financing Guarantee, the obligations under which constitute Secured Customer Financing Obligations, and (h) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (i) the successors and assigns of each of the foregoing.
Securities Act means the United States Securities Act of 1933.
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Security Documents means the Collateral Agreement, the Mortgages and each other security agreement or other instrument or document executed and delivered pursuant to any of the foregoing or pursuant to Section 5.11 or 5.12 to secure any of the Obligations.
Senior Secured Debt means, as of any date, Total Indebtedness as of such date minus the sum of (a) the portion of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries included in such Total Indebtedness that is not secured by any Lien on property or assets of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) the portion of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries included in such Total Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations.
Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio means, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the ratio of (a)(i) Senior Secured Debt as of such date minus (ii) Unrestricted Cash as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended on such date.
Senior Unsecured Notes means, collectively, (a) (i) the Dollar-denominated senior unsecured notes due 2023, (ii) the Euro-denominated senior unsecured notes due 2023 and (iii) the Dollar-denominated senior unsecured notes due 2025, in each case issued by the Borrower on the Effective Date and (b) any substantially identical senior subordinated notes that are registered under the Securities Act and issued in exchange for any of the senior unsecured notes described in clause (a) of this definition.
Senior Unsecured Notes Documents means the Senior Unsecured Notes Indentures, all side letters, instruments, agreements and other documents evidencing or governing the Senior Unsecured Notes, providing for any Guarantee or other right in respect thereof, affecting the terms of the foregoing or entered into in connection therewith and all schedules, exhibits and annexes to each of the foregoing.
Senior Unsecured Notes Indentures means, collectively, the Indentures dated as of May 12, 2015, among the Borrower, the Subsidiaries listed therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, in respect of the Senior Unsecured Notes.
Separation Agreement means the Separation and Distribution Agreement between DuPont and the Borrower, to be dated on or prior to the Spin-Off Date.
Specified ECF Percentage means, with respect to any fiscal year of the Borrower, (a) if the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such fiscal year is greater than 3.50 to 1.00, 50%, (b) if the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such fiscal year is greater than 3.00 to 1.00 but less than or equal to 3.50 to 1.00, 25%, and (c) if the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such fiscal year is less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00, 0%.
Specified Swap Obligation means, with respect to any Subsidiary Loan Party, an obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a swap within the meaning of § 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
SPV has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(e).
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Spin-Off means the spin-off of the Borrower from DuPont, as more fully described in the Form 10.
Spin-Off Date means the date, occurring on or after the Effective Date but not later than November 30, 2015, on which the Spin-Off shall have been consummated.
Spin-Off Documents means the Separation Agreement, the Transition Services Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement and the Intellectual Property Cross-License Agreements, together with any other agreements, instruments or other documents entered into in connection with any of the foregoing, each on substantially the terms described in the Form 10 on the date that is three Business Days prior to the Effective Date (except as otherwise permitted by Section 5.14(b)).
Spin-Off Termination Date has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08(a).
Standard Securitization Undertakings means representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Permitted Receivables Facility that are reasonably customary in an accounts receivable financing transaction.
Statutory Reserve Rate means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board of Governors and any other banking authority (domestic or foreign) to which the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including any branch, Affiliate or fronting office making or holding a Loan) is subject for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as Eurocurrency Liabilities in Regulation D of the Board of Governors). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurocurrency Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.
subsidiary means, with respect to any Person (the parent) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity value or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.
Subsidiary means any subsidiary of the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, Sentinel Transportation LLC shall be deemed not to be a subsidiary of the Borrower so long as the Borrower does not own, control or hold securities or ownership interests representing more than 50% of the ordinary voting power of Sentinel Transportation LLC.
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Subsidiary Loan Party means each Restricted Subsidiary that is or, after the date hereof, becomes a party to the Collateral Agreement.
Successor Borrower has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.03(a).
Supplemental Perfection Certificate means a certificate in the form of Exhibit D or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
Swingline Commitment means, with respect to each Swingline Lender, the commitment of such Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.04, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate principal amount of such Swingline Lenders outstanding Swingline Loans hereunder. The initial amount of each Swingline Lenders Swingline Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.04 or in the joinder agreement pursuant to which it became a Swingline Lender hereunder. The aggregate amount of the Swingline Commitments on the date hereof is $50,000,000.
Swingline Exposure means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be the sum of (a) its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time (excluding, in the case of any Revolving Lender that is a Swingline Lender, Swingline Loans made by it and outstanding at such time to the extent that the other Lenders shall not have funded their participations in such Swingline Loans), adjusted to give effect to any reallocation under Section 2.20 of the Swingline Exposure of Defaulting Lenders in effect at such time, and (b) in the case of any Lender that is a Swingline Lender, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans made by such Lender and outstanding at such time to the extent that the other Lenders shall not have funded their participations in such Swingline Loans.
Swingline Lender means each of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and any other Revolving Lender designated as a Swingline Lender pursuant to a joinder agreement executed by the Borrower and such Revolving Lender and reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, in each case in its capacity as a lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.
Swingline Loan means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.04.
TARGET Day means any day on which TARGET2 is open for business.
TARGET2 means the Trans-European Automated Real Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilizes a single shared platform and which was launched on November 19, 2007.
Taxes means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
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Term Commitments means, collectively, the Tranche B Term Commitments and any commitments to make Incremental Term Loans.
Term Lenders means, collectively, the Tranche B Term Lenders and any Lenders with an outstanding Incremental Term Loan or a Commitment to make an Incremental Term Loan.
Term Loans means, collectively, the Tranche B Term Loans and any Incremental Term Loans.
Total Indebtedness means, as of any date, the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date in the amount that would be reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, plus (b) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date that is not required to be reflected on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, determined on a consolidated basis; provided that, for purposes of clause (b) above, the term Indebtedness shall not include (i) contingent obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary as an account party or applicant in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty unless such letter of credit or letter of guaranty supports an obligation that constitutes Indebtedness or (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, any Indebtedness in respect of Hedging Agreements.
Total Net Leverage Ratio means, on any date, the ratio of (a)(i) Total Indebtedness as of such date minus (ii) Unrestricted Cash as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended on such date (or, if such date is not the last day of a fiscal quarter, ended on the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended prior to such date).
Tranche B Term Commitment means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make a Tranche B Term Loan hereunder on the Effective Date, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Tranche B Term Loan to be made by such Lender hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lenders Tranche B Term 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 Term Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders Tranche B Term Commitments is $1,500,000,000.
Tranche B Term Lender means a Lender with a Tranche B Term Commitment or an outstanding Tranche B Term Loan.
Tranche B Term Loan means a Loan made pursuant to clause (a) of Section 2.01.
Tranche B Term Maturity Date means the date that is seven years after the Effective Date, as the same may be extended pursuant to Section 2.22.
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Transaction Costs means all fees, costs and expenses incurred or payable by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Transactions.
Transactions means, collectively, (a) the execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of the Loan Documents (including this Agreement) to which it is to be a party, the borrowing of Loans, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder, (b) the consummation of the Spin-Off and the other transactions contemplated by the Spin-Off Documents, (c) the payment of any DuPont Distribution, (d) the payment of the Transaction Costs, and (e) the execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of the Senior Unsecured Notes Documents to which it is to be a party, the issuance of the Senior Unsecured Notes and the use of proceed therefrom.
Type, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the Adjusted EURIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.
UCP means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).
Unrestricted Cash means, at any time, all cash and Cash Equivalents held by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such time; provided that such cash and Cash Equivalents are not Restricted.
Unrestricted Subsidiaries means (a) any Subsidiary that is formed or acquired after the Effective Date and is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.13 subsequent to the Effective Date and (b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. As of the Effective Date, there shall be no Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
U.S. Person means a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(B)(3).
USA PATRIOT Act means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001.
Weighted Average Yield means, with respect to any Loan or Commitment, the weighted average yield to stated maturity of such Loan or Commitment based on the interest rate or rates or unused commitment or similar fees applicable thereto and giving effect to all upfront or similar fees or original issue discount payable to the Lenders advancing such Loan or Commitment with respect thereto and to any interest rate floor, but excluding any arrangement, commitment, structuring and underwriting fees paid or payable to the arrangers (or similar titles) or their affiliates, in each case in their capacities as such, in connection with such Loans and that are not shared with all Lenders providing the applicable Incremental Extension of Credit; provided that (a) for purposes of calculating the Weighted Average Yield for any Incremental Term Loan or Incremental Revolving Commitments (and the Incremental Revolving
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Loans to be made thereunder), original issue discount and upfront fees shall be equated to interest based on an assumed four-year life to maturity (or, if shorter in respect of such Incremental Extension of Credit, the actual life to maturity of such Incremental Extension of Credit) and (b) with respect to the calculation of the Weighted Average Yield of the Tranche B Term Loans in connection with any Incremental Term Loans, (i) to the extent that the Reference Rate on the effective date of such Incremental Term Loans is less than 0.75%, then the amount of such difference shall be deemed to be added to the Weighted Average Yield for the Tranche B Term Loans solely for the purposes of determining whether an increase in the interest rate for the Tranche B Term Loans shall be required pursuant to Section 2.21(b) and (ii) to the extent that the Reference Rate on the effective date of such Incremental Term Loans is less than the interest rate floor, if any, applicable to such Incremental Term Loans, then the amount of such difference shall be deemed to be added to the Weighted Average Yield of such Incremental Term Loans solely for the purpose of determining whether an increase in the interest rate for the Tranche B Term Loans shall be required pursuant to Section 2.21(b). For purposes of determining the Weighted Average Yield of any floating rate Indebtedness at any time, the rate of interest applicable to such Indebtedness at such time shall be assumed to be the rate applicable to such Indebtedness at all times prior to maturity; provided that appropriate adjustments shall be made for any changes in rates of interest provided for in the documents governing such Indebtedness (other than those resulting from fluctuations in interbank offered rates, prime rates, Federal funds rates or other external indices not influenced by the financial performance or creditworthiness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary).
wholly owned Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person at any date, a subsidiary of such Person of which securities or other ownership interests representing 100% of the Equity Interests (other than directors qualifying shares) are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held by such Person or one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
Withdrawal Liability means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a Revolving Loan) or by Type (e.g., a Eurocurrency Loan) or by Class and Type (e.g., a Eurocurrency Revolving Loan). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a Revolving Borrowing) or by Type (e.g., a Eurocurrency Borrowing) or by Class and Type (e.g., a Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing).
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation. The word will shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word shall. Unless the context requires otherwise or except as expressly provided herein, (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time
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amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), unless otherwise expressly stated to the contrary, (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Persons successors and assigns, (d) the words herein, hereof and hereunder, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (f) the words asset and property shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights. Any reference herein to the knowledge of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall mean the actual knowledge, after due inquiry, of a Responsible Officer of such Person.
SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that (i) if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision (including any definition) hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith and (ii) notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, (A) without giving effect to any election under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, or any successor thereto (including pursuant to the Accounting Standards Codification), to value any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary at fair value, as defined therein, (B) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof, and (C) without giving effect to any change to GAAP occurring after the date hereof as a result of the adoption of any proposals set forth in the Proposed Accounting Standards Update, Leases (Topic 840), issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board on August 17, 2010, or any other proposals issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in connection therewith, in each case if such change would require treating any lease (or similar arrangement conveying the right to use) as a capital lease where such lease (or similar arrangement) would not have been required to be so treated under GAAP as in effect on the date hereof.
SECTION 1.05. Pro Forma Calculations. With respect to any period during which any Permitted Acquisition or any sale, transfer or other disposition of any Equity Interests in a
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Subsidiary or all or substantially all the assets of a Subsidiary or division or line of business of a Subsidiary outside the ordinary course of business occurs, for purposes of determining compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 6.12 and 6.13 or otherwise for purposes of determining the Total Net Leverage Ratio, Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio, Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Cash Interest Expense and Consolidated Total Assets, calculations with respect to such period shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis.
SECTION 1.06. Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents
(a) Not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on each Calculation Date, the Administrative Agent shall (x) determine the Exchange Rate as of such Calculation Date with respect to the applicable Permitted Foreign Currency and (y) give notice thereof to the applicable Lender and the Borrower. The Exchange Rates so determined shall become effective (i) in the case of the initial Calculation Date, on the Effective Date and (ii) in the case of each subsequent Calculation Date, on the first Business Day immediately following such Calculation Date (a Reset Date), shall remain effective until the next succeeding Reset Date and shall for all purposes of this Agreement (other than any provision expressly requiring the use of a current exchange rate) be the Exchange Rates employed in converting any amounts between dollars and any Permitted Foreign Currency.
(b) Solely for purposes of Article II and related definitional provisions to the extent used therein, the applicable amount of any currency (other than dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as determined by the Administrative Agent and notified to the applicable Lender and the Borrower in accordance with Section 1.06(a). If any basket is exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in the applicable Exchange Rate after the last time such basket was utilized, such basket will not be deemed to have been exceeded solely as a result of such fluctuations in the applicable Exchange Rate. Amounts denominated in a Permitted Foreign Currency will be converted to dollars for the purposes of (A) testing the financial maintenance covenants under Sections 6.12 and 6.13, at the Exchange Rate as of the last day of the fiscal quarter for which such measurement is being made, and (B) calculating the Consolidated Cash Interest Expense and the Total Net Leverage Ratio (other than for purposes of determining compliance with Sections 6.12 and 6.13), at the Exchange Rate as of the date of calculation, and will, in the case of Indebtedness, reflect the currency translation effects, determined in accordance with GAAP, of Hedging Agreements permitted hereunder for currency exchange risks with respect to the applicable currency in effect on the date of determination of the Dollar Equivalent of such Indebtedness.
(c) For purposes of Section 6.01, the amount of any Indebtedness denominated in any currency other than dollars shall be calculated based on the applicable Exchange Rate, in the case of such Indebtedness incurred or committed, on the date that such Indebtedness was incurred or committed, as applicable; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a currency other than dollars, and such refinancing would cause the applicable dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the applicable Exchange Rate on the date of such refinancing, such dollar-denominated restrictions shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the sum of (i) the outstanding or committed principal amount, as applicable, of such Indebtedness being refinanced plus (ii) the aggregate amount of fees, underwriting discounts, premiums and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with such refinancing.
(d) For purposes of Sections 6.02, 6.04, 6.05 and 6.08, the amount of any Liens, investments, asset sales and Restricted Payments, as applicable, denominated in any currency other than dollars shall be calculated based on the applicable Exchange Rate on the date that such Lien is incurred or such investment, asset sale or Restricted Payment is made, as the case may be.
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ARTICLE II
The Credits
SECTION 2.01. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees (a) to make a tranche B term loan denominated in dollars to the Borrower on the Effective Date in a principal amount not exceeding its Tranche B Term Commitment and (b) to make revolving credit loans denominated in dollars or in any Permitted Foreign Currency to the Borrower from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in such Lenders Revolving Exposure exceeding such Lenders Revolving Commitment or the Aggregate Revolving Exposure exceeding the Aggregate Revolving Commitment; provided that the Borrower shall not request, and the Revolving Lenders shall not be required to fund, a Revolving Loan that is denominated in a Permitted Foreign Currency if, after the making of such Revolving Loan, the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans then outstanding that are denominated in a Permitted Foreign Currency (including such requested Revolving Loan) would exceed $200,000,000; provided, further, that the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans made on the Effective Date shall not exceed $25,000,000. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans. The Tranche B Term Loans funded on the Effective Date will be funded with an original issue discount of 0.50% (it being agreed that the Borrower shall be obligated to repay 100% of the principal amount of each such Term Loans and interest shall accrue on 100% of the principal amount of such Term Loans, in each case as provided herein). Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of Term Loans may not be reborrowed.
SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Loan (other than a Swingline Loan) shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments of the applicable Class. Each Swingline Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Swingline Loans made by the Swingline Lenders ratably in accordance with their respect Swingline Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lenders failure to make Loans as required.
(b) Subject to Section 2.14, (i) each Borrowing denominated in dollars shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith; provided that all Borrowings made on the Effective Date must be made as
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ABR Borrowings unless the Borrower shall have given the notice required for a Eurocurrency Borrowing under Section 2.03 and provided an indemnity letter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, extending the benefits of Section 2.16 to Lenders in respect of such Borrowings, (ii) each Borrowing denominated in Euro shall be comprised entirely of EURIBOR Loans and (iii) each Borrowing denominated in any Permitted Foreign Currency (other than Euro) shall be comprised entirely of Eurocurrency Loans. Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurocurrency Loan or EURIBOR Loan 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.
(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Borrowing or EURIBOR Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum; provided that a Eurocurrency Borrowing or EURIBOR Borrowing that results from a continuation of an outstanding Eurocurrency Borrowing or EURIBOR Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to such outstanding Borrowing. At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum Each Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $250,000. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not be more than a total of 20 Eurocurrency Borrowings and EURIBOR Borrowings in the aggregate at any time outstanding. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, an ABR Revolving Borrowing or a Swingline Loan may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e).
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date applicable thereto.
SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings. To request a Revolving Borrowing or Term Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (other than a request for any Borrowing denominated in a Permitted Foreign Currency, which request shall be made in writing) or email (a) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in dollars or EURIBOR Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing, (b) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in a Permitted Foreign Currency, not later than 1:00 p.m., London time, four Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (c) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an ABR Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement denominated in dollars as contemplated by Section 2.05(e) may be given not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic or email Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall in the case of a telephonic request be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or email to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information (to the extent applicable, in compliance with Sections 2.01 and 2.02):
(i) whether the requested Borrowing is to be a Revolving Borrowing, a Tranche B Term Borrowing or a Borrowing of any Incremental Term Loan or Incremental Revolving Loan;
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(ii) the currency and the aggregate amount of such Borrowing;
(iii) the requested date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iv) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing, a Eurocurrency Borrowing or a EURIBOR Borrowing;
(v) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing or a EURIBOR Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term Interest Period;
(vi) the location and number of the Borrowers account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.06(a), or, if the Borrowing is being requested to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement denominated in dollars in accordance with Section 2.05(e), the identity of the Issuing Bank that made such LC Disbursement; and
(vii) that as of such date Sections 4.02(a) and 4.02(b) are satisfied.
If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, other than with respect to Borrowings denominated in a Permitted Foreign Currency, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurocurrency Borrowing or EURIBOR Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one months duration. If no currency is specified with respect to any requested Revolving Loan, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected dollars. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the applicable Class of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lenders Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.
SECTION 2.04. Swingline Loans. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period, each Swingline Lender severally agrees to make Swingline Loans, denominated in dollars, to the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding aggregate Swingline Commitment, (ii) the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Swingline Loans made by such Swingline Lender exceeding such Swingline Lenders Swingline Commitment, (iii) such Swingline Lenders Revolving Exposure exceeding such Swingline Lenders Revolving Commitment (in its capacity as a Lender) or (iv) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure exceeding the Aggregate Revolving Commitment; provided that (A) no Swingline Lender shall be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan and (B) each Swingline Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Swingline Loans made by the Swingline
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Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Swingline Commitments. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans. The failure of any Swingline Lender to make any Swingline Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Swingline Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Swingline Commitments of the Swingline Lenders are several and no Swingline Lender shall be responsible for any other Swingline Lenders failure to make Swingline Loans as required.
(b) To request a Swingline Loan, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone or email, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day of such proposed Swingline Loan. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall in the case of a telephonic request be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or email to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) and amount of the requested Swingline Loan. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lenders of any such notice received from the Borrower. Each Swingline Lender shall make its ratable portion of the requested Swingline Loan available to the Borrower by means of a credit to an account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent designated for such purpose (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(e), by remittance to the applicable Issuing Bank or, to the extent that the Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to Section 2.05(e) to reimburse such Issuing Bank, to such Revolving Lenders and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear) by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.
(c) Any Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on any Business Day require the Revolving Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of its Swingline Loans outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which the Revolving Lenders will participate. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each Revolving Lender, specifying in such notice such Lenders Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Swingline Loans. Each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of such Swingline Lenders, such Lenders Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Swingline Loans. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that, in making any Swingline Loan, each Swingline Lender shall be entitled to rely, and shall not incur any liability for relying, upon the representation and warranty of the Borrower deemed made pursuant to Section 4.02 unless, at least one Business Day prior to the time such Swingline Loan was made, the Majority in Interest of the Revolving Lenders shall have notified such Swingline Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in writing that, as a result of one or more events or circumstances described in such notice, one or more of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02(a) or 4.02(b) would not be satisfied if such Swingline Loan were then made (it being understood and agreed that, in the event such Swingline Lender shall have received any such notice, it shall have no obligation to make any Swingline Loan until and unless it shall be satisfied that the events and circumstances described in such notice shall have been cured or otherwise shall have ceased to exist). Each Revolving Lender further acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire
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participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or any reduction or termination of the Revolving Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Revolving Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders under this paragraph), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the applicable Swingline Lenders the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to such Swingline Lenders. Any amounts received by a Swingline Lender from the Borrower (or other Person on behalf of the Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by such Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted by such Swingline Lender to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the applicable Swingline Lenders, as their interests may appear; provided that any such payment so remitted shall be repaid to the applicable Swingline Lenders or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, and thereafter to the Borrower, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to repay such Swingline Loan.
SECTION 2.05. Letters of Credit. (a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit for its own account (or for the account of any Subsidiary so long as the Borrower is a joint and several co-applicant in respect of such Letter of Credit), denominated in dollars or in a Permitted Foreign Currency and in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period. Upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 4.01 and 4.02 on the Effective Date, each Existing Letter of Credit will, automatically and without any action on the part of any Person, be deemed to be a Letter of Credit issued hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Notwithstanding anything contained in any letter of credit application or other agreement (other than this Agreement or any Security Document) submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, any Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, (i) all provisions of such letter of credit application or other agreement purporting to grant Liens in favor of such Issuing Bank to secure obligations in respect of such Letter of Credit shall be disregarded, it being agreed that such obligations shall be secured to the extent provided in this Agreement and in the Security Documents, and (ii) in the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of such letter of credit application or such other agreement, as applicable, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. This Section shall not be construed to impose an obligation upon (x) Credit Suisse AG or Barclays Bank PLC or any of their respective Affiliates to issue documentary or trade Letters of Credit (as opposed to standby Letters of Credit) or (y) Goldman Sachs Bank USA or any of its Affiliates to issue any Letters of Credit other than standby Letters of Credit.
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(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit (other than any automatic renewal permitted pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section), the Borrower shall, not later than five Business Days before the date of the proposed issuance, in the case of the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or not later than three Business Days before the date of the proposed amendment, renewal or extension, in the case of the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit, hand deliver or fax (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the relevant Issuing Bank) to the applicable Issuing Bank (except that an Issuing Bank in respect of Existing Letters of Credit shall not issue additional Letters of Credit and, unless agreed by it, shall not be required to amend, renew or extend an Existing Letter of Credit) and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the currency and amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be requested by the applicable Issuing Bank as necessary to enable such Issuing Bank to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by the applicable Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on such Issuing Banks standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed the LC Exposure Sublimit, (ii) no Lenders Revolving Exposure shall exceed its Revolving Commitment, (iii) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitment and (iv) following the effectiveness of any Maturity Date Extension Request with respect to the Revolving Commitments, the LC Exposure in respect of all Letters of Credit having an expiration date after the second Business Day prior to the Existing Maturity Date shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments of the Consenting Lenders extended pursuant to Section 2.22. Each Issuing Bank agrees that it shall not permit any issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit to occur unless it shall have given to the Administrative Agent written notice thereof as required under paragraph (l) of this Section. No Issuing Bank shall be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if (x) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms enjoin or restrain the Issuing Bank from issuing the Letter of Credit, or any law applicable to the Issuing Bank or any directive having the force of law from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Issuing Bank shall prohibit the issuance of letters of credit generally or the Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the Issuing Bank with respect to the Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (in each case, for which the Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Effective Date, or shall impose upon the Issuing Bank any material unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Effective Date; (y) the Issuing Bank does not as of the issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit issue Letters of Credit in the requested currency (other than dollars or Euros); or (z) the Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after
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any drawing thereunder. No Issuing Bank shall amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit at any time if such Issuing Bank would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended, restated or extended form under the terms hereof.
(c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date that is one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Revolving Maturity Date; provided, however, that any Letter of Credit may, upon the request of the Borrower, include a provision whereby such Letter of Credit shall be renewed automatically for additional consecutive periods of one year or less (but not beyond the date that is five Business Days prior to the Revolving Maturity Date) unless the applicable Issuing Bank notifies the beneficiary thereof at least 30 days prior to the then-applicable expiration date that such Letter of Credit will not be renewed. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Revolving Maturity Date shall be extended pursuant to Section 2.22, Revolving Maturity Date as referenced in this paragraph shall refer to the Revolving Maturity Date as extended pursuant to Section 2.22; provided that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement (including Section 2.22 hereof) or any other Loan Document to the contrary, the Revolving Maturity Date, as such term is used in reference to any Issuing Bank or any Letter of Credit issued thereby, may not be extended with respect to any Issuing Bank without the prior written consent of such Issuing Bank.
(d) Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the applicable Issuing Bank or the Lenders, the Issuing Bank that is the issuer of such Letter of Credit hereby grants to each Revolving Lender, and each Revolving Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Revolving Lenders Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, such Revolving Lenders Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or any reduction or termination of the Revolving Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Revolving Lender further acknowledges and agrees that, in issuing, amending, renewing or extending any Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank shall be entitled to rely, and shall not incur any liability for relying, upon the representation and warranty of the Borrower deemed made pursuant to Section 4.02 unless, at least one Business Day prior to the time such Letter of Credit is issued, amended, renewed or extended (or, in the case of an automatic renewal permitted pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section, at least one Business Day prior to the time by which the election not to extend must be made by the applicable Issuing Bank), the Majority in Interest of the Revolving Lenders shall have notified the applicable Issuing Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in writing that, as a result of one or more events or circumstances
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described in such notice, one or more of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02(a) or 4.02(b) would not be satisfied if such Letter of Credit were then issued, amended, renewed or extended (it being understood and agreed that, in the event any Issuing Bank shall have received any such notice, no Issuing Bank shall have any obligation to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit until and unless it shall be satisfied that the events and circumstances described in such notice shall have been cured or otherwise shall have ceased to exist).
(e) Reimbursement. If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice; provided that, in the case of an LC Disbursement denominated in dollars in an amount of $500,000 or more, the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.04 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing or a Swingline Loan, respectively, in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrowers obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan. If the Borrower fails to reimburse any LC Disbursement by the time specified above in this paragraph, then (A) if the applicable LC Disbursement relates to a Letter of Credit denominated in a currency other than dollars or Euro, automatically and with no further action, the obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement shall be permanently converted into an obligation to reimburse the Dollar Equivalent, determined using the Exchange Rate calculated as of the date when such payment was due, of such LC Disbursement and (B) the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement (and the Dollar Equivalent thereof if the immediately preceding clause (A) is applicable), the currency and amount of the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof and such Revolving Lenders Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the amount then due from the Borrower in the currency of the applicable LC Disbursement (unless such LC Disbursement relates to a Letter of Credit denominated in a currency other than dollars or Euros, in which case such payment shall be made in dollars), in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders under this paragraph), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the applicable Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the applicable Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to such Revolving Lenders and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse any Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of an ABR Revolving Borrowing or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.
(f) Obligations Absolute. The Borrowers obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under
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any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision thereof or hereof, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by any Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrowers obligations hereunder. None of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or any of their Related Parties shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit, any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the applicable Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse any Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such Issuing Banks failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of an Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and nonappealable judgment), such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, an Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit, and any such acceptance or refusal shall be deemed not to constitute gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(g) Disbursement Procedures. Each Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. Each Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower by telephone (confirmed by facsimile) of such demand for payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and the Revolving Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement in accordance with paragraph (e) of this Section.
(h) Interim Interest. If an Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof (or, in the case of clause (iii)(B) below, the Dollar Equivalent of such amount, determined in accordance with paragraph (e) of this Section)
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shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement in full, at (i) in the case of any LC Disbursement denominated in dollars, the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans (and payable in dollars); (ii) in the case of an LC Disbursement denominated in Euros, a rate per annum determined by the applicable Issuing Bank (which determination will be conclusive absent manifest error) to represent its cost of funds plus the Applicable Rate used to determine interest applicable to Eurocurrency Revolving Loans or EURIBOR Revolving Loans (and payable in Euros) and (iii) in the case of an LC Disbursement denominated in any Permitted Foreign Currency other than Euros, (A) in the case of any LC Disbursement that is reimbursed on or before the date such LC Disbursement is required to be reimbursed under paragraph (e) of this Section, a rate per annum determined by the applicable Issuing Bank (which determination will be conclusive absent manifest error) to represent its cost of funds plus the Applicable Rate used to determine interest applicable to Eurocurrency Revolving Loans or EURIBOR Revolving Loans (and payable in such currency) and (B) in the case of any LC Disbursement that is reimbursed after the date such LC Disbursement is required to be reimbursed under paragraph (e) of this Section, the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans (and payable in dollars); provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement in full when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.13(c) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse such Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment, and shall be payable on demand or, if no demand has been made, on the date on which the Borrower reimburses the applicable LC Disbursement in full.
(i) Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day on which the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, a Majority in Interest of the Revolving Lenders) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders, an amount in cash and in the currency of the applicable Letter of Credit equal to the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII. The Borrower also shall deposit cash collateral in accordance with this paragraph as and to the extent required by Section 2.11(b), Section 2.20(c) or Section 2.22(c). Each such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrowers risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Notwithstanding the terms of any Security Document, moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Banks for LC Disbursements for which they have not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall
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be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to (i) the consent of a Majority in Interest of the Revolving Lenders and (ii) in the case of any such application at a time when any Revolving Lender is a Defaulting Lender (but only if, after giving effect thereto, the remaining cash collateral shall be less than the aggregate LC Exposure of all the Defaulting Lenders), the consent of each Issuing Bank), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder pursuant to Section 2.11(b), such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower to the extent that, after giving effect to such return, the Aggregate Revolving Exposure would not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitment and no Default shall have occurred and be continuing. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder pursuant to Section 2.20(c), such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower to the extent that, after giving effect to such return, no Issuing Bank shall have any exposure in respect of any outstanding Letter of Credit that is not fully covered by the Revolving Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or the remaining cash collateral and no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
(j) Designation of Additional Issuing Banks. The Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, with the consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), designate as additional Issuing Banks one or more Revolving Lenders that agree to serve in such capacity as provided below. The acceptance by a Revolving Lender of an appointment as an Issuing Bank hereunder shall be evidenced by an agreement, which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such designated Revolving Lender and, from and after the effective date of such agreement, (i) such Revolving Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement and (ii) references herein to the term Issuing Bank shall be deemed to include such Revolving Lender in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.
(k) Termination of an Issuing Bank. The Borrower may terminate the appointment of any Issuing Bank as an Issuing Bank hereunder by providing a written notice thereof to such Issuing Bank, with a copy to the Administrative Agent. Any such termination shall become effective upon the earlier of (i) such Issuing Bank acknowledging receipt of such notice and (ii) the tenth Business Day following the date of the delivery thereof; provided that no such termination shall become effective until and unless the LC Exposure attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank (or its Affiliates) shall have been reduced to zero. At the time any such termination shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the terminated Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12(b). Notwithstanding the effectiveness of any such termination, the terminated Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such termination, but shall not issue any additional Letters of Credit.
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(l) Issuing Bank Reports to the Administrative Agent. Unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank shall, in addition to its notification obligations set forth elsewhere in this Section, report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) periodic activity (for such period or recurrent periods as shall be requested by the Administrative Agent) in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, including all issuances, extensions, amendments and renewals, all expirations and cancelations and all disbursements and reimbursements, (ii) reasonably prior to the time that such Issuing Bank issues, amends, renews or extends any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and the stated amount of the Letters of Credit issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (and whether the amounts thereof shall have changed), (iii) on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank makes any LC Disbursement, the date and amount of such LC Disbursement, (iv) on any Business Day on which the Borrower fails to reimburse an LC Disbursement required to be reimbursed to such Issuing Bank on such day, the date of such failure and the currency and amount of such LC Disbursement and (v) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request as to the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank.
(m) LC Exposure Determination. For all purposes of this Agreement, the amount of a Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at the time of determination.
(n) Applicability of ISP and UCP; Limitation of Liability. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable Issuing Bank and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the UCP shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit.
SECTION 2.06. Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 2:00 p.m., Local Time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.04. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent in New York City and designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request; provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement denominated in dollars as provided in Section 2.05(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the applicable Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to Section 2.05(e) to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to such Revolving Lenders and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear.
(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing (or, in the case of any ABR Borrowing for which notice of such Borrowing has been given by the Borrower on the proposed date of such Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03, prior to 1:00 p.m., Local Time, on such date) that
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such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lenders share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption and in its sole discretion, 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 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 (i) in the case of such Lender, (A) in the case of Loans denominated in dollars, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (B) in the case of Loans denominated in a Permitted Foreign Currency, the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the cost to it of funding such amount (which determination will be conclusive absent manifest error) or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to (A) in the case of Loans denominated in dollars, ABR Loans of the applicable Class and (B) in the case of Loans denominated in a Permitted Foreign Currency, the interest rate applicable to the subject Loan pursuant to Section 2.13. 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 such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lenders Loan included in such Borrowing.
SECTION 2.07. Interest Elections. (a) Each Revolving Borrowing and Term Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request or designated by Section 2.03 and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing or a EURIBOR Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request or designated by Section 2.03. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a Borrowing of a different Type (provided that Eurocurrency Borrowings denominated in a Permitted Foreign Currency may not be converted into ABR Borrowings) or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing or EURIBOR Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.
(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone (other than a request pursuant to this Section with respect to a Borrowing denominated in a Permitted Foreign Currency, which request shall be made in writing) or email by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or email to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request signed by the Borrower.
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(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);
(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing, a Eurocurrency Borrowing or a EURIBOR Borrowing; and
(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is to be a Eurocurrency Borrowing or a EURIBOR Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term Interest Period.
If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing or a EURIBOR Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one months duration.
(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the applicable Class of the details thereof and of such Lenders portion of each resulting Borrowing.
(e) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurocurrency Borrowing or EURIBOR Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period (i) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in dollars, such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing and (ii) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in a Permitted Foreign Currency or a EURIBOR Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be continued as a Borrowing of the applicable type for an Interest Period of one month. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default under clause (h) or (i) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Borrower, or if any other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of a Majority in Interest of the Lenders of any Class has notified the Borrower of the election to give effect to this sentence on account of such other Event of Default, then, in each such case, so long as such Event of Default is continuing, (i) no outstanding Borrowing (or Borrowing of the applicable Class, as applicable) denominated in dollars may be converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Borrowing, (ii) unless repaid, each Eurocurrency Borrowing (or Eurocurrency Borrowing of the applicable Class, as applicable) denominated in dollars shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto and (iii) unless repaid, each Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in a Permitted Foreign Currency or EURIBOR Borrowing shall be continued as a Eurocurrency Borrowing or a EURIBOR Borrowing, as applicable, with an Interest Period of one months duration.
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SECTION 2.08. Termination and Reduction of Commitments. (a) Unless previously terminated, (i) the Tranche B Term Commitments shall automatically terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Effective Date and (ii) the Revolving Commitments shall automatically terminate on the Revolving Maturity Date; provided that, if (1) the Spin-Off Date shall not have occurred on or prior to November 30, 2015, or (2) prior to November 30, 2015, DuPont or any of its subsidiaries has determined that the Spin-Off will not be pursued (and written notice of such determination has been provided by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or a public announcement of such determination has been made), then, no later than five Business Days following the earlier of November 30, 2015, or the date of such notice, as applicable (such date, the Spin-Off Termination Date), the Revolving Commitments shall automatically terminate.
(b) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time permanently reduce, the Commitments of any Class; provided that (i) each partial reduction of the Commitments of any Class shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Loans or the Swingline Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, the Aggregate Revolving Exposure would exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitment.
(c) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the applicable Class of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination or reduction of the Revolving Commitments delivered under this paragraph may state that such notice is conditioned upon the occurrence of one or more events specified therein, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments of any Class shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments of any Class shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments of such Class.
SECTION 2.09. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan of such Lender on the Revolving Maturity Date, (ii) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Term Loan of such Lender as provided in Section 2.10 and (iii) to the Swingline Lenders the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Revolving Maturity Date and the fifth Business Day after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Borrowing is made, the Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans that were outstanding on the date such Borrowing was requested and the proceeds of any such Borrowing shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to repay any Swingline Loans then outstanding.
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(b) The records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower in respect of Loans, LC Disbursements, interest and fees due or accrued hereunder; provided that the failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to maintain such records or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to pay any amounts due hereunder in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(c) Any Lender may request that Loans of any Class made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).
SECTION 2.10. Amortization of Term Loans. (a) Subject to adjustment pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section, the Borrower shall repay Tranche B Term Borrowings on each date set forth below in the aggregate principal amount set forth opposite such date:
Date |
Amount | |||
September 30, 2015 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
December 31, 2015 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
March 31, 2016 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
June 30, 2016 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
September 30, 2016 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
December 31, 2016 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
March 31, 2017 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
June 30, 2017 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
September 30, 2017 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
December 31, 2017 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
March 31, 2018 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
June 30, 2018 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
September 30, 2018 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
December 31, 2018 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
March 31, 2019 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
June 30, 2019 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
September 30, 2019 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
December 31, 2019 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
March 31, 2020 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
June 30, 2020 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
September 30, 2020 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
December 31, 2020 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
March 31, 2021 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
June 30, 2021 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
September 30, 2021 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
December 31, 2021 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
March 31, 2022 |
$ | 3,750,000 | ||
Tranche B Term Maturity Date |
$ | 1,398,750,000 |
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Subject to adjustment pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section, the Borrower shall repay Incremental Term Loans of any Class as provided in the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment.
(b) To the extent not previously paid, (i) all Tranche B Term Loans shall be due and payable on the Tranche B Term Maturity Date and (ii) all Incremental Term Loans of any Class shall be due and payable on the maturity date set forth in the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment.
(c) Any prepayment of a Term Borrowing of any Class shall be applied to reduce the subsequent scheduled repayments of the Term Borrowings of such Class to be made pursuant to this Section as directed in writing by the Borrower; provided that (A) any prepayment of any Class of Incremental Term Borrowings shall be applied to subsequent scheduled repayments as provided in the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment, (B) any prepayment of Term Borrowings of any Class contemplated by Section 2.23 shall be applied to subsequent scheduled repayments as provided in such Section and (C) if any Lender elects to decline a mandatory prepayment of a Term Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.11(e), then the portion of such prepayment not so declined shall be applied to reduce the subsequent repayments of such Term Borrowing to be made pursuant to this Section ratably based on the amount of such scheduled repayments. If the initial aggregate amount of the Lenders Tranche B Term Commitments exceeds the aggregate principal amount of Tranche B Term Loans that are made on the Effective Date, then the scheduled repayments of Tranche B Term Borrowings to be made pursuant to this Section shall be reduced ratably, based on the amount of such scheduled repayments, by an aggregate amount equal to such excess.
(d) Prior to any repayment of any Term Borrowings of any Class under this Section, the Borrower shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings of the applicable Class to be repaid and shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by hand delivery or facsimile) of such selection not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the scheduled date of such repayment. Each repayment of a Term Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the repaid Term Borrowing. Repayments of Term Borrowings shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the amount repaid.
SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans. (a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing, in whole or in part, subject to the requirements of this Section.
(b) In the event and on each occasion that (i) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure exceeds the Aggregate Revolving Commitment (other than as a result of any revaluation of the Dollar Equivalent of Revolving Loans or the LC Exposure on any Calculation
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Date in accordance with Section 1.06) or (ii) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure exceeds 105% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments solely as a result of any revaluation of the Dollar Equivalent of Revolving Loans or LC Exposure on any Calculation Date in accordance with Section 1.06, the Borrower shall prepay Revolving Borrowings or Swingline Borrowings (or, if no such Borrowings are outstanding, deposit cash collateral in an account with the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.05(i)) in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.
(c) In the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are received by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Prepayment Event (including by the Administrative Agent as loss payee in respect of any Prepayment Event described in clause (b) of the definition of the term Prepayment Event), the Borrower shall, on the day such Net Proceeds are received (or, in the case of a Prepayment Event described in clause (a) or (b) of the definition of the term Prepayment Event, within three Business Days after such Net Proceeds are received), prepay Term Borrowings in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of the amount of such Net Proceeds (or, if the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has incurred Indebtedness that is permitted under Section 6.01 that is secured, on an equal and ratable basis with the Term Loans, by a Lien on the Collateral permitted under Section 6.02, and such Indebtedness is required to be prepaid or redeemed with the net proceeds of any event described in clause (a) or (b) of the definition of the term Prepayment Event, then by such lesser percentage of such Net Proceeds such that such Indebtedness receives no greater than a ratable percentage of such Net Proceeds based upon the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans and such Indebtedness then outstanding); provided that, in the case of any event described in clause (a) or (b) of the definition of the term Prepayment Event, if the Borrower shall, prior to the date of the required prepayment, deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer to the effect that the Borrower intends to cause the Net Proceeds from such event (or a portion thereof specified in such certificate) to be applied within 365 days after receipt of such Net Proceeds to acquire real property, equipment or other tangible assets to be used in the business of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries and certifying that no Default has occurred and is continuing, then no prepayment shall be required pursuant to this paragraph in respect of the Net Proceeds in respect of such event (or the portion of such Net Proceeds specified in such certificate, if applicable) except to the extent of any such Net Proceeds that have not been so applied by the end of such 365-day period (or within a period of 180 days thereafter if by the end of such initial 365-day period the Borrower or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries shall have entered into an agreement with a third party to acquire such real property, equipment or other tangible assets), at which time a prepayment shall be required in an amount equal to such Net Proceeds that have not been so applied.
(d) Following the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, the Borrower shall prepay Term Borrowings in an aggregate amount equal to the Specified ECF Percentage of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year; provided that such amount shall be reduced by the aggregate amount of prepayments of Term Borrowings and Revolving Borrowings (but only to the extent accompanied by a permanent reductions of the corresponding Commitment) made pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section during such fiscal year (and, at the Borrowers option (and without deducting such amounts against the subsequent fiscal years prepayment computation pursuant to this paragraph (d)), after the end of such fiscal year but prior to the date on which the prepayment pursuant to
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this paragraph (d) for such fiscal year is required to have been made); provided, further, that, in the case of any Term Loan prepaid in connection with the purchase thereof by a Purchasing Borrower Party pursuant to Section 9.04(f) at a discount to par, the prepayment required pursuant to this paragraph (d) shall be reduced, with respect to the prepayment of such Term Loan, only by the actual amount of cash paid to the applicable Lender or Lenders in connection with such purchase, excluding any such prepayments to the extent financed from Excluded Sources. Each prepayment pursuant to this paragraph shall be made on or before the date on which financial statements are delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) with respect to the fiscal year for which Excess Cash Flow is being calculated (and in any event not later than the last day on which such financial statements may be delivered in compliance with such Section).
(e) Prior to any optional or mandatory prepayment of Borrowings under this Section, the Borrower shall, subject to the next sentence, select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be prepaid and shall specify such selection in the notice of such prepayment delivered pursuant to paragraph (f) of this Section. In the event of any mandatory prepayment of Term Borrowings made at a time when Term Borrowings of more than one Class remain outstanding, the Borrower shall select Term Borrowings to be prepaid so that the aggregate amount of such prepayment is allocated between Tranche B Term Borrowings (and, to the extent provided in the Incremental Facility Amendment for any Class of Incremental Term Loans, the Borrowings of such Class) pro rata based on the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Borrowings of each such Class; provided that any Tranche B Term Lender (and, to the extent provided in the Incremental Facility Amendment for any Class of Incremental Term Loans, any Lender that holds Incremental Term Loans of such Class) may elect, by notice to the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by hand delivery or facsimile) at least one Business Day prior to the required prepayment date, to decline all or any portion of any prepayment of its Tranche B Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans of any such Class pursuant to this Section (other than an optional prepayment pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section, which may not be declined), in which case the aggregate amount of the prepayment that would have been applied to prepay Tranche B Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans of any such Class but was so declined shall be retained by the Borrower.
(f) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of Swingline Loans, the Swingline Lenders) by telephone (confirmed by hand delivery or facsimile) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurocurrency Borrowing or EURIBOR Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment or (iii) in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date, the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid and, in the case of a mandatory prepayment, a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment; provided that (A) if a notice of optional prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.08, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.08 and (B) a notice of prepayment of Term Borrowings pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section may state that such notice is conditioned upon the occurrence of one or more events specified therein, in which case such notice of
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prepayment may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified date of prepayment) if such condition is not satisfied. Promptly following receipt of any such notice (other than a notice relating solely to Swingline Loans), the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the applicable Class of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02, except as necessary to apply fully the required amount of a mandatory prepayment. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13.
(g) All (i) prepayments of Tranche B Term Borrowings pursuant to clause (a) above effected on or prior to the date that is twelve months after the Effective Date, in each case with the proceeds of a Repricing Transaction and (ii) amendments, amendments and restatements or other modifications of this Agreement on or prior to the date that is twelve months after the Effective Date, the effect of which is a Repricing Transaction, in each case shall be accompanied by a fee payable to the Tranche B Term Lenders in an amount equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the Tranche B Term Borrowings so prepaid, in the case of a transaction described in clause (i) of this paragraph, or 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of Tranche B Term Borrowings affected by such amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification, in the case of a transaction described in clause (ii) of this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this paragraph shall not apply to a refinancing of all the Loans outstanding under this Agreement in connection with another transaction not permitted by this Agreement (as determined prior to giving effect to any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification of this Agreement being adopted in connection with such transaction); provided that the primary purpose of such transaction is not to effect a Repricing Transaction. Such fee shall be paid by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Term Lenders of the applicable Class, on the date of such prepayment.
(h) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, to the extent any or all of the Net Proceeds of any event described in clause (a) or (b) of the definition of the term Prepayment Event by a Foreign Subsidiary (Foreign Subsidiary Disposition) or Excess Cash Flow attributable to Foreign Subsidiaries, in either case are prohibited or delayed by any applicable local law (including financial assistance, corporate benefit restrictions on upstreaming of cash intra group and the fiduciary and statutory duties of the directors of such Foreign Subsidiary) from being repatriated or passed on to or used for the benefit of the Borrower or any applicable Domestic Subsidiary or if the Borrower has determined in good faith that repatriation of any such amount to the Borrower or any applicable Domestic Subsidiary would have material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) with respect to such amount, the portion of such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to prepay the Term Loans at the times provided in this Section but may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law will not permit repatriation or the passing on to or otherwise using for the benefit of the Borrower or the applicable Domestic Subsidiary, or the Borrower believes in good faith that such material adverse tax consequence would result, and once such repatriation of any of such affected Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow is permitted under the applicable local law or the Borrower determines in good faith such repatriation would no longer would have such material adverse tax consequences, such repatriation will be promptly effected and such repatriated Net
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Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow will be promptly (and in any event not later than five Business Days after such repatriation) applied (net of additional taxes payable or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof) to the prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section (provided that no such prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section shall be required in the case of any such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow the repatriation of which the Borrower believes in good faith would result in material adverse tax consequences, if on or before the date on which such Net Proceeds so retained would otherwise have been required to be applied to reinvestments or prepayments pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section (or such Excess Cash Flow would have been so required if it were Net Proceeds), (x) the Borrower applies an amount equal to the amount of such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow to such reinvestments or prepayments as if such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow had been received by the Borrower rather than such Foreign Subsidiary, less the amount of additional taxes that would have been payable or reserved against if such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow had been repatriated (or, if less, the Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow that would be calculated if received by such Foreign Subsidiary) or (y) such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow are applied to the repayment of Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary).
(i) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Spin-Off has not occurred on or prior to the Spin-Off Termination Date, then the Borrower shall, on the Spin-Off Termination Date, (i) prepay in full the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding, without premium or penalty but together with accrued but unpaid interest and fees thereon to, but not including, the Spin-Off Termination Date and (ii) deposit cash collateral in an account with the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.05(i) in respect of all outstanding Letters of Credit (or otherwise terminate or backstop all such Letters of Credit on terms satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank or Issuing Banks) and pay all unpaid LC Disbursements and fees with respect such Letters of Credit that have accrued to, but not including, the Spin-Off Termination Date.
SECTION 2.12. Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the average daily unused amount of the Revolving Commitment of such Revolving Lender during the period from and including the date hereof to but excluding the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the last Business Day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof. All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). For purposes of computing commitment fees, a Revolving Commitment of a Lender shall be deemed to be used to the extent of the outstanding Revolving Loans and LC Exposure of such Lender (and the Swingline Exposure of such Lender shall be disregarded for such purpose).
(b) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate then used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurocurrency Revolving Loans on the average daily amount of such Lenders LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during
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the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lenders Revolving Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure and (ii) to each Issuing Bank a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any such LC Exposure, as well as such Issuing Banks standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the third Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to an Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).
(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
(d) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the applicable Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of commitment fees and participation fees, to the Revolving Lenders entitled thereto. Fees paid hereunder shall not be refundable under any circumstances.
SECTION 2.13. Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) The Loans (i) comprising each Eurocurrency Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate and (ii) each EURIBOR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted EURIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2.00% per annum plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2.00% per annum plus the rate applicable to ABR Revolving Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section. Payment or acceptance of the increased rates of interest provided for in this paragraph (c) is not a permitted alternative to timely payment and shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender.
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(d) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of a Revolving Loan, upon termination of the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Revolving Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of a Eurocurrency Loan or EURIBOR Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.
(e) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day; provided that, if a Loan, or a portion thereof, is repaid on the same day on which such Loan is made, one days interest shall accrue on the portion of such Loan so prepaid). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or Adjusted EURIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
SECTION 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Borrowing or EURIBOR Borrowing of any Class:
(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or Adjusted EURIBO Rate, as the case may be, for such Interest Period; or
(b) the Administrative Agent is advised by a Majority in Interest of the Lenders of such Class that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or Adjusted EURIBO Rate, as the case may be, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Eurocurrency Borrowing or EURIBOR Borrowing for such Interest Period;
then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders of such Class by telephone or facsimile as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders of such Class that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing of such Class to, or continuation of any Borrowing of such Class as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing or EURIBOR Borrowing, as the case may be, shall be ineffective, (ii) any affected Eurocurrency Borrowing or EURIBOR Borrowing that is requested to be continued shall (A) if denominated in dollars, be continued as an ABR Borrowing or (B) otherwise, be repaid on the last day of the then-current Interest Period applicable thereto and (iii) any Borrowing Request for an affected Eurocurrency Borrowing or EURIBOR Borrowing
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shall (A) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in dollars, be deemed a request for an ABR Borrowing or (B) in all other cases, be ineffective (and no Lender shall be obligated to make a Loan on account thereof.
SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs. (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 (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Adjusted EURIBO Rate) or any Issuing Bank;
(ii) impose on any Lender or any Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein; or
(iii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes and (B) Excluded Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, converting, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit) or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then, from time to time upon request of such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, the Borrower will pay to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as applicable, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as applicable, for such additional costs or expenses incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) If any Lender or any Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has had or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lenders or such Issuing Banks capital or on the capital of such Lenders or such Issuing Banks holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lenders or such Issuing Banks holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lenders or such Issuing Banks policies and the policies of such Lenders or such Issuing Banks holding company with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then, from time to time upon the request of such Lender or such Issuing Bank, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as applicable, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lenders or such Issuing Banks holding company for any such reduction suffered.
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(c) A certificate of a Lender or an Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or its holding company, as applicable, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as applicable, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lenders or such Issuing Banks right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or expenses incurred or reductions suffered more than 270 days prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as applicable, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or expenses or reductions and of such Lenders or such Issuing Banks 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 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, no Lender shall demand compensation for any increased cost or reduction pursuant to this Section in respect of any Change in Law described in the proviso to the definition of the term Change in Law unless such Lender has certified in writing to the Borrower that it is the general policy or practice of such Lender to demand such compensation in similar circumstances from similarly-situated borrowers.
(f) If any Lender reasonably determines that any Change in Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted after the Effective Date that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable lending office to make or maintain any Eurocurrency Loan or EURIBOR Loan, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligations of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Loans or EURIBOR Loans or to convert ABR Borrowings into Eurocurrency Borrowings, as the case may be, shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist (and each Lender agrees to give such notify promptly after such circumstance no longer exist). Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), (i) with respect to Eurocurrency Loans of such Lender denominated in dollars, convert all such Eurocurrency Loans of such Lender to ABR Loans, on the last of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Loans and (ii) with respect to Eurocurrency Loans of such Lender denominated in a Permitted Foreign Currency and EURIBOR Loans of such Lender, prepay all such Eurocurrency Loans and/or EURIBOR Loans of such Lender, on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay to the applicable Lender accrued interest on the amount of the applicable Loans so prepaid or converted.
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SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurocurrency Loan or EURIBOR Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan or EURIBOR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Revolving Loan or Term Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (whether or not such notice may be revoked in accordance with the terms hereof) or (d) the assignment of any Eurocurrency Loan or EURIBOR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19(b) or 9.02(c), then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurocurrency Loan or EURIBOR Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate or Adjusted EURIBO Rate, as the case may be, that would have been applicable to such Loan (but not including the Applicable Rate applicable thereto), for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest that would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate that such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the London interbank market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
SECTION 2.17. Taxes. (a) Payment Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
(c) Evidence of Payment. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
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(d) Indemnification by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(e) Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand thereof, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lenders failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement or any other 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 or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to such Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph.
(f) Status of Lenders. (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from, or reduction of, withholding Tax with respect to payments made under this Agreement or any other 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 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 Section 2.17(f)(ii)(A), 2.17(f)(ii)(B) or 2.17(f)(ii)(D)) shall not be required if in the Lenders 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.
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(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. Federal backup withholding Tax;
(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. Federal withholding Tax pursuant to the interest article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. Federal withholding Tax pursuant to the business profits or other income article of such tax treaty;
(2) executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit I-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a 10 percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code or a controlled foreign corporation described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable; or
(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit I-2 or Exhibit I-3, IRS Form W-9 and/or another certification document from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit I-4 on behalf of each such direct or indirect partner;
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(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from, or a reduction in, U.S. Federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine withholding or deduction required to be made; and
(D) if a payment made to a Lender under this Agreement or any other 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 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 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 Lenders obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), FATCA shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(g) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section (including by the payment of additional amounts paid pursuant to this Section), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such
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Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph, in no event will any indemnified party be required to pay any amount to any indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph the payment of which would place such indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
(h) Survival. Each partys obligations under this Section 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 obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
(i) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section, the term Lender includes any Issuing Bank and the term applicable law includes FATCA.
SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Setoffs. (a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder or under any other Loan Document (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to the time expressly required hereunder or under such other Loan Document for such payment (or, if no such time is expressly required, prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time), on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without any defense, setoff, recoupment or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to such account or accounts as may be specified by the Administrative Agent, except that payments required to be made directly to any Issuing Bank or any Swingline Lender shall be so made, payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto and payments pursuant to other Loan Documents shall be made to the Persons specified therein. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payment received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day (unless, in the case of any such payment made under Section 2.10 or any payment of interest on the Obligations hereunder, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case the date for such payment shall be on the next preceding Business Day) and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension . All payments hereunder of principal or interest in respect of any Loan or LC Disbursement shall, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, be made in the currency of such Loan or LC Disbursement; all other payment hereunder and under each other Loan Document shall be made in dollars.
(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed LC Disbursements,
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interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties.
(c) 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 its Revolving Loans, Term Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans, Term Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall notify the Administrative Agent of such fact and shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans, Term Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the aggregate amount 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 Revolving Loans, Term Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans; 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 paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements to any Eligible Assignee or to the Borrower or any Subsidiary in a transaction that complies with the terms of Section 9.04(f) (as to which the provisions of this paragraph 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.
(d) 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 or the Issuing Banks 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 and in its sole discretion, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as applicable, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as applicable, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or such Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
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(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.04(c), 2.05(d) or (e), 2.06(a) or (b), 2.17(e), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lenders obligations in respect of such payment until all such unsatisfied obligations have been discharged and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section, in the case of each of clauses(i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.
(f) In the event that any financial statements delivered under Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b), or any compliance certificate delivered under Section 5.01(c), shall prove to have been materially inaccurate, and such inaccuracy shall have resulted in the payment of any interest or fees at rates lower than those that were in fact applicable for any period (based on the actual Total Net Leverage Ratio), then, if such inaccuracy is discovered prior to the termination of the Commitments and the repayment in full of the principal of all Loans and the reduction of the LC Exposure to zero, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for distribution to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (or former Lenders and Issuing Banks) as their interests may appear, the accrued interest or fees that should have been paid but were not paid as a result of such misstatement.
SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if any Loan Party is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or to any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender shall (at the request of the Borrower) use commercially reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign and delegate its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment and delegation (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17, as applicable, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment and delegation.
(b) If (i) any Lender has requested compensation under Section 2.15, (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, (iii) any Lender has become a Defaulting Lender or (iv) any Lender has become a Declining Lender under Section 2.22, 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 Section 9.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17) and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (or, in the case of any such assignment and delegation resulting from a Lender having become a Declining Lender, all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as a Lender of the applicable Class with respect to which such Lender is a Declining Lender) to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such
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assignment and delegation); provided that (A) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and, if a Revolving Commitment is being assigned, each Issuing Bank and each Swingline Lender), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, conditioned or delayed, (B) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder (including, if applicable, the prepayment fee pursuant to Section 2.11(g) (with such assignment being deemed to be an optional prepayment for purposes of determining the applicability of such Section)) (if applicable, in each case only to the extent such amounts relate to its interest as a Lender of a particular Class) from the assignee (in the case of such principal and accrued interest and fees (other than any fee payable pursuant to Section 2.11(g)) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts (including any fee payable pursuant to Section 2.11(g)), (C) the Borrower or such assignee shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the processing and recordation fee specified in Section 9.04(b), (D) in the case of any such assignment and delegation resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a material reduction in such compensation or payments and (E) such assignment does not conflict with applicable law. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver or consent by such Lender or otherwise (including as a result of any action taken by such Lender under paragraph (a) above), the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation have ceased to apply.
SECTION 2.20. Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Revolving Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Revolving Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
(a) commitment fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(a);
(b) the Revolving Commitment and Revolving Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders or any other requisite Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 9.02); provided that any amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or all Lenders affected thereby shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.02, require the consent of such Defaulting Lender in accordance with the terms hereof;
(c) if any Swingline Exposure or LC Exposure exists at the time such Revolving Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then:
(i) all or any part of the Swingline Exposure (other than (x) any portion thereof with respect to which such Defaulting Lender shall have funded its participation as contemplated by Section 2.04(c) and (y) the portion of the Swingline Exposure referred to in clause (b) of the definition thereof) and LC Exposure (other than any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements with respect to which such Defaulting Lender shall have funded its participation as contemplated by Sections 2.05(e) and 2.05(f)) of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting
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Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent that (A) the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders Revolving Exposures plus such Defaulting Lenders Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure does not exceed the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders Revolving Commitments and (B) the Revolving Exposure of each non-Defaulting Lender immediately after giving effect to such reallocation would not exceed the Revolving Commitment of such non-Defaulting Lender; provided that no reallocation under this clause (i) shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such non-Defaulting Lenders increased exposure following such reallocation;
(ii) if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent (A) first, prepay the portion of such Defaulting Lenders Swingline Exposure that has not been reallocated and (B) second, cash collateralize for the benefit of the Issuing Banks the portion of such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure that has not been reallocated in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.05(i) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;
(iii) if the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay participation fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(b) with respect to such portion of such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure for so long as such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure is cash collateralized;
(iv) if any portion of the LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender is reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 2.12(a) and 2.12(b) shall be adjusted to give effect to such reallocation; and
(v) if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure is neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of any Issuing Bank or any other Lender hereunder, all participation fees payable under Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure shall be payable to the Issuing Banks (and allocated among them ratably based on the amount of such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure attributable to Letters of Credit issued by each Issuing Bank) until and to the extent that such LC Exposure is reallocated and/or cash collateralized; and
(d) so long as such Revolving Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, unless, in each case, it is satisfied that the related exposure and the Defaulting Lenders then outstanding Swingline Exposure (other than the portion of such Swingline Exposure referred to in clause (b) of the definition of such term) or LC Exposure, as applicable, will be fully covered by the Revolving Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.20(c), and participating interests in any such funded Swingline Loan or in any such issued, amended, renewed or extended Letter of Credit will be allocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.20(c)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).
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In the event that (i) a Bankruptcy Event with respect to a Revolving Lender Parent shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such Bankruptcy Event shall continue or (ii) any Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank has a good faith belief that any Revolving Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, such Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and such Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, unless such Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank, as applicable, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or the applicable Revolving Lender, satisfactory to such Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank, as applicable, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.
In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, each Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused the applicable Revolving Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of the Revolving Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Revolving Lenders Revolving Commitment and on such date such Revolving Lender shall purchase at par such of the Revolving Loans of the other Revolving Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Revolving Lender to hold such Revolving Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while such Revolving Lender was a Defaulting Lender; provided, further, that, except as otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from a Defaulting Lender to a non-Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Revolving Lenders having been a Defaulting Lender.
SECTION 2.21. Incremental Extensions of Credit. (a) At any time and from time to time, commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the Latest Maturity Date (or, in the case of any Revolving Commitment Increase (as defined below), on the Revolving Maturity Date), subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (whereupon the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders), request (i) to add one or more additional tranches of term loans (the Incremental Term Loans), (ii) to add one or more additional tranches of revolving commitments (each, an Incremental Revolving Commitment, and the loans made pursuant thereto, the Incremental Revolving Loans; the Incremental Revolving Commitments and the Incremental Revolving Loans, together with the Incremental Term Loans, the Incremental Facilities) (provided that at no time shall there be more than a total of four Classes of revolving credit commitments outstanding hereunder), (iii) to incur Alternative Incremental Facility Debt and (iv) solely during the Revolving Availability Period, one or more increases in the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments (each such increase, a Revolving Commitment Increase and, together with the Incremental Term Loans, any Alternative Incremental Facility Debt and the Incremental Revolving Commitments (and the Incremental Revolving Loans made thereunder), the Incremental Extensions of Credit), in an aggregate principal amount of up to (x) $700,000,000 plus (y) an additional amount if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such additional amount (but without giving effect to any amount incurred
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simultaneously under clause (x) above) and the application of the proceeds therefrom (and assuming that (1) the full amount of such Incremental Extensions of Credit has been funded on such date and (2) such Incremental Extensions of Credit constitute Senior Secured Debt), the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio is equal to or less than the Effective Date Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio; provided that at the time of each such request and upon the effectiveness of each Incremental Facility Amendment or the incurrence of such Alternative Incremental Facility Debt, (A) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or shall result therefrom (provided that in the event the proceeds of any Incremental Extension of Credit are used to finance any acquisition or investment permitted hereunder, such condition precedent set forth in this clause (A) may be waived or limited as agreed between the Borrower and the Lenders providing such Incremental Extension of Credit, without the consent of any other Lenders), (B) the representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party, as applicable, set forth in the Loan Documents would be true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of representations and warranties qualified as to materiality, in all respects) on and as of the date of, and immediately after giving effect to, the incurrence of such Incremental Extension of Credit (provided that in the event the proceeds of any Incremental Extension of Credit are used to finance any acquisition or investment permitted hereunder, such condition precedent set forth in this clause (B) may be limited to (x) customary specified representations and warranties with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (y) customary specified acquisition agreement representations with respect to the Person to be acquired), (C) after giving effect to such Incremental Extension of Credit and the application of the proceeds therefrom (and assuming that the full amount of such Incremental Extension of Credit shall have been funded as Loans on such date), the Borrower shall be in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with the covenants contained in Sections 6.12 and 6.13 recomputed as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower (provided that in the event the proceeds of any Incremental Extension of Credit are used to finance any acquisition permitted hereunder or the irrevocable redemption or repayment of Indebtedness, such condition precedent set forth in this clause (C) shall be required to be satisfied, at the Borrowers election, as of the date on which the binding agreement for such acquisition is entered into or the date of irrevocable notice of redemption or repayment, as applicable, rather than the date of effectiveness, of the applicable Incremental Extension of Credit; provided, further, that if the Borrower has made the election to measure such compliance on the date on which the binding agreement for such acquisition is entered into or the date of irrevocable notice of redemption or repayment, as applicable, then in connection with the calculation of any financial ratio with respect to any covenant set forth in Article VI or in connection with the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.13, in each case on or following such date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such acquisition is consummated, the binding agreement for such acquisition is terminated or such redemption or repayment is made, such financial ratio shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such acquisition, repayment or redemption and any other pro forma events in connection therewith (including the incurrence of Indebtedness and such Incremental Extension of Credit) have been consummated, except to the extent such calculation would result in a lower Total Net Leverage Ratio or a higher ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Cash Interest Expense than would apply if such calculation was made without giving effect to such acquisition, the irrevocable redemption or repayment of Indebtedness, other pro forma events in connection therewith or the incurrence of Indebtedness or any Incremental Extension of Credit on a Pro Forma Basis) and (D) the Borrower shall have delivered a certificate of a Financial Officer to the
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effect set forth in clauses (A), (B) and (C) above, together with reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with clause (y) and clause (C) above (which calculations shall, if made as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which the Borrower has not delivered to the Administrative Agent the financial statements and certificate of a Financial Officer required to be delivered by Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) and Section 5.01(c), respectively, be accompanied by a reasonably detailed calculation of Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for the relevant period). Each Class of Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Revolving Commitments and each Revolving Commitment Increase shall be in an integral multiple of $5,000,000 and be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $50,000,000; provided that such amount may be less than $50,000,000 if such amount represents all the remaining availability under the aggregate principal amount of Incremental Extensions of Credit set forth above. In connection with any calculation of the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio or the Total Net Leverage Ratio for purposes of this Section 2.21(a), the cash proceeds of the applicable Incremental Extension of Credit will not be deducted from Senior Secured Debt or Total Indebtedness, respectively.
(b) Each Incremental Facility (i) shall rank pari passu or junior in right of payment in respect of the Collateral and with the Obligations in respect of the Revolving Commitments and the Tranche B Term Loans, (ii) other than amortization, pricing and maturity date, shall be on terms that are identical to the terms with respect to the Tranche B Term Loans (in the case of an Incremental Term Loan) and the Revolving Commitments (in the case of an Incremental Revolving Commitment) and shall be made on conditions determined by the Borrower and the Lenders providing such Incremental Facility; provided that (A) if the Weighted Average Yield relating to any Incremental Term Loan exceeds the Weighted Average Yield relating to the Tranche B Term Loans (after giving effect to any amendments to the applicable margin on the Tranche B Terms Loans prior to the time that such Incremental Term Loans are made) immediately prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment by more than 0.50%, then the Applicable Rate relating to the Tranche B Term Loans shall be adjusted so that the Weighted Average Yield relating to such Incremental Term Loans shall not exceed the Weighted Average Yield relating to the Tranche B Term Loans by more than 0.50%, (B) if the Weighted Average Yield relating to any Incremental Revolving Loans exceeds the Weighted Average Yield relating to the Revolving Loans (after giving effect to any amendments to the applicable margin of the Revolving Loans prior to the time that such Incremental Revolving Commitments in respect of such Incremental Revolving Loans are made) immediately prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment by more than 0.50%, then the Applicable Rate relating to the Revolving Loans shall be adjusted so that the Weighted Average Yield relating to such Incremental Revolving Loans shall not exceed the Weighted Average Yield relating to the Revolving Loans by more than 0.50%; provided that (x) the requirements of clause (A) and (B) shall not apply to any Incremental Facility the effective date of which is more than 18 months after the Effective Date and (y) if the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Adjusted EURIBO Rate in respect of the Tranche B Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans, Revolving Loans or Incremental Revolving Loans includes an interest rate floor, then such interest rate floor, to the extent greater than the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Adjusted EURIBO Rate (in each case, assuming a three-month Interest Period and without giving effect to any interest rate floor set forth in the definition thereof) immediately prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment, shall be equated to interest margin (calculated by the Administrative Agent in accordance with its customary practice) for purposes of
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determining whether an increase to the Applicable Rate relating to the Tranche B Term Loans or Revolving Loans, as applicable, shall be required, (C) any Incremental Term Loan shall not have (1) a final maturity date that is earlier than the Tranche B Term Maturity Date or (2) a weighted average life to maturity that is shorter than the remaining weighted average life to maturity of the then-remaining Tranche B Term Loans, (D) any Incremental Revolving Commitments (and the Incremental Revolving Loans made thereunder) shall not have (1) a final maturity date that is earlier than the Revolving Maturity Date or (2) a weighted average life to maturity that is shorter than the remaining weighted average life to maturity of the then remaining Revolving Commitments and (E) one or more additional financial maintenance covenants may be added to this Agreement for the benefit of any Incremental Facility so long as such financial maintenance covenants are for the benefit of all other Lenders in respect of all Loans and Commitments outstanding at the time that the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment becomes effective. Any increase in the interest rate spread required pursuant to this Section resulting from the application of any interest rate floor on any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Loans will be effected solely through the establishment or increase of a floor in respect of the Tranche B Term Loans or Revolving Loans, as the case may be.
(c) Each notice from the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall set forth the requested amount and proposed terms of the relevant Incremental Extension of Credit. Any additional bank, financial institution, existing Lender or other Person that elects to extend commitments in respect of any Incremental Extension of Credit shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of any Revolving Commitment Increase, each Issuing Bank and each Swingline Lender) (any such bank, financial institution, existing Lender or other Person being called an Additional Lender) and, if not already a Lender, shall become a Lender under this Agreement pursuant to an amendment (an Incremental Facility Amendment) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower, such Additional Lender and the Administrative Agent. No Lender shall be obligated to provide any Incremental Extension of Credit unless it so agrees. Commitments in respect of any Incremental Extension of Credit shall become Commitments (or in the case of any Revolving Commitment Increase to be provided by an existing Revolving Lender, an increase in such Lenders Revolving Commitment) under this Agreement upon the effectiveness of the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment. An Incremental Facility Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement or to any other Loan Document as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section (including to provide for voting provisions applicable to the Additional Lenders comparable to the provisions of clause (B) of the second proviso of Section 9.02(b)).
(d) On the date of effectiveness of any Revolving Facility Increase, (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans outstanding (the Existing Revolving Borrowings) immediately prior to the effectiveness of such Revolving Commitment Increase shall be deemed to be repaid, (ii) each Revolving Commitment Increase Lender that shall have had a Revolving Commitment prior to the effectiveness of such Revolving Commitment Increase shall pay to the Administrative Agent in same day funds an amount equal to the amount, if any, by which (A) (1) such Revolving Commitment Increase Lenders Applicable Percentage (calculated after giving effect to the effectiveness of such Revolving Commitment Increase) multiplied by (2) the aggregate principal amount of the Resulting Revolving Borrowings (as
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hereinafter defined) exceeds (B) (1) such Revolving Commitment Increase Lenders Applicable Percentage (calculated without giving effect to the effectiveness of such Revolving Commitment Increase) multiplied by (2) the aggregate principal amount of the Existing Revolving Borrowings, (iii) each Revolving Commitment Increase Lender that did not have a Revolving Commitment prior to the effectiveness of such Revolving Commitment Increase shall pay to Administrative Agent in same day funds an amount equal to (1) such Revolving Commitment Increase Lenders Applicable Percentage (calculated after giving effect to the effectiveness of such Revolving Commitment Increase) multiplied by (2) the aggregate principal amount of the Resulting Revolving Borrowings, (iv) after the Administrative Agent receives the funds specified in clauses (ii) and (iii) above, the Administrative Agent shall pay to each Revolving Lender the portion of such funds that is equal to the amount, if any, by which (A) (1) such Revolving Lenders Applicable Percentage (calculated without giving effect to the effectiveness of such Revolving Commitment Increase) multiplied by (2) the aggregate principal amount of the Existing Revolving Borrowings, exceeds (B) (1) such Revolving Lenders Applicable Percentage (calculated after giving effect to the effectiveness of such Revolving Commitment Increase) multiplied by (2) the aggregate principal amount of the Resulting Revolving Borrowings, (v) after the effectiveness of such Revolving Commitment Increase, the Borrower shall be deemed to have made new Revolving Borrowings (the Resulting Revolving Borrowings) in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Existing Revolving Borrowings and of the Types and for the Interest Periods specified in a Borrowing Request delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.03 (and the Borrower shall deliver such Borrowing Request), (vi) each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to hold its Applicable Percentage of each Resulting Revolving Borrowing (calculated after giving effect to the effectiveness of such Revolving Commitment Increase) and (vii) the Borrower shall pay each Revolving Lender any and all accrued but unpaid interest on its Loans comprising the Existing Revolving Borrowings. The deemed payments of the Existing Revolving Borrowings made pursuant to clause (i) above shall be subject to compensation by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 if the date of the effectiveness of such Revolving Commitment Increase occurs other than on the last day of the Interest Period relating thereto. Upon each Revolving Commitment Increase pursuant to this Section, each Revolving Lender immediately prior to such increase will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assigned to each Revolving Commitment Increase Lender, and each such Revolving Commitment Increase Lender will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assumed, a portion of such Revolving Lenders participations hereunder in outstanding Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans such that, after giving effect to such Revolving Commitment Increase and each such deemed assignment and assumption of participations, the percentage of the aggregate outstanding participations hereunder in Letters of Credit and participations hereunder in Swingline Loans, in each case held by each Revolving Lender (including each such Revolving Commitment Increase Lender) will equal such Revolving Lenders Applicable Percentage. Each Revolving Commitment Increase shall be on the same terms and pursuant to the same documentation as are applicable to the Revolving Loans; provided that (A) the Borrower may increase the Applicable Rate applicable to the Revolving Loans and the Revolving Commitments in connection with any Revolving Commitment Increase if, after the effectiveness of the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment, such increased Applicable Rate applies to all Revolving Loans and Revolving Commitments, (B) if the Weighted Average Yield relating to the Revolving Commitments (and the Revolving Loans made thereunder) in respect of any
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Revolving Commitment Increase exceeds the Weighted Average Yield relating to the Revolving Loans and Revolving Commitments (after giving effect to any amendments to the applicable margin on the Revolving Loans and the Revolving Commitments prior to the time that such Revolving Commitment Increase becomes effective) immediately prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment, then the Borrower shall pay to the Revolving Lenders existing immediately prior to the effectiveness of such Incremental Facility Amendment an additional amount so that the Weighted Average Yield relating to the Revolving Commitments (and the Revolving Loans to be made thereunder) in respect of such Revolving Commitment Increase shall not exceed the Weighted Average Yield relating to the Revolving Loans and the Revolving Commitments outstanding immediately prior to the effectiveness of such Incremental Facility Amendment; provided that the requirements of this clause (B) shall not apply to any Revolving Commitment Increase the effective date of which is more than 18 months after the Effective Date and (C) one or more additional financial maintenance covenants may be added to this Agreement for the benefit of any Revolving Commitment Increase so long as such financial maintenance covenants are for the benefit of all other Lenders in respect of all Loans and Commitments outstanding at the time that the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment becomes effective.
SECTION 2.22. Extension of Maturity Date. (a) The Borrower may, by delivery of a Maturity Date Extension Request to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly deliver a copy thereof to each of the Lenders) not less than 30 days prior to the then existing Maturity Date for the applicable Class of Commitments and/or Loans hereunder to be extended (the Existing Maturity Date), request that the Lenders extend the Existing Maturity Date in accordance with this Section. Each Maturity Date Extension Request shall (i) specify the applicable Class of Commitments and/or Loans hereunder to be extended, (ii) specify the date to which the applicable Maturity Date is sought to be extended, (iii) specify the changes, if any, to the Applicable Rate to be applied in determining the interest payable on the Loans of, and fees payable hereunder to, Consenting Lenders (as defined below) in respect of that portion of their Commitments and/or Loans extended to such new Maturity Date and the time as of which such changes will become effective (which may be prior to the Existing Maturity Date) and (iv) specify any other amendments or modifications to this Agreement to be effected in connection with such Maturity Date Extension Request; provided that no such changes or modifications requiring approvals pursuant to the provisos to Section 9.02(b) shall become effective prior to the then Existing Maturity Date unless such other approvals have been obtained. In the event a Maturity Date Extension Request shall have been delivered by the Borrower, each Lender shall have the right to agree to the extension of the Existing Maturity Date and other matters contemplated thereby on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein (each Lender agreeing to the Maturity Date Extension Request being referred to herein as a Consenting Lender and each Lender not agreeing thereto being referred to herein as a Declining Lender), which right may be exercised by written notice thereof, specifying the maximum amount of the Commitment and/or Loans of such Lender with respect to which such Lender agrees to the extension of the Maturity Date, delivered to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) not later than a day to be agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent following the date on which the Maturity Date Extension Request shall have been delivered by the Borrower (it being understood and agreed that any Lender that shall have failed to exercise such right as set forth above shall be deemed to be a Declining Lender). If a Lender elects to extend only a portion of its then existing Commitment and/or Loans, it will be deemed for
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purposes hereof to be a Consenting Lender in respect of such extended portion and a Declining Lender in respect of the remaining portion of its Commitment and/or Loans, and the aggregate principal amount of each Type and currency of Loans of the applicable Class of such Lender shall be allocated ratably among the extended and non-extended portions of the Loans of such Lender based on the aggregate principal amount of such Loans so extended and not extended. If Consenting Lenders shall have agreed to such Maturity Date Extension Request in respect of Commitments and/or Loans held by them, then, subject to paragraph (d) of this Section, on the date specified in the Maturity Date Extension Request as the effective date thereof (the Extension Effective Date), (i) the Existing Maturity Date of the applicable Commitments and/or Loans shall, as to the Consenting Lenders, be extended to such date as shall be specified therein, (ii) the terms and conditions of the applicable Commitments and/or Loans of the Consenting Lenders (including interest and fees (including Letter of Credit fees) payable in respect thereof) shall be modified as set forth in the Maturity Date Extension Request and (iii) such other modifications and amendments hereto specified in the Maturity Date Extension Request shall (subject to any required approvals (including those of the Required Lenders) having been obtained) become effective.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall have the right, in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2.19(b) and 9.04, at any time prior to the Existing Maturity Date, to replace a Declining Lender (for the avoidance of doubt, only in respect of that portion of such Lenders Commitment and/or Loans subject to a Maturity Date Extension Request that it has not agreed to extend) with a Lender or other financial institution that will agree to such Maturity Date Extension Request, and any such replacement Lender shall for all purposes constitute a Consenting Lender in respect of the Commitment and/or Loans assigned to and assumed by it on and after the effective time of such replacement.
(c) If a Maturity Date Extension Request has become effective hereunder:
(i) solely in respect of a Maturity Date Extension Request that has become effective in respect of the Revolving Commitments, not later than the fifth Business Day prior to the Existing Maturity Date, the Borrower shall make prepayments of Revolving Loans and shall provide cash collateral in respect of Letters of Credit in the manner set forth in Section 2.05(i), such that, after giving effect to such prepayments and such provision of cash collateral, the Aggregate Revolving Exposure as of such date will not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments of the Consenting Lenders extended pursuant to this Section (and the Borrower shall not be permitted thereafter to request any Revolving Loan or any issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit if, after giving effect thereto, the Aggregate Revolving Exposure would exceed the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments so extended);
(ii) solely in respect of a Maturity Date Extension Request that has become effective in respect of the Revolving Commitments, on the Existing Maturity Date, the Revolving Commitment of each Declining Lender shall, to the extent not assumed, assigned or transferred as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section, terminate, and the Borrower shall repay all the Revolving Loans of each Declining Lender, to the extent such Loans shall not have been so purchased, assigned and transferred, in each case together with accrued and unpaid interest and all fees and other amounts owing to such
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Declining Lender hereunder, it being understood and agreed that, subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02, such repayments may be funded with the proceeds of new Revolving Borrowings made simultaneously with such repayments by the Consenting Lenders, which such Revolving Borrowings shall be made ratably by the Consenting Lenders in accordance with their extended Revolving Commitments; and
(iii) solely in respect of a Maturity Date Extension Request that has become effective in respect of a Class of Term Loans, on the Existing Maturity Date, the Borrower shall repay all the Loans of such Class of each Declining Lender, to the extent such Loans shall not have been so purchased, assigned and transferred, in each case together with accrued and unpaid interest and all fees and other amounts owing to such Declining Lender hereunder, it being understood and agreed that, subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02, such repayments may be funded with the proceeds of new Revolving Borrowings made simultaneously with such repayments by the Revolving Lenders.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Maturity Date Extension Request shall become effective hereunder unless, on the Extension Effective Date, the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 shall be satisfied (with all references in such Section to a Borrowing being deemed to be references to such Maturity Date Extension Request) and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by a Financial Officer.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, it is hereby agreed that no extension of an Existing Maturity Date in accordance with the express terms of this Section, or any amendment or modification of the terms and conditions of the Commitments and the Loans of the Consenting Lenders effected pursuant thereto, shall be deemed to (i) violate the last sentence of Section 2.08(c) or violate Section 2.18(b) or 2.18(c) or any other provision of this Agreement requiring the ratable reduction of Commitments or the ratable sharing of payments or (ii) require the consent of all Lenders or all affected Lenders under Section 9.02(b).
(f) The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Consenting Lenders may enter into an amendment to this Agreement to effect such modifications as may be necessary to reflect the terms of any Maturity Date Extension Request that has become effective in accordance with the provisions of this Section.
SECTION 2.23. Refinancing Facilities.
(a) The Borrower may, on one or more occasions, by written notice to the Administrative Agent, obtain Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness or Refinancing Revolving Commitments (provided that at no time shall there be more than a total of four Classes of revolving credit commitments outstanding hereunder). Each such notice shall specify the date (each, a Refinancing Effective Date) on which the Borrower proposes that such Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness shall be made or on which such Refinancing Revolving Commitments shall become effective, which shall be a date not less than five Business Days after the date on which such notice is delivered to the Administrative Agent; provided that:
(i) no Event of Default of the type set forth in Article VII (a), (b), (h) or (i) shall have occurred and be continuing;
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(ii) substantially concurrently with the incurrence of any Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness, the Borrower shall repay or prepay then outstanding Term Borrowings of the applicable Class (together with any accrued but unpaid interest thereon and any prepayment premium with respect thereto) in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Net Proceeds of such Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness, and any such prepayment of Term Borrowings of such Class shall be applied to reduce the subsequent scheduled repayments of Term Borrowings of such Class to be made pursuant to Section 2.10(a) ratably;
(iii) substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of any Refinancing Revolving Commitments, the Borrower shall reduce then outstanding Revolving Commitments in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate amount of such Refinancing Revolving Commitments and shall make any prepayments of the outstanding Revolving Loans required pursuant to Section 2.08 in connection with such reduction, and any such reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments; and
(iv) such notice shall set forth, with respect to any Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness established thereby in the form of Refinancing Term Loans or with respect to any Refinancing Revolving Commitments (and the Refinancing Revolving Loans of the same Class), to the extent applicable, the following terms thereof: (A) the designation of such Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Revolving Commitments and Refinancing Revolving Loans, as applicable, as a new Class for all purposes hereof, (B) the stated termination and maturity dates applicable to the Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Revolving Commitments and Refinancing Revolving Loans, as applicable, of such Class, (C) in the case of Refinancing Term Loans, amortization applicable thereto and the effect thereon of any prepayment of such Refinancing Term Loans, (D) the interest rate or rates applicable to the Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Revolving Loans, as applicable, of such Class, (E) the fees applicable to the Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Revolving Commitments and Refinancing Revolving Loans, as applicable, of such Class, (F) in the case of Refinancing Term Loans, any original issue discount applicable thereto, (G) the initial Interest Period or Interest Periods applicable to Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Revolving Loans, as applicable, of such Class, (H) any voluntary or mandatory commitment reduction or prepayment requirements applicable to Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Revolving Commitments and Refinancing Revolving Loans, as applicable, of such Class (which prepayment requirements, in the case of any Refinancing Term Loans, may provide that such Refinancing Term Loans may participate in any mandatory prepayment on a pro rata basis with any Class of existing Term Loans, but may not provide for prepayment requirements that are materially more favorable (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) to the Lenders holding such Refinancing Term Loans than to the Lenders holding such Class of Term Loans) and any restrictions on the voluntary or mandatory reductions or prepayments of Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Revolving Commitments and Refinancing Revolving Loans, as applicable, of such Class
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and (I) any financial maintenance covenant with which the Borrower shall be required to comply (provided that any such financial maintenance covenant for the benefit of any Class of Refinancing Lenders shall also be for the benefit of all other Lenders in respect of all Loans and Commitments outstanding at the time that the applicable Refinancing Facility Agreement becomes effective).
(b) Any Lender or any other Eligible Assignee approached by the Borrower to provide all or a portion of the Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness or the Refinancing Revolving Commitments may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide any Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness or Refinancing Revolving Commitments, as the case may be.
(c) Any Refinancing Term Loans and any Refinancing Revolving Commitments shall be established pursuant to a Refinancing Facility Agreement executed and delivered by the Borrower, each Refinancing Term Lender providing such Refinancing Term Loans or each Refinancing Revolving Lender providing such Refinancing Revolving Commitments, as the case may be, and the Administrative Agent, which shall be consistent with the provisions set forth in clause (a) above (but which shall not require the consent of any other Lender). Each Refinancing Facility Agreement shall be binding on the Lenders, the Loan Parties and the other parties hereto and may effect amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect provisions of this Section, including any amendments necessary to treat such Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Revolving Commitments (and the Refinancing Revolving Loans of the same Class) as a new Class of commitments or loans hereunder. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Refinancing Facility Agreement.
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, each of the Issuing Banks and each of the Lenders that:
SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers. Each of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary (a) is duly organized, validly existing and, to the extent that such concept is applicable in the relevant jurisdiction, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority, and the legal right, to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and each other Loan Document and each other agreement or instrument contemplated thereby to which it is a party and to effect the Transactions and (c) except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and, to the extent that such concept is applicable in the relevant jurisdiction, is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.
SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Due Execution and Delivery; Enforceability. The Transactions to be consummated by each Loan Party on the Effective Date have been, and the
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Transactions to be consummated by each Loan Party after the Effective Date will be, duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action and, if required, action by the holders of such Loan Partys Equity Interests. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes, and each other Loan Document to which any Loan Party is to be a party, when executed and delivered by such Loan Party, will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower or such Loan Party, as applicable, enforceable against such Person in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, 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.
SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect (or, in the case of the Transactions that occur after the Effective Date, will have been obtained or made prior to such occurrence and will be in full force and effect) and except filings necessary to perfect Liens created under the Loan Documents, (b) will not violate any Requirement of Law applicable to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (c) will not violate or result (alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any Subsidiary or their respective assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment, repurchase or redemption to be made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or give rise to a right of, or result in, termination, cancelation or acceleration of any obligation thereunder and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, except Liens created under the Loan Documents.
SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change. (a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, stockholders equity and cash flows as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012, December 31, 2013, and December 31, 2014, audited by and accompanied by an opinion of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants (without a going concern or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit). Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
(b) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its pro forma consolidated balance sheet and the pro forma consolidated statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, prepared giving effect to the Transactions as if the Transactions had occurred, in the case of such balance sheet, on such date and, in the case of such statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows, on the first day of the 12-month period ending on such date. Such pro forma financial statements (i) have been prepared by the Borrower in good faith based on the same assumptions used to prepare the pro forma financial statements included in the Information Memorandum (which assumptions are believed by the Borrower on the date hereof to be reasonable), (ii) are based on the best information available to the Borrower as of the date of delivery thereof after due inquiry, (iii) accurately reflect all adjustments determined by the Borrower in good faith to be necessary
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to give effect to the Transactions and (iv) present fairly, in all material respects, the pro forma financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date and for such period, as if the Transactions had occurred on such date or at the beginning of such period, as applicable.
(c) Except as disclosed in the financial statements referred to above or the notes thereto or in the Information Memorandum, after giving effect to the Transactions, none of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has, as of the Effective Date, any material direct or contingent liabilities, unusual long-term commitments or unrealized losses.
(d) No event, change or condition has occurred that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the business, assets, property, operations or financial condition of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not covered by insurance, since December 31, 2014 (other than anything set forth in the Form 10).
SECTION 3.05. Properties. (a) Each of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business (including the Mortgaged Properties), except for (i) minor defects in title and (ii) title transfers contemplated by the Spin-Off Documents that are subject to approval of any applicable Governmental Authority, in each case, that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes. All such property is free and clear of Liens, other than Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02.
(b) Each of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business as currently conducted, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, the use thereof by the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents or other intellectual property owned or used by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is pending or, to the knowledge of Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, threatened in writing against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Schedule 3.05 sets forth the address of each real property located in the United States that is owned or leased by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary as of the Effective Date.
(d) As of the Effective Date, none of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has received written notice of, or has knowledge of, any pending or contemplated condemnation proceeding affecting any Mortgaged Property or any sale or disposition thereof in lieu of condemnation. Neither any Mortgaged Property nor any interest therein is subject to any right of first refusal, option or other contractual right to purchase such Mortgaged Property or interest therein other than as set forth on Schedule 3.05.
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SECTION 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters. (a) Except as otherwise described in the Form 10, there are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings at law or in equity or by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, solely for purposes of the representations and warranties to be made by the Borrower on the Effective Date and to the knowledge of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, threatened in writing against or affecting the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any business, property or rights of any such Person (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) that involve any of the Loan Documents or the Transactions.
(b) Except as otherwise described in the Form 10 or with respect to any matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, none of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.
SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Each of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary is in compliance with (a) all Requirements of Law and (b) all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except, in each case, where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.08. Anti-Terrorism Laws; Anti-Corruption Laws. The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect (or, prior to the Spin-Off, is subject to) policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and, to the knowledge of the Borrower and to the extent commercially reasonable, agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions. The Borrower, the Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, their respective directors and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, any of their respective directors, officers or employees or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. The Transactions will not violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.
SECTION 3.09. Investment Company Status. None of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an investment company as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act.
SECTION 3.10. Federal Reserve Regulations. None of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is engaged or will engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors) or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation (including on the part of any Lender) of any of the regulations of the Board of Governors, including Regulations U and X.
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SECTION 3.11. Taxes. Each of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary (a) has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed by it, except to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (b) has paid or caused to be paid all material Taxes required to have been paid by it, except where (A) such Taxes have not become delinquent or in default or (B) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; provided that (i) the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves therefor in conformity with GAAP and (ii) such contest effectively suspends collection of the contested obligation and the enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation.
SECTION 3.12. ERISA. (a) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan sponsored by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $75,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans sponsored by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $75,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans. As of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, the amount of unfunded liabilities, individually with respect to any Plan or in the aggregate for all unfunded Plans, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Each Foreign Pension Plan is in compliance with all material Requirements of Law applicable thereto and the respective requirements of the governing documents for such plan except to the extent any non-compliance would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to each Foreign Pension Plan, none of the Borrower, its Affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents has engaged in a transaction that could subject the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to a tax or civil penalty that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to each Foreign Pension Plan, reserves have been established in the financial statements furnished to Lenders in respect of any unfunded liabilities in accordance with all Requirements of Law or, where required, in accordance with the applicable ordinary accounting practices in the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Pension Plan is maintained. The aggregate unfunded liabilities with respect to such Foreign Pension Plans would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The excess of the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each underfunded Foreign Pension Plan (based on those assumptions used to fund each such Foreign Pension Plan) over the fair value of the assets of such Foreign Pension Plan, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, did not exceed $75,000,000. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the present value of the aggregate
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accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Foreign Pension Plans (based on those assumptions used to fund each such Foreign Pension Plan) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the assets of all such Foreign Pension Plans.
SECTION 3.13. Disclosure. Each of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is subject, and all other matters known to any of them, that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Information Memorandum nor any of the other reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Arranger, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, included herein or therein or furnished hereunder or thereunder (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 by it to be reasonable at the time so furnished and, if such projected financial information was furnished prior to the Effective Date, as of the Effective Date (it being understood and agreed that any such projected financial information may vary from actual results and that such variations may be material).
SECTION 3.14. Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.14 sets forth the name of, and the ownership interest of the Borrower and each Subsidiary in, each Subsidiary and identifies each Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Loan Party, in each case as of the Effective Date. The Equity Interests in each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and such Equity Interests are owned by the Borrower, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens created under the Loan Documents). Except as set forth in Schedule 3.14, as of the Effective Date, there is no existing option, warrant, call, right, commitment or other agreement to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party requiring, and there are no Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary outstanding that upon exercise, conversion or exchange would require, the issuance by any Restricted Subsidiary of any additional Equity Interests or other securities exercisable for, convertible into, exchangeable for or evidencing the right to subscribe for or purchase any Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary.
SECTION 3.15. Labor Matters. As of the Effective Date, there are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns or any other material labor disputes against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, threatened in writing. The hours worked by and payments made to employees of each of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary have not been in material violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Federal, state, local or foreign law dealing with such matters. All material payments due from the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or for which any claim may be made against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary.
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SECTION 3.16. Solvency. Immediately after the consummation of the Transactions to occur on the Effective Date and immediately following the making of each Loan and the application of the proceeds thereof, in each case on the Effective Date, and giving effect to the rights of indemnification, subrogation and contribution under the Collateral Agreement, (a) the fair value of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability, on a consolidated basis, of their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured, (c) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such liabilities become absolute and matured and (d) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are not engaged in, and are not about to engage in, business for which they have unreasonably small capital. For purposes of this Section, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual and matured liability.
SECTION 3.17. Collateral Matters. (a) The Collateral Agreement, upon execution and delivery thereof by the parties thereto, will create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral (as defined therein) and (i) when the Collateral (as defined therein) constituting certificated securities (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code) is delivered to the Administrative Agent, together with instruments of transfer duly endorsed in blank, the security interest created under the Collateral Agreement will constitute a fully perfected security interest in all right, title and interest of the pledgors thereunder in such Collateral, prior and superior in right to any other Person, and (ii) when financing statements in appropriate form are filed in the applicable filing offices, the security interest created under the Collateral Agreement will constitute a fully perfected security interest in all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the remaining Collateral (as defined therein) to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, prior and superior to the rights of any other Person, except for rights secured by Liens permitted under Section 6.02.
(b) Each Mortgage, upon execution and delivery thereof by the parties thereto, will create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in all the applicable mortgagors right, title and interest in and to the Mortgaged Properties subject thereto and the proceeds thereof, and when the Mortgages have been filed in the jurisdictions specified therein, the Mortgages will constitute a fully perfected security interest in all right, title and interest of the mortgagors in the Mortgaged Properties and the proceeds thereof, prior and superior in right to any other Person, but subject to Liens permitted under Section 6.02.
(c) Upon the recordation of the Collateral Agreement (or a short-form security agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, and the filing of the financing statements referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section, the security interest created under the Collateral Agreement will constitute a fully perfected security interest in all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Intellectual
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Property (as defined in the Collateral Agreement) in which a security interest may be perfected by filing in the United States of America, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person, but subject to Liens permitted under Section 6.02 (it being understood and agreed that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office may be necessary to perfect a security interest in such Intellectual Property acquired by the Loan Parties after the Effective Date).
(d) Each Security Document, other than any Security Document referred to in the preceding paragraphs of this Section, upon execution and delivery thereof by the parties thereto and the making of the filings and taking of the other actions provided for therein, will be effective under applicable law to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral subject thereto, and will constitute a fully perfected security interest in all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Collateral subject thereto, prior and superior to the rights of any other Person, except for rights secured by Liens permitted under Section 6.02; provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Security Document, no Loan Party shall be required to make any filings or take any other action to record or perfect the Administrative Agents Lien on any Intellectual Property (as defined in the Collateral Agreement) in any jurisdiction other than the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.
ARTICLE IV
Conditions
SECTION 4.01. Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):
(a) The Administrative Agent shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include facsimile transmission or other electronic imaging of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.
(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) of each of (i) Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates, counsel for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, and (ii) local counsel in each jurisdiction where a Loan Party is organized or where, subject to the penultimate paragraph of this Section, Mortgaged Property is located, and the laws of which are not covered by the opinion letter referred to in clause (i) of this paragraph, in each case (A) dated as of the Effective Date, (B) covering such other matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request, and (C) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. The Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinions.
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(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of each Loan Party, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by a Financial Officer or the President or a Vice President of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in (i) the first sentence of paragraph (f) of this Section and (ii) paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02.
(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced at least two Business Days prior to the Effective Date, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel) required to be reimbursed or paid by any Loan Party hereunder, under any other Loan Document or under any other agreement entered into by any of the Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the one hand, and any of the Loan Parties, on the other hand.
(f) Subject to the penultimate paragraph of this Section, the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall have been satisfied, and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have a security interest in the Collateral of the type and priority described in each Security Document. The Administrative Agent shall have received a completed Perfection Certificate dated the Effective Date and signed by a Financial Officer or legal officer of each of the Borrower, together with all attachments contemplated thereby, including the results of a search of the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent) filings made with respect to the Loan Parties in the jurisdictions contemplated by the Perfection Certificate and copies of the financing statements (or similar documents) disclosed by such search and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the Liens indicated by such financing statements (or similar documents) are permitted by Section 6.02 or have been or will contemporaneously with the initial funding of Loans on the Effective Date be released or terminated.
(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that the insurance required by Section 5.07 prior to the Spin-Off Date is in effect.
(h) The Lenders shall have received the financial statements, opinions and certificates referred to in Sections 3.04(a) and 3.04(b).
(i) Immediately after giving effect to the Transactions occurring on the Effective Date, none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have outstanding any shares of preferred stock or Disqualified Equity Interests or any Indebtedness, other than (i) Indebtedness incurred under the Loan Documents, (ii) the Senior Unsecured Notes and (iii) Indebtedness set forth on Schedule 6.01.
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(j) The Lenders shall have received a certificate from the chief financial officer of the Borrower, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit J, certifying as to the solvency of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis after giving effect to the Transactions.
(k) The Lenders shall have received a detailed business plan of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for the fiscal years 2015 through 2019 (including quarterly projections for each of the fiscal years of the Borrower ending December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2016).
(l) The Administrative Agent shall have received, at least three Business Days prior to the Effective Date, all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act, that has been requested at least ten Business Days prior to the Effective Date.
(m) Subject to the penultimate paragraph of this Section, the Lenders shall have received a copy of the solvency opinion delivered to the Board of Directors of DuPont in connection with the Spin-Off.
(n) The Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent the notice required by Section 2.03.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Borrower shall have used commercially reasonable efforts to procure and deliver, but shall nevertheless be unable to deliver, any document (including legal opinions in respect of Mortgaged Property contemplated by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement) or take any action that is required to be delivered or taken in order to satisfy the requirements of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement (other than any action, or any legal opinion, with respect to UCC Filing Collateral, Stock Certificates, Promissory Notes or Intellectual Property (each as defined below) or any action required by clause (g) of this Section), then such delivery shall not be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder on the Effective Date, but shall be required to be accomplished as provided in Section 5.16(a); provided that, for purposes of satisfying the condition precedent set forth in clause (f) of this Section, (a) with respect to perfection of security interests in UCC Filing Collateral, the sole obligation of the Borrower shall be to deliver, or cause to be delivered, necessary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements to the Administrative Agent or its legal counsel and to irrevocably authorize and to cause the applicable obligor to irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to file such Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, (b) with respect to perfection of security interests in Stock Certificates, the sole obligation of the Borrower shall be to deliver to the Administrative Agent or its legal counsel Stock Certificates together with undated stock powers executed in blank, (c) with respect to perfection of security interests in Promissory Notes, the sole obligation of the Borrower shall be to deliver to the Administrative Agent or its legal counsel Promissory Notes together with undated note powers executed in blank and (d) with
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respect to the perfection of security interests in Intellectual Property, the sole obligation of the Borrower shall be to deliver to the Administrative Agent or its legal counsel a short-form security agreement listing the registrations and applications of the Loan Parties in such Collateral on a schedule thereto in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent). Solely for purposes of this paragraph, (1) UCC Filing Collateral means Collateral consisting of assets of the Loan Parties for which a security interest can be perfected by filing a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement, (2) Stock Certificates means Collateral consisting of certificates representing Equity Interests of the Subsidiary Loan Parties and their respective subsidiaries to the extent required to be Collateral pursuant to the definition of the term Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, (3) Promissory Notes means Collateral consisting of promissory notes representing indebtedness or other obligations owed to any Loan Party and (4) Intellectual Property means Collateral consisting of copyrights, trademarks, patents, licenses with respect to each of the foregoing and similar property held by any Loan Party. Furthermore, if the Borrower shall have used commercially reasonable efforts to deliver, but shall nevertheless be unable to deliver, a copy of the solvency opinion required by clause (m) of this Section, then such delivery shall not be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder on the Effective Date, but shall be required to be accomplished as provided in Section 5.16(b).
The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02) at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 12, 2015 (and, in the event such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time).
SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of the Issuing Banks to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to receipt of the request therefor in accordance herewith and to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of representations and warranties qualified as to materiality, in all respects) on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, except in the case of any such representation and warranty that expressly relates to a prior date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects, as applicable) as of such earlier date.
(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Each Borrowing (provided that a conversion or a continuation of a Borrowing shall not constitute a Borrowing for purposes of this Section) and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.
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ARTICLE V
Affirmative Covenants
Until the Commitments shall have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other amounts (other than contingent amounts not yet due) payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated or shall have been backstopped or cash collateralized (in each case, in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank) and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent, which shall furnish to each Issuing Bank and each Lender, the following:
(a) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its audited consolidated balance sheet and audited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, stockholders equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal year, and related notes thereto, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year and accompanied by a report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a going concern statement or like statement, qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit (other than solely as a result of a maturity date in respect of any Term Loans or Revolving Commitments or Revolving Loans)) to the effect that such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flow of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of the end of and for such fiscal year in accordance with GAAP consistently applied (except as otherwise disclosed in such financial statements) and accompanied by a narrative report describing the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and the consolidated Subsidiaries;
(b) within 45 days (or, solely with respect to the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2015, within 90 days) after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (beginning with the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2015), its unaudited consolidated balance sheet and unaudited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, stockholders equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, and accompanied by a narrative report describing the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and the consolidated Subsidiaries;
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(c) within the time period required in clause (a) or (b) of this Section 5.01, as applicable, a certificate of a Financial Officer (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations (A) demonstrating compliance, solely in respect of periods for which compliance is required, with the covenants contained in Sections 6.12 and 6.13, (B) in the case of financial statements delivered under clause (a) above, beginning with the financial statements for the fiscal year of the Borrower ending December 31, 2016, of Excess Cash Flow, and (C) at any time when there is one or more Unrestricted Subsidiaries, of the aggregate Consolidated EBITDA of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries for the four fiscal quarter period of the Borrower ended on the last day of the fiscal quarter covered by financial statements delivered for such period, (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the later of the date of the Borrowers audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 and the date of the prior certificate delivered pursuant to this clause (c) indicating such a change and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate and (iv) solely with respect to the delivery of financial statements under clause (b) above, certifying that such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and such portion of the fiscal year in accordance with GAAP consistently applied (except as otherwise disclosed in such financial statements), subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;
(d) promptly after the receipt thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, a copy of any management letter received by any such Person from its certified public accountants and the managements response thereto;
(e) within the time period required in clause (a) above, a detailed consolidated budget for such fiscal year (including a projected consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statements of projected operations, comprehensive income and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal year and setting forth the assumptions used for purposes of preparing such budget);
(f) promptly after the request by any Lender, all documentation and other information that such Lender reasonably requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act;
(g) promptly after the request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of (i) any documents described in Section 101(k)(1) of ERISA that the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan and (ii) any notices described in Section 101(l)(1) of ERISA that the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan; provided that if the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates has not requested such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plan, the Borrower or the applicable ERISA Affiliate shall promptly make a request for such documents or notices from such administrator or sponsor and shall provide copies of such documents and notices promptly after receipt thereof;
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(h) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary with the SEC or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to the holders of its Equity Interests generally, as applicable;
(i) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs, assets, liabilities (including contingent liabilities) and financial condition of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, as the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may reasonably request; and
(j) at any time when the aggregate Consolidated EBITDA of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries for the four fiscal quarter period of the Borrower most recently ended exceeds 10% of the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for the four fiscal quarter period of the Borrower most recently ended, within the time period required in clause (a) or (b) of this Section 5.01, as applicable, the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the Lenders a certificate of a Financial Officer specifying (i) the Consolidated Total Assets, the Consolidated Net Income and the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) the Consolidated Total Assets, the Consolidated Net Income and the Consolidated EBITDA of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries (in the aggregate for all such Unrestricted Subsidiaries).
Information required to be furnished pursuant to clause (a), (b) or (h) of this Section shall be deemed to have been furnished if such information, or one or more annual or quarterly reports containing such information, shall have been posted by the Administrative Agent on the Platform or shall be available on the website of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Information required to be furnished pursuant to this Section may also be furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent.
The Borrower will hold quarterly conference calls for the Lenders to discuss financial information for the previous quarter. The conference call shall be held at a time mutually agreed with the Administrative Agent that is promptly following delivery of the financial statements required under Sections 5.01(a) and 5.01(b). The requirements of this paragraph shall be satisfied by the Borrower providing the Lenders with reasonably advance notice of, and access to, the quarterly earnings call with the holders of the Borrowers Equity Interests.
SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent, which shall furnish to each Issuing Bank and each Lender, prompt written notice, after obtaining knowledge thereof, of the following:
(a) the occurrence of any Default;
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(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or, to the knowledge of a Financial Officer or another executive officer of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, affecting the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof, or any adverse development in any such pending action, suit or proceeding not previously disclosed in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, that in each case would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or that in any manner questions the validity of this Agreement or any other Loan Document;
(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and
(d) any other development (including notice of any Environmental Liability) that has resulted, or would reasonably be expected to result, in a Material Adverse Effect.
Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
SECTION 5.03. Information Regarding Collateral. (a) Subject to Section 9.14, the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent prompt (and, in any event, within twenty Business Days after the occurrence thereof) written notice of any change (i) in any Loan Partys legal name, as set forth in such Loan Partys organizational documents, (ii) in the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of any Loan Party, (iii) in the form of organization of any Loan Party or (iv) in any Loan Partys organizational identification number, if any, or, with respect to a Loan Party organized under the laws of a jurisdiction that requires such information to be set forth on the face of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement, the Federal Taxpayer Identification Number of such Loan Party.
(b) Subject to Section 9.14, at the time of delivery of financial statements pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a completed Supplemental Perfection Certificate, signed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower, (i) setting forth the information required pursuant to the Supplemental Perfection Certificate and indicating any changes in such information from the most recent Supplemental Perfection Certificate delivered pursuant to this Section (or, prior to the first delivery of a Supplemental Perfection Certificate, from the Perfection Certificate delivered on the Effective Date) or (ii) certifying that there has been no change in such information from the most recent Supplemental Perfection Certificate delivered pursuant to this Section (or, prior to the first delivery of a Supplemental Perfection Certificate, from the Perfection Certificate delivered on the Effective Date).
SECTION 5.04. Existence; Conduct of Business. The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges,
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franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names material to the conduct of its business; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03; provided, further, that neither the Borrower (other than with respect to its existence) nor any Restricted Subsidiary shall be required to preserve any such existence, rights, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks or trade names if such Persons board of directors (or similar governing body) shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of such Person, and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to such Person or to the Lenders.
SECTION 5.05. Payment of Taxes. The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, pay its material Tax liabilities, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP, (c) such contest effectively suspends collection of the contested Tax liabilities and the enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation and (d) the failure to make payment pending such contest would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.06. Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, keep and maintain all property in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except where the failure to so maintain such properties would not reasonably be expected to result, in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.07. Insurance. Prior to the Spin-Off Date, the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary is covered by, and commencing on the Spin-Off Date the Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, maintain (in each case with financially sound and reputable insurance companies), (a) insurance in such amounts (with no greater risk retention) and against such risks as is (i) customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and (ii) considered adequate by the Borrower (or considered adequate by DuPont with respect to insurance during the period between the Effective Date and the Spin-Off Date) and (b) all other insurance as may be required by applicable law or any other Loan Document. Each such policy of liability or casualty insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Loan Parties will (a) in the case of each liability insurance policy (other than workers compensation, director and officer liability or other policies in which such endorsements are not customary), name the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as an additional insured thereunder, (b) in the case of each casualty insurance policy, contain a lenders loss payable clause or endorsement that names the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as the lenders loss payee thereunder and (c) to the extent available from the applicable insurance provider, provide for at least 30 days (or such shorter number of days as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent) prior written notice to the Administrative Agent of any cancellation of such policy (it being understood and agreed that the replacement of any insurance policy obtained by DuPont with an insurance policy obtained by the Borrower in connection with the Spin-Off shall not be deemed to be a cancellation of such insurance policy obtained by DuPont and no notice shall be required to be delivered by the applicable insurer with respect thereto). With respect to each Mortgaged Property that is located in an area determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to have special flood hazards, the applicable Loan Party will
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obtain (in the case of each Mortgaged Property listed on Schedule 1.02, not later than the earlier of (x) the date on which a Mortgage for such Mortgaged Property is executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent and (y) the Spin-Off Date, unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), and will maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, such flood insurance as is required under applicable law, including Regulation H of the Board of Governors. The Borrower will furnish to the Lenders, upon request of the Administrative Agent, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained.
SECTION 5.08. Books and Records; Inspection and Audit Rights. The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries in conformity in all material respects with GAAP are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice and during normal business hours, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested; provided, however, that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, (a) only the Administrative Agent, acting individually or on behalf of the Lenders, may exercise rights under this Section and (b) the Administrative Agent shall not exercise the rights under this Section more often than one time during any calendar year.
SECTION 5.09. Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, comply with all Requirements of Law (including Environmental Laws) with respect to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, the Restricted Subsidiaries and the respective directors, officers, employees and, to the knowledge of the Borrower and to the extent commercially reasonable, agents of the foregoing with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.
SECTION 5.10. Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit. (a) The proceeds of the Tranche B Term Loans, together with the proceeds of the Senior Unsecured Notes, will be used solely (a) to pay any DuPont Distribution, (b) for the payment of fees and expenses payable in connection with the Transactions and (c) with respect to any cash remaining on the balance sheet of the Borrower after giving effect to the Transactions, for working capital and other general corporate purposes (including Permitted Acquisitions) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries. The proceeds of the Revolving Loans and the Swingline Loans drawn after the Effective Date, as well as any Incremental Extension of Credit (unless otherwise provided in the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment), will be used solely for working capital and other general corporate purposes (including Permitted Acquisitions) of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used in violation of the representation set forth in Section 3.10. Letters of Credit will be issued only to support obligations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business.
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(b) The Borrower will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and the Borrower shall not use, and shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and, to the knowledge of the Borrower and to the extent commercially reasonable, agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or any Letter of Credit (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country unless otherwise permissible under Sanctions, (iii) to the extent such activities, businesses or transaction would be prohibited by Sanctions if conducted by a corporation incorporated in the United States or (iv) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.
SECTION 5.11. Additional Subsidiaries. (a) If any additional Restricted Subsidiary is formed or acquired (or otherwise becomes a Designated Subsidiary, including as a result of a redesignation in accordance with Section 5.13) after the Effective Date, then the Borrower will, as promptly as practicable thereafter and, in any event, within twenty Business Days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, agree to in writing) after such Restricted Subsidiary is formed or acquired (or otherwise becomes a Designated Subsidiary), notify the Administrative Agent thereof and cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be satisfied with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary (if it is a Designated Subsidiary) and with respect to any Equity Interest in or Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary owned by or on behalf of any Loan Party, in each case subject to Section 9.14.
(b) The Borrower may designate any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a CFC meeting the criteria set forth in clause (b) of the definition of the term Designated Subsidiary as a Designated Subsidiary; provided that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall have been satisfied with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary as if such Restricted Subsidiary is a Person that becomes a Designated Subsidiary after the Effective Date.
SECTION 5.12. Further Assurances. (a) Subject to Section 9.14, the Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary Loan Party to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents), that are required under applicable law, or that the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request in writing to cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be and remain satisfied, all at the expense of the Loan Parties. The Borrower also agrees to provide to the Administrative Agent, from time to time upon written request, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as to the perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents.
(b) Subject to Section 9.14, if any material assets (including any real property or improvements thereto or any interest therein with a fair market value in excess of $12,000,000) are acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party after the Effective Date (other than assets constituting Collateral under the Collateral Agreement that become subject to the Lien created by the Collateral Agreement upon acquisition thereof), the Borrower will notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof, and, if requested by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, the Borrower will cause such assets to be
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subjected to a Lien securing the Obligations and will take, and cause the Subsidiary Loan Parties to take, such actions as shall be required by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in writing to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions described in paragraph (a) of this Section, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.
SECTION 5.13. Designation of Subsidiaries. The Borrower may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (a) immediately before and after such designation, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from such designation, (b) immediately after giving effect to such designation, the Borrower shall be in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with the covenants set forth in Sections 6.12 and 6.13 recomputed as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower, and the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with this clause (b), and (c) no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it is a restricted subsidiary or a guarantor (or any similar designation) for any Material Indebtedness. The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an investment by the parent company of such Subsidiary therein under Section 6.04(u) at the date of designation in an amount equal to the net book value of such parent companys investment therein. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary, and the making of an investment by such Subsidiary in any investments of such Subsidiary, in each case existing at such time.
SECTION 5.14. Spin-Off Documentation. (a) The Spin-Off shall be consummated in accordance with applicable law in all material respects, consistent with the information set forth in the Form 10 (as in effect on the date that is three Business Days prior to the Effective Date). Immediately after giving effect to the Spin-Off, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall, subject to the adjustment procedures set forth in the Separation Agreement (in the form of the draft provided to the Administrative Agent three Business Days prior to the Effective Date and as the same may be waived, amended or otherwise modified in a manner that is not material and adverse to the rights or interests of the Lenders (unless such waiver, amendment or modification has been consented to by the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed))), have not less than $200,000,000 in cash or Cash Equivalents (as defined in the Separation Agreement).
(b) The Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with true and complete copies of the Spin-Off Documents prior to the Spin-Off Date, and the terms of the Spin-Off Documents will not contain any modifications from the information set forth in the Form 10 (as in effect on the date that is three Business Days prior to the Effective Date) that are material and adverse to the rights or interests of the Lenders without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (it being understood that the inclusion of information in the Spin-Off Documents for which there is a placeholder in the Form 10, such as the distribution ratio, the date of any DuPont Distribution and record dates, shall not be deemed to be material and adverse to the rights or interests of the Lenders), and no term or condition of the Spin-Off Documents shall have been waived, amended or otherwise modified in a manner material and adverse to the rights or interests of the Lenders without the prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) of the Administrative Agent (the Spin-Off Documents as so referenced in this paragraph (b) and as permitted to be amended, waived or modified pursuant to this paragraph (b), the Section 5.14 Spin-Off Documents).
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SECTION 5.15. Rated Credit Facilities. The Borrower will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Tranche B Term Loans to be continuously rated by S&P and Moodys.
SECTION 5.16. Post-Closing Matters. (a) As promptly as practicable, and in any event within 90 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent, acting reasonably, may agree to in writing), after the Effective Date, the Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, deliver all Mortgages, Control Agreements and other documents (including legal opinions and insurance policies) that would have been required to be delivered on the Effective Date but for the penultimate paragraph of Section 4.01, in each case except to the extent otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to its authority as set forth in the definition of the term Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.
(b) If not delivered on the Effective Date as contemplated by Section 4.01(m), the Borrower shall deliver prior to the Spin-Off Date a copy of the solvency opinion that would have been required pursuant to Section 4.01(m) to have been delivered on the Effective Date but for the penultimate paragraph of Section 4.01.
ARTICLE VI
Negative Covenants
Until the Commitments shall have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other amounts (other than contingent amounts not yet due) payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated or shall have been backstopped or cash collateralized (in each case, in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank) and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness; Certain Equity Securities. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness created hereunder and under the other Loan Documents;
(b) (i) the Senior Unsecured Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $2,500,000,000 and (ii) Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Senior Unsecured Notes issued pursuant to clause (i) above or Refinancing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (ii) (it being understood and agreed that, for purposes of this Section, any Indebtedness that is incurred for the purpose of repurchasing or redeeming any Senior Unsecured Notes (or any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) shall, if otherwise meeting the requirements set forth above and in the definition of the term Refinancing Indebtedness, be deemed to be Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Senior Unsecured Notes (or such Refinancing Indebtedness), and shall be permitted to be incurred and be in existence, notwithstanding that the
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proceeds of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be applied to make such repurchase or redemption of the Senior Unsecured Notes (or such Refinancing Indebtedness) immediately upon the incurrence thereof, if (A) the proceeds of such Refinancing Indebtedness are applied to make such repurchase or redemption no later than 90 days following the date of the incurrence thereof and (B) at all times pending such application all the proceeds of such Refinancing Indebtedness are held in an account with the Administrative Agent, subject to its exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement (with the Administrative Agent hereby agreeing that it shall permit the Borrower to withdraw funds from such account upon request if (x) at the time thereof, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (y) immediately following such withdrawal, such funds shall be applied to make any such repurchase or redemption of the Senior Unsecured Notes or to repay any such Refinancing Indebtedness and (z) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower as to the matters set forth in the preceding clauses (x) and (y));
(c) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.01 and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;
(d) Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Restricted Subsidiary and of any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party shall be subject to Section 6.04 and (ii) Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Restricted Subsidiary and Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Obligations on the terms set forth in the Intercompany Indebtedness Subordination Agreement;
(e) Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary and by any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) the Indebtedness so Guaranteed is permitted by this Section (other than clause (c) or (g)), (ii) Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party of Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party shall be subject to Section 6.04, (iii) Guarantees permitted under this clause (e) shall be subordinated to the Obligations of the applicable Restricted Subsidiary to the same extent and on the same terms as the Indebtedness so Guaranteed is subordinated to the Obligations and (iv) none of the Senior Unsecured Notes shall be Guaranteed by any Restricted Subsidiary unless such Restricted Subsidiary is a Loan Party that has Guaranteed the Obligations pursuant to the Collateral Agreement;
(f) (i) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof; provided that such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 270 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, and (ii) Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness incurred or assumed pursuant to
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clause (i) above or Refinancing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (ii); provided, further, that, immediately after giving effect to any incurrence of Indebtedness in accordance with this clause (f), the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness incurred in accordance with this clause (f) shall not exceed the greater of (x) $150,000,000 and (y) 2.50% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended;
(g) (i) Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary (or of any Person not previously a Restricted Subsidiary that is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction permitted hereunder) after the date hereof, or Indebtedness of any Person that is assumed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an acquisition of assets by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in a Permitted Acquisition; provided that such Indebtedness exists at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or is so merged or consolidated) or such assets are acquired and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation) or such assets being acquired, and (ii) Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness assumed pursuant to clause (i) above or Refinancing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (ii); provided, further, that, immediately after giving effect to any incurrence of Indebtedness in accordance with this clause (g), the Borrower is in compliance with the covenant contained in Section 6.13, recomputed on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower (or, if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated and the Revolving Exposure has been reduced to zero, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such acquisition as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower, is less than 4.50 to 1.00);
(h) other unsecured Indebtedness of any Loan Party if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence thereof and the application of the proceeds thereof, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness incurred in accordance with this clause (h) shall not exceed the greater of (i) $200,000,000 or (ii) 3.50% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended;
(i) Indebtedness owed to any Person (including obligations in respect of letters of credit for the benefit of such Person) providing workers compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such Person, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(j) Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, stay bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds, customs bonds, replevin bonds, performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations (other than in respect of other Indebtedness), in each case provided in the ordinary course of business;
(k) Indebtedness in respect of Hedging Agreements permitted by Section 6.07;
(l) Indebtedness owed in respect of any (i) credit card obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and (ii) overdrafts and related liabilities arising from treasury,
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depositary and cash management services or in connection with any automated clearinghouse transfers of funds incurred in the ordinary course of business; provided that, in the case of clause (ii), (x) such Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary shall be repaid in full within ten Business Days of the incurrence thereof and (y) the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness of all Foreign Subsidiaries which is outstanding more than five Business Days after the incurrence thereof shall not exceed the greater of (x) $75,000,000 and (y) 1.25% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended;
(m) Indebtedness in the form of purchase price adjustments, earnouts, indemnification obligations, non-competition agreements or other arrangements representing acquisition consideration or deferred payments of a similar nature incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment not prohibited by Section 6.04;
(n) Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness; provided that the Net Proceeds from such Indebtedness are applied to make the prepayment required under clause (a)(iii) of Section 2.23;
(o) Alternative Incremental Facility Debt; provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Alternative Incremental Facility Debt issued in accordance with this clause (o) shall not exceed the amount permitted under Section 2.21;
(p) other Indebtedness if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence thereof and the application of the proceeds thereof, (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) the Borrower is in compliance with the covenant contained in Section 6.13, recomputed on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower (or, if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated and the Revolving Exposure has been reduced to zero, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower, is less than 4.50 to 1.00); provided that, immediately after giving effect to any incurrence of Indebtedness in accordance with this clause (p), the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness of the Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Loan Parties incurred in accordance with this clause (p), together with the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness incurred in accordance with clauses (s) and (x) of this Section 6.01, shall not exceed the greater of (x) $500,000,000 and (y) 8.50% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended;
(q) Secured Customer Financing Obligations if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, and the application of the proceeds thereof, the aggregate outstanding amount of Secured Customer Financing Obligations shall not exceed the greater of (i) $100,000,000 and (ii) 1.75% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended;
(r) Foreign Jurisdiction Deposits;
(s) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries; provided that, immediately after giving effect to any incurrence of Indebtedness in accordance with this clause (s), (i) the
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aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness incurred in accordance with this clause (s) shall not exceed the greater of (x) $250,000,000 and (y) 4.25% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended and (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness incurred in accordance with this clause (s), together with the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness incurred in accordance with (1) clause (p) of this Section 6.01 and (2) clause (x) of this Section 6.01, shall not exceed the greater of (x) $500,000,000 and (y) 8.50% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended;
(t) Indebtedness in the form of (x) Guarantees of loans and advances permitted by Section 6.04(g) and (y) reimbursements owed to officers, directors, consultants and employees in the ordinary course of business;
(u) Indebtedness in respect of judgments, decrees, attachments or awards that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII;
(v) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, any obligations under the Section 5.14 Spin-Off Documents;
(w) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Permitted Receivables Facilities; provided that the Attributable Receivables Indebtedness thereunder shall not exceed at any time outstanding $250,000,000;
(x) Guarantees of Indebtedness of joint ventures of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, immediately after giving effect to any incurrence of Indebtedness so Guaranteed under this clause (x), (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness so Guaranteed in accordance with this clause (x) would not exceed the greater of (a) $150,000,000 and (y) 2.50% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended) and (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness so Guaranteed in accordance with this clause (x), together with the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness incurred in accordance with (1) clause (p) of this Section 6.01 and (2) clause (s) of this Section 6.01, shall not exceed the greater of (x) $500,000,000 and (y) 8.50% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended; and
(y) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (x) above.
SECTION 6.02. Liens. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:
(a) Liens created under the Loan Documents and any Liens on cash or deposits granted in favor of any Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank to cash collateralize any Defaulting Lenders participation in Swingline Loans or Letters of Credit, respectively, as contemplated by this Agreement;
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(b) Permitted Encumbrances;
(c) any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than assets financed by the same financing source pursuant to the same financing scheme) and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations that it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals, replacements and refinancings thereof so long as the principal amount of such extensions, renewals, replacements and refinancings does not exceed the principal amount of the obligations being extended, renewed, replaced or refinanced or, in the case of any such obligations constituting Indebtedness, that are permitted under Section 6.01(c) as Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;
(d) any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or existing on any asset of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or of any Person not previously a Restricted Subsidiary that is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction permitted hereunder) after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or is so merged or consolidated); provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger or consolidation), (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than (x) assets financed by the same financing source pursuant to the same financing scheme and (y) in the case of any such merger or consolidation, the assets of any special purpose merger Subsidiary that is a party thereto) and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations that it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or is so merged or consolidated) and extensions, renewals, replacements and refinancings thereof so long as the principal amount of such extensions, renewals and replacements does not exceed the principal amount of the obligations being extended, renewed or replaced or, in the case of any such obligations constituting Indebtedness, that are permitted under Section 6.01(g) as Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;
(e) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved (including any such assets made the subject of a Capital Lease Obligation incurred) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Liens secure Indebtedness incurred to finance such acquisition, construction or improvement and permitted by clause (f)(i) of Section 6.01 or any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof permitted by clause (f)(ii) of Section 6.01, (ii) such Liens and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 270 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement (provided that this clause (ii) shall not apply to any Refinancing Indebtedness permitted by clause (f)(ii) of Section 6.01 or any Lien securing such Refinancing Indebtedness), (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the lesser of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital asset or, in the case of Indebtedness permitted by clause (f)(i) of Section 6.01, its fair market value at the time such security interest attaches, and in any event, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of any Lien in accordance with this clause (e), the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the greater of (x) $150,000,000 and (y) 2.50% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended and (iv) such Liens shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (except assets financed by the same financing source pursuant to the same financing scheme in the ordinary course of business);
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(f) in connection with the sale or transfer of any Equity Interests or other assets in a transaction permitted under Section 6.05, customary rights and restrictions contained in agreements relating to such sale or transfer pending the completion thereof;
(g) in the case of (i) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) the Equity Interests in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary, any encumbrance or restriction, including any put and call arrangements, related to Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary or such other Person set forth in the organizational documents of such Restricted Subsidiary or such other Person or any related joint venture, shareholders or similar agreement;
(h) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits, escrow arrangements or similar arrangements made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement for a Permitted Acquisition or other transaction permitted hereunder;
(i) Liens on Collateral securing any Permitted Pari Passu Refinancing Debt, Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt or Alternative Incremental Facility Debt; provided that such Liens are subject to customary intercreditor agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(j) Liens granted by a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in respect of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by such Subsidiary under Section 6.01;
(k) Liens securing Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries permitted under Section 6.01(s);
(l) Liens on any property of (i) any Loan Party in favor of any other Loan Party, (ii) any Foreign Subsidiary in favor of any Loan Party and (iii) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in favor of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary;
(m) to the extent constituting Liens, any restrictions contemplated by the Section 5.14 Spin-Off Documents;
(n) Liens on Permitted Receivables Facility Assets securing Indebtedness arising under Permitted Receivables Facilities; and
(o) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section to the extent that, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, the aggregate outstanding amount of the obligations secured thereby does not exceed the greater of (i) $150,000,000 and (ii) 2.50% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended.
SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes. (a) The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit
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any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or liquidate or dissolve or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (i) any Person may merge into or consolidate with the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving entity or the surviving entity (the Successor Borrower) (A) is organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, (B) expressly assumes the Borrowers obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto, as applicable, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (C) each Subsidiary Loan Party, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by a supplement to the Collateral Agreement and, if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, each other Security Document to which such Subsidiary Loan Party is a party confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrowers obligations under this Agreement, (D) each mortgagor of a Mortgaged Property, unless it is the other party to such merger of consolidation, shall have by an amendment to or restatement of the applicable Mortgage confirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to the Successor Borrowers obligations under this Agreement, (E) such Successor Borrower shall have delivered all information requested pursuant to Section 5.01(f), (F) the Administrative Agent shall have received such customary certificates and opinions relating to the Successor Borrower becoming the Borrower under this Agreement as it shall have reasonably requested and (G) the conditions set forth in Section 4.02(b) shall have been satisfied as of the time of such merger or consolidation (it being agreed that the representations and warranties referred to in Section 4.02(b) shall be made by such Successor Borrower after giving effect to such merger or consolidation) (it being understood that, if the foregoing conditions in clauses (A) through (G) are satisfied, then the Successor Borrower will automatically succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement), (ii) any Person (other than the Borrower) may merge into or consolidate with any Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Restricted Subsidiary and, if any party to such merger or consolidation is a Subsidiary Loan Party, is a Subsidiary Loan Party, (iii) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge into or consolidate with any Person (other than the Borrower) in a transaction permitted under Section 6.05 in which, after giving effect to such transaction, the surviving entity is not a Restricted Subsidiary, (iv) any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; provided that any such merger or consolidation involving a Person that is not a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger or consolidation shall not be permitted unless it is also permitted by Section 6.04, and (v) the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may consummate the transactions comprising the Spin-Off as contemplated by the Section 5.14 Spin-Off Documents.
(b) The Borrower will not, and the Borrower will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries as described in the Form 10 (without giving effect to any amendment thereto filed with the SEC after the date that is three Business Days prior to the Effective Date) and businesses reasonably related, incidental, complementary or ancillary thereto.
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SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger or consolidation with any Person that was not a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary prior to such merger or consolidation) any Equity Interests in or evidences of Indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except:
(a) cash and Cash Equivalents;
(b) Permitted Acquisitions; provided that the aggregate amount of cash consideration paid in request of any investment pursuant to this clause (b) that is an investment in the Equity Interests of any Person that does not become a Loan Party, or that is an investment in assets by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party, shall not exceed, at the time such investment is made and after giving effect thereto, the greater of (x) $300,000,000 and (y) 5.00% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended;
(c) (i) investments existing on the date hereof in the Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) other investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.04 and, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension thereof; provided that (x) the amount of the original investment is not increased except by the terms of such investment or as otherwise permitted by this Section 6.04 and (y) the terms of any such investment are not otherwise modified from the terms that are in effect as of the date hereof in a manner that is materially adverse to the Lenders unless otherwise permitted by this Section 6.04;
(d) (x) investments by the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in Equity Interests of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (i) any such Equity Interests held by a Loan Party shall be pledged in accordance with the requirements of the definition of the term Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and (ii) the aggregate outstanding amount of such investments made by Loan Parties in Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties (together with outstanding intercompany loans and advances permitted under subclause (ii) of the proviso to clause (e) of this Section and outstanding Guarantees permitted under the proviso to clause (f) of this Section) shall not exceed, as of the date that any such investment is made, the greater of (A) $350,000,000 and (B) 6.00% of Consolidated Total Assets determined as of the last day of the fiscal year quarter of the Borrower most recently ended (in each case determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs) and (y) investments among the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for purposes of funding payments under the Loan Documents in respect of scheduled interest and amortization payments and prepayments pursuant to Section 2.11(c) or (d);
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(e) loans or advances made by the Borrower to any Restricted Subsidiary and made by any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) any such loans and advances made by a Loan Party shall be evidenced by a promissory note pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreement and (ii) the aggregate outstanding amount of such loans and advances made by Loan Parties to Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties (together with outstanding investments permitted under subclause (ii) of the proviso to clause (d) of this Section and outstanding Guarantees permitted under the proviso to clause (f) of this Section) shall not exceed, as of the date that such loan or advance is made, the greater of (A) $350,000,000 and (B) 6.00% of Consolidated Total Assets determined as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended (in each case determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs);
(f) Guarantees of Indebtedness that is permitted under Section 6.01 and other obligations, in each case of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the total of the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness and the aggregate amount of other obligations, in each case of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties that is Guaranteed by any Loan Party (together with outstanding investments permitted under subclause (ii) of the proviso to clause (d) of this Section and outstanding intercompany loans and advances permitted under subclause (ii) to the proviso to clause (e) of this Section) shall not exceed, as of the date that such loan or advance is made, the greater of (A) $350,000,000 and (B) 6.00% of Consolidated Total Assets determined as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended (in each case determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs);
(g) loans or advances to officers, directors, consultants or employees of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary not exceeding $15,000,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any time (determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such loans or advances);
(h) payroll, travel and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business;
(i) investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(j) investments in the form of Hedging Agreements permitted by Section 6.07;
(k) investments of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or consolidates or merges with the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as such investments were not made in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or of such consolidation or merger;
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(l) investments resulting from pledges or deposits described in clause (c), (d) or (n) of the definition of the term Permitted Encumbrance;
(m) investments made as a result of the receipt of noncash consideration from a sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of any asset in compliance with Section 6.05;
(n) investments that result solely from the receipt by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any of its subsidiaries of a dividend or other Restricted Payment in the form of Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities (but not any additions thereto made after the date of the receipt thereof);
(o) receivables or other trade payables owing to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary if created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; provided that such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;
(p) mergers and consolidations permitted under Section 6.03 that do not involve any Person other than the Borrower and Restricted Subsidiaries that are wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries;
(q) Guarantees to insurers required in connection with workers compensation and other insurance coverage arranged in the ordinary course of business;
(r) investments to the extent that payment for such investments is made solely with Qualified Equity Interests;
(s) investments effected in connection with the Spin-Off as contemplated by the Section 5.14 Spin-Off Documents;
(t) customary investments in connection with Permitted Receivables Facilities;
(u) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, other investments, loans and advances by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate amount, including all related commitments for future investments, loans or advances (and the principal amount of any Indebtedness that is assumed or otherwise incurred in connection with such investment, loan or advance), not exceeding, at the time such investments, loans or advances are made and immediately after giving effect thereto, the sum of (i) $350,000,000 and (ii) the Available Amount at such time, for all such investments made or committed to be made from and after the Effective Date plus an amount equal to any returns of capital or sale proceeds actually received in cash in respect of any such investments (which amount shall not exceed the amount of such investment valued at cost at the time such investment was made); and
(v) other investments, loans and advances by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted by this Section so long as at the time of the
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making of any such investment, loan or advance made pursuant to this clause (v) and after giving effect thereto, (i) the Total Net Leverage Ratio, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended, is less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00 and (ii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom.
SECTION 6.05. Asset Sales. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any asset, including any Equity Interest owned by it, nor will the Borrower permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any additional Equity Interest in such Restricted Subsidiary (other than issuing directors qualifying shares and other than issuing Equity Interests to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 6.04(d)), except:
(a) sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions of (i) inventory, (ii) used, obsolete or surplus equipment, (iii) property no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (iv) cash and Cash Equivalents, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(b) sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions involving a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be made in compliance with Sections 6.04 and 6.09;
(c) sales, transfers and other dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and not as part of any accounts receivables financing transaction;
(d) leases or subleases entered into in the ordinary course of business, to the extent that they do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(e) licenses or sublicenses of intellectual property in the ordinary course of business, to the extent that they do not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(f) dispositions resulting from any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any asset of any of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(g) dispositions of assets to the extent that (i) such assets are exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement assets or (ii) the proceeds of such disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement assets;
(h) sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions of assets (other than Equity Interests in a Subsidiary unless all Equity Interests in such Subsidiary (other than directors qualifying shares) are sold) that are not permitted by any other clause of this Section; provided that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom;
(i) dispositions of assets effected in connection with the Spin-Off contemplated by the Section 5.14 Spin-Off Documents;
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provided that (x) all sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions permitted hereby (other than those permitted by clause (b)) shall be made for fair value and (y) all sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions permitted by clause (h) shall be for at least 75% cash consideration payable at the time of such sale, transfer or other disposition; provided, further, that (i) any consideration in the form of Cash Equivalents that are disposed of for cash consideration within 30 Business Days after such sale, transfer or other disposition shall be deemed to be cash consideration in an amount equal to the amount of such cash consideration for purposes of this proviso, (ii) any liabilities (as shown on the Borrowers or such Restricted Subsidiarys most recent balance sheet provided hereunder or in the footnotes thereto) of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the payment in cash of the Obligations, that are assumed by the transferee with respect to the applicable sale, transfer, lease or other disposition and for which the Borrower and all the Restricted Subsidiaries shall have been validly released by all applicable creditors in writing shall be deemed to be cash consideration in an amount equal to the liabilities so assumed and (iii) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such sale, transfer, lease or other disposition having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (iii) that is at that time outstanding, not in excess of the greater of (x) $125,000,000 and (y) 2.25% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value, shall be deemed to be cash consideration.
SECTION 6.06. Sale and Leaseback Transactions. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby it 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 sold or transferred, except for any such sale of any fixed or capital assets by the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is made for cash consideration in an amount not less than the fair value of such fixed or capital asset and is consummated within 270 days after the Borrower or such Subsidiary acquires or completes the construction of such fixed or capital asset; provided that, if such sale and leaseback results in a Capital Lease Obligation, such Capital Lease Obligation is permitted by Section 6.01(f) and any Lien made the subject of such Capital Lease Obligation is permitted by Section 6.02(e).
SECTION 6.07. Hedging Agreements. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Hedging Agreement, except (a) Hedging Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has actual exposure (other than those in respect of the Equity Interests or Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) and (b) Hedging Agreements entered into in order to
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effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.
SECTION 6.08. Restricted Payments. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except that:
(a) any Restricted Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends or make other distributions with respect to its Equity Interests, or make other Restricted Payments in respect of its Equity Interests, in each case ratably to the holders of such Equity Interests;
(b) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends with respect to its Equity Interests payable solely in shares of Qualified Equity Interests or Disqualified Equity Interests permitted hereunder;
(c) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments, (i) not exceeding $40,000,000 during any fiscal year (with any unused amount of such base amount from any fiscal year available for use in the next succeeding fiscal year following the use of the base amount permitted by this clause (c) in such succeeding fiscal year), pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans approved by the Borrowers board of directors for directors, officers or employees of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) other Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans and other benefit plans in connection with the Spin-Off contemplated in the Section 5.14 Spin-Off Documents;
(d) the Borrower may make cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares representing insignificant interests in the Borrower in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Interests in the Borrower;
(e) the Borrower may repurchase Equity Interests upon the exercise of stock options if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such stock options;
(f) concurrently with any issuance of Qualified Equity Interests, the Borrower may redeem, purchase or retire any Equity Interests of the Borrower using the proceeds of, or convert or exchange any Equity Interests of the Borrower for, such Qualified Equity Interests;
(g) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower may make Restricted Payments not otherwise permitted by this Section in an aggregate amount not to exceed $150,000,000;
(h) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower may make Restricted Payments not otherwise permitted by this Section in an aggregate amount not to exceed, at any time, the Available Amount at such time; provided that, after giving effect to any such Restricted Payment, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, recomputed on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended shall not be greater than the Effective Date Total Net Leverage Ratio (reduced by 0.50);
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(i) the Borrower may make DuPont Distributions (without duplication of Restricted Payments made pursuant to clause (j) of this Section 6.08); provided that immediately after giving effect thereto no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom;
(j) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments contemplated by the Section 5.14 Spin-Off Documents (without duplication of Restricted Payments made pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 6.08);
(k) the Borrower may make annual ordinary dividends in an aggregate amount not to exceed (i) for the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on December 31, 2015, $200,000,000, (ii) for the period commencing on January 1, 2016, and ending on December 31, 2016, $400,000,000 and (iii) for the period commencing on January 1, 2017, and ending on December 31, 2017, $400,000,000; and
(l) the Borrower may make additional Restricted Payments not otherwise permitted by this Section so long as at the time of the making of any such Restricted Payment pursuant to this clause (l) and after giving effect thereto, (i) the Total Net Leverage Ratio, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended, is less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00 and (ii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom.
SECTION 6.09. Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) transactions that are at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arms-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among (i) the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties not involving any other Affiliate or (ii) Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Loan Parties, (c) loans or advances to employees permitted under Section 6.04(g), (d) payroll, travel and similar advances to cover matters permitted under Section 6.04(h), (e) the payment of reasonable fees to directors of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary who are not employees of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, and compensation and employee benefit arrangements paid to, and indemnities provided for the benefit of, directors, officers or employees of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (f) any issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the Borrowers board of directors, (g) employment and severance arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business between the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and any employee thereof and approved by the Borrowers board of directors, (h) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.08, (i) transactions occurring in connection with the Spin-Off contemplated by the Section 5.14 Spin-Off Documents, (j) transactions described in Schedule 6.09 and (k) transactions effected as part of a Permitted Receivables Facility.
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SECTION 6.10. Restrictive Agreements. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its assets to secure the Obligations or (b) the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any of its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to (A) restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any Permitted Pari Passu Refinancing Debt, any Permitted Second Priority Refinancing Debt, any Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any of the foregoing, (B) restrictions and conditions imposed by the Senior Unsecured Notes Documents as in effect on the date hereof or any agreement or document evidencing Refinancing Indebtedness permitted under clause (b) of Section 6.01; provided that the restrictions and conditions contained in any such agreement or document, taken as a whole, are not less favorable in any material respect to the Lenders than the restrictions and conditions imposed by the Senior Unsecured Notes Documents, (C) in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, restrictions and conditions imposed by its organizational documents or any related joint venture or similar agreements; provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to such Restricted Subsidiary and to the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary, (D) customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Restricted Subsidiary or any assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case pending such sale; provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to such Restricted Subsidiary or the assets that are to be sold and, in each case, such sale is permitted hereunder, (E) restrictions and conditions existing on the date hereof and identified on Schedule 6.10 (or to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment, modification or replacement not expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition), (F) restrictions and conditions imposed by the documents governing any Indebtedness of any Foreign Subsidiary permitted by Section 6.01(s); provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to such Foreign Subsidiary and its Affiliates that are Foreign Subsidiaries and (G) customary prohibitions, restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to a Permitted Receivables Facility; (ii) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to (A) restrictions and conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by clause (f) or (g) of Section 6.01 if such restrictions and conditions apply only to the assets securing such Indebtedness and (B) customary provisions in leases and other agreements restricting the assignment thereof; and (iii) clause (b) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by any agreement relating to Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary in existence at the time such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary and otherwise permitted by Section 6.01 if such restrictions and conditions apply only to such Restricted Subsidiary.
SECTION 6.11. Amendment of Material Documents. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, amend, modify, waive, terminate or release (a) its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents or (b) any Spin-Off Document, in each case if the effect of such amendment, modification, waiver, termination or release would be adverse in any material respect to the Lenders.
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SECTION 6.12. Interest Expense Coverage Ratio. Solely with respect to the Revolving Commitments and the Revolving Exposure, the Borrower will not permit the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA to (b) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense, in each case for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending on the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, to be less than 3.00 to 1.00; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to comply with the financial maintenance covenant set forth in this Section at any time during the continuance of an Investment Grade Ratings Period.
SECTION 6.13. Total Net Leverage Ratio. Solely with respect to the Revolving Commitments and the Revolving Exposure, the Borrower will not permit the Total Net Leverage Ratio for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending on or about any date during any period set forth below to exceed the ratio set forth below opposite such period, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter after the Effective Date:
Period |
Ratio | |
Effective Date through December 31, 2015 |
5.75 to 1.00 | |
January 1, 2016, through June 30, 2016 |
5.50 to 1.00 | |
July 1, 2016, through September 30, 2016 |
5.25 to 1.00 | |
October 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016 |
5.00 to 1.00 | |
January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017 |
4.75 to 1.00 | |
January 1, 2018, and thereafter |
4.50 to 1.00 |
SECTION 6.14. Changes in Fiscal Periods. The Borrower will neither (a) permit its fiscal year or the fiscal year of any Restricted Subsidiary to end on a day other than December 31, nor (b) change its method of determining fiscal quarters.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, during the continuance of an Investment Grade Ratings Period, the limitations set forth in Sections 6.04, 6.05 and 6.08 shall cease to apply to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (a) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) no Term Loans are outstanding and (c) no Alternative Incremental Facility Debt or Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness, in each that is secured by a Lien on any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party is outstanding.
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ARTICLE VII
Events of Default
If any of the following events (each such event, an Event of Default) shall occur:
(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement (unless such LC Disbursement is financed with an ABR Borrowing or Swingline Loan as permitted by Section 2.05(e)) when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;
(b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three Business Days;
(c) any representation, warranty or written statement made or deemed made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder, or in any written report, certificate, financial statement or other information furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;
(d) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02, 5.04 (with respect to the existence of the Borrower), 5.10 or 5.16(b) or in Article VI; provided that any failure to observe or perform any covenant set forth in Section 6.12 or Section 6.13 shall not constitute an Event of Default with respect to the Term Loans, and the Term Loans may not be accelerated as a result of such failure, until the date on which the Revolving Commitments have been terminated and the Revolving Loans (if any) have been accelerated, in each case, by a Majority in Interest of the Revolving Lenders;
(e) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent or any Lender to the Borrower;
(f) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal, interest, premium or otherwise and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable (after giving effect to any applicable grace period in respect of such failure under the documentation representing such Material Indebtedness);
(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due or being terminated or required to be prepaid, repurchased, redeemed or defeased prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with all applicable grace periods in respect of such event or condition under the documentation representing such Material Indebtedness having expired) the holder or holders of any
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Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf, or, in the case of any Hedging Agreement the applicable counterparty, to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to terminate or require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to (i) any secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale, transfer or other disposition of the assets securing such Indebtedness (to the extent such sale, transfer or other disposition is not prohibited under this Agreement) or (ii) any Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of a voluntary refinancing thereof permitted under Section 6.01;
(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, State or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;
(i) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation (other than any liquidation permitted under Section 6.03(a)(iv)), reorganization or other relief under any Federal, State or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding or (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the board of directors (or similar governing body) of the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary (or any committee thereof) shall adopt any resolution or otherwise authorize any action to approve any of the actions referred to above in this clause (i) or in clause (h) of this Article;
(j) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;
(k) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $75,000,000 (other than any such judgment covered by insurance (other than under a self-insurance program) to the extent a claim therefor has been made in writing and liability therefor has not been denied by the insurer, so long as, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, such insurer is financially sound) shall be rendered against the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 60 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;
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(l) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(m) any Lien purported to be created under any Security Document shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by any Loan Party not to be, a valid and perfected Lien on any material portion of the Collateral, with the priority required by the applicable Security Document, except as a result of (i) the sale or other disposition of the applicable Collateral in a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents, (ii) the release thereof as provided in Section 9.14 or (iii) as a result of the Administrative Agents failure to (A) maintain possession of any stock certificate, promissory note or other instrument delivered to it under the Collateral Agreement or (B) file Uniform Commercial Code continuation statements;
(n) any Guarantee purported to be created under any Loan Document shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by any Loan Party not to be, in full force and effect, except as a result of the release thereof as provided in the applicable Loan Document or Section 9.14;
(o) a Change in Control shall occur; or
(p) any material Security Document shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by any Loan Party not to be, in full force and effect, except as a result of the release thereof as provided in the applicable Loan Document or Section 9.14;
then, and in every such event (other than (x) an event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article and (y) an event described in clause (d) of this Article with respect to any failure to observe or perform any covenant set forth in Section 6.12 or Section 6.13 prior to the termination of the Revolving Commitments and the acceleration of the Revolving Loans, as described below), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part (but ratably as among the Classes of Loans and the Loans of each Class at such time outstanding), in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately and (iii) require the deposit of cash collateral in respect of LC Exposure as provided in Section 2.05(i), in each case without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; in the case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower hereunder, shall
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immediately and automatically become due and payable and the deposit of such cash collateral in respect of LC Exposure shall immediately and automatically become due, in each case, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in the case of any event described in clause (d) of this Article with respect to any failure to observe or perform any covenant set forth in Section 6.12 or Section 6.13, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of the Majority of Interest of the Revolving Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (A) terminate the Revolving Commitments, and thereupon the Revolving Commitments shall terminate immediately, (B) declare the Revolving Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Revolving Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower owing to the Revolving Lenders hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately and (C) require the deposit of cash collateral in respect of LC Exposure as provided in Section 2.05(i), in each case without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.
ARTICLE VIII
The Administrative Agent
Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby irrevocably appoints the entity named as Administrative Agent in the heading of this Agreement and its successors to serve as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. In addition, to the extent required under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, each of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby grants to the Administrative Agent any required powers of attorney to execute any Security Document governed by the laws of such jurisdiction on such Lenders or such Issuing Banks behalf. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term agent (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. 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. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent to execute any and all documents (including releases and intercreditor agreements) with respect to the Collateral (including any amendment, supplement, modification or joinder with respect thereto) and the rights of the Secured Parties with respect thereto, as contemplated by and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents and acknowledge and agree that any such action by the Administrative Agent shall bind the Lenders.
The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender or an Issuing Bank as any other Lender or Issuing Bank and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the
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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 or the Issuing Banks.
The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or to exercise any discretionary power, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the 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 necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents); provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion, could expose the Administrative Agent to liability or be contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law, and (c) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it 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 to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment). The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a notice of default) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Bank, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with 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 in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement or 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 in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be liable for, or be responsible for any loss, cost or expense suffered by the Borrower or any Lender as a result of, any determination of the Revolving Exposure or the component amounts thereof or of the Weighted Average Yield.
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The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, 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 or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the signatory, sender or authenticator thereof). The Administrative Agent also shall be entitled to rely, and shall not incur any liability for relying, upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the signatory, sender or authenticator thereof), and may act upon any such statement prior to receipt of written confirmation thereof. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such Issuing Bank prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. 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.
The Administrative Agent may perform any of and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of and all their duties and exercise their 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 facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.
Subject to the terms of this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time from its capacity as such. In connection with such resignation, the Administrative Agent shall give notice of its intent to resign to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the
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other Loan Documents. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed by the Borrower and such successor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (a) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided that, solely for purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under any Security Document for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to be vested with such security interest as collateral agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and, in the case of any Collateral in the possession of the Administrative Agent, shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed and accepts such appointment in accordance with this paragraph (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any further action under any Security Document, including any action required to maintain the perfection of any such security interest), and (b) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (i) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (ii) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall also directly be given or made to each Lender and each Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agents resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative Agent and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under clause (a) above.
Each Lender and each Issuing Bank acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement and funding its Loans on the Effective Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, this Agreement and each other Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Effective Date.
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Except with respect to the exercise of setoff rights of any Lender in accordance with Section 9.08 or with respect to a Lenders right to file a proof of claim in an insolvency proceeding, no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any Guarantee of the Obligations, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms thereof. In the event of a foreclosure by the Administrative Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition, and the Administrative Agent, as agent for and representative of the Secured Parties (but not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Loan Document Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties at such sale or other disposition.
In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation thereof, no Hedging Agreement the obligations under which constitute Secured Hedging Obligations no arrangements in respect of Cash Management Services the obligations under which constitute Secured Cash Management Obligations, and no Customer Financing Guarantee, the obligation under which constitute Secured Customer Financing Obligations, will create (or be deemed to create) in favor of any Secured Party that is a party thereto any rights in connection with the management or release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Loan Party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. By accepting the benefits of the Collateral, each Secured Party that is a party to any such Hedging Agreement, arrangement in respect of Cash Management Services or Customer Financing Guarantee, as applicable, shall be deemed to have appointed the Administrative Agent to serve as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and agreed to be bound by the Loan Documents as a Secured Party thereunder, subject to the limitations set forth in this paragraph.
The Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 6.02(e). The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agents Lien thereon or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.
In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Loan Party under any Federal, State or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan
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or any LC Disbursement 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 (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, LC Exposure 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, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each other Secured Party to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or the other Secured Parties, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 9.03).
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Arrangers nor any Person named on the cover page of this Agreement as a Syndication Agent, a Documentation Agent, a Senior Managing Agent or a Co-Agent shall have any duties or obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except in its capacity, as applicable, as a Lender or an Issuing Bank), but all such Persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.
The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrowers rights to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article, none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any such provisions. Each Secured Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral and the Guarantees of the Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.
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 or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
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ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
SECTION 9.01. Notices. (a) General. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) of this Section), 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 fax, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower, to it at 1007 Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19898, Attention of Sameer Ralhan (Fax No. (302) 773-0251; email: sameer.ralhan@chemours.com);
(ii) if to the Administrative Agent, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 500 Stanton Christiana Road, Ops 2, Floor 3, Newark, Delaware 19713, Attention of Siyana Custis (Fax No.: (302) 634-1417; email: siyana.c.custis@jpmorgan.com), with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, Attention of Peter Predun (Fax No. (212) 270-5100; email: peter.predun@jpmorgan.com);
(iii) if to any Issuing Bank, to it at its address or email (or fax number) most recently specified by it in a notice delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (or, in the absence of any such notice, to the address or email (or fax number) set forth in the Administrative Questionnaire of the Lender that is serving as such Issuing Bank or is an Affiliate thereof);
(iv) if to any Swingline Lender, to it at (A) in the case of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 500 Stanton Christiana Road, Ops 2, Floor 3, Newark, Delaware 19713, Attention of Siyana Custis (Fax No.: (302) 634-1417; email: siyana.c.custis@jpmorgan.com), and (B) in the case of any other Swingline Lender, to it at its address or email (or fax number) set forth in the applicable joinder agreement contemplated by the definition of Swingline Lender; and
(v) if to any other Lender, to it at its address or email (or fax number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices and 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 sent by fax 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 delivered through electronic communications, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) of this Section, shall be effective as provided in such paragraph.
(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet and intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent. Any notices or other communications to the
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Administrative Agent or the Borrower may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications or may be rescinded by any such Person by notice to each other such Person.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the senders receipt of an acknowledgment from the intended recipient (such as by the return receipt requested function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgment) and (ii) notices and other 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) above, if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient.
(c) Change of Address, etc. Any party hereto may change its address or fax number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.
(d) Platform. The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications by posting such Communication on Debt Domain, IntraLinks, SyndTrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the Platform). The Platform is provided as is and as available. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties warrants, or shall be deemed to warrant, as to the adequacy of the Platform and each such Person expressly disclaims any liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. 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, or shall be deemed to be made, by the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties in connection with the Communications or the Platform. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties have any liability to the Loan Parties, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other Person for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise), arising out of any Loan Partys or the Administrative Agents transmission of Communications through the Platform, except to the extent such damages are found in a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the bad faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties.
SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of
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any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the making of a Loan or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time. No notice or demand on the Borrower in any case shall entitle the Borrower to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.
(b) Except as provided in Sections 2.21, 2.22, 2.23 and 9.02(c), none of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except, in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders and, in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Loan Party or Loan Parties that are parties thereto, in each case with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon (other than any waiver of any increase in the interest rate applicable to any Loan pursuant to Section 2.13(c), which shall only require the consent of the Required Lenders), or reduce any fees payable hereunder, in each case without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled maturity date of any Loan, or the date of any scheduled payment of the principal amount of any Term Loan under Section 2.10 or the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment, or the required date of reimbursement of any LC Disbursement, or any scheduled date for the payment of any interest or fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.18(b) or 2.18(c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby, (v) change any of the provisions of this Section or the percentage set forth in the definition of the term Required Lenders or any other provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders (or Lenders of any Class) required to waive, amend or otherwise modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (or each Lender of such Class, as applicable); provided that, with the consent of the Required Lenders, the provisions of this Section and the definition of the term Required Lenders may be amended to include references to any new class of loans created under this Agreement (or to lenders extending such loans) on substantially the same basis as the corresponding references relating to the existing Classes of Loans or Lenders, (vi) release or otherwise limit all or substantially all of the value of the Guarantees provided by the Subsidiary Loan Parties (including, in each case, by limiting liability in respect thereof) under the Collateral Agreement, in each case without the written consent of each Lender (except as expressly provided in Section 9.14 or the Collateral Agreement (including any such release by the Administrative Agent in connection with any sale or other disposition of any Subsidiary upon the exercise of remedies under the Security Documents), it being understood and agreed that an amendment or other modification of the type
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of obligations guaranteed under the Collateral Agreement shall not be deemed to be a release or limitation of any Guarantee), (vii) release all or substantially all the Collateral from the Liens of the Security Documents without the written consent of each Lender (except as expressly provided in Section 9.14 or the applicable Security Document (including any such release by the Administrative Agent in connection with any sale or other disposition of the Collateral upon the exercise of remedies under the Security Documents), it being understood and agreed that an amendment or other modification of the type of obligations secured by the Security Documents shall not be deemed to be a release of the Collateral from the Liens of the Security Documents), (viii) change any provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document in a manner that by its terms adversely affects the rights in respect of payments due to, or the Collateral of, Lenders holding Loans of any Class differently than those holding Loans of any other Class, without the written consent of Lenders representing a Majority in Interest of each affected Class, (ix) modify the protections afforded to an SPV pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.04(e) without the written consent of such SPV, (x) change the rights of the Tranche B Term Lenders to decline mandatory prepayments as provided in Section 2.11 or the rights of any Additional Lenders of any Class to decline mandatory prepayments of Term Loans of such Class as provided in the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment, without the written consent of Tranche B Term Lenders or Additional Lenders of such Class, as applicable, holding a majority of the outstanding Tranche B Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans of such Class, as applicable, or (xi) amend, modify or waive the provisions of Section 6.12 or Section 6.13 (including, in each case, any definition component thereof, but only as such definitions are used for purposes of Section 6.12 or Section 6.13, as applicable), Article VII (solely as it relates to any failure to observe or perform any covenant set forth in Section 6.12 or Section 6.13) or this clause (xi) without the written consent of the Majority in Interest of the Revolving Lenders (it being understood that any amendment, modification or waiver of this clause (xi) shall not require the consent of the Required Lenders); provided, further, that (A) no such agreement shall amend, modify, extend or otherwise affect the rights or obligations of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Swingline Lender without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or such Swingline Lender, as applicable, (B) any waiver, amendment or other modification of this Agreement that by its terms affects the rights or duties under this Agreement of the Lenders of one or more Classes (but not the Lenders of any other Class) may be effected by an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the requisite number or percentage in interest of each affected Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto under this Section if such Class of Lenders were the only Class of Lenders hereunder at the time and (C) if the terms of any waiver, amendment or other modification of this Agreement or any other Loan Document provide that any Class of Loans (together with all accrued interest thereon and all accrued fees payable with respect to the Commitments of such Class) will be repaid or paid in full, and the Commitments of such Class (if any) terminated, as a condition to the effectiveness of such waiver, amendment or other modification, then so long as the Loans of such Class (together with such accrued interest and fees) are in fact repaid or paid in full and such Commitments are in fact terminated, in each case prior to or substantially simultaneously with the effectiveness of such amendment, then such Loans and Commitments shall not be included in the determination of the Required Lenders with respect to such amendment. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, (1) no consent with respect to any waiver, amendment or other modification of this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be required of any Defaulting Lender, except with respect to any waiver, amendment or other modification referred
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to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the first proviso of this paragraph and then only in the event such Defaulting Lender shall be affected by such waiver, amendment or other modification, (2) any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency so long as, in each case, 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 (x) the Required Lenders stating that the Required Lenders object to such amendment or (y) if affected by such amendment, any Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank stating that it objects to such amendment, (3) this Agreement may be amended to provide for Incremental Extensions of Credit in the manner contemplated by Section 2.21, the extension of the Maturity Date as provided in Section 2.22 and the incurrence of Refinancing Revolving Commitments and Refinancing Term Loans as provided in Section 2.23, in each case without any additional consents and (4) no agreement referred to in the immediately preceding sentence shall waive any condition set forth in Section 4.02 without the written consent of the Majority in Interest of the Revolving Lenders (it being understood and agreed that any amendment or waiver of, or any consent with respect to, any provision of this Agreement (other than any waiver expressly relating to Section 4.02) or any other Loan Document, including any amendment of an affirmative or negative covenant set forth herein or in any other Loan Document or any waiver of a Default or an Event of Default, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any condition set forth in Section 4.02).
(c) In connection with any proposed amendment, modification, waiver or termination (a Proposed Change) requiring the consent of all Lenders or all affected Lenders, if the consent of the Required Lenders (and, to the extent any Proposed Change requires the consent of Lenders holding Loans of any Class pursuant to clause (v) or (viii) of paragraph (b) of this Section, the consent of a majority in interest of the outstanding Loans and unused Commitments of such Class) to such Proposed Change is obtained, but the consent to such Proposed Change of other Lenders whose consent is required is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is not obtained as described in paragraph (b) of this Section being referred to as a Non-Consenting Lender), then, so long as the Lender that is acting as Administrative Agent is not a Non-Consenting Lender, the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Non-Consenting Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Non-Consenting Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and, if a Revolving Commitment is being assigned, each Issuing Bank and each Swingline Lender), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, conditioned or delayed, (ii) such Non-Consenting Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder (including, if applicable, the prepayment fee pursuant to Section 2.11(g) (with such assignment being deemed to be an optional prepayment for purposes of determining the applicability of such Section) from the assignee (in the case of such principal and accrued interest and fees (other than any fee payable pursuant to Section 2.11(g) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts (including any amount payable pursuant to
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Section 2.11(g), (iii) the Borrower or such assignee shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the processing and recordation fee specified in Section 9.04(b), (iv) such assignment does not conflict with applicable law and (v) the assignee shall have given its consent to such Proposed Change and, as a result of such assignment and delegation and any contemporaneous assignments and delegations and consents, such Proposed Change can be effected.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent may, without the consent of any Secured Party, consent to a departure by any Loan Party from any covenant of such Loan Party set forth in this Agreement, the Collateral Agreement or any other Security Document to the extent such departure is consistent with the authority of the Administrative Agent set forth in the definition of the term Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.
(e) The Administrative Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, with the concurrence of any Lender, execute waivers, amendments or other modifications on behalf of such Lender. Any waiver, amendment or other modification effected in accordance with this Section, shall be binding upon each Person that is at the time thereof a Lender and each Person that subsequently becomes a Lender.
SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of single firm of counsel for the foregoing (and, if reasonably necessary, of a single firm of local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction (which may include a single firm of special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for the foregoing), in connection with the structuring, arrangement and syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, as well as the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any waiver, amendments or modifications of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of a single firm of counsel for the foregoing (and, if reasonably necessary, of a single firm of local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction (which may include a single firm of special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for the foregoing) and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where any such Person affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, of another firm of counsel for such affected Person (and, if reasonably necessary, of a single firm of local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction (which may be include a single firm of special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for such affected Person), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
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(b) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Arranger, each Lender and each Issuing Bank, 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, penalties, liabilities and related expenses, including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of a single firm of counsel for all Indemnitees (and, if reasonably necessary, of a single firm of local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction (which may include a single firm of special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for the foregoing) and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where any such Person affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, of another firm of counsel for such affected Person (and, if reasonably necessary, of a single firm of local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction (which may be include a single firm of special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for such affected Person), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with or as a result of (i) the structuring, arrangement and syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any other agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on, at, to or from any Mortgaged Property or any other property currently or formerly owned or operated by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any other Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any Subsidiary 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 and whether initiated against or by any party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any Affiliate of any of the foregoing or any third party (and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto); provided that the foregoing indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, apply to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses to the extent they (A) are found in a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the bad faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Indemnitee, (B) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower against such Indemnitee for material breach of such Indemnitees obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document if the Borrower or such Subsidiary has obtained a final and non-appealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or (C) result from a proceeding that does not involve an act or omission by the Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates and that is brought by an Indemnitee against any other Indemnitee (other than a proceeding that is brought against the Administrative Agent or any Arranger in its capacity or in fulfilling its roles as an agent or arranger hereunder or any similar role with respect to the Indebtedness incurred or to be incurred hereunder). This paragraph shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.
(c) To the extent that the Borrower fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required to be paid by it under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), any Issuing Bank, any Swingline Lender or any Related Party of any
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of the foregoing (and without limiting their obligation to do so), each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Bank, such Swingline Lender or such Related Party, as applicable, such Lenders pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount (it being understood and agreed that the Borrowers failure to pay any such amount shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof); provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as applicable, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or such sub-agent), such Issuing Bank or such Swingline Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), any Issuing Bank, or any Swingline Lender in connection with such capacity; provided, further, that, with respect to such unpaid amounts owed to any Issuing Bank or any Swingline Lender in its capacity as such, or to any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for any Issuing Bank or any Swingline Lender in connection with such capacity, only the Revolving Lenders shall be required to pay such unpaid amounts. For purposes of this Section, a Lenders pro rata share shall be determined based upon its share of the sum of the total Revolving Exposures, unused Revolving Commitments and, except for purposes of the second proviso of the immediately preceding sentence, the outstanding Term Loans and unused Term Commitments, in each case at that time. The obligations of the Lenders under this paragraph are subject to the last sentence of Section 2.02(a) (which shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Lenders obligations under this paragraph).
(d) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, (i) the Borrower shall not assert, or permit any of its Affiliates or Related Parties to assert, and the Borrower hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), except to the extent such damages are found in a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the bad faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Indemnitee and (ii) no party to the Loan Documents shall assert, or permit any of its Affiliates or Related Parties to assert, and each such party hereby waives, any claim against any other party, 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 or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.
(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns. (a) General. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender (and any attempted assignment, delegation or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any
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Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section), the Arrangers and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the sub-agents of the Administrative Agent and the Related Parties of any of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, any Issuing Bank and any Lender) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign and delegate to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) of (A) the Borrower; provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required (1) for an assignment and delegation (x) of a Term Commitment or a Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or (y) of a Revolving Commitment or a Revolving Loan to a Revolving Lender, an Affiliate of a Revolving Lender or an Approved Fund in respect of a Revolving Lender and (2) if an Event of Default under clause (a), (b), (h) or (i) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing, for any other assignment and delegation; provided, further, that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment and delegation unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten Business Days after having received notice thereof, (B) the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment and delegation of all or any portion of a Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, (C) each Issuing Bank, in the case of any assignment and delegation of all or a portion of a Revolving Commitment or any Lenders obligations in respect of its LC Exposure and (D) each Swingline Lender, in the case of any assignment and delegation of all or a portion of a Revolving Commitment or any Lenders obligations in respect of its Swingline Exposure.
(ii) Assignments and delegations shall be subject to the following additional conditions: (A) except in the case of an assignment and delegation to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment and delegation of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lenders Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment and delegation (determined as of the trade date specified in the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment and delegation or, if no trade date is so specified, as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment and delegation is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 or, in the case of Term Loans, $1,000,000, unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consents (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default under clause (a), (b), (h) or (i) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing, (B) each partial assignment and delegation shall be made as an assignment and delegation of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided that this clause (B) shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment and delegation of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans, (C) the parties to each assignment and delegation shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; provided that (1) only one such processing and recordation fee
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shall be payable in the event of simultaneous assignments and delegations from any Lender or its Approved Funds to one or more other Approved Funds of such Lender and (2) with respect to any assignment and delegation pursuant to Section 2.19(b) or 9.02(c), the parties hereto agree that such assignment and delegation may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and that the Lender required to make such assignment and delegation need not be a party thereto, (D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent any tax forms required by Section 2.17(f) and an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain MNPI) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignees compliance procedures and applicable law, including Federal, State and foreign securities laws and (E) immediately after giving effect to any assignment and delegation of (1) Revolving Commitments of any Class pursuant to this Section 9.04 by any Lender, the minimum amount of Revolving Commitments of such Class held by such Lender (if such Lender continues to hold a Revolving Commitment of such Class immediately after giving effect to such assignment and delegation) shall be $1,000,000 and (2) Term Loans of any Class pursuant to this Section 9.04 by any Lender, the minimum aggregate principal amount of Term Loans of such Class held by such Lender (if such Lender continues to hold Term Loans of such Class immediately after giving effect to such assignment and delegation) shall be $1,000,000.
(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(v) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned and delegated 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 and delegated by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all the assigning Lenders 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 (and subject to the obligations and limitations of) Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 and to any fees payable hereunder that have accrued for such Lenders account but have not yet been paid). Any assignment, delegation or other transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 9.04(c).
(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the Register). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and, as to entries pertaining to it, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
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(v) Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignees completed Administrative Questionnaire and any tax forms required by Section 2.17(f) (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment and delegation required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to accept such Assignment and Assumption or so record the information contained therein if the Administrative Agent reasonably believes that such Assignment and Assumption lacks any written consent required by this Section or is otherwise not in proper form, it being acknowledged that the Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation (and shall incur no liability) with respect to obtaining (or confirming the receipt) of any such written consent or with respect to the form of (or any defect in) such Assignment and Assumption, any such duty and obligation being solely with the assigning Lender and the assignee. No assignment or delegation shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph and, following such recording, unless otherwise determined by the Administrative Agent (such determination to be made in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent, which determination may be conditioned on the consent of the assigning Lender and the assignee), shall be effective notwithstanding any defect in the Assignment and Assumption relating thereto. Each assigning Lender and the assignee, by its execution and delivery of an Assignment and Assumption, shall be deemed to have represented to the Administrative Agent that all written consents required by this Section with respect thereto (other than the consent of the Administrative Agent) have been obtained and that such Assignment and Assumption is otherwise duly completed and in proper form, and each assignee, by its execution and delivery of an Assignment and Assumption, shall be deemed to have represented to the assigning Lender and the Administrative Agent that such assignee is an Eligible Assignee.
(vi) The words execution, signed, signature and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures 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 applicable, 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.
(c) Participations. Any Lender may, without the consent of or notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more Eligible Assignees (each, a Participant) in all or a portion of such Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and Loans of any Class); provided that (A) such Lenders obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that
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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 or any other Loan Document; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant or requires the approval of all the Lenders. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.17(f) (it being understood and agreed that the documentation required under Section 2.17(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment and delegation pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.18 and 2.19 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or 2.17, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrowers request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 2.19(b) with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(c) 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 Participants interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (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 Participants interest in any Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or its other obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan, Letter of Credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
(d) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Swingline Lender, at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(e) Special Purpose Funding Vehicles. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a Granting Lender) may grant to a special purpose
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funding vehicle (an SPV), identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the option to provide to the Borrower all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPV to make any Loan and (ii) if an SPV elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of a Loan by an SPV hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPV shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the Granting Lender). In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPV, such party will not institute against, or join any other person in instituting against, such SPV any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section, any SPV may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign and delegate all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to the Granting Lender or to any financial institutions (consented to by the Borrower and Administrative Agent) providing liquidity or credit support to or for the account of such SPV to support the funding or maintenance of Loans and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPV.
(f) Purchasing Borrower Parties. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained in this Agreement (including the definition of Eligible Assignees), any Lender may assign and delegate all or a portion of its Term Loans to any Purchasing Borrower Party (x) through open market purchases made by such Purchasing Borrower Party on a non-pro rata basis (subject to clause (v) below) or (y) otherwise pursuant to an Auction Purchase Offer in accordance with clauses (i) through (vii) below; provided that in the case of assignments and delegations made pursuant to the forgoing clause (y) (and, in the case of clause (v) below, the foregoing clause (x)):
(i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom;
(ii) each Auction Purchase Offer shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures, terms and conditions set forth in this paragraph and the Auction Procedures;
(iii) the assigning Lender and Purchasing Borrower Party purchasing such Lenders Term Loans, as applicable, shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption in lieu of an Assignment and Assumption;
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(iv) for the avoidance of doubt, the Lenders shall not be permitted to assign or delegate Revolving Commitments or Revolving Exposure to a Purchasing Borrower Party;
(v) any Term Loans assigned and delegated to any Purchasing Borrower Party shall be automatically and permanently cancelled upon the effectiveness of such assignment and delegation and will thereafter no longer be outstanding for any purpose hereunder (it being understood and agreed that (A) except as expressly set forth in any such definition, any gains or losses by any Purchasing Borrower Party upon purchase or acquisition and cancellation of such Term Loans shall not be taken into account in the calculation of Excess Cash Flow, Consolidated Net Income and Consolidated EBITDA and (B) any purchase of Term Loans pursuant to this paragraph (f) shall not constitute a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans for purposes of this Agreement);
(vi) the Purchasing Borrower Party shall not have any MNPI that either (A) has not been disclosed to the assigning Lender (other than any such Lender that does not wish to receive MNPI) on or prior to the date of any initiation of an Auction by such Purchasing Borrower Party or (B) if not disclosed to such Lender, would reasonably be expected to have a material effect upon, or otherwise be material to, (1) such Lenders decision to participate in any such Auction or (2) the market price of the Term Loans, in each case, with respect to such Lender, except to the extent that such Lender has entered into a customary big boy letter with the Borrower; and
(vii) no Purchasing Borrower Party may use the proceeds from Revolving Loans to purchase any Term Loans.
SECTION 9.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Arrangers, any Issuing Bank, any Lender or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time this Agreement or any other Loan Document is executed and delivered or any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any LC Exposure is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, in the event that, in connection with the refinancing or repayment in full of the credit facilities provided for herein, an Issuing Bank shall have provided to the Administrative Agent a written consent to the release of the Revolving Lenders from their obligations hereunder with respect to any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank (whether as a result of the obligations of the Borrower (and any other account party) in respect of such Letter of Credit having been collateralized in full by a deposit of cash with such Issuing Bank, or being supported by a letter of credit that names such
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Issuing Bank as the beneficiary thereunder, or otherwise), then from and after such time such Letter of Credit shall cease to be a Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and the Revolving Lenders shall be deemed to have no participations in such Letter of Credit, and no obligations with respect thereto, under Section 2.05(d) or 2.05(e). The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17, 2.18(e) and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment or prepayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent or the syndication of the Loans and Commitments constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof, including the commitments of the Lenders and, if applicable, their Affiliates under the commitment letter in respect of the credit facilities set forth herein and any related commitment advices submitted by the Lenders (but do not supersede any other provisions of such commitment letter or any related fee letters 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). Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission or other electronic imaging shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION 9.07. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) or other amounts at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the obligations then due of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such
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obligations of the Borrower are owed to a branch or office of such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such Indebtedness. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give or any delay in giving such notice shall not affect the validity of any such setoff and application under this Section. The rights of each Lender, each Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such Issuing Bank and any such Affiliate may have.
SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) This Agreement and any claim, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
(b) 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, any Arranger, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any Related Party of any 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 County 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, for itself and its property, to the jurisdiction of such courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any action, litigation 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 party hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action, litigation 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 shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may otherwise have to bring any action, litigation or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Loan Party or any of its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(c) The Borrower hereby 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, litigation 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 law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE
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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 PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
SECTION 9.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Related Parties, including accountants, legal counsel and other agents and advisors, it being understood and agreed 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 purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (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 under this Agreement or any other Loan Document 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 confidentiality undertakings substantially similar to those of this Section, to (i) 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 actual or prospective counterparty (or its Related Parties) to any Hedging Agreement relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary and its obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document or (iii) any credit insurance provider relating to the Borrower and the Obligations, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided for herein or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the credit facilities provided for herein, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) 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, any Lender or any Issuing Bank or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary. For purposes of this Section, Information means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or their businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary and other than information pertaining to this
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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 any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified 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.
SECTION 9.13. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan or participation in any LC Disbursement, together with all fees, charges and other amounts that are treated as interest on such Loan or LC Disbursement or participation therein under applicable law (collectively the Charges), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the Maximum Rate) that may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender or Issuing Bank holding such Loan or LC Disbursement or participation therein in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan or LC Disbursement or participation therein but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender or Issuing Bank in respect of other Loans or LC Disbursement or participation therein or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender or Issuing Bank.
SECTION 9.14. Release of Liens and Guarantees. Subject to the reinstatement provisions set forth in the Collateral Agreement, a Subsidiary Loan Party shall automatically be released from its obligations under the Loan Documents, and all security interests created by the Security Documents in Collateral owned by such Subsidiary Loan Party shall be automatically released, upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by this Agreement as a result of which such Subsidiary Loan Party ceases to be a Subsidiary; provided that, if so required by this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall have consented to such transaction and the terms of such consent shall not have provided otherwise. Upon any sale or other transfer by any Loan Party (other than to the Borrower or any other Loan Party) of any Collateral in a transaction permitted under this Agreement, or upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interest created under any Security Document in any Collateral pursuant to Section 9.02, the security interests in such Collateral created by the Security Documents shall be automatically released. In addition to the foregoing, during the continuance of an Investment Grade Ratings Period, the Borrower may, by notice to the Administrative Agent, require that the security interests in the Collateral created by the Security Documents be released (and the requirements of Sections 5.03, 5.11 and 5.12 with respect to the Collateral shall cease to apply during such period); provided that (a) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) no Term Loans are outstanding and (c) no Alternative Incremental Facility Debt or Refinancing Term Loan Indebtedness, in each that is secured by a Lien on any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party is outstanding; provided, further, that after the termination of the applicable Investment Grade Ratings Period, the security interests contemplated by the Security Documents shall be required to be reinstated not later than 60 days after such termination (or
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such longer period as agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), and the Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary Loan Party to, take all actions that may be required under applicable law, or that the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, to cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to thereafter be and remain satisfied, all at the expense of the Loan Parties. In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section, the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Partys expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent. Each of the Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to effect the releases set forth in this Section.
SECTION 9.15. USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender, each Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies each Loan Party that, pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender, such Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act, and each Loan Party agrees to provide such information from time to time to such Lender, such Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent, as applicable. This notice is given in accordance with the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act and is effective for the each Lender, each Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 9.16. No Fiduciary Relationship. The Borrower, on behalf of itself and the Subsidiaries, agrees that in connection with all aspects of the transactions contemplated hereby and any communications in connection therewith, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and their respective Affiliates, on the other hand, will have a business relationship that does not create, by implication or otherwise, any fiduciary duty on the part of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or their Affiliates, and no such duty will be deemed to have arisen in connection with any such transactions or communications. The Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and their respective Affiliates may be engaged, for their own accounts or the accounts of customers, in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates, and none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or any of their respective Affiliates has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower, the Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it or any of its Affiliates may have against the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
SECTION 9.17. Non-Public Information. (a) Each Lender acknowledges that all information, including requests for waivers and amendments, furnished by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent pursuant to or in connection with, or in the course of administering, this Agreement will be syndicate-level information, which may contain MNPI. Each Lender represents to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that (i) it has developed compliance
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procedures regarding the use of MNPI and that it will handle MNPI in accordance with such procedures and applicable law, including Federal, State and foreign securities laws, and (ii) it has identified in its Administrative Questionnaire a credit contact who may receive information that may contain MNPI in accordance with its compliance procedures and applicable law, including Federal, State and foreign securities laws.
(b) The Borrower and each Lender acknowledge that, if information furnished by the Borrower pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement is being distributed by the Administrative Agent through the Platform, (i) the Administrative Agent may post any information that the Borrower has indicated as containing MNPI solely on that portion of the Platform as is designated for Private Side Lender Representatives and (ii) if the Borrower has not indicated whether any information furnished by it pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement contains MNPI, the Administrative Agent reserves the right to post such information solely on that portion of the Platform as is designated for Private Side Lender Representatives. The Borrower agrees to clearly designate all information provided to the Administrative Agent by or on behalf of the Borrower that is suitable to be made available to Public Side Lender Representatives, and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely on any such designation by the Borrower without liability or responsibility for the independent verification thereof.
SECTION 9.18. Authorization to Distribute Certain Materials to Public-Siders; Security Clearances. (a) If the Borrower does not file this Agreement with the SEC, then the Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to distribute the execution version of this Agreement and the Loan Documents to all Lenders, including their Public Side Lender Representatives. The Borrower acknowledges its understanding that Lenders, including their Public Side Lender Representatives, may be trading in securities of the Borrower and its Affiliates while in possession of the Loan Documents.
(b) To the extent that any of the executed Loan Documents constitutes at any time material non-public information within the meaning of the Federal and state securities laws after the date hereof, the Borrower agrees that it will promptly make such information publicly available by press release or public filing with the SEC.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, no Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary shall be required to provide or deliver any information, give any notice or permit the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any of their respective representatives to visit and inspect its properties or to examine and make extracts from its books and records, if the Borrower reasonably determines that providing or delivering such information, giving such notice or granting such permission would reasonably be expected to (x) result in the withdrawal, revocation, suspension or other compromise of any security clearance of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any individual employed by or otherwise working for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (y) result in a violation of any Requirement of Law.
(d) The Borrower represents and warrants that each of Borrower and each Subsidiary either (a) has no registered or publicly traded securities outstanding or (b) files its financial statements with the SEC or makes its financial statements available to potential holders of its 144A securities, and, accordingly, the Borrower hereby (i) authorizes the Administrative Agent to make the financial statements provided under Sections 5.01(a) and 5.01(b) available to
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the Public Side Lender Representatives and (ii) agrees that at the time such financial statements are provided hereunder, such financial statements shall have already been made available to holders of its securities. The Borrower will not request that any other material be posted to Public Side Lender Representatives without expressly representing and warranting to the Administrative Agent in writing that such materials do not constitute MNPI or that the Borrower has no outstanding publicly traded securities, including Rule 144A securities. In no event shall the Administrative Agent post compliance certificates or budgets delivered hereunder to Public Side Lender Representatives.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, | ||||
by |
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/s/ Mark E. Newman | ||||
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief | |||
Financial Officer | ||||
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually as a Lender and as Administrative Agent, an Issuing Bank and a Swingline Lender, | ||||
by |
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/s/ Peter S. Predun | ||||
Name: | Peter S. Predun | |||
Title: | Executive Director | |||
CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH individually as a Lender and as an Issuing Bank, | ||||
by |
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/s/ William ODaly | ||||
Name: | William ODaly | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |||
For any lender requiring a second signature block: | ||||
by |
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/s/ Franziska Schoch | ||||
Name: | Franziska Schoch | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA | ||||
individually and as an Issuing Bank, | ||||
by |
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/s/ Robert Ebudin | ||||
Name: | Robert Ebudin | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |||
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., individually and as an Issuing Bank, | ||||
by |
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/s/ Christopher DiBiase | ||||
Name: | Christopher DiBiase | |||
Title: | Director | |||
CITIBANK, N.A., individually and as an Issuing Bank, | ||||
by |
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/s/ John Tucker | ||||
Name: | John Tucker | |||
Title: | Director | |||
BARCLAYS BANK PLC, individually and as an Issuing Bank, | ||||
by |
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/s/ Vanessa A. Kurbatskiy | ||||
Name: | Vanessa A. Kurbatskiy | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||||
by |
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/s/ David A. Mandell | ||||
Name: | David A. Mandell | |||
Title: | Managing Director |
2
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA | ||||
by |
||||
/s/ Kevin Flynn | ||||
Name: | Kevin Flynn | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |||
MIZUHO BANK, LTD. | ||||
by |
||||
/s/ Donna DeMagistris | ||||
Name: | Donna DeMagistris | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |||
SANTANDER BANK, N.A. | ||||
by |
||||
/s/ Matthew Bartlett | ||||
Name: | Matthew Bartlett | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
THE BANK OF TOKYO MITSUBISH UFJ, LTD. | ||||
by |
||||
/s/ Mustafa Khan | ||||
Name: | Mustafa Khan | |||
Title: | Director |
3
BNP PARIBAS | ||||
by |
||||
/s/ Michael Pierce | ||||
Name: | Michael Pierce | |||
Title: | Managing Director | |||
For any lender requiring a second signature block: | ||||
by |
||||
/s/ Emma Petersen | ||||
Name: | Emma Petersen | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
TORONTO DOMINION (NEW YORK) LLC | ||||
by |
||||
/s/ Michael Pierce | ||||
Name: | Savo Bozic | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
4
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF] ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
This Assignment and Assumption (this Assignment and Assumption) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between the Assignor (as defined below) and the Assignee (as defined below). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex I attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.
For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions referred to below and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below, (a) all the Assignors rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including any Guarantees, Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans included in such facilities) and (b) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (a) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above being referred to herein collectively as the Assigned Interest). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.
1. | Assignor: |
| ||
2. | Assignee: |
| ||
[and is [a Lender] [an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [Identify Lender]]]1 | ||||
3. | Borrower: The Chemours Company, a Delaware corporation | |||
4. | Administrative Agent: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement |
1 | Select as applicable. |
5. | Credit Agreement: The Credit Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015, among The Chemours Company, a Delaware corporation, the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. | |
6. |
Assigned Interest:2 |
Facility Assigned |
Aggregate Amount of Commitments/Loans of the applicable Class of all Lenders |
Amount of the Commitments/Loans of the applicable Class Assigned |
Percentage Assigned of Aggregate Amount of Commitments/Loans of the applicable Class of all Lenders3 |
|||||||||
Revolving Commitments/Loans |
$ | $ | % | |||||||||
Tranche B Term Commitments/Loans |
$ | $ | % | |||||||||
[ ]4 |
$ | $ | % |
Effective Date: , 20 [TO BE INSERTED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR]
The Assignee, if not already a Lender, agrees to deliver to the Administrative Agent a completed Administrative Questionnaire in which the Assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain MNPI) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignees compliance procedures and applicable law, including Federal, State and foreign securities laws.
2 | Must comply with the minimum assignment amounts set forth in Section 9.04(b)(ii)(A) of the Credit Agreement and the minimum commitment holds set forth in Section 9.04(b)(ii)(E) of the Credit Agreement, to the extent such minimum assignment amounts or minimum commitment holds are applicable. |
3 | Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitments/Loans of all Lenders of any Class, as applicable. |
4 | In the event Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments of any Class are established under Section 2.21 of the Credit Agreement or any new Class of Loans or Commitments is established pursuant to Section 2.22 or 2.23 of the Credit Agreement, refer to the Class of such Loans assigned. |
The terms set forth above are hereby agreed to: | [Consented to and]6 Accepted: | |||||||
, as Assignor, | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, | |||||||
by |
by | |||||||
|
| |||||||
Name: | Name: | |||||||
Title: | Title: | |||||||
, as Assignee,5 | [Consented to: | |||||||
by |
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, | |||||||
|
||||||||
Name: | by |
|||||||
Title: |
| |||||||
Name: | ||||||||
Title:]7 | ||||||||
[Consented to:8 | ||||||||
[EACH ISSUING BANK/SWINGLINE LENDER | ||||||||
by |
||||||||
| ||||||||
Name: | ||||||||
Title:] |
5 | The Assignee must deliver to the Borrower all applicable Tax forms required to be delivered by it under Section 2.17(f) of the Credit Agreement. |
6 | No consent of the Administrative Agent is required for an assignment of any Term Commitment or Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund. |
7 | No consent of the Borrower is required (x) with respect to Term Commitments or Term Loans, for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, (y) with respect to Revolving Commitments or Revolving Loans, for an assignment to a Revolving Lender, an Affiliate of a Revolving Lender or an Approved Fund in respect of a Revolving Lender or (z) if an Event of Default of the type set forth in clause (a), (b), (h) or (i) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing, for any other assignment. |
8 | To be added only if the consent of each Issuing Bank or each Swingline Lender is required by Section 9.04(b)(i)(C) or (D) of the Credit Agreement. |
ANNEX 1 TO
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
1. Representations and Warranties.
1.1. Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim, (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and (iv) it is [not] a Defaulting Lender; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, other than statements made by it herein, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Affiliate of the Borrower or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Affiliate of the Borrower or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.
1.2. Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by the Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire the Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 thereof (or, prior to the first such delivery, the financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 thereof), and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, (vi) if it is a Lender that is a U.S. Person, attached hereto is an executed original of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. Federal backup withholding tax, (vii) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached hereto is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement (including Section 2.17(f) thereof), duly completed and executed by the Assignee, and (viii) it is an Eligible Assignee, and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it
shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignee whether such amounts have accrued prior to or on or after the Effective Date. The Assignor and the Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments by the Administrative Agent for periods prior to the Effective Date or with respect to the making of this assignment directly between themselves.
3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by facsimile transmission or other electronic imaging shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption and any claim, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Assignment and Assumption and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
EXHIBIT B
GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT
dated as of
May 12, 2015,
among
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY,
THE SUBSIDIARIES OF THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
IDENTIFIED HEREIN
and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I | ||||
Definitions | ||||
SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms |
1 | |||
SECTION 1.02. Other Defined Terms |
1 | |||
ARTICLE II | ||||
Guarantee | ||||
SECTION 2.01. Guarantee |
6 | |||
SECTION 2.02. Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee |
6 | |||
SECTION 2.03. No Limitations |
7 | |||
SECTION 2.04. Reinstatement |
7 | |||
SECTION 2.05. Agreement to Pay; Subrogation |
8 | |||
SECTION 2.06. Information |
8 | |||
SECTION 2.07. Keepwell |
8 | |||
ARTICLE III | ||||
Pledge of Securities | ||||
SECTION 3.01. Pledge |
8 | |||
SECTION 3.02. Delivery of the Pledged Securities |
9 | |||
SECTION 3.03. Representations and Warranties |
11 | |||
SECTION 3.04. Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations |
12 | |||
SECTION 3.05. Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest |
12 | |||
ARTICLE IV | ||||
Security Interests in Personal Property | ||||
SECTION 4.01. Security Interest |
14 | |||
SECTION 4.02. Representations and Warranties |
16 | |||
SECTION 4.03. Covenants |
17 | |||
SECTION 4.04. Other Actions |
19 | |||
SECTION 4.05. Covenants Regarding Patent, Trademark and Copyright Collateral |
21 |
ARTICLE V | ||||
Remedies | ||||
SECTION 5.01. Remedies Upon Default |
23 | |||
SECTION 5.02. Application of Proceeds |
25 | |||
SECTION 5.03. Grant of License To Use Intellectual Property |
25 | |||
SECTION 5.04. Securities Act |
26 | |||
SECTION 5.05. Registration |
27 | |||
ARTICLE VI | ||||
Indemnity, Subrogation, Contribution and Subordination | ||||
SECTION 6.01. Indemnity and Subrogation |
28 | |||
SECTION 6.02. Contribution and Subrogation |
28 | |||
SECTION 6.03. Subordination |
28 | |||
ARTICLE VII | ||||
Miscellaneous | ||||
SECTION 7.01. Notices |
29 | |||
SECTION 7.02. Waivers; Amendment |
29 | |||
SECTION 7.03. Administrative Agents Fees and Expenses; Indemnification |
30 | |||
SECTION 7.04. Survival |
30 | |||
SECTION 7.05. Counterparts; Effectiveness; Successors and Assigns |
31 | |||
SECTION 7.06. Severability |
31 | |||
SECTION 7.07. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process |
31 | |||
SECTION 7.08. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
32 | |||
SECTION 7.09. Headings |
32 | |||
SECTION 7.10. Security Interest Absolute |
32 | |||
SECTION 7.11. Termination or Release |
33 | |||
SECTION 7.12. Additional Subsidiaries |
33 | |||
SECTION 7.13. Administrative Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact |
34 |
Schedules
Schedule I | Subsidiary Loan Parties | |
Schedule II | Pledged Equity Interests; Pledged Debt Securities | |
Schedule III | Intellectual Property | |
Schedule IV | Commercial Tort Claims |
Exhibits
Exhibit I | Form of Supplement | |
Exhibit II-A | Form of Patent Security Agreement | |
Exhibit II-B | Form of Trademark Security Agreement | |
Exhibit II-C | Form of Copyright Security Agreement |
GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT dated as of May 12, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this Agreement), among The Chemours Company, a Delaware corporation, the Subsidiaries from time to time party hereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JPMCB), as Administrative Agent.
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among The Chemours Company, a Delaware corporation (the Borrower), the Lenders and the Issuing Banks from time to time party thereto and JPMCB, as administrative agent (the Administrative Agent). The Lenders and Issuing Banks have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to extend such credit are conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this Agreement. The Subsidiary Loan Parties are Affiliates of the Borrower, will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and are willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to extend such credit. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms. (a) Each capitalized term used but not defined herein and defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the meaning specified in the Credit Agreement. Each other term used but not defined herein that is defined in the Uniform Commercial Code (as defined herein) shall have the meaning specified in the Uniform Commercial Code. The term instrument shall have the meaning specified in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code.
(b) The rules of construction specified in Section 1.03 of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.
SECTION 1.02. Other Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:
Account Debtor means any Person that is or may become obligated to any Grantor under, with respect to or on account of an Account.
Agreement has the meaning assigned to such term in the Preamble hereto.
Anti-Assignment Provisions has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of Excluded Assets herein.
Article 9 Collateral has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(a).
Borrower has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals hereto.
Claiming Party has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.02.
Collateral means, collectively, the Article 9 Collateral and the Pledged Collateral.
Contributing Party has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.02.
Copyright License means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any Person any right to use any Copyright owned by any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has the right to license, or granting to any Grantor any right to use any Copyright owned by any other Person or that any other Person otherwise has the right to license, and all rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.
Copyrights means, with respect to any Person, all the following now owned or hereafter acquired by such Person: (a) all copyright rights in any work subject to the copyright laws of the United States of America or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, whether as author, assignee, transferee or otherwise, (b) all registrations and applications for registration of any such copyright in the United States of America or any other country, including registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations, pending applications for registration, and renewals in the United States Copyright Office (or any similar office in any other country or any political subdivision thereof), including, in the case of any Grantor, any of the foregoing set forth under its name on Schedule III and (c) any other adjacent or other rights related or appurtenant to the foregoing, including moral rights.
Credit Agreement has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recital hereto.
Excluded Account means (a) with respect to Deposit Accounts, (i) any Deposit Account the funds in which are used, in the ordinary course of business, solely for the payment of salaries and wages, workers compensation and similar expenses, (ii) Deposit Accounts the daily balance in which does not at any time exceed $5,000,000 for any such account or $20,000,000 for all such accounts, (iii) any Deposit Account that is a zero-balance disbursement account and (iv) any Deposit Account the funds in which consist solely of (A) funds held by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in trust for any director, officer or employee of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any employee benefit plan maintained by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (B) funds representing deferred compensation for the directors and employees of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, and (b) with respect to Securities Accounts, (i) Securities Entitlements held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in trust for any director, officer or employee of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any employee benefit plan maintained by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (ii) Securities Entitlements representing deferred compensation for the directors and employees of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries.
Excluded Asset means (a) the Excluded Equity Interests; (b) the Excluded Accounts; (c) motor vehicles and other assets, in each case subject to certificates of title (but only to the extent that a security interest therein cannot be perfected by the filing of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement), (d) Letter-of-Credit Rights (except to the extent such rights constitute Supporting Obligations with respect to other Collateral that is perfected by filing a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement) and Commercial Tort Claims with a value of
2
less than $1,000,000; (e) those assets in respect of which the granting of the Security Interest (i) would be prohibited by applicable law, regulation or contract, so long as (A) any contractual restriction is not incurred in contemplation of the owning entitys becoming a Subsidiary or the entry of such owning entity into the Loan Documents and (B) such contract is permitted under the Credit Agreement (in each case, after giving effect to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 and 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable law or principle of equity (the Anti-Assignment Provisions)); provided that, for purposes of this clause (e), the Security Interest shall attach immediately on such assets at such time as the condition causing such prohibition shall no longer exist and, to the extent severable, shall attach immediately to any portion of such assets that does not result in such prohibition or (ii) would result in material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower (it being understood that neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall be required to enter into any security agreement or pledge agreement governed by foreign law); (f) those assets as to which the Administrative Agent and the Borrower reasonably determine that the costs of obtaining a security interest in such assets or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the benefit to the Lenders of the security to be afforded thereby; (g) any intent-to-use trademark or service mark application filed pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Lanham Act prior to the filing and acceptance of a Statement of Use or Amendment to Allege Use pursuant to Sections 1(c) and 1(d) of the Lanham Act with respect thereto; (h) margin stock and, to the extent requiring the consent of one or more third parties (other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any director, officer or employee thereof) or prohibited by the terms of any applicable organizational documents, joint venture agreement or shareholders agreement, equity interests in any Person other than wholly-owned Material Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries; (i) any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority (each, a Governmental Approval), which by its terms or by operation of law would become void, voidable, terminable or revocable if mortgaged, pledged or assigned hereunder or if a security interest therein was granted hereunder, and any Governmental Approval as to which the grant of a Lien or direct security interest is prohibited by or cannot be recognized under applicable law to the extent necessary so as to avoid such voidness, avoidability, terminability, revocability or prohibition, in each case after giving effect to the applicable Anti-Assignment Provisions, but the Collateral shall include, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all rights of such Grantor incident or appurtenant to such Governmental Approval and the right of such Grantor to receive all proceeds derived from or in connection with the sale, assignment or transfer of such Governmental Approval; (j) any leasehold interest in real property; (k) any Permitted Receivables Facility Assets in which an effective grant of security interest has been conveyed pursuant to any Permitted Receivables Facility Document; and (l) any lease, license or other agreement to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary) after giving effect to the applicable Anti-Assignment Provisions; provided that, for purposes of this clause (l), the Security Interest shall attach immediately on such assets at such time as the condition causing such prohibition shall no longer exist and, to the extent severable, shall attach immediately to any portion of such asset that does not result in such prohibition), in each case other than any Proceeds, substitutions or replacements of any of the assets described in clauses (a) through (l) (unless any such Proceeds, substitution or replacement would in itself constitute an asset described in clauses (a) through (l)); provided that the Security Interest shall immediately attach to, and the Collateral shall immediately include, any asset (or portion thereof) upon such asset (or such portion) ceasing to be an Excluded Asset.
3
Excluded Equity Interests has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.
Federal Securities Laws has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04.
Governmental Approval has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of Excluded Assets herein.
Grantors means, collectively, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Loan Party.
Guarantors means, collectively, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Loan Party (in each case, except with respect to the Obligations of such Person).
Indemnified Amount has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.02.
Intellectual Property means all intellectual and similar property of every kind and nature, including rights in inventions, designs, utility models, Patents, Copyrights, Licenses, Trademarks, trade secrets, domain names, confidential or proprietary technical and business information, know-how, show-how or other data or information, software and databases and all embodiments or fixations thereof and applications therefor, and related documentation, registrations and franchises, and all additions, improvements and accessions to, and books and records describing or used in connection with, any of the foregoing.
IP Security Agreements means, collectively, a Patent Security Agreement in the form of Exhibit II-A hereto, a Trademark Security Agreement in the form of Exhibit II-B hereto and a Copyright Security Agreement in the form of Exhibit II-C hereto.
JPMCB has the meaning assigned to such term in the Preamble hereto.
License means any Patent License, Trademark License, Copyright License or other license or sublicense agreement to which any Grantor is a party, including, in the case of any Grantor, any of the forgoing set forth under its name on Schedule III.
Original Perfection Certificate means the Perfection Certificate dated the Effective Date delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 4.01(f) of the Credit Agreement.
Patent License means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any Person any right to make, use or sell any invention on which a Patent has been granted to any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has the right to license, or granting to any Grantor any right to make, use or sell any invention on which a Patent has been granted to any other Person or that any other Person otherwise has the right to license, and all rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.
4
Patents mean, with respect to any Person, all the following now owned or hereafter acquired by such Person: (a) all letters patent of the United States of America or the equivalent thereof in any other country, all registrations and recordings thereof and all applications for letters patent of the United States of America or the equivalent thereof in any other country or any political subdivision thereof, including registrations, recordings and pending applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any similar offices in any other country or any political subdivision thereof, including, in the case of any Grantor, any of the foregoing set forth under its name on Schedule III, and (b) all reissues, continuations, divisionals, continuations-in-part, reexaminations, supplemental examinations, inter partes reviews, renewals, adjustments or extensions thereof, and the inventions disclosed or claimed therein, including the right to make, have made, use, sell, offer to sell, import or export the inventions disclosed or claimed therein.
Pledged Collateral has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.
Pledged Debt Securities has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.
Pledged Equity Interests has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.
Pledged Securities means any promissory notes, stock certificates, unit certificates, limited liability membership interest certificates and other certificated securities now or hereafter included in the Pledged Collateral, including all certificates, instruments or other documents representing or evidencing any Pledged Collateral.
Qualified ECP Guarantor means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation and each other Loan Party that constitutes an eligible contract participant under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an eligible contract participant at such time by guaranteeing or entering into a keepwell in respect of obligations of such other person under Section la(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
Security Interest has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(a).
Subsidiary Loan Parties means, collectively, (a) the entities identified on Schedule I and (b) each Restricted Subsidiary that becomes a party to this Agreement after the Effective Date.
Supplement means an instrument substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto, or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent, and in each case reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
Trademark License means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any Person any right to use any Trademark owned by any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has the right to license, or granting to any Grantor any right to use any Trademark owned by any other Person or that any other Person otherwise has the right to license, and all rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.
5
Trademarks means, with respect to any Person, all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by such Person: (a) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, trade dress, logos, domain names, global top level domain names, other source or business identifiers, designs and general intangibles of like nature, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all registration and recording applications filed in connection therewith, including registrations and registration applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any similar office in any State of the United States of America or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, all extensions or renewals thereof, and all common law rights related thereto, including, in the case of any Grantor, any of the foregoing set forth under its name on Schedule III and (b) all goodwill associated therewith or symbolized thereby.
Uniform Commercial Code means the Uniform Commercial Code enacted in the State of New York, as amended from time to time; provided that, if by reason of mandatory provisions of law, the perfection, the effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority of a security interest is governed by the personal property security laws of any jurisdiction other than New York, Uniform Commercial Code shall mean those personal property security laws as in effect in such other jurisdiction for the purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection or priority and for the definitions related to such provisions.
ARTICLE II
Guarantee
SECTION 2.01. Guarantee. Each Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment and performance of the Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that the Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, or amended or modified, without notice to or further assent from it (except as otherwise provided for in the Credit Agreement), and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee hereunder notwithstanding any extension, renewal, amendment or modification of any Obligation. Each Guarantor waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to the Borrower or any other Loan Party of any of the Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its guarantee hereunder and notice of protest for nonpayment.
SECTION 2.02. Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee. Each Guarantor further agrees that its guarantee hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (whether or not any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding shall have stayed the accrual or collection of any of the Obligations or operated as a discharge thereof) and not merely of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to any security held for the payment of the Obligations or to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party in favor of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other Person. Each Guarantor agrees that its guarantee hereunder is continuing in nature and applies to all Obligations, whether currently existing or hereafter incurred.
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SECTION 2.03. No Limitations. (a) Except for the termination or release of a Guarantors obligations hereunder as expressly provided in Section 7.11, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations, any impossibility in the performance of the Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by (i) the failure of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy under the provisions of any Loan Document or otherwise; (ii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or any release from any of the terms or provisions of, any Loan Document or any other agreement, including with respect to any other Guarantor under this Agreement; (iii) the release of, or any impairment of or failure to perfect any Lien on or security interest in, any security held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party for any of the Obligations; (iv) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of any of the Obligations; or (v) any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations). Each Guarantor expressly authorizes the Secured Parties to take and hold security for the payment and performance of the Obligations, to exchange, waive or release any or all such security (with or without consideration), to enforce or apply such security and direct the order and manner of any sale thereof in their sole discretion or to release or substitute any one or more other guarantors or obligors upon or in respect of the Obligations, all without affecting the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Borrower or any other Loan Party or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, other than the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations. The Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties may, at their election, foreclose on any security held by one or more of them by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such security in lieu of foreclosure, compromise or adjust any part of the Obligations, make any other accommodation with the Borrower or any other Loan Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against the Borrower or any other Loan Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the Obligations have been fully and indefeasibly paid in full in cash. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Loan Party, as the case may be, or any security.
SECTION 2.04. Reinstatement. Each Guarantor agrees that this Agreement and its guarantee hereunder shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party upon the bankruptcy, insolvency, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or otherwise.
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SECTION 2.05. Agreement to Pay; Subrogation. In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Borrower or any other Loan Party to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, each Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the applicable Secured Parties in cash the amount of such unpaid Obligation. Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Administrative Agent as provided above, all rights of such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subject to Article VI.
SECTION 2.06. Information. Each Guarantor (a) assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrowers and each other Loan Partys financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that such Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and (b) agrees that none of the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties will have any duty to advise such Guarantor of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.
SECTION 2.07. Keepwell. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Guarantor that would otherwise not be an eligible contract participant as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder to honor all of its obligations under this Agreement in respect of Swap Obligations (provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 2.07 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 2.07 or otherwise under this Agreement voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 2.07 shall remain in full force and effect until the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 2.07 constitute, and this Section 2.07 shall be deemed to constitute, a keepwell, support, or other agreement for the benefit of each other Loan Party for all purposes of Section la(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
ARTICLE III
Pledge of Securities
SECTION 3.01. Pledge. (a) As security for the payment and performance in full of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby pledges and assigns (or, with respect to Intellectual Property and General Intangibles, collaterally assigns) to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security
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interest in, all such Grantors right, title and interest in, to and under: (a)(i) the Equity Interests of each direct, wholly-owned Material Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary now or at any time hereafter owned by or on behalf of such Grantor, including those set forth opposite the name of such Grantor on Schedule II, and (ii) all certificates and other instruments representing all such Equity Interests ((i) and (ii) collectively, the Pledged Equity Interests); provided that this Agreement shall not constitute a grant of security interest in, and the Pledged Equity Interests shall not include, (x) more than 65% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests of any CFC or any Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company or (y) any Equity Interests in which the grant of a security interest therein is prohibited by any law, rule or regulation applicable to such Equity Interests or the applicable Grantor or would constitute a breach or default under or results in the termination of, or require any consent (other than the consent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary) not obtained under, any lease, license or agreement (in each case, after giving effect to the Anti-Assignment Provisions) (the Equity Interests so excluded pursuant to this proviso being collectively referred to herein as the Excluded Equity Interests); provided that, for purposes of the immediately preceding clause (y), the Equity Interests so excluded shall cease to constitute Excluded Equity Interests and shall be immediately pledged pursuant to this Section 3.01 at such time as the condition causing such prohibition shall no longer exist and, to the extent severable, shall attach immediately to any portion of such Equity Interests that does not result in such prohibition; (b)(i) the debt securities now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Grantor, including those listed opposite the name of such Grantor on Schedule II, and (ii) all promissory notes and other instruments evidencing such debt securities ((i) and (ii) collectively, the Pledged Debt Securities); (c) subject to Section 3.05, all payments of principal, and all interest, dividends or other distributions, whether paid or payable in cash, instruments or other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, in exchange for or upon the conversion of, and all other Proceeds received in respect of, the Pledged Equity Interests and Pledged Debt Securities; (d) subject to Section 3.05, all rights and privileges of such Grantor with respect to the securities, instruments and other property referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above; and (e) all Proceeds of any of the foregoing (the items referred to in clauses (a) through (e) above being collectively referred to as the Pledged Collateral)
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent and for so long as any asset is an Excluded Asset, the security interest granted under this Section 3.01 shall not attach to, and none of the Pledged Equity Interests, Pledged Debt Securities or other Pledged Collateral shall include, such asset; provided, however, that the security interest granted under this Section 3.01 shall immediately attach to, and the Pledged Equity Interests or the Pledged Debt Securities, as applicable, and the Pledged Collateral shall immediately include, any such asset (or portion thereof) upon such asset (or such portion) ceasing to be an Excluded Asset.
SECTION 3.02. Delivery of the Pledged Securities. (a) Each Grantor agrees to deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent any and all Pledged Equity Interests (x) on the date hereof (or on such later date as the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, agree to in writing), in the case of any such Pledged Equity Interests owned by such Grantor on the date hereof, and (y) promptly after the acquisition thereof (and, in any event, as required under the Credit Agreement, or on such later date as the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, agree to in writing), in the case of any such Pledged Equity Interests acquired by such Grantor after the date hereof.
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(b) Subject to applicable local laws in the case of Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary, each interest in any limited liability company or limited partnership controlled by any Grantor (or by such Grantor and one or more other Loan Parties) and required to be pledged hereunder shall be represented by a certificate, shall be a security within the meaning of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code, and shall be governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code; and such certificate shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 3.02(a).
(c) Each Grantor (i) will cause (A) all Indebtedness for borrowed money owed to such Grantor by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and (B) all Indebtedness for borrowed money in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or more owed to such Grantor by any other Person, in each case to be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note (x) on the date hereof (or on such later date as the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, agree in writing), in the case of any such Indebtedness existing on the date hereof or (y) promptly following the incurrence thereof (or on such later date as the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, agree in writing) in the case of Indebtedness incurred after the date hereof, and (ii) agrees to deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent any and all Pledged Debt Securities (other than promissory notes and other evidences of Indebtedness in a principal amount of less than $5,000,000), (I) on the date hereof (and, in any event, as required under the Credit Agreement, or on such later date as the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, agree to in writing), in the case of any such Pledged Debt Securities owned by such Grantor on the date hereof (including pursuant to clause (i)) and (II) promptly after the acquisition thereof (and, in any event as required under the Credit Agreement, or on such later date as the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, agree to in writing) in the case of any such Pledged Debt Securities acquired after the date hereof.
(d) Upon delivery to the Administrative Agent, any Pledged Securities shall be accompanied by undated stock powers or such other proper instruments of assignment duly executed by the applicable Grantor in blank or other undated instruments of transfer satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and such other instruments and documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request. Each delivery of Pledged Securities after the date hereof shall be accompanied by a schedule providing the information required by Schedule II with respect to such Pledged Securities; provided that failure to attach any such schedule hereto shall not affect the validity of such pledge of such Pledged Securities. Each schedule so delivered after the date hereof shall be deemed attached hereto and made a part hereof as a supplement to Schedule II and any prior schedules so delivered.
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SECTION 3.03. Representations and Warranties. The Grantors jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, that:
(a) Schedule II sets forth a true and complete list, with respect to each Grantor, of (i) all the Pledged Equity Interests owned by such Grantor and the percentage of the issued and outstanding units of each class of the Equity Interests of the issuer thereof represented by the Pledged Equity Interests owned by such Grantor and (ii) all the Pledged Debt Securities owned by such Grantor (other than any Pledged Equity Interests or Pledged Debt Securities that are not yet required to have been delivered to the Administrative Agent under the terms of this Agreement or the Credit Agreement);
(b) the Pledged Equity Interests and Pledged Debt Securities issued by the Borrower and any Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued by the issuers thereof and (i) in the case of Pledged Equity Interests, are fully paid and nonassessable (to the extent applicable) and (ii) in the case of Pledged Debt Securities, are legal, valid and binding obligations of the issuers thereof, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors rights generally and to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law;
(c) except for the security interests granted hereunder, each of the Grantors (i) is and, subject to any transfers made in compliance with the Credit Agreement, will continue to be the direct owner, beneficially and of record, of the Pledged Equity Interests and Pledged Debt Securities indicated on Schedule II as owned by such Grantor, (ii) holds the same free and clear of all Liens, other than Liens created by the Security Documents, Permitted Encumbrances and other Liens permitted under Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement, (iii) will make no assignment, pledge, hypothecation or transfer of, or create or permit to exist any security interest in or other Lien on, the Pledged Collateral, other than Liens created by the Security Documents, Permitted Encumbrances, other Liens permitted under Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement and transfers made in compliance with the Credit Agreement, and (iv) will defend its title or interest thereto or therein against any and all Liens (other than the Liens created by the Security Documents, Permitted Encumbrances and other Liens permitted under Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement), however arising, of all Persons whomsoever;
(d) except as disclosed on Schedule II and except for restrictions and limitations imposed or expressly permitted by the Loan Documents or securities laws generally or applicable local laws in the case of Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary, and, in the case of clause (ii) below, except for limitations existing as of the Effective Date in the articles or certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of any Subsidiary, (i) the Pledged Collateral is and will continue to be freely transferable and assignable and (ii) none of the Pledged Collateral is or will be subject to any option, right of first refusal, shareholders agreement, charter or by-law provisions or contractual restriction of any nature that might prohibit, impair, delay or otherwise affect the pledge of such Pledged Collateral hereunder, the sale or disposition thereof pursuant hereto or the exercise by the Administrative Agent of rights and remedies hereunder;
(e) each of the Grantors has the power and authority to pledge the Pledged Collateral pledged by it hereunder in the manner hereby done or contemplated;
(f) no consent or approval of any Governmental Authority, any securities exchange or any other Person was, is or will be required for the validity of the pledge effected hereby (other than such as have been obtained and are in full force and effect);
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(g) subject to applicable local laws in the case of Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary, by virtue of the execution and delivery by the Grantors of this Agreement, when any Pledged Securities are delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with this Agreement, the Administrative Agent will obtain a legal, valid and perfected Lien upon and security interest in such Pledged Securities as security for the payment and performance of the Obligations and such Lien is and shall be prior to any other Lien on such Pledged Securities, other than Permitted Encumbrances and other Liens permitted under Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement that have priority as a matter of law; and
(h) the pledge effected hereby is effective to vest in the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the rights of the Administrative Agent in the Pledged Collateral as set forth herein and all action by any Grantor necessary or desirable to protect and perfect the lien on the Pledged Collateral has been duly taken.
SECTION 3.04. Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations. The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have the right (in its sole and absolute discretion) to hold the Pledged Securities in its own name as pledgee, in the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent) or in the name of the applicable Grantor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Administrative Agent. Each Grantor will promptly give to the Administrative Agent copies of any notices or other communications received by it with respect to Pledged Securities registered in the name of such Grantor. The Administrative Agent shall at all times have the right to exchange the certificates representing Pledged Securities for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Agreement.
SECTION 3.05. Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest. (a) Unless and until (x) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (y) other than in the case of an Event of Default under paragraph (h) or (i) of Article VII of the Credit Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall have notified the Grantors that the Grantors rights, in whole or in part, under this Section 3.05 are being suspended:
(i) each Grantor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and/or other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of Pledged Collateral or any part thereof for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided that such rights and powers shall not be exercised in any manner that could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the rights and remedies of any of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the ability of the Secured Parties to exercise the same;
(ii) the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to each Grantor, or cause to be executed and delivered to such Grantor, all such proxies, powers of attorney and other instruments as such Grantor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling such Grantor to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to Section 3.05(a)(i); and
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(iii) each Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Collateral, but only to the extent that such dividends, interest, principal and other distributions are permitted by, and are otherwise paid or distributed in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and applicable law; provided that any noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that would constitute Pledged Equity Interests or Pledged Debt Securities, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Securities or received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become part of the Pledged Collateral and, if received by any Grantor, and required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent hereunder, shall not be commingled by such Grantor with any of its other funds or property (but shall be held separate and apart therefrom), shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties and shall be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent in the form in which they shall have been received (with any endorsements, stock or note powers and other instruments of transfer reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent).
(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, and, other than in the case of an Event of Default under paragraph (h) or (i) of Article VII of the Credit Agreement, after the Administrative Agent shall have notified the Grantors of the suspension of the Grantors rights under Section 3.05(a)(iii), all rights of any Grantor to dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor is authorized to receive pursuant to Section 3.05(a)(iii), shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Administrative Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to receive and retain such dividends, interest, principal or other distributions. All dividends, interest, principal and other distributions received by any Grantor contrary to the provisions of this Section 3.05 shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, shall be segregated from other property or funds of such Grantor and shall be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent upon demand in the form in which they shall have been received (with any necessary endorsements, stock powers or other instruments of transfer). Any and all money and other property paid over to or received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.05(b) shall be retained by the Administrative Agent in an account to be established by the Administrative Agent upon receipt of such money or other property, shall be held as security for the payment and performance of the Obligations and shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived and the Administrative Agent has received from the Borrower reasonably satisfactory evidence relating to any such cure, the Administrative Agent shall promptly repay to each Grantor (without interest) all dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor would otherwise have been permitted to retain pursuant to the terms of Section 3.05(a)(iii) and that remain in such account.
(c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, and, other than in the case of an Event of Default under paragraph (h) or (i) of Article VII of the Credit Agreement, after the Administrative Agent shall have notified the Grantors of the suspension of the Grantors rights under Section 3.05(a)(i), all rights of any Grantor to exercise the voting and consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to
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Section 3.05(a)(i), and the obligations of the Administrative Agent under Section 3.05(a)(ii), shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Administrative Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise such voting and consensual rights and powers; provided that, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall have the right from time to time following and during the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the Grantors to exercise such rights. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived and the Administrative Agent has received from the Borrower reasonably satisfactory evidence relating to any such cure, all rights vested in the Administrative Agent pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall cease, and the Grantors shall have the exclusive right to exercise the voting and consensual rights and powers they would otherwise be entitled to under paragraph (a)(i) of this Section.
(d) Any notice given by the Administrative Agent to the Grantors suspending the Grantors rights under Section 3.05(a): (i) may be given by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing, (ii) may be given to one or more of the Grantors at the same or different times and (iii) may suspend the rights and powers of the Grantors under Section 3.05(a)(i) or Section 3.05(a)(iii) in part without suspending all such rights or powers (as specified by the Administrative Agent in its sole and absolute discretion) and without waiving or otherwise affecting the Administrative Agents right to give additional notices from time to time suspending other rights and powers so long as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
ARTICLE IV
Security Interests in Personal Property
SECTION 4.01. Security Interest. (a) As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations each Grantor hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest (the Security Interest) in all right, title and interest in, to and under any and all of the following assets now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in, to or under which such Grantor now has or at any time hereafter may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, after giving effect to Section 4.01(d), the Article 9 Collateral):
(i) all Accounts;
(ii) all Chattel Paper;
(iii) all cash, cash equivalents and Deposit Accounts;
(iv) all Documents;
(v) all Equipment;
(vi) all General Intangibles, including all Intellectual Property;
(vii) all Instruments;
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(viii) all Inventory;
(ix) all other Goods;
(x) all Investment Property;
(xi) all Letter-of-Credit Rights;
(xii) all Commercial Tort Claims described on Schedule IV, as such schedule may be supplemented from time to time pursuant to Section 4.02(d);
(xiii) all Fixtures;
(xiv) all books and records pertaining to the Article 9 Collateral; and
(xv) to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds and products of any and all of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees given by any Person with respect to any of the foregoing.
(b) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent (or its designee) at any time and from time to time to file in any relevant jurisdiction any financing statements (including fixture filings) with respect to the Article 9 Collateral or any part thereof and amendments thereto that (i) indicate the Collateral as all assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired of such Grantor or words of similar effect or of a lesser scope or with greater detail and (ii) contain the information required by Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of each applicable jurisdiction for the filing of any financing statement or amendment, including (A) whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organizational identification number issued to such Grantor and (B) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing or covering Article 9 Collateral constituting minerals or the like to be extracted or timber to be cut, a sufficient description of the real property to which such Article 9 Collateral relates. Each Grantor agrees to provide the information required for any such filing to the Administrative Agent promptly upon request.
Each Grantor also ratifies its authorization for the Administrative Agent (or its designee) to file in any relevant jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.
The Administrative Agent (or its designee) is further authorized by each Grantor to file with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office (or any successor office or any similar office in any other country) such documents as may be necessary or advisable (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent) for the purpose of perfecting, confirming, continuing, enforcing or protecting the Security Interest granted by such Grantor, without the signature of any Grantor, and naming any Grantor or the Grantors as debtors and the Administrative Agent as secured party.
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(c) The Security Interest and the security interest granted pursuant to Article III are granted as security only and shall not subject the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify, any obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to or arising out of the Collateral.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent and for so long as any asset is an Excluded Asset, the Security Interest granted under this Section 4.01 shall not attach to, and the Article 9 Collateral shall not include, such asset; provided, however that the Security Interest shall immediately attach to, and the Article 9 Collateral shall immediately include, any such asset (or portion thereof) upon such asset (or such portion) ceasing to be an Excluded Asset.
SECTION 4.02. Representations and Warranties. The Grantors jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties that:
(a) Each Grantor has good and valid rights in and title to the Article 9 Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant the Security Interest (except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to (i) conduct its business as currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes or (ii) grant the Security Interest) and has full power and authority to grant to the Administrative Agent the Security Interest in such Article 9 Collateral pursuant hereto and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without the consent or approval of any other Person other than any consent or approval that has been obtained.
(b) The Security Interest constitutes (i) a legal and valid security interest in all the Article 9 Collateral securing the payment and performance of the Obligations, (ii) upon (A) the filing of a UCC-1 financing statement delivered to the Administrative Agent for filing in the appropriate jurisdictions set forth on Schedule 2(a) of the Perfection Certificate or, after the date hereof, as notified to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.03 of the Credit Agreement and (B) the payment of all applicable fees, a perfected security interest in all Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registering a financing statement or analogous document in the United States of America (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law in such jurisdictions and (iii) a security interest that shall be perfected in all Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected upon the receipt and recording of the IP Security Agreements with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as applicable. The Security Interest is and shall be prior to any other Lien on any of the Article 9 Collateral, other than Permitted Encumbrances and other Liens permitted under Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement that have priority as a matter of law.
(c) Schedule III sets forth, as of the Effective Date, a true and complete list, with respect to each Grantor, of (i) all Patents that have been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and all Patents for which United States applications are pending, (ii) all Copyrights that have been registered with the United States Copyright Office and all Copyrights for which United States registration applications are pending, (iii) all Trademarks that have been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and all Trademarks for which United States registration applications are pending and (iv) all material,
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inbound, exclusive Copyright Licenses under which such Grantor is a licensee, in each case truly and completely specifying the name of the registered owner, title, type of mark, registration or application number, expiration date (if already registered) or filing date, a brief description thereof and, if applicable, the licensee, licensor and date of license agreement. In the event any Supplemental Perfection Certificate or any Supplement shall set forth any Intellectual Property, Schedule III shall be deemed to be supplemented to include the reference to such Intellectual Property, in the same form as such reference is set forth on such Supplemental Perfection Certificate or Supplement.
(d) Schedule IV sets forth, as of the Effective Date, a true and complete list, with respect to each Grantor, of each Commercial Tort Claim in respect of which a complaint or a counterclaim has been filed by such Grantor, seeking damages in an amount reasonably estimated to exceed $1,000,000, including a summary description of such claim. In the event any Supplemental Perfection Certificate or any Supplement shall set forth any Commercial Tort Claim, Schedule IV shall be deemed to be supplemented to include the reference to such Commercial Tort Claim (and the description thereof), in the same form as such reference and description are set forth on such Supplemental Perfection Certificate or Supplement.
(e) No Grantor has filed or consented to the filing of (i) any financing statement or analogous document under the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable laws covering any Article 9 Collateral, (ii) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, (iii) any notice under the Assignment of Claims Act, or (iv) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Article 9 Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with any foreign governmental, municipal or other office, which financing statement or analogous document, assignment, security agreement or similar instrument is still in effect, except, in each case, for any of the foregoing related solely to Liens expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 4.03. Covenants. (a) Each Grantor agrees (i) to be bound by the provisions of Section 5.03 of the Credit Agreement with the same force and effect, and to the same extent, as if each reference therein to the Borrower were a reference to such Grantor, (ii) promptly to provide the Administrative Agent with certified organizational documents reflecting any of the changes described in Section 5.03(a) of the Credit Agreement and (iii) to be bound by the provisions of Sections 2.17, 5.04, 5.05, 5.06, 5.07, 5.08, 5.09, 5.10, 5.12 and 5.16 of the Credit Agreement with the same force and effect, and to the same extent, as if such Grantor were a party to the Credit Agreement. Each Grantor agrees as promptly as practicable after knowledge thereof to notify the Administrative Agent if any material portion of the Article 9 Collateral owned or held by such Grantor is damaged, destroyed, or subject to condemnation.
(b) Each Grantor shall, at its own expense, take any and all actions reasonably necessary to defend title to any material portion of the Article 9 Collateral against all Persons and to defend the Security Interest of the Administrative Agent in such portion of the Article 9 Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien other than Permitted Encumbrances and other Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.
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(c) Each Grantor agrees, at its own expense, to execute, acknowledge, deliver and cause to be duly filed all such further instruments, financing statements, agreements and documents and take all such other actions as the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request to preserve, protect and perfect the Security Interest and the rights and remedies created hereby, including the payment of any fees and Taxes required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the granting of the Security Interest and the filing and recording of any financing statements (including fixture filings) or other documents in connection herewith or therewith. Each Grantor will provide to the Administrative Agent, from time to time upon reasonable request, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as to the perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created pursuant to this Agreement.
(d) Each Grantor agrees to maintain, at its own cost and expense, such complete and accurate records with respect to the Article 9 Collateral owned by it as are consistent with its current practices as of the Effective Date and, at such time or times as the Administrative Agent may request, promptly to prepare and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly certified schedule or schedules in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent showing the identity, amount and location of any and all material items of Article 9 Collateral.
(e) At its option, the Administrative Agent may discharge past due Taxes, assessments, charges, fees and Liens at any time levied or placed on the Article 9 Collateral that are not permitted by the Credit Agreement, and may pay for the maintenance and preservation of the Article 9 Collateral to the extent any Grantor fails to do so as required by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent as promptly after demand as practicable for any payment made or any expense incurred by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the foregoing authorization (and any such payment made or expense incurred shall be an additional Obligation secured hereby); provided, however that nothing in this Section 4.03(e) shall be interpreted as excusing any Grantor from the performance of, or imposing any obligation on the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party to cure or perform, any covenants or other promises of any Grantor with respect to Taxes, assessments, charges, fees and Liens and maintenance as set forth herein or in the other Loan Documents.
(f) Each Grantor shall remain liable to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it under each contract, agreement or instrument relating to the Article 9 Collateral, all in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof, and each Grantor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties from and against any and all liability for such performance.
(g) Except as permitted by the Credit Agreement, (i) none of the Grantors shall make or permit to be made any transfer of the Article 9 Collateral and (ii) each Grantor shall remain at all times in possession or control of the Article 9 Collateral owned by it, except that unless and until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Grantors that an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and that during the continuance thereof the Grantors shall not sell, convey, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Article 9 Collateral (which notice may be given by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing), the Grantors may use and
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dispose of the Article 9 Collateral in any lawful manner not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor agrees that, in the event that any of its Inventory is in the possession or control of any warehouseman, agent, bailee, or processor, such Grantor shall make commercially reasonable efforts to (i) notify such warehouseman, bailee, agent or processor of the Security Interest and (ii) get an acknowledgement from such warehouseman, agent, bailee or processor in writing, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that such warehouseman, agent, bailee or processor holds the Inventory for the benefit of the Administrative Agent subject to the Security Interest and shall act upon the instructions of the Administrative Agent without further consent from the Grantor, and that such warehouseman, agent, bailee or processor further agrees to waive and release any Lien held by it with respect to such Inventory, whether arising by operation of law or otherwise; provided, however, that failure to obtain any such acknowledgement (after the use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so) shall not constitute a Default.
(h) None of the Grantors will, without the Administrative Agents prior written consent, grant any extension of the time of payment of any Accounts or any Payment Intangibles included in the Article 9 Collateral, compromise, compound or settle the same for less than the full amount thereof, release, wholly or partly, any Person liable for the payment thereof or allow any credit or discount whatsoever thereon, other than extensions, compromises, settlements, releases, credits or discounts granted or made in the ordinary course of business.
(i) Each Grantor irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Administrative Agent (and its designees) as such Grantors true and lawful agent (and attorney-in-fact) for the purpose, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, of making, settling and adjusting claims in respect of Article 9 Collateral under policies of insurance, endorsing the name of such Grantor on any check, draft, instrument or other item of payment for the Proceeds of such policies of insurance and for making all determinations and decisions with respect thereto. In the event that any Grantor at any time or times shall fail to obtain or maintain any of the policies of insurance required pursuant to Section 5.07 of the Credit Agreement, or to pay any premium in whole or part relating thereto, the Administrative Agent may, upon written notice to the relevant Grantor and without waiving or releasing any obligation or liability of the Grantors hereunder or any Event of Default, in its sole discretion, obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such premium and take any other actions with respect thereto as the Administrative Agent deems advisable. All sums disbursed by the Administrative Agent in connection with this paragraph, including reasonable attorneys fees, court costs, expenses and other charges relating thereto, shall be payable upon demand by the Grantors to the Administrative Agent and shall be additional Obligations secured hereby.
SECTION 4.04. Other Actions. In order to further ensure the attachment, perfection and priority of, and the ability of the Administrative Agent to enforce, the Security Interest, each Grantor agrees, in each case at such Grantors own expense, to take the following actions with respect to the following Article 9 Collateral:
(a) Instruments and Tangible Chattel Paper. Without limiting each Grantors obligations under Article III, if any Grantor shall at any time hold or acquire any Instruments (other than any instrument with a face amount of less than $5,000,000) or Tangible Chattel Paper, such Grantor shall forthwith endorse, assign and deliver the same to the Administrative Agent, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request.
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(b) Deposit Accounts. For each Deposit Account (other than any Excluded Account) that any Grantor at any time opens or maintains, such Grantor agrees to enter into an agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent which will direct the depositary bank to agree to comply with instructions from the Administrative Agent to such depositary bank directing the disposition of funds from time to time credited to such deposit account, without further consent of such Grantor or any other Person. The Administrative Agent agrees with each Grantor that the Administrative Agent shall not give any such instructions unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or, after giving effect to any withdrawal, would occur. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any Deposit Account for which any Grantor, the depositary bank and the Administrative Agent have entered into a cash collateral agreement specially negotiated among such Grantor, the depositary bank and the Administrative Agent for the specific purpose set forth therein.
(c) Investment Property. Without limiting each Grantors obligations under Article III, if any securities now or hereafter acquired by any Grantor are uncertificated and are issued to such Grantor or its nominee directly by the issuer thereof, such Grantor shall immediately notify the Administrative Agent thereof and, at the Administrative Agents request and option, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, cause the issuer to agree to comply with instructions from the Administrative Agent as to such securities, without further consent of any Grantor or such nominee. If any securities, whether certificated or uncertificated, or other investment property now or hereafter acquired by any Grantor are held by such Grantor or its nominee through a securities intermediary or commodity intermediary (other than in an Excluded Account), such Grantor shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent thereof and, at the Administrative Agents request and option, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, cause such securities intermediary or commodity intermediary, as the case may be, to agree to comply with entitlement orders or other instructions from the Administrative Agent to such securities intermediary as to such security entitlements or to apply any value distributed on account of any commodity contract as directed by the Administrative Agent to such commodity intermediary, as the case may be, in each case without further consent of any Grantor, such nominee, or any other Person. The Administrative Agent agrees with each of the Grantors that the Administrative Agent shall not give any such entitlement orders or instructions to any such issuer, securities intermediary or commodity intermediary, and shall not withhold its consent to the exercise of any withdrawal or dealing rights by any Grantor, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or, after giving effect to any such investment and withdrawal rights, would occur.
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(d) Electronic Chattel Paper and Transferable Records. If any Grantor determines at any time that it holds or has acquired an interest in any Electronic Chattel Paper or any transferable record, as that term is defined in Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, or in Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction, such Grantor shall, promptly after making such determination, notify the Administrative Agent thereof and, at the request of the Administrative Agent, shall take such action as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to vest in the Administrative Agent control under Uniform Commercial Code Section 9-105 of such Electronic Chattel Paper or control under Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or, as the case may be, Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, as so in effect in such jurisdiction, of such transferable record. The Administrative Agent agrees with such Grantor that the Administrative Agent will arrange, pursuant to procedures reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and so long as such procedures will not result in the Administrative Agents loss of control, for the Grantor to make alterations to the Electronic Chattel Paper or transferable record permitted under Uniform Commercial Code Section 9-105 or, as the case may be, Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act for a party in control to allow without loss of control, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur after taking into account any action by such Grantor with respect to such Electronic Chattel Paper or transferable record.
(e) Letter-of-Credit Rights. If any Grantor determines at any time that it is a beneficiary under a letter of credit with a face amount greater than $1,000,000 and the related Letter-of-Credit Rights constitute Article 9 Collateral, such Grantor shall, promptly after making such determination, notify the Administrative Agent thereof and shall, at the request and option of the Administrative Agent, enter into an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which will direct the issuer and any confirmer of such letter of credit to consent to an assignment to the Administrative Agent of the Proceeds of any drawing under the letter of credit, with the Administrative Agent agreeing that the Proceeds of any drawing under the letter of credit are to be paid to the applicable Grantor unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
(f) Commercial Tort Claims. If any Grantor determines at any time that it holds or has acquired a Commercial Tort Claim in an amount reasonably estimated to exceed $1,000,000, the Grantor shall, promptly after making such determination, notify the Administrative Agent thereof in a writing signed by such Grantor, including a summary description of such claim, and grant to the Administrative Agent in such writing a security interest therein and in the Proceeds thereof, all upon the terms of this Agreement, with such writing to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 4.05. Covenants Regarding Patent, Trademark and Copyright Collateral. (a) Except as shall be consistent with commercially reasonable business judgment, each Grantor agrees that it will not take any action or omit to take any action (and will exercise commercially reasonable efforts to prevent its licensees from taking any action or omitting to take any action) whereby any Patent material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and
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the Subsidiaries may become invalidated or dedicated to the public (except as a result of expiration of such Patent at the end of its statutory term), and agrees that it shall continue, consistent with past practice, to mark any products covered by any such Patent with the relevant patent number as necessary and sufficient to establish and preserve its rights under applicable patent laws.
(b) Except as shall be consistent with commercially reasonable business judgment, each Grantor (either itself or through its licensees or its sublicensees) will, for each Trademark material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (i) maintain such Trademark in full force, free from any valid claim of abandonment or invalidity for non-use, (ii) maintain the quality of products and services offered under such Trademark, (iii) continue, consistent with past practice, to display such Trademark, if registered, with notice of Federal or foreign registration to the extent necessary and sufficient to establish and preserve its rights under applicable law, (iv) not knowingly use or knowingly permit the use of such Trademark in violation of any third-party rights and (v) not adopt or use any mark which is confusingly similar to such Trademark unless the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, shall obtain a perfected security interest in or with respect to such mark pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) Except as shall be consistent with commercially reasonable business judgment, each Grantor (either itself or through its licensees or sublicensees) will, for each work covered by a Copyright material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, use commercially reasonable efforts to continue to publish, reproduce, display, adopt and distribute the work with appropriate copyright notice as necessary and sufficient to establish and preserve its maximum rights under applicable copyright laws.
(d) Each Grantor shall notify the Administrative Agent promptly if it knows that any Patent, Trademark or Copyright material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries may become abandoned, lost or dedicated to the public, or of any materially adverse determination or development (including the institution of, or any such determination or development in, any proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office or any court or similar office of any country) regarding such Grantors ownership of any such Patent, Trademark or Copyright, its right to register the same, or its right to keep and maintain the same (other than office actions or other determinations in the ordinary course of prosecution before the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office or any court or similar office of any country).
(e) Each Grantor will take all necessary steps that are consistent with its current practice or commercially reasonable business judgment (i) in any proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office or any office or agency in any political subdivision of the United States of America or in any other country or any political subdivision thereof, to maintain and pursue each material application relating to the Patents, Trademarks and/or Copyrights (and to obtain the relevant grant or registration) and (ii) to maintain each issued Patent and each registration of the Trademarks and Copyrights that is material to the conduct of any Grantors business, including timely filings of applications for renewal, affidavits of use, affidavits of incontestability and payment of maintenance fees, and, if consistent with good business judgment, to initiate opposition, interference and cancelation proceedings against third parties.
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(f) In the event that any Grantor has reason to believe that any Article 9 Collateral consisting of a Patent, Trademark or Copyright material to the conduct of any Grantors business has been or is about to be infringed, misappropriated or diluted by a third party, such Grantor shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and shall, if consistent with commercially reasonable business judgment, promptly sue for infringement, misappropriation or dilution and to recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation or dilution, and take such other actions as are appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Article 9 Collateral.
(g) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor shall, upon request of the Administrative Agent, use its best efforts to obtain all requisite consents or approvals by the licensor of each material Copyright License, Patent License or Trademark License under which such Grantor is a licensee to effect the assignment of all such Grantors right, title and interest thereunder to the Administrative Agent or its designee.
(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Grantor shall be required to (i) make any filings or take any other action to record or perfect the Administrative Agents Lien on any Intellectual Property outside of the United States or (ii) enter into security agreements governed by laws other than the laws of the United States, or any state, territory or political subdivision thereof.
ARTICLE V
Remedies
SECTION 5.01. Remedies Upon Default. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor agrees to deliver each item of Collateral to the Administrative Agent on demand, and it is agreed that the Administrative Agent shall have the right to take any of or all the following actions at the same or different times: (a) with respect to any Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property, on demand, to cause the Security Interest to become an assignment, transfer and conveyance of any of or all such Article 9 Collateral by the applicable Grantors to the Administrative Agent, or to license or sublicense, whether general, special or otherwise, and whether on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis, any such Article 9 Collateral throughout the world on such terms and conditions and in such manner as the Administrative Agent shall determine (other than in violation of any then-existing licensing arrangements to the extent that waivers cannot be obtained), and (b) with or without legal process and with or without prior notice or demand for performance, to take possession of the Article 9 Collateral and without liability for trespass to enter any premises where the Article 9 Collateral may be located for the purpose of taking possession of or removing the Article 9 Collateral and, generally, to exercise any and all rights afforded to a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor agrees that the Administrative Agent shall have the right, subject to the mandatory requirements of applicable law, to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of
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the Collateral at a public or private sale or at any brokers board or on any securities exchange, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate. The Administrative Agent shall be authorized to take the actions set forth in Sections 5.03, 5.04 and 5.05. Each such purchaser at any sale of Collateral shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay and appraisal that such Grantor now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.
The Administrative Agent shall give the applicable Grantors 10 days prior written notice (which each Grantor agrees is reasonable notice within the meaning of Section 9-611 of the Uniform Commercial Code or its equivalent in other jurisdictions) of the Administrative Agents intention to make any sale of Collateral. Such notice, in the case of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a brokers board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange. Any such public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours and at such place or places as the Administrative Agent may fix and state in the notice (if any) of such sale. At any such sale, the Collateral, or portion thereof, to be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate parcels, as the Administrative Agent may (in its sole and absolute discretion) determine. The Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of any Collateral if it shall determine not to do so, regardless of the fact that notice of sale of such Collateral shall have been given. The Administrative Agent may, without notice or publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for sale, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which the same was so adjourned. In case any sale of all or any part of the Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the Administrative Agent until the sale price is paid by the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties shall not incur any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again upon like notice. In the event of a foreclosure by the Administrative Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, the Administrative Agent or any Lender, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition, and the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, as agent for and representative of the Secured Parties (but not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Loan Document Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any Collateral payable by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties at such sale or other disposition. For purposes hereof, a written agreement to purchase the Collateral or any portion thereof shall be treated as a sale thereof; the Administrative Agent shall be free to carry out such sale pursuant to such agreement and no Grantor shall be entitled to the return of the Collateral or any portion thereof subject thereto, notwithstanding the fact that after the Administrative Agent shall have entered into such an agreement all Events of Default shall have been remedied and the Obligations paid in full. As an alternative to exercising the power of sale
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herein conferred upon it, the Administrative Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose this Agreement and to sell the Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver. Any sale pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.01 shall be deemed to conform to commercially reasonable standards as provided in Section 9-610(b) of the Uniform Commercial Code or its equivalent in other jurisdictions.
SECTION 5.02. Application of Proceeds. The Administrative Agent shall apply the Proceeds of any collection, sale, foreclosure or other realization upon any Collateral, including any Collateral consisting of cash, as follows:
FIRST, to the payment of all costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with such collection, sale, foreclosure or realization or otherwise in connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any of the Obligations, including all court costs and the reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances made by the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document on behalf of any Grantor and any other costs or expenses incurred in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document;
SECOND, to the payment in full of the Obligations (the amounts so applied to be distributed among the Secured Parties pro rata in accordance with the amounts of the Obligations owed to them on the date of any such distribution); and
THIRD, to the Grantors, their successors or assigns, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.
The Administrative Agent shall have absolute discretion as to the time of application of any such Proceeds, moneys or balances in accordance with this Agreement. Upon any sale of Collateral by the Administrative Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the Administrative Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Administrative Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof. The Grantors shall remain liable for any deficiency if the Proceeds of any sale or disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay all Obligations, including any attorneys fees and other expenses incurred by Administrative Agent or any Lender to collect such deficiency. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Proceeds of any collection, sale, foreclosure or realization upon any Collateral of any Grantor, including any collateral consisting of cash, shall not be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Grantor and shall instead be applied to other secured obligations.
SECTION 5.03. Grant of License To Use Intellectual Property. Solely for the purpose of enabling the Administrative Agent to exercise rights and remedies under this Agreement at such time as the Administrative Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby grants to the Administrative Agent an irrevocable, nonexclusive license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to the
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Grantors) to use, license or sublicense any of the Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, and wherever the same may be located, and including in such license reasonable access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the right to prosecute and maintain all Intellectual Property and the right to sue for infringement of the Intellectual Property; provided that (i) such license shall be subject to the rights of any licensee under any exclusive license granted prior to such Event of Default, (ii) such license shall be irrevocable until the termination of this Agreement, (iii) to the extent such license is a sublicense of a Grantors rights as licensee under any third party license, the license to the Administrative Agent shall be in accordance with any limitations in such third party license, including prohibitions on further sublicensing, and (iv) such licenses to be granted hereunder with respect to material Trademarks shall be subject to the maintenance of quality standards with respect to the products and services in connection with which any such Trademarks are used sufficient to preserve the validity of such Trademarks. Each Grantor further agrees to cooperate with the Administrative Agent in any attempt to prosecute or maintain the Intellectual Property or sue for infringement of the Intellectual Property. The use of such license by the Administrative Agent may be exercised, at the option of the Administrative Agent, only upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default; provided that any license, sublicense or other transaction entered into by the Administrative Agent in accordance herewith shall be binding upon the Grantors notwithstanding any subsequent cure of an Event of Default. Each Grantor irrevocably agrees that the Administrative Agent may sell any of such Grantors Inventory directly to any Person, including Persons who have previously purchased the Grantors Inventory from such Grantor and in connection with any such sale or other enforcement of the Administrative Agents rights under this Security Agreement, may sell Inventory which bears any Trademark owned by or licensed to such Grantor and any Inventory that is covered by any Copyright owned by or licensed to such Grantor and the Administrative Agent may finish any work in process and affix any Trademark owned by or licensed to such Grantor and sell such Inventory as provided herein.
SECTION 5.04. Securities Act. In view of the position of the Grantors in relation to the Pledged Collateral, or because of other current or future circumstances, a question may arise under the Securities Act as now or hereafter in effect or any similar statute hereafter enacted analogous in purpose or effect (such Act and any such similar statute as from time to time in effect being called the Federal Securities Laws) with respect to any disposition of the Pledged Collateral permitted hereunder. Each Grantor understands that compliance with the Federal Securities Laws might very strictly limit the course of conduct of the Administrative Agent if the Administrative Agent were to attempt to dispose of all or any part of the Pledged Collateral, and might also limit the extent to which or the manner in which any subsequent transferee of any Pledged Collateral could dispose of the same. Similarly, there may be other legal restrictions or limitations affecting the Administrative Agent in any attempt to dispose of all or part of the Pledged Collateral under applicable blue sky or other state securities laws or similar laws analogous in purpose or effect. Each Grantor recognizes that in light of such restrictions and limitations the Administrative Agent may, with respect to any sale of the Pledged Collateral, and shall be authorized to, limit the purchasers to those who will agree, among other things, to acquire such Pledged Collateral for their own account for investment, and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof, and upon consummation of any such sale may assign,
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transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Pledged Collateral so sold. Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that in light of such restrictions and limitations, the Administrative Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion, (a) may proceed to make such a sale whether or not a registration statement for the purpose of registering such Pledged Collateral or part thereof shall have been filed under the Federal Securities Laws or, to the extent applicable, blue sky or other state securities laws and (b) may approach and negotiate with a limited number of potential purchasers (including a single potential purchaser) to effect such sale. Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that any such sale might result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale without such restrictions. In the event of any such sale, the Administrative Agent shall incur no responsibility or liability for selling all or any part of the Pledged Collateral at a price that the Administrative Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion, may in good faith deem reasonable under the circumstances, notwithstanding the possibility that a substantially higher price might have been realized if the sale were deferred until after registration as aforesaid or if more than a limited number of potential purchasers (or a single purchaser) were approached. The provisions of this Section 5.04 will apply notwithstanding the existence of a public or private market upon which the quotations or sales prices may exceed substantially the price at which the Administrative Agent sells.
SECTION 5.05. Registration. Each Grantor agrees that, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, if for any reason the Administrative Agent desires to sell any of the Pledged Collateral at a public sale, it will, at any time and from time to time, upon the written request of the Administrative Agent, use its reasonable best efforts to take, or to cause the issuer of such Pledged Collateral to take, such action and prepare, distribute and/or file such documents as are required or advisable in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Administrative Agent to permit the public sale of such Pledged Collateral. Each Grantor further agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Administrative Agent, each other Secured Party, any underwriter and their respective affiliates and the respective officers, directors, affiliates and controlling persons of each of the foregoing from and against all loss, liability, expenses, costs of counsel (including reasonable fees and expenses to the Administrative Agent of legal counsel), and claims (including the costs of investigation) that they may incur insofar as such loss, liability, expense, costs or claim arises out of or is based upon any alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or in any notification or offering circular, or arises out of or is based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements in any thereof not misleading, except insofar as the same may have been caused by any untrue statement or omission based upon information furnished in writing to such Grantor or the issuer of such Pledged Collateral by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party expressly for use therein. Each Grantor further agrees, upon such written request referred to above, to use its best efforts to qualify, file or register, or cause the issuer of such Pledged Collateral to qualify, file or register, any of the Pledged Collateral under the blue sky or other securities laws of such states as may be requested by the Administrative Agent and keep effective, or cause to be kept effective, all such qualifications, filings or registrations. Each Grantor will bear all costs and expenses of carrying out its obligations under this Section 5.05. Each Grantor acknowledges that there is no adequate remedy at law for failure by it to comply with the provisions of this Section 5.05 and that such failure would not be adequately compensable in damages, and therefore agrees that its agreements contained in this Section 5.05 may be specifically enforced.
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ARTICLE VI
Indemnity, Subrogation, Contribution and Subordination
SECTION 6.01. Indemnity and Subrogation. In addition to all such rights of indemnity and subrogation as the Guarantors may have under applicable law (but subject to Section 6.03), the Borrower agrees that (a) in the event a payment in respect of any Obligation shall be made by any Guarantor (other than the Borrower) under this Agreement, the Borrower shall indemnify such Guarantor for the full amount of such payment and such Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the Person to whom such payment shall have been made to the extent of such payment and (b) in the event any assets of any Grantor (other than the Borrower) shall be sold pursuant to this Agreement or any other Security Document to satisfy in whole or in part any Obligation, the Borrower shall indemnify such Grantor in an amount equal to the greater of the book value or the fair market value of the assets so sold.
SECTION 6.02. Contribution and Subrogation. Each Guarantor and Grantor other than the Borrower (each such Guarantor or Grantor being called a Contributing Party) agrees (subject to Section 6.03) that, in the event a payment shall be made by any other Guarantor other than the Borrower hereunder in respect of any Obligation or assets of any other Grantor other than the Borrower shall be sold pursuant to any Security Document to satisfy any Obligation and such other Guarantor or Grantor (the Claiming Party) shall not have been fully indemnified by the Borrower as provided in Section 6.01, such Contributing Party shall indemnify the Claiming Party in an amount equal to the amount of such payment or the greater of the book value or the fair market value of such assets (the Indemnified Amount), as the case may be, in each case multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the net worth of such Contributing Party on the date hereof and the denominator shall be the aggregate net worth of all the Contributing Parties on the date hereof (or, in the case of any Contributing Party becoming a party hereto pursuant to Section 7.12, the date of the supplement hereto executed and delivered by such Contributing Party). Any Contributing Party making any payment to a Claiming Party pursuant to this Section 6.02 shall (subject to Section 6.03) be subrogated to the rights of such Claiming Party under Section 6.01 to the extent of such payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Claiming Partys right to indemnification hereunder arises from a payment or sale of Collateral made to satisfy Obligations constituting Specified Swap Obligations, only those Contributing Parties for whom such Specified Swap Obligations do not constitute Excluded Swap Obligations shall indemnify such Claiming Party, with the fraction set forth in the second preceding sentence being modified as appropriate to provide for indemnification of the entire Indemnified Amount.
SECTION 6.03. Subordination. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, all rights of the Guarantors and Grantors under Sections 6.01 and 6.02 and all other rights of the Guarantors and Grantors of indemnity, contribution or subrogation under applicable law or otherwise shall be fully subordinated to the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations. No failure on the part of the Borrower or any other Guarantor or Grantor to make the payments required by Sections 6.01 and 6.02 (or any other payments required under applicable law or otherwise) shall in any respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor or Grantor with respect to its obligations hereunder, and each Guarantor and Grantor shall remain liable for the full amount of the obligations of such Guarantor or Grantor hereunder.
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(b) Each Guarantor and Grantor hereby agrees that all Indebtedness and other monetary obligations owed by it to, or to it by, any other Guarantor, Grantor or any other Subsidiary shall be fully subordinated to the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations.
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous
SECTION 7.01. Notices. All communications and notices hereunder shall (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein) be in writing and given in the manner provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to any Subsidiary Loan Party shall be given to it in care of the Borrower in the manner provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 7.02. Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section 7.02, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the making of a Loan or issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time. No notice or demand on any Loan Party in any case shall entitle any Loan Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.
(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Loan Party or Loan Parties with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification is to apply, subject to any consent required in accordance with Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement; provided that the Administrative Agent may, without the consent of any Secured Party, consent to a departure by any Loan Party from any covenant of such Loan Party set forth herein or in any other Security Document to the extent such departure is not inconsistent with the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement or with any other limitation on the authority of the Administrative Agent set forth in the Credit Agreement.
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(c) This Agreement shall be construed as a separate agreement with respect to each Loan Party and may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with respect to any Loan Party without the approval of any other Loan Party and without affecting the obligations of any other Loan Party hereunder.
SECTION 7.03. Administrative Agents Fees and Expenses; Indemnification. (a) The Guarantors and the Grantors jointly and severally agree to reimburse the Administrative Agent for its fees and expenses incurred hereunder as provided in Section 9.03(a) of the Credit Agreement as if each reference therein to the Borrower were a reference to the Guarantors and Grantors.
(b) The Guarantors and Grantors jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee as provided in Section 9.03(b) of the Credit Agreement as if each reference to the Borrower therein were a reference to the Guarantors and Grantors.
(c) Any amounts payable hereunder, including as provided in Section 7.03(a) or 7.03(b), shall be additional Obligations secured hereby and by the other Security Documents. All amounts due under Section 7.03(a) or 7.03(b) shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.
(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Grantor shall assert, or permit any of its subsidiaries to assert, and each Grantor hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee (i) for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), unless determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, or (ii) 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 or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the Proceeds thereof.
(e) BY ACCEPTING THE BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE GUARANTEES AND SECURITY INTERESTS CREATED HEREBY, EACH SECURED PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE VIII OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT AND AGREES TO BE BOUND BY SUCH PROVISIONS AS FULLY AS IF THEY WERE SET FORTH HEREIN.
SECTION 7.04. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by or on its behalf of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Lender, any issuing Bank or any other Person and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or
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any other Person may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time this Agreement or any other Loan Document is executed and delivered or any credit is extended under the Credit Agreement, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any LC Exposure is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Section 7.03 shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, the repayment or prepayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
SECTION 7.05. Counterparts; Effectiveness; Successors and Assigns. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement shall become effective as to any Loan Party when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such Loan Party shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent and a counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Administrative Agent, and thereafter shall be binding upon such Loan Party and the Administrative Agent and their respective successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such Loan Party, the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns, except that no Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein or in the Collateral (and any attempted assignment or transfer by any Loan Party shall be null and void), except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Credit Agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission or other electronic imaging shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION 7.06. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 7.07. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) This Agreement and any claim, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
(b) Each Grantor 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, any Arranger, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any Related Party of any 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 County 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
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submits, for itself and its property, to the jurisdiction of such courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any action, litigation 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 party hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action, litigation 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 shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may otherwise have to bring any action, litigation or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Loan Party or any of its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(c) Each of the Grantors hereby 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, litigation 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 7.07. Each of the Grantors hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(d) Each party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 7.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
SECTION 7.08. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. 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 PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7.08.
SECTION 7.09. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 7.10. Security Interest Absolute. All rights of the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Security Interest, the grant of the security interest in the Pledged Collateral and all obligations of each Loan Party hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement with respect to any of the Obligations or any other agreement or instrument
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relating to any of the foregoing, (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment to or waiver of, or any consent to any departure from, the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement with respect to any of the Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on other collateral securing, or any release or amendment to or waiver of, or any consent to any departure from, any guarantee of, all or any of the Obligations, or (d) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Loan Party in respect of the Obligations or this Agreement.
SECTION 7.11. Termination or Release. (a) This Agreement, the Guarantees made herein, the Security Interest and all other security interests granted hereby shall, subject to Section 2.04, terminate and be released when all the Loan Document Obligations (other than contingent obligations for indemnification, expense reimbursement, tax gross up or yield protection as to which no claim has been made (and, for purposes of clarity, other than Secured Cash Management Obligations, Secured Hedging Obligations or Secured Customer Financing Obligations)) have been paid in full in cash, the Lenders have no further commitment to lend under the Credit Agreement, all Letters of Credit have expired, terminated or been backstopped or cash collateralized (in each case, in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank) (including as a result of obtaining consents of the applicable Issuing Banks as described in Section 9.05 of the Credit Agreement) and the Issuing Banks have no further obligations to issue, amend or extend Letters of Credit under the Credit Agreement.
(b) The Guarantees made herein, the Security Interest and the other security interests granted hereby shall also terminate and be released (in whole or in part) at the time or times and in the manner set forth in Section 9.14 of the Credit Agreement. In the event of any such termination or release, Schedules II, III and IV to this Agreement shall be deemed to be modified to remove the Collateral with respect to which the Security Interest and the other security interests granted hereby have been so released.
(c) In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section 7.11, the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Partys expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 7.11 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 7.12. Additional Subsidiaries. Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, certain Restricted Subsidiaries not party hereto on the Effective Date are required to enter in this Agreement. Upon the execution and delivery by the Administrative Agent and any such Restricted Subsidiary of a Supplement, such Restricted Subsidiary shall become a Subsidiary Loan Party, a Guarantor and a Grantor hereunder, with the same force and effect as if originally named as such herein. The execution and delivery of any Supplement shall not require the consent of any other Loan Party. The rights and obligations of each Loan Party hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Subsidiary Loan Party as a party to this Agreement.
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SECTION 7.13. Administrative Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. Each Grantor hereby appoints the Administrative Agent the attorney-in-fact of such Grantor for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall have the right, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, with full power of substitution either in the Administrative Agents name or in the name of such Grantor (a) to receive, endorse, assign and/or deliver any and all notes, acceptances, checks, drafts, money orders or other evidences of payment relating to the Collateral or any part thereof; (b) to demand, collect, receive payment of, give receipt for and give discharges and releases of all or any of the Collateral; (c) to sign the name of any Grantor on any invoice or bill of lading relating to any of the Collateral; (d) to send verifications of Accounts to any Account Debtor; (e) to commence and prosecute any and all suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect or otherwise realize on all or any of the Collateral or to enforce any rights in respect of any Collateral; (f) to settle, compromise, compound, adjust or defend any actions, suits or proceedings relating to all or any of the Collateral; (g) to notify, or to require any Grantor to notify, Account Debtors to make payment directly to the Administrative Agent; and (h) to use, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with all or any of the Collateral, and to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, as fully and completely as though the Administrative Agent were the absolute owner of the Collateral for all purposes; provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring or obligating the Administrative Agent to make any commitment or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by the Administrative Agent, or to present or file any claim or notice, or to take any action with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or the moneys due or to become due in respect thereof or any property covered thereby. The Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts actually received as a result of the exercise of the powers granted to them herein, and neither they nor their Related Parties shall be responsible to any Grantor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for their own gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment).
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC, | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY TT, LLC, | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
INTERNATIONAL DIOXCIDE, INC., | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
CHEMFIRST INC., | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Guarantee & Collateral Agreement]
FIRST CHEMICAL CORPORATION, | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
FT CHEMICAL, INC. | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
FIRST CHEMICAL HOLDINGS, LLC | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
FIRST CHEMICAL TEXAS, L.P., | ||||
by | FT Chemical, Inc., its general partner | |||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Guarantee & Collateral Agreement]
Exhibit I to the
Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement
SUPPLEMENT NO. dated as of [ ] (this Supplement), to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Collateral Agreement), among THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the Borrower), each subsidiary of the Borrower listed on Schedule I thereto (each such subsidiary individually a Subsidiary Guarantor and, collectively, the Subsidiary Guarantors; the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Borrower are referred to collectively herein as the Grantors) and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., a national banking association (JPMCB), as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent).
A. Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among the Borrower, the Lenders and Issuing Banks from time to time party thereto and JPMCB, as Administrative Agent.
B. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Collateral Agreement and the Credit Agreement referred to therein, as applicable.
C. The Guarantors and Grantors have entered into the Collateral Agreement in order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to make extensions of credit to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement. Section 7.12 of the Collateral Agreement provides that additional Restricted Subsidiaries may become Subsidiary Loan Parties under the Collateral Agreement by execution and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement. The undersigned Restricted Subsidiary (the New Subsidiary) is executing this Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Credit Agreement to become a Subsidiary Loan Party under the Collateral Agreement in order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to make additional extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement and as consideration for such extensions of credit previously made.
Accordingly, the Administrative Agent and the New Subsidiary agree as follows:
SECTION 1. In accordance with Section 7.12 of the Collateral Agreement, the New Subsidiary by its signature below becomes a Loan Party, a Subsidiary Loan Party, a Guarantor and a Grantor under the Collateral Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as such, and the New Subsidiary hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Collateral Agreement applicable to it in such capacities and (b) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties made by it in such capacities thereunder are true and correct on and as of the date hereof. In furtherance of the foregoing, the New Subsidiary, as security for the payment and performance in full of the Obligations (as defined in the Credit Agreement), does hereby create and grant to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, their successors and assigns, a security interest in and lien on all of the New Subsidiarys right, title and interest in, to and under the Collateral (as defined in the Collateral Agreement) of the New Subsidiary. Each reference to a Loan Party,
Subsidiary Loan Party, Guarantor or Grantor in the Collateral Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Subsidiary. The Collateral Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 2. The New Subsidiary represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties that this Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors rights generally and to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
SECTION 3. This Supplement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Supplement shall become effective when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of the New Subsidiary shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent and a counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Administrative Agent. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Supplement by facsimile or other electronic imaging shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Supplement.
SECTION 4. The New Subsidiary hereby represents and warrants that (a) Schedule I sets forth, as of the date hereof, the true and correct legal name of the New Subsidiary, its jurisdiction of organization and the location of its chief executive office; (b) Schedule II sets forth, as of the date hereof, a true and complete list of (i) all the Pledged Equity Interests owned by the New Subsidiary and the percentage of the issued and outstanding units of each class of the Equity Interests of the issuer thereof represented by the Pledged Equity Interests owned by the New Subsidiary and (ii) all the Pledged Debt Securities owned by the New Subsidiary; (c) Schedule III sets forth, as of the date hereof, a true and complete list of (i) all Patents that have been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and all Patents for which United States applications are pending, (ii) all Copyrights that have been registered with the United States Copyright Office and all Copyrights for which United States registration applications are pending, (iii) all Trademarks that have been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and all Trademarks for which United States registration applications are pending and (iv) all material, inbound, exclusive Copyright Licenses under which such Grantor is a licensee and that, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) are owned by the New Subsidiary, in each case truly and completely specifying the name of the registered owner, title, type or mark, registration or application number, expiration date (if already registered) or filing date, a brief description thereof and, if applicable, the licensee and licensor; and (d) Schedule IV sets forth, as of the date hereof, each Commercial Tort Claim in respect of which a complaint or counterclaim has been filed by the New Subsidiary seeking damages in an reasonably estimated to exceed $1,000,000, including a summary description of such claim.
SECTION 5. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Collateral Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
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SECTION 6. THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 7. Any provision of this Supplement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction
SECTION 8. All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 7.01 of the Collateral Agreement.
SECTION 9. The New Subsidiary agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel, incurred by it in connection with this Supplement, including the preparation, execution and delivery thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Subsidiary and the Administrative Agent have duly executed this Supplement to the Collateral Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
[NAME OF NEW SUBSIDIARY], | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
3
Schedule I
to Supplement No. to the
Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement
SCHEDULE I
New Subsidiary Information
Name |
Jurisdiction of Organization |
Chief Executive Office | ||
Schedule II
to Supplement No. to the
Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement
SCHEDULE II
Pledged Equity Interests
Loan Party |
Issuer |
Certificate Number |
Number and Class of Equity Interests |
Percentage of Equity Interests | ||||
Pledged Debt Securities
Loan Party Creditor |
Debtor |
Type |
Amount | |||
Schedule III
to Supplement No. to the
Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement
SCHEDULE III
Intellectual Property
Schedule IV
to Supplement No. to the
Guarantee and
Collateral Agreement
SCHEDULE IV
Commercial Tort Claims
Exhibit II-A to
Guarantee and Collateral Agreement
[FORM OF] PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT dated as of [ ] (this Agreement), among THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the Borrower), the other Subsidiary Loan Parties from time to time party hereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JPMCB), as Administrative Agent.
Reference is made to (a) the Credit Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among the Borrower, the Lenders and Issuing Banks from time to time party thereto and JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, and (b) the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Collateral Agreement), among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Loan Parties from time to time party thereto and JPMCB, as Administrative Agent. The Lenders and the Issuing Banks have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to extend such credit are conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this Agreement. The Subsidiary Loan Parties party hereto (other than the Borrower) are Affiliates of the Borrower, will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and are willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to extend such credit. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Terms. Each capitalized term used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning specified in the Credit Agreement or the Collateral Agreement, as applicable. The rules of construction specified in Section 1.03 of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.
SECTION 2. Grant of Security Interest. As security for the payment or performance in full of the Obligations, each Grantor pursuant to the Collateral Agreement did, and hereby does, pledge and collaterally assign to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of such Grantors right, title and interest in, to and under any and all of the following assets now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in, to or under which such Grantor now has or at any time hereafter may acquire any right title or interest (collectively, the Patent Collateral):
(a) all letters patent of the United States of America or the equivalent thereof in any other country, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications for letters patent of the United States of America or the equivalent thereof in any other country or any political subdivision thereof, including registrations, recordings and pending applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any similar office in any other country or any political subdivision thereof, including, in the case of such Grantor, any of the United States patents and patent applications set forth under its name on Schedule I; and
(b) all reissues, continuations, divisionals, continuations-in-part, reexaminations, supplemental examinations, inter partes reviews, renewals, adjustments or extensions thereof, and the inventions disclosed or claimed therein, including the right to make, have made, use, sell, offer to sell, import or export the inventions disclosed or claimed therein.
SECTION 3. Collateral Agreement. The security interests granted to the Administrative Agent herein are granted in furtherance, and not in limitation of, the security interests granted to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Collateral Agreement. Each Grantor hereby acknowledges and affirms that the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent with respect to the Patent Collateral are more fully set forth in the Collateral Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Collateral Agreement, the terms of the Collateral Agreement shall govern.
SECTION 4. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic imaging shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION 5. Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
[Signature Pages Follow]
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
[BORROWERS], | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
[NAME OF GRANTOR], | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
[OTHER GRANTORS], | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
SCHEDULE I
U.S. Patent Registrations1
Registered Owner |
Title |
Registration No. |
Issue Date | |||
U.S. Patent Applications2
Registered Owner |
Title |
Application No. |
Application Date | |||
1 | List in numerical order by Registration No. |
2 | List in numerical order by Application No. |
Exhibit II-B to
Guarantee and Collateral Agreement
[FORM OF] TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT dated as of [ ] (this Agreement), THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the Borrower), the other Subsidiary Loan Parties from time to time party hereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JPMCB), as Administrative Agent.
Reference is made to (a) the Credit Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among the Borrower, the Lenders and Issuing Banks from time to time party thereto and JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, and (b) the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Collateral Agreement), among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Loan Parties from time to time party thereto and JPMCB, as Administrative Agent. The Lenders and the Issuing Banks have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to extend such credit are conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this Agreement. The Subsidiary Loan Parties party hereto (other than the Borrower) are Affiliates of the Borrower, will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and are willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to extend such credit. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Terms. Each capitalized term used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning specified in the Credit Agreement or the Collateral Agreement, as applicable. The rules of construction specified in Section 1.03 of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.
SECTION 2. Grant of Security Interest. As security for the payment or performance in full of the Obligations, each Grantor pursuant to the Collateral Agreement did, and hereby does, pledge and collaterally assign to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of such Grantors right, title and interest in, to and under any and all of the following assets now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in, to or under which such Grantor now has or at any time hereafter may acquire any right title or interest (collectively, the Trademark Collateral):
(a) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, trade dress, logos, domain names, global top level domain names, other source or business identifiers, designs and general intangibles of like nature, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all registration and recording applications filed in connection therewith, including registrations and registration applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any similar offices in any State of the United States of America or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, all extensions or renewals thereof, and all common law rights related thereto, including, in the case of such Grantor, the United States trademark registrations and applications set forth under its name on Schedule I; and
(b) all goodwill associated therewith or symbolized thereby.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in clauses (a) and (b) above, the security interest created by this Agreement shall not extend to any intent-to-use trademark or service mark application filed pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Lanham Act prior to the filing and acceptance of a Statement of Use or Amendment to Allege Use pursuant to Sections 1(c) and 1(d) of the Lanham Act with respect thereto.
SECTION 3. Collateral Agreement. The security interests granted to the Administrative Agent herein are granted in furtherance, and not in limitation of, the security interests granted to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Collateral Agreement. Each Grantor hereby acknowledges and affirms that the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent with respect to the Trademark Collateral are more fully set forth in the Collateral Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Collateral Agreement, the terms of the Collateral Agreement shall govern.
SECTION 4. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic imaging shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION 5. Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
[Signature Pages Follow]
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
[BORROWERS], | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
[NAME OF GRANTOR], | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
[OTHER GRANTORS], | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
SCHEDULE I
U.S. Trademark Registrations1
Registered Owner |
Mark |
Registration No. |
Registration Date | |||
U.S. Trademark Applications
Registered Owner |
Mark |
Application No. |
Filing Date | |||
State Trademark Registrations2
State |
Mark |
Registration No. |
Expiration Date | |||
1 | List in numerical order by Registration No. |
2 | List in alphabetical order by state and numerical order by Registration No. within each state. |
Exhibit II-C to
Guarantee and Collateral Agreement
[FORM OF] COPYRIGHT SECURITY AGREEMENT dated as of [ ] (this Agreement), among THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the Borrower), the other Subsidiary Loan Parties from time to time party hereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JPMCB), as Administrative Agent.
Reference is made to (a) the Credit Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among the Borrower, the Lenders and Issuing Banks from time to time party thereto and JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, and (b) the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Collateral Agreement), among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Loan Parties from time to time party thereto and JPMCB, as Administrative Agent. The Lenders and the Issuing Banks have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to extend such credit are conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this Agreement. The Subsidiary Loan Parties party hereto (other than the Borrower) are Affiliates of the Borrower, will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and are willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to extend such credit. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Terms. Each capitalized term used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning specified in the Credit Agreement or the Collateral Agreement, as applicable. The rules of construction specified in Section 1.03 of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.
SECTION 2. Grant of Security Interest. As security for the payment or performance in full of the Obligations, each Grantor pursuant to the Collateral Agreement did, and hereby does, pledge and collaterally assign to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of such Grantors right, title and interest in, to and under any and all of the following assets now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in, to or under which such Grantor now has or at any time hereafter may acquire any right title or interest (collectively, the Copyright Collateral):
(a) all copyright rights in any work subject to the copyright laws of the United States of America or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, whether as author, assignee, transferee or otherwise;
(b) all registrations and applications for registration of any such copyright in the United States of America or any other country, including registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations, pending applications for registration and renewals in the United States Copyright Office (or any similar office in any other country or any political subdivision thereof), including, in the case of any Grantor, any United States copyright registrations and applications set forth under its name on Schedule I;
(c) any other adjacent or other rights related or appurtenant to the foregoing, including moral rights; and
(d) all material, inbound, exclusive United States Copyright Licenses under which any Grantor is a licensee, including those listed on Schedule I.
SECTION 3. Collateral Agreement. The security interests granted to the Administrative Agent herein are granted in furtherance, and not in limitation of, the security interests granted to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Collateral Agreement. Each Grantor hereby acknowledges and affirms that the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent with respect to the Copyright Collateral are more fully set forth in the Collateral Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Collateral Agreement, the terms of the Collateral Agreement shall govern.
SECTION 4. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic imaging shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION 5. Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
[Signature Pages Follow]
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
[BORROWERS], | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
[NAME OF GRANTOR], | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
[OTHER GRANTORS], | ||||
by | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
SCHEDULE I
Copyright Registrations
Registered Owner |
Title |
Copyright Number |
Registration Date | |||
Copyright Applications
Registered Owner |
Title |
Application Number |
Filing Date | |||
Exclusive Copyright Licenses
Licensee |
Licensor |
Title |
Copyright Number |
Expiration Date | ||||
2
EXHIBIT C
[FORM OF] PERFECTION CERTIFICATE
[●], 2015
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement) dated as of May 12, 2015, among The Chemours Company (the Borrower and, together with the Subsidiary Loan Parties, the Grantors), the Lenders and Issuing Banks from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in either the Credit Agreement or the Collateral Agreement referred to therein, as applicable.
The undersigned, a Financial Officer of the Borrower, hereby certifies to the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party as follows:
1. Names. A. The exact legal name of each Grantor, as such name appears in its respective certificate of formation, is as follows:
Exact Legal Name of Each Grantor |
B. Set forth below is each other legal name each Grantor has had in the past five years, together with the date of the relevant change:
Grantor |
Other Legal Name | |
C. Except as set forth in Schedule 1 hereto, no Grantor has changed its identity or corporate structure in any way within the past five years. Changes in identity or corporate structure would include mergers, consolidations and acquisitions, as well as any change in the form, nature or jurisdiction of organization. If any such change has occurred, include in Schedule 1 the information required by Sections 1 and 2 of this certificate as to each acquiree or constituent party to a merger or consolidation.
D. Set forth below is (i) the Organizational Identification Number, if any, issued by the jurisdiction of formation of each Grantor that is a registered organization and (ii) the Federal Taxpayer Identification Number of each Grantor, in each case where such information is required to be included in financing statements by the Uniform Commercial Code filing office in the jurisdiction in which such Grantor is located:
Grantor |
Organizational Identification Number |
Federal Taxpayer Identification Number | ||
2. Current Locations. A. The chief executive office of each Grantor is located at the address set forth opposite its name below:
Grantor |
Mailing Address |
County |
State | |||
B. The jurisdiction of formation of each Grantor that is a registered organization is set forth opposite its name below:
Grantor |
Jurisdiction | |
C. Set forth below is a list of all owned real property located in the United States held by each Grantor, the name of the Grantor that owns said property and the fair market value apportioned to each site:
Address |
Entity |
Estimated Fair Market Value | ||
D. Set forth below opposite the name of each Grantor are the names and addresses of all Persons other than such Grantor that have possession of a material amount of Collateral (fair market value greater than $1,000,000) of such Grantor:
Grantor |
Persons Name |
Persons Address | ||
E. Set forth below opposite the name of each Grantor are all locations where such Grantor maintains any books or records relating to any Accounts Receivable, having a fair market value in excess of $1,000,000 (with each location at which chattel paper, if any, is kept being indicated by an *):
Grantor |
Mailing Address |
County |
State | |||
F. Set forth below opposite the name of each Grantor are all the locations where such Grantor maintains any Equipment or other Collateral not identified above (fair market value greater than $1,000,000):
Grantor |
Mailing Address |
County |
State | |||
3. File Search Reports. File search reports have been obtained from each Uniform Commercial Code filing office identified with respect to such Grantor in Section 2 hereof, and such search reports reflect no liens against any of the Collateral other than those permitted under the Credit Agreement or those which have been or will contemporaneously with the initial funding of Loans on the Effective Date be released or terminated.
4. UCC Filings. Financing statements in substantially the form of Schedule 4 hereto have been prepared for filing in the proper Uniform Commercial Code filing office in the jurisdiction in which each Grantor is located and, to the extent any of the collateral is comprised of fixtures, timber to be cut or as extracted collateral from the wellhead or minehead, in the proper local jurisdiction, in each case as set forth with respect to such Grantor in Section 2 hereof.
5. Stock Ownership and other Equity Interests. Attached hereto as Schedule 5 is a true and correct list of all the issued and outstanding stock, partnership interests, limited liability company membership interests or other Equity Interests of each Subsidiary held directly by a Grantor and the record and beneficial owners of such stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other Equity Interests. Also set forth on Schedule 5 is each equity investment held directly by a Grantor that represents 50% or less of the Equity Interests of the Person in which such investment was made.
6. Debt Instruments. Attached hereto as Schedule 6 is a true and correct list of all promissory notes and other evidence of Indebtedness in excess of $500,000 held by each Grantor that are required to be pledged under the Collateral Agreement, including all intercompany notes between (a) the Borrower and each Subsidiary and (b) each Subsidiary and each other such Subsidiary.
7. Assignment of Claims Act. Attached hereto as Schedule 7 is a true and correct list of all written contracts between a Grantor and the United States government or any department or agency thereof that have a remaining value of at least $1,000,000, setting forth the contract number, name and address of contracting officer (or other party to whom a notice of assignment under the Assignment of Claims Act should be sent), contract start date and end date, agency with which the contract was entered into, and a description of the contract type.
8. Advances. Attached hereto as Schedule 8 is a true and correct list of all advances made by the Borrower to any Subsidiary or made by any Subsidiary to the Borrower or to any other Subsidiary (other than those identified on Schedule 6).
9. Mortgage Filings. Attached hereto as Schedule 9 is a schedule setting forth, with respect to each Mortgaged Property, (a) the exact name of the Person that owns such property as such name appears in its certificate of incorporation or other organizational document, (b) if different from the name identified pursuant to clause (a), the exact name of the current record owner of such property reflected in the records of the filing office for such property identified pursuant to the following clause and (c) the filing office in which a Mortgage with respect to such property must be filed or recorded in order for the Administrative Agent to obtain a perfected security interest therein.
10. Intellectual Property. Attached hereto as Schedule 10A is a schedule setting forth all of each Grantors Patents and Trademarks, including the name of the registered owner, the issue or registration number (as applicable) and the issue or registration date (as applicable) of each Patent and Trademark owned by any Grantor and registered or for which registration applications are pending in the United States. Attached hereto as Schedule 10B is a schedule setting forth all of each Grantors Copyrights and material United States exclusive inbound Copyright Licenses, including the name of the registered owner, the registration number and the registration date of each Copyright or material United States exclusive inbound Copyright License owned by any Grantor and registered or for which registration applications are pending in the United States.
11. Commercial Tort Claims. Attached hereto as Schedule 11 is a true and correct list of commercial tort claims held by any Grantor in which it reasonably expects to recover an amount greater than $1,000,000, including a brief description thereof.
12. Deposit Accounts. Attached hereto as Schedule 12 is a true and correct list of deposit accounts maintained by each Grantor, other than all Excluded Accounts, including the name and address of the depositary institution, the type of account and the account number.
13. Securities Accounts and Commodities Accounts. Attached hereto as Schedule 13 is a true and correct list of securities accounts and commodities accounts maintained by each Grantor, other than all Excluded Accounts, including the name and address of the intermediary institution, the type of account and the account number.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this certificate as of the date first set forth above.
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, | ||||
as the Borrower, | ||||
by | ||||
| ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
EXHIBIT D
[FORM OF] SUPPLEMENTAL PERFECTION CERTIFICATE
[●], 2015
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement) dated as of May 12, 2015, among The Chemours Company (the Borrower and, together with the Subsidiary Loan Parties, the Grantors), the Lenders and Issuing Banks from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in either the Credit Agreement or the Collateral Agreement referred to therein, as applicable.
This Certificate is dated as of [●], 20[●], and is delivered pursuant to Section 5.03(b) of the Credit Agreement (this Certificate and each other Certificate heretofore delivered pursuant to Section 5.03(b) of the Credit Agreement being referred to as a Supplemental Perfection Certificate) and supplements the information set forth in the Perfection Certificate delivered on the Effective Date (as supplemented from time to time by the Supplemental Perfection Certificates delivered after the Effective Date and prior to the date hereof, the Prior Perfection Certificate).
The undersigned, a Financial Officer of the Borrower, hereby certifies to the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party as follows:
1. | Names. A. Except as set forth in the chart below, the chart in Section 1.A of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth the exact legal name of each Grantor, as such name appears in its respective certificate of formation: |
Exact Legal Name of Each Grantor |
B. Except as set forth in the chart below, the chart in Section 1.B of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth each other legal name each Grantor has had in the past five years, together with the date of the relevant change:
Grantor |
Other Legal Name | |
C. Except as set forth in Schedule 1 hereto or in Schedule 1 of the Prior Perfection Certificate, no Grantor has changed its identity or corporate structure in any way within the past five years. Changes in identity or corporate structure would include mergers, consolidations and acquisitions, as well as any change in the form, nature or jurisdiction of organization. If any such change has occurred, include in Schedule 1 hereto the information required by Sections 1 and 2 of this certificate as to each acquiree or constituent party to a merger or consolidation.
D. Except as set forth in the chart below, the chart in Section 1.D of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth (i) the Organizational Identification Number, if any, issued by the jurisdiction of formation of each Grantor that is a registered organization and (ii) the Federal Taxpayer Identification Number of each Grantor, in each case where such information is required to be included in financing statements by the Uniform Commercial Code filing office in the jurisdiction in which such Grantor is located:
Grantor |
Organizational Identification Number |
Federal Taxpayer Identification Number | ||
2. Current Locations. A. Except as set forth in the chart below, the chart in Section 2.A of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth the address at which the chief executive office of each Grantor is located opposite its name:
Grantor |
Mailing Address |
County |
State | |||
B. Except as set forth in the chart below, the chart in Section 2.B of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth the jurisdiction of formation of each Grantor that is a registered organization:
Grantor |
Jurisdiction | |
C. Except as set forth in the chart below, the chart in Section 2.C of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth is a list of all owned real property located in the United States held by each Grantor, the name of the Grantor that owns said property and the fair market value apportioned to each site:
Address |
Entity |
Estimated Fair Market Value | ||
D. Except as set forth in the chart below, the chart in Section 2.D of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth the names and addresses of all Persons other than each Grantor that have possession of a material amount of Collateral (fair market value greater than $1,000,000) of such Grantor opposite the name of such Grantor:
Grantor |
Persons Name |
Persons Address | ||
E. Except as set forth in the chart below, the chart in Section 2.E of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth all locations where each Grantor maintains any books or records relating to any Accounts Receivable, having a fair market value in excess of $1,000,000 (with each location at which chattel paper, if any, is kept being indicated by an *) opposite the name of such Grantor:
Grantor |
Mailing Address |
County |
State | |||
F. Except as set forth in the chart below, the chart in Section 2.F of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth all the locations where each Grantor maintains any Equipment or other Collateral not identified above (fair market value greater than $1,000,000) opposite the name of such Grantor:
Grantor |
Mailing Address |
County |
State | |||
3. File Search Reports. To the extent that this Supplemental Perfection Certificate contains an update to Section 2.A or Section 2.B hereto, any necessary or advisable file search reports, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Borrower, have been obtained from each Uniform Commercial Code filing office identified with respect to such Grantor in Section 2 of this Supplemental Perfection Certificate, and such search reports reflect no liens against any of the Collateral other than those permitted under the Credit Agreement.
4. UCC Filings. To the extent that this Supplemental Perfection Certificate contains an update to Section 2.A or 2.B hereto, any necessary or advisable financing statements, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Borrower, have been prepared for filing in substantially the form of Schedule 4 hereto in the proper Uniform Commercial Code filing office in the jurisdiction in which each Grantor is located as set forth with respect to such Grantor in Section 2 hereof and, to the extent any of the collateral is comprised of fixtures, timber to be cut or as extracted collateral from the wellhead or minehead, in the proper local jurisdiction, in each case as set forth with respect to such Grantor in Section 2 hereof.
5. Stock Ownership and other Equity Interests. Except as set forth in Schedule 5 hereto, Schedule 5 of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth a true and correct list of all the issued and outstanding stock, partnership interests, limited liability company membership interests or other Equity Interests of each Subsidiary held directly by a Grantor and the record and beneficial owners of such stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other Equity Interests. Except as set forth on Schedule 5 hereto, Schedule 5 or the Prior Perfection Certificate also sets forth each equity investment held directly by a Grantor that represents 50% or less of the Equity Interests of the Person in which such investment was made.
6. Debt Instruments. Except as set forth in Schedule 6 hereto, Schedule 6 of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth a true and correct list of all promissory notes and other evidence of Indebtedness in excess of $500,000 held by each Grantor that are required to be pledged under the Collateral Agreement, including all intercompany notes between (a) the Borrower and each Subsidiary and (b) each Subsidiary and each other such Subsidiary.
7. Assignment of Claims Act. Except as set forth in Schedule 7 hereto, Schedule 7 of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth a true and correct list of all written contracts between a Grantor and the United States government or any department or agency thereof that have a remaining value of at least $1,000,000, setting forth the contract number, name and address of contracting officer (or other party to whom a notice of assignment under the Assignment of Claims Act should be sent), contract start date and end date, agency with which the contract was entered into, and a description of the contract type.
8. Advances. Except as set forth in Schedule 8 hereto, Schedule 8 of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth a true and correct list of all advances made by the Borrower to any Subsidiary or made by any Subsidiary to the Borrower or to any other Subsidiary (other than those identified on Schedule 6 hereto or on Schedule 6 of the Prior Perfection Certificate).
9. Mortgage Filings. Except as set forth in Schedule 9 hereto, Schedule 9 of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth, with respect to each Mortgaged Property, (a) the exact name of
the Person that owns such property as such name appears in its certificate of incorporation or other organizational document, (b) if different from the name identified pursuant to clause (a), the exact name of the current record owner of such property reflected in the records of the filing office for such property identified pursuant to the following clause and (c) the filing office in which a Mortgage with respect to such property must be filed or recorded in order for the Administrative Agent to obtain a perfected security interest therein.
10. Intellectual Property. Except as set forth in Schedule 10A hereto, Schedule 10A of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth all of each Grantors Patents and Trademarks, including the name of the registered owner, the issue or registration number (as applicable) and the issue or registration date (as applicable) of each Patent and Trademark owned by any Grantor and registered or for which registration applications are pending in the United States. Except as set forth in Schedule 10B hereto, Schedule 10B of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth all of each Grantors Copyrights and material United States exclusive inbound Copyright Licenses, including the name of the registered owner, the registration number and the registration date of each Copyright or material United States exclusive inbound Copyright License owned by any Grantor and registered or for which registration applications are pending in the United States.
11. Commercial Tort Claims. Except as set forth in Schedule 11 hereto, Schedule 11 of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth a true and correct list of commercial tort claims held by any Grantor in which it reasonably expects to recover an amount greater than $1,000,000, including a brief description thereof.
12. Deposit Accounts. Except as set forth in Schedule 12 hereto, Schedule 12 of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth a true and correct list of deposit accounts maintained by each Grantor, other than all Excluded Accounts, including the name and address of the depositary institution, the type of account and the account number.
13. Securities Accounts and Commodities Accounts. Except as set forth in Schedule 13 hereto, Schedule 13 of the Prior Perfection Certificate sets forth a true and correct list of securities accounts and commodities accounts maintained by each Grantor, other than all Excluded Accounts, including the name and address of the intermediary institution, the type of account and the account number.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this certificate on this [●] day of [●].
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, | ||||
as the Borrower, | ||||
by | ||||
| ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
EXHIBIT E
[FORM OF] INTERCOMPANY INDEBTEDNESS SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT dated as of [●], 2015 (this Agreement), among The Chemours Company, a Delaware corporation (the Borrower), the other Intercompany Lenders and Intercompany Debtors (as defined below) from time to time party hereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JPMCB), as Administrative Agent.
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among the Borrower, the Lenders and Issuing Banks from time to time party thereto and JPMCB, as Administrative Agent.
The Credit Agreement provides that (i) any Restricted Subsidiary may make loans, advances and other extensions of credit to the Borrower and (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party may make loans, advances and other extensions of credit to any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party, so long as, in each case, any Indebtedness resulting therefrom is subordinated to the Obligations on the terms set forth in this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) Intercompany Indebtedness means any Indebtedness owed by (i) the Borrower to any Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party, together with all interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on such Indebtedness and all other monetary obligations of any Loan Party arising from or in respect of such Indebtedness, including obligations to pay fees, expense reimbursement obligations and indemnification obligations, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), (b) each of the Loan Parties, in its capacity as an obligor in respect of any Intercompany Indebtedness, is referred to herein as an Intercompany Debtor, (c) each of the Restricted Subsidiaries, in its capacity as an obligee in respect of any Intercompany Indebtedness, is referred to herein as an Intercompany Lender and (d) the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and other holders of any Obligations are sometimes referred to as Senior Lenders.
The Lenders and the Issuing Banks have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower, and to permit the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties to incur Intercompany Indebtedness, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement. The ability of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties to incur Intercompany Indebtedness under Section 6.01(d) of the Credit Agreement is conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this Agreement. In accordance with the Credit Agreement, each Restricted Subsidiary desires to enter into this Agreement in order to subordinate, on the terms set forth herein, its rights, as an Intercompany Lender, to payment under any Intercompany Indebtedness to the prior payment in full in cash of the Loan Document Obligations. The Restricted Subsidiaries are Affiliates of the Borrower, will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the provision of other financial accommodations to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries by the Senior Lenders (as defined below) and are willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to extend such credit and provide such accommodations. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions and Construction. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein (including the preliminary statements hereto) have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement. The rules of construction specified in Section 1.03 of the Credit Agreement shall apply to this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.
2. Subordination. (a) Each Intercompany Lender hereby agrees that all its right, title and interest in, to and under any Intercompany Indebtedness owed by any Intercompany Debtor shall be subordinate, and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, to all Obligations of such Intercompany Debtor until the payment in full in cash of all Loan Document Obligations (other than contingent obligations for indemnification, expense reimbursement, tax gross up or yield protection as to which no claim has been made) of such Intercompany Debtor; provided that such Intercompany Debtor may make payments to the applicable Intercompany Lender unless and until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom (such Obligations, including interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any proceedings referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim in such proceeding, being hereinafter collectively referred to as Senior Indebtedness).
(b) In the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, and any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceedings in connection therewith, relating to any Intercompany Debtor or to its property, and in the event of any proceedings for voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of such Intercompany Debtor, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (i) the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be paid in full in cash in respect of all amounts constituting Senior Indebtedness before any Intercompany Lender shall be entitled to receive (whether directly or indirectly), or make any demand for, any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash securities or other property (other than Restructured Debt Securities (as defined below)), and whether directly, by purchase, redemption, exercise of any right of setoff or otherwise, from such Intercompany Debtor on account of any Intercompany Indebtedness owed by such Intercompany Debtor to such Intercompany Lender (provided that the foregoing shall not impair the right of any Intercompany Lender to file a proof of claim in any such proceeding in accordance with the terms hereof) and (ii) until the holders of Senior Indebtedness are paid in full in cash in respect of all amounts constituting Senior Indebtedness, any payment or distribution to which such Intercompany Lender would otherwise be entitled, whether in cash, property or securities (other than a payment of debt securities of such Intercompany Debtor that are subordinated and junior in right of payment to the Senior Indebtedness to at least the same extent as the Intercompany Indebtedness described in this Agreement is subordinated and junior in right of payment to the Senior Indebtedness then outstanding (such securities being hereinafter referred to as Restructured Debt Securities)) shall instead be made to the holders of Senior Indebtedness.
(c) If any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, then (i) no payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than Restructured Debt Securities), and whether directly, by purchase, redemption, exercise of any right of setoff or otherwise, shall be made by or on behalf of any Intercompany
Debtor, or any other Person on its behalf, with respect to any Intercompany Indebtedness and (ii) no Intercompany Indebtedness owing by any Intercompany Debtor to any Intercompany Lender that is a Loan Party shall be forgiven or otherwise reduced in any way, other than as a result of payment of such amount in full in cash.
(d) If any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than Restructured Debt Securities), and whether directly, by purchase, redemption, exercise of any right of setoff or otherwise, with respect to any Intercompany Indebtedness shall (despite these subordination provisions) be received by any Intercompany Lender in violation of paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section prior to all Senior Indebtedness having been paid in full in cash, such payment or distribution shall be held by such Intercompany Lender in trust (segregated from other property of such Intercompany Lender) for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and shall be paid over or delivered to the Administrative Agent promptly upon receipt to the extent necessary to pay all Senior Indebtedness in full in cash.
(e) Each Intercompany Lender agrees to file all claims against each relevant Intercompany Debtor in any bankruptcy or other proceeding in which the filing of claims is required by law in respect of any Intercompany Indebtedness, and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to all of such Intercompany Lenders rights thereunder. If for any reason an Intercompany Lender fails to file such claim in respect of any Intercompany Indebtedness at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the last date on which such claim should be filed, such Intercompany Lender hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact and the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to act as attorney-in-fact in such Intercompany Lenders name to file such claim or, in the Administrative Agents discretion, to assign such claim to and cause proof of claim to be filed in the name of the Administrative Agent or its nominee. In all such cases, whether in administration, bankruptcy or otherwise, the Person or Persons authorized to pay such claim shall pay to the Administrative Agent the full amount payable on the claim in the proceeding, and, to the full extent necessary for that purpose, each Intercompany Lender hereby assigns to the Administrative Agent all of such Intercompany Lenders rights to any payments or distributions to which such Intercompany Lender otherwise would be entitled. If the amount so paid is greater than such Intercompany Lenders liability hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall pay the excess amount to the party entitled thereto.
(f) Each Intercompany Lender and each Intercompany Debtor hereby agrees that the subordination provisions set forth in this Agreement are for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Administrative Agent may, on behalf of itself and such other holders of Senior Indebtedness, proceed to enforce these subordination provisions set forth herein.
3. Waivers and Consents. (a) Each Intercompany Lender waives the right to compel that any property or asset of any Intercompany Debtor or any property or asset of any guarantor of the Obligations or any other Person be applied in any particular order to discharge the Obligations. Each Intercompany Lender expressly waives the right to require the Administrative Agent or any Senior Lender to proceed against any Intercompany Debtor, any guarantor of any Obligations or any other Person, or to pursue any other remedy in its or their power that such Intercompany Lender cannot pursue and that would lighten such Intercompany
Lenders burden, notwithstanding that the failure of the Administrative Agent or any Senior Lender to do so may thereby prejudice such Intercompany Lender. Each Intercompany Lender agrees that it shall not be discharged, exonerated or have its obligations hereunder reduced by the Administrative Agents or any Senior Lenders delay in proceeding against or enforcing any remedy against any Intercompany Debtor, any guarantor of any Obligations or any other Person; by the Administrative Agent or any Senior Lender releasing any Intercompany Debtor, any guarantor of any Obligations or any other Person from all or any part of the Obligations; or by the discharge of any Intercompany Debtor, any guarantor of any Obligations or any other Person by an operation of law or otherwise, with or without the intervention or omission of the Administrative Agent or any Senior Lender.
(b) Each Intercompany Lender waives all rights and defenses arising out of an election of remedies by the Administrative Agent or any Senior Lender, even though that election of remedies, including any nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to any property or asset securing any Obligations, has impaired the value of such Intercompany Lenders rights of subrogation, reimbursement or contribution against any Intercompany Debtor, any guarantor of the Obligations or any other Person. Each Intercompany Lender expressly waives any rights or defenses it may have by reason of protection afforded to any Intercompany Debtor, any guarantor of the Obligations or any other Person with respect to the Obligations pursuant to any anti-deficiency laws or other laws of similar import that limit or discharge the principal debtors indebtedness upon judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure of property or assets securing any Obligations.
(c) Each Intercompany Lender agrees that, without the necessity of any reservation of rights against it, and without notice to or further assent by it, any demand for payment of any Obligations made by the Administrative Agent or any Senior Lender may be rescinded in whole or in part by such Person, and any Obligation may be continued, and the Obligations or the liability of any Intercompany Debtor, any guarantor thereof or any other Person obligated thereunder, or any right of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by the Administrative Agent or the Senior Lenders, in each case without notice to or further assent by such Intercompany Lender, which will remain bound hereunder, and without impairing, abridging, releasing or affecting the subordination provided for herein.
(d) Each Intercompany Lender waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Obligations, and any and all notice of or proof of reliance by the Senior Lenders upon this Agreement. The Obligations, and any of them, shall be deemed conclusively to have been created, contracted or incurred, and the consent to create the obligations of any Intercompany Debtor in respect of the Intercompany Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have been given, in reliance upon this Agreement. Each Intercompany Lender waives any protest, demand for payment and notice of default.
4. Obligations Unconditional. All rights and interests of the Administrative Agent and the other Senior Lenders hereunder, and all agreements and obligations of each Intercompany Lender and each Intercompany Debtor hereunder, shall remain in full force and effect until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 17, irrespective of:
(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document;
(b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations or any amendment or waiver or other modification, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, of, or consent to departure from, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document;
(c) any exchange, release or nonperfection of any Lien in any Collateral, or any release, amendment, waiver or other modification, whether in writing or by course of conduct or otherwise, of or consent to departure from, any guarantee of any Obligations; or
(d) any other circumstances that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Intercompany Debtor in respect of the Obligations or of such Intercompany Lender or such Intercompany Debtor in respect of the subordination provisions set forth herein (other than the payment in full in cash of the Loan Document Obligations in accordance with the requirements of Section 7.11 of the Collateral Agreement).
5. Waiver of Claims. (a) To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Intercompany Lender waives any claim it might have against the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender with respect to, or arising out of, any action or failure to act or any error of judgment, negligence, or mistake or oversight whatsoever on the part of the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing with respect to any exercise of rights or remedies under the Loan Documents in the absence of the gross negligence, wilful misconduct or breach in bad faith of such Persons agreements under the Loan Documents (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment). None of the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lenders or any Related Party of any of the foregoing shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or any guarantee of any Obligations, or for any delay in doing so, or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any Intercompany Debtor, any Intercompany Lender or any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral, or any part thereof, or any such guarantee.
(b) Each Intercompany Lender, for itself and on behalf of its successors and assigns, hereby waives any and all now existing or hereafter arising rights it may have to require the Senior Lenders to marshal assets for the benefit of such Intercompany Lender, or to otherwise direct the timing, order or manner of any sale, collection or other enforcement of the Collateral or enforcement of any rights or remedies under the Loan Documents. The Senior Lenders are under no duty or obligation, and each Intercompany Lender hereby waives any right it may have to compel any Senior Lender, to pursue any guarantor or other Person who may be liable for the Obligations, or to enforce any Lien in any Collateral.
(c) Each Intercompany Lender hereby waives and releases all rights which a guarantor or surety with respect to the Senior Indebtedness could exercise.
6. Notices. (a) 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 email, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, to it as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement; and
(ii) if to any other Intercompany Lender or Intercompany Debtor, to it in care of the Borrower to its address as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.
(b) Notices and 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 sent by email 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).
(c) Any party hereto may change its address or email address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.
7. Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the other Senior Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower, any other Intercompany Lender or any other Intercompany Debtor therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No notice or demand on the Borrower, any other Intercompany Lender or any other Intercompany Debtor in any case shall entitle the Borrower, any other Intercompany Lender or any other Intercompany Debtor to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.
(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Intercompany Lenders or Intercompany Debtors with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification is to apply, subject to any consent required in accordance with Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement; provided that, until such time as (a) all the Loan Document Obligations (other than contingent obligations for indemnification, expense reimbursement, tax gross up or yield protection as to which no claim has been made) (and, for purposes of clarity, other than Secured Cash Management Obligations, Secured Hedging Obligations or Secured Customer Financing Obligations) have been paid in full in cash, (b) the Lenders have no further commitment to lend under the Credit Agreement, (c) all Letters of Credit have expired, terminated or been backstopped or cash collateralized (in each case, in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank) (including as a result of obtaining consents of the applicable Issuing Banks as described in Section 9.05 of the Credit
Agreement) and (d) and the Issuing Banks have no further obligations to issue, amend or extend Letters of Credit under the Credit Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall have provided its prior written consent to such amendment, modification, waiver or consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
8. Successors and Assigns. (a) Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the permitted successors and assigns of such party, and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of the Borrower, each Intercompany Lender, each Intercompany Debtor or the Administrative Agent that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective permitted successors and assigns.
(b) The Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties shall have a full and unfettered right to assign or otherwise transfer the whole or any part of the benefit of this Agreement to any Person to whom all or a corresponding part of the Obligations are assigned or transferred, all without impairing, abridging, releasing or affecting the subordination provided for herein.
9. Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower, the other Intercompany Lenders and the other Intercompany Debtors in this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Administrative Agent and the other Senior Lenders and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any default hereunder or incorrect representation or warranty at the time this Agreement is executed and delivered and shall continue in full force and effect until terminated in accordance with Section 17 hereof. This Agreement shall apply in respect of the Obligations notwithstanding any intermediate payment in whole or in part of the Obligations and shall apply to the ultimate balance of the Obligations.
10. Counterparts; Effectiveness; Several Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission or other electronic imaging shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as to any Intercompany Lender or Intercompany Debtor when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such Intercompany Lender or Intercompany Debtor shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent and a counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Administrative Agent and delivered to the Borrower. This Agreement shall be construed as a separate agreement with respect to each Intercompany Lender and each Intercompany Debtor and may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with respect to any Intercompany Lender or Intercompany Debtor without the approval of any other Intercompany Lender or Intercompany Debtor and without affecting the obligations of any other Intercompany Lender or Intercompany Debtor hereunder.
11. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
12. Further Assurances. The Borrower, each other Intercompany Lender and each other Intercompany Debtor agrees that it will execute any and all further documents, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions that may be required under any applicable law, or that the Administrative Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of obtaining or preserving the full benefits of the subordination provisions set forth herein and of the rights and powers herein granted, all at the expense of the Borrower or such Intercompany Lenders or such Intercompany Debtors.
13. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process; Appointment of Service of Process Agent. (a) This Agreement and any claim, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
(b) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the Borrower, each other Intercompany Lender and each other Intercompany Debtor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding brought by it or any of its Affiliates shall be brought, and shall be heard and determined, exclusively in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against the Borrower, any other Intercompany Lender, any other Intercompany Debtor or any of its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(c) Each of the Borrower, each other Intercompany Lender and each other Intercompany Debtor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement 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 law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to the service of process by mailing of copies of such process in the manner provided for notices in Section 6 of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement or any Secured Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
14. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. 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 PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
15. Headings. Section headings used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
16. Provisions Define Relative Rights. The subordination provisions set forth herein are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Borrower, the other Intercompany Lenders and the other Intercompany Debtors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, on the other hand, and no other Person shall have any right, benefit or other interest under these subordination provisions.
17. Termination. This Agreement and the subordination provisions set forth herein shall terminate when all the Loan Document Obligations (other than contingent obligations for indemnification, expense reimbursement, tax gross up or yield protection as to which no claim has been made) have been paid in full in cash, the Lenders have no further commitment to lend under the Credit Agreement, the LC Exposure has been reduced to zero (including as a result of obtaining consents of the applicable Issuing Banks as described in Section 9.05 of the Credit Agreement) and the Issuing Banks have no further obligations to issue, amend or extend Letters of Credit under the Credit Agreement.
18. Additional Subsidiaries. Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, certain Subsidiaries not a party hereto on the Effective Date are required to enter into this Agreement. Upon execution and delivery after the date hereof by any Subsidiary of a counterpart signature page hereto, such Subsidiary shall become a party hereto with the same force and effect as if originally named as such herein. The execution and delivery of such a counterpart signature page shall not require the consent of any party hereto. The rights and obligations under this Agreement of each other party hereto shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Subsidiary as a party to this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, | ||||
by | ||||
| ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
[RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES], | ||||
By | ||||
| ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
EXHIBIT F
AUCTION PROCEDURES
This Exhibit F is intended to summarize certain basic terms of the reverse Dutch auction procedures pursuant to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of Section 9.04(f) of the Credit Agreement, of which this Exhibit F is a part. It is not intended to be a definitive statement of all of the terms and conditions of a reverse Dutch auction, the definitive terms and conditions for which shall be set forth in the applicable Auction Notice. None of the Administrative Agent, the Auction Manager, any of their respective Affiliates, any Purchasing Borrower Party or any of its Affiliates makes any recommendation pursuant to the applicable Auction Notice as to whether or not any Lender should sell by assignment any of its Term Loans to a Purchasing Borrower Party pursuant to the applicable Auction Notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, by participating in the reverse Dutch auction as a Lender), nor shall the decision by the Administrative Agent or the Auction Manager (or any of their respective Affiliates) in its capacity as a Lender to sell its Term Loans to a Purchasing Borrower Party be deemed to constitute such a recommendation. Each Lender should make its own decision as to whether to sell any of its Term Loans and as to the principal amount of and price to be sought for such Term Loans. In addition, each Lender should consult its own attorney, business advisor or tax advisor as to legal, business, tax and related matters concerning each Auction Purchase Offer and the applicable Auction Notice. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Exhibit F have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.
Summary. A Purchasing Borrower Party may purchase (by assignment) Term Loans on a non-pro rata basis by conducting one or more reverse Dutch auctions pursuant to the procedures described herein and as set forth in the Credit Agreement.
Notice Procedures. In connection with each Auction Purchase Offer, a Purchasing Borrower Party will provide notification to the Auction Manager (for distribution to the Lenders) of the Term Loans (as determined by such Purchasing Borrower Party in its sole discretion) that will be the subject of such Auction Purchase Offer (each, an Auction Notice). Each Auction Notice shall contain (i) the maximum principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of Term Loans of the applicable Class that the applicable Purchasing Borrower Party offers to purchase in such Auction Purchase Offer (the Auction Amount), which shall be no less than $20,000,000; (ii) the range of discounts to par (the Discount Range), expressed as a range of prices (in increments of $25) per $1,000, at which such Purchasing Borrower Party would be willing to purchase Term Loans of such Class in such Auction Purchase Offer; and (iii) the date on which such Auction Purchase Offer will conclude (which date shall not be fewer than three Business Days following the distribution of the Auction Notice to the Lenders), on which date Return Bids (as defined below) will be due by 1:00 p.m., New York City time (as such date and time may be extended by the Auction Manager, the Expiration Time). Such Expiration Time may be extended for a period not exceeding three Business Days upon notice by the applicable Purchasing Borrower Party to the Auction Manager received not less than 24 hours before the original Expiration Time; provided that only two extensions per Auction Purchase Offer shall be permitted. An Auction Purchase Offer shall be regarded as a failed Auction Purchase Offer in the event that either (x)
the applicable Purchasing Borrower Party withdraws such Auction Purchase Offer in accordance with the terms hereof or (y) the Expiration Time occurs with no Qualifying Bids (as defined below) having been received. In the event of a failed Auction Purchase Offer, no Purchasing Borrower Party shall be permitted to deliver a new Auction Notice prior to the date occurring three Business Days after such withdrawal or Expiration Time, as the case may be. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the applicable Purchasing Borrower Party shall not initiate any Auction Purchase Offer by delivering an Auction Notice to the Auction Manager until after the conclusion (whether successful or failed) of the previous Auction Purchase Offer (if any), whether such conclusion occurs by withdrawal of such previous Auction Purchase Offer or the occurrence of the Expiration Time of such previous Auction Purchase Offer.
Reply Procedures. In connection with any Auction Purchase Offer, each Lender of Term Loans of the applicable Class wishing to participate in such Auction Purchase Offer shall, prior to the Expiration Time, provide the Auction Manager with a notice of participation, in the form included in the applicable offering document (each, a Return Bid), which shall specify (i) a discount to par that must be expressed as a price (in increments of $25) per $1,000 in principal amount of Term Loans of the applicable Class (the Reply Price) within the Discount Range and (ii) the principal amount of Term Loans of the applicable Class, in an amount not less than $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, that such Lender offers for sale at its Reply Price (the Reply Amount). A Lender may submit a Reply Amount that is less than the minimum amount and incremental amount requirements described above only if the Reply Amount comprises the entire amount of the Term Loans of the applicable Class held by such Lender. Lenders may only submit one Return Bid per Auction Purchase Offer, but each Return Bid may contain up to three component bids, each of which may result in a separate Qualifying Bid (as defined below) and each of which will not be contingent on any other component bid submitted by such Lender resulting in a Qualifying Bid. In addition to the Return Bid, the participating Lender must execute and deliver, to be held in escrow by the Auction Manager, an Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption. No Purchasing Borrower Party will purchase any Term Loans at a price that is outside of the applicable Discount Range, nor will any Return Bids (including any component bids specified therein) submitted at a price that is outside such applicable Discount Range be considered in any calculation of the Applicable Discounted Price (as defined below).
Acceptance Procedures. Based on the Reply Prices and Reply Amounts received by the Auction Manager, the Auction Manager, in consultation with the applicable Purchasing Borrower Party, will determine the applicable discounted price (the Applicable Discounted Price) for the Auction, which will be the lowest Reply Price for which such Purchasing Borrower Party can complete the Auction Purchase Offer at the Auction Amount or such lesser amount of Term Loans for which the Borrower has received Qualifying Bids. All Term Loans included in Qualifying Bids received at a Reply Price lower than the Applicable Discounted Price will be purchased at a purchase price equal to the applicable Reply Price and shall not be subject to proration. If a Lender has submitted a Return Bid containing multiple component bids at different Reply Prices, then all Term Loans of such Lender offered in any such component bid that constitutes a Qualifying Bid with a Reply Price lower than the Applicable Discounted Price shall also be purchased at a purchase price equal to the applicable Reply Price and shall not be subject to proration.
Proration Procedures. The applicable Purchasing Borrower Party shall purchase (by assignment) the Term Loans of the applicable Class (or the respective portions thereof) from each Lender with a Reply Price that is equal to or less than the Applicable Discounted Price (Qualifying Bids) at the Applicable Discounted Price; provided that if the aggregate amount required to pay the Qualifying Bids would exceed the Auction Amount for such Auction Purchase Offer, such Purchasing Borrower Party shall pay such Qualifying Bids at the Applicable Discounted Price ratably based on the respective principal amounts of such Qualifying Bids (subject to rounding requirements specified by the Auction Manager) in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Auction Amount. For avoidance of doubt, no Return Bids will be accepted above the Applicable Discounted Price. Each participating Lender shall be given notice as to whether its bid is a Qualifying Bid as soon as reasonably practicable but in no case later than five Business Days from the date the Return Bid was due.
Notification Procedures. The Auction Manager will calculate the Applicable Discounted Price and will cause the Administrative Agent to post the Applicable Discounted Price and proration factor onto an internet or intranet site (including an IntraLinks, SyndTrak or other electronic workspace) in accordance with the Auction Managers standard dissemination practices by 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day during which the Expiration Time occurs. The Auction Manager will insert the principal amount of Term Loans of the applicable Class to be assigned and the applicable settlement date determined by the Auction Manager in consultation with the Purchasing Borrower party into each applicable Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption received in connection with a Qualifying Bid. Upon the request of the submitting Lender, the Auction Manager will promptly return any Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption received in connection with a Return Bid that is not a Qualifying Bid.
Additional Procedures. Once initiated by an Auction Notice, the applicable Purchasing Borrower Party may withdraw an Auction Purchase Offer only if no Qualifying Bid has been received by the Auction Manager at the time of withdrawal. Any Return Bid (including any component bid thereof) delivered to the Auction Manager may not be withdrawn, modified, revoked, terminated or cancelled by a Lender. However, an Auction Purchase Offer may become void if the conditions to the purchase set forth in Section 9.04(f) of the Credit Agreement are not met. The purchase price in respect of each Qualifying Bid for which purchase by the applicable Purchasing Borrower Party is required in accordance with the foregoing provisions shall be paid directly by such Purchasing Borrower Party to the respective assigning Lender on a settlement date as determined jointly by such Purchasing Borrower Party and the Auction Manager (which shall be not later than ten Business Days after the date Return Bids are due). The applicable Purchasing Borrower Party shall execute each applicable Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption received in connection with a Qualifying Bid. All questions as to the form of documents and validity and eligibility of Term Loans that are the subject of an Auction Purchase Offer will be determined by the Auction Manager, in consultation with the applicable Purchasing Borrower Party, and their determination will be final and binding so long as such determination is not inconsistent with the terms of Section 9.04(f)
of the Credit Agreement or this Exhibit F. The Auction Managers interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Auction Notice, in consultation with the applicable Purchasing Borrower Party, will be final and binding so long as such interpretation is not inconsistent with the terms of Section 9.04(f) of the Credit Agreement or this Exhibit F. None of the Administrative Agent, the Auction Manager or any of their respective Affiliates assumes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information concerning the applicable Purchasing Borrower Party, the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates (whether contained in an offering document or otherwise) or for any failure to disclose events that may have occurred and may affect the significance or accuracy of such information. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, this Exhibit F shall not require any Purchasing Borrower Party to initiate any Auction Purchase Offer.
EXHIBIT G
[FORM OF] AFFILIATED LENDER ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
This Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption (this Assignment and Assumption) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between the Assignor (as defined below) and the Assignee (as defined below). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex I attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.
For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions referred to below and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below, (a) all the Assignors rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including any Guarantees included in such facilities) and (b) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (a) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above being referred to herein collectively as the Assigned Interest). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.
1. | Assignor: |
| ||
2. | Assignee: |
| ||
and is a Purchasing Borrower Party | ||||
3. | Borrower: The Chemours Company, a Delaware corporation | |||
4. | Administrative Agent: JPMorgan Chase Bank. N.A., as the Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement | |||
5. | Credit Agreement: The Credit Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015, among The Chemours Company, a Delaware corporation, the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. |
6. Assigned Interest:1
Facility Assigned |
Aggregate Amount of Commitments/Loans of the applicable Class of all Lenders |
Amount of the Commitments/Loans of the applicable Class Assigned |
Percentage Assigned of Aggregate Amount of Commitments/Loans of the applicable Class of all Lenders2 |
|||||||||
Tranche B Term Loans |
$ | $ | % | |||||||||
[ ]3 |
$ | $ | % |
Effective Date: , 20 [TO BE INSERTED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR]
1 | Must comply with the minimum assignment amounts set forth in Section 9.04(b)(ii)(A) of the Credit Agreement and minimum commitment holds set forth in Section 9.04(b)(ii)(E), to the extent such minimum assignment amounts or minimum commitment holds are applicable. |
2 | Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitments/Loans of all Lenders of any Class, as applicable. |
3 | In the event Incremental Term Loans of any Class are established under Section 2.21 of the Credit Agreement or any new Class of Loans or Commitments is established pursuant to Section 2.23 of the Credit Agreement, refer to the Class of such Loans assigned. |
The terms set forth above are hereby agreed to: | Consented to and Accepted: | |||||||||
, as Assignor, | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, | |||||||||
by | by | |||||||||
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| |||||||||
Name: | Name: | |||||||||
Title: | Title: | |||||||||
, as Assignee, | Consented to: | |||||||||
by | THE CHEMOURS COMPANY, | |||||||||
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Name: | by | |||||||||
Title: |
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Name: | ||||||||||
Title: |
ANNEX 1 TO
AFFILIATED LENDER
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
1. Representations and Warranties.
1.1. Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, other than statements made by it herein, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Affiliate of the Borrower or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Affiliate of the Borrower or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document and (c) acknowledges that the Assignee is a Purchasing Borrower Party.
1.2. Assignee. The Assignee represents and warrants that (a) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (b) it is a Purchasing Borrower Party, (c) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of the effectiveness of this Assignment and Assumption and the consummation of the assignment and delegation of the Assigned Interest contemplated hereby or would result therefrom, (d) all Term Loans assigned and delegated to the Assignee pursuant to this Assignment and Assumption shall be automatically and permanently cancelled upon the Effective Date and will thereafter no longer be outstanding for any purpose under the Credit Agreement, (e) as of the date hereof the Assignee does not have any MNPI that either (i) has not been disclosed to the Assignor (other than because the Assignor does not wish to receive MNPI) on or prior to the date of the initiation of the Auction in connection with which this assignment is being effectuated or (ii) if not disclosed to such Assignor, could reasonably be expected to have a material effect upon, or otherwise be material to, (A) such Assignors decision to participate in any such Auction or (B) the market price of the Term Loans (except to the extent that the Assignor has separately entered into a customary big boy letter with the Borrower) and (f) no proceeds from Revolving Loans are being used to fund the purchase of the Assigned Interest.
2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of
principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignee whether such amounts have accrued prior to or on or after the Effective Date. The Assignor and the Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments by the Administrative Agent for periods prior to the Effective Date or with respect to the making of this assignment directly between themselves.
3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by facsimile transmission or other electronic imaging shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption and any claim, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Assignment and Assumption and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
EXHIBIT H
[FORM OF] MATURITY DATE EXTENSION REQUEST
[Insert Date]12
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179
Attention: [●]
Fax: [●]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among The Chemours Company, a Delaware corporation (the Borrower), the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.
In accordance with Section 2.22 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby requests [(a)] an extension of the [insert applicable Class] Maturity Date from [●] to [●][, (b) the Applicable Rate to be applied in determining the interest payable on [insert applicable Class] Loans of[, and fees payable under the Credit Agreement to,] Consenting Lenders in respect of that portion of their [[insert applicable Class] Loans] extended to the new Maturity Date to be [●]%, which changes shall be effective as of [●] and (c) the amendments to the terms of the Credit Agreement set forth below, which amendments will become effective on [●]:]
[Insert amendments to Credit Agreement, if any]
[Signature Pages Follow]
12 | To be delivered no less than 30 days from the then existing Maturity Date |
Very truly yours, | ||
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
EXHIBIT I-1
[FORM OF]
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among The Chemours Company, a Delaware corporation (the Borrower), the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any promissory note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a 10-percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
[NAME OF LENDER] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Date: , 20[ ]
EXHIBIT I-2
[FORM OF]
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Non-U.S. Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among The Chemours Company, a Delaware corporation (the Borrower), the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect to such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a 10-percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, from each of such partners/members beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Date: , 20[ ]
EXHIBIT I-3
[FORM OF]
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Non-U.S. Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among The Chemours Company, a Delaware corporation (the Borrower), the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a 10-percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT] | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Date: , 20[ ]
EXHIBIT I-4
[FORM OF]
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among The Chemours Company, a Delaware corporation (the Borrower), the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any promissory note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any promissory note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a 10-percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, from each of such partners/members beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
[NAME OF LENDER] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Date: , 20[ ]
EXHIBIT J
[FORM OF] SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE
of
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
Pursuant to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 12, 2015 (the Credit Agreement), among The Chemours Company, a Delaware corporation, the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, the undersigned hereby certifies, solely in such undersigneds capacity as [chief financial officer] [chief accounting officer] [specify other officer with equivalent duties] of the Borrower, and not individually, as follows:
I am generally familiar with the businesses and assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and am duly authorized to execute this Solvency Certificate on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement.
As of the date hereof, after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions (it being understood that, as of the date hereof, the Spin-Off has not occurred), including the making of the Loans under the Credit Agreement on the date hereof and the payment of all planned DuPont Distributions as of the date hereof, and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such indebtedness:
a. | The fair value of the assets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise; |
b. | The present fair saleable value of the property of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability, on a consolidated basis, of their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; |
c. | The Borrower and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such liabilities become absolute and matured; and |
d. | The Borrower and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are not engaged in, and are not about to engage in, business for which they have unreasonably small capital. |
For purposes of this Certificate, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual and matured liability. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Solvency Certificate in such undersigneds capacity as [chief financial officer] [chief accounting officer] [specify other officer with equivalent duties] of the Borrower, on behalf of the Borrower, and not individually, as of the date first stated above.
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit 10.15
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
$1,350,000,000 6.625% Senior Notes due 2023
$750,000,000 7.000% Senior Notes due 2025
360,000,000 6.125% Senior Notes due 2023
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
May 12, 2015
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
As Representatives of the several Initial Dollar Purchasers (the Dollar Representatives)
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
J.P. Morgan Securities plc
As Representatives of the several Initial Euro Purchasers (the Euro Representatives and, together with the Dollar Representatives, the Representatives)
c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10010-3629
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Chemours Company, a Delaware corporation (the Issuer), (a) proposes to issue and sell to the several initial purchasers named in Schedule A-1 of the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) (collectively, the Initial Dollar Purchasers), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated as of May 5, 2015 (the Purchase Agreement), (i) $1,350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.625% Senior Notes due 2023 (the 2023 Dollar Notes) and (ii) $242,951,000 aggregate principal amount of its 7.000% Senior Notes due 2025 (the 2025 Dollar Notes and, together with the 2023 Dollar Notes, the Dollar Notes), (b) the selling noteholders listed in Schedule B of the Purchase Agreement (the Selling Noteholders) propose to sell to the several Initial Dollar Purchasers $507,049,000 aggregate principal amount of 2025 Dollar Notes and (c) the Issuer proposes to issue and sell to the several initial purchasers named in Schedule A-2 of the Purchase Agreement (collectively, the Initial Euro Purchasers and, together with the Initial Dollar Purchasers, the Initial Purchasers), upon the terms set forth in the Purchase Agreement 360,000,000 principal amount of its 6.125% Senior Notes due 2023 (the Euro Notes and, together with the Dollar Notes, the Initial Securities). The Initial Securities will be unconditionally guaranteed (the Guaranties) by the Guarantors set forth in Schedule C to the Purchase Agreement (collectively, the Guarantors and together with the Issuer, the Company). The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture and one or more Supplemental Indentures thereto, each dated as of May 12, 2015 (such Indenture, together with each applicable Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture), among the Issuer, the Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the Trustee). As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers, the
Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the holders of the Initial Securities (including, without limitation, the Initial Purchasers) and the Exchange Securities (as defined below) (collectively the Holders), as follows:
1. Registered Exchange Offer. The Company shall, at its own cost, prepare and cause to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) a registration statement (the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), with respect to a proposed offer (the Registered Exchange Offer) to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof), who are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities of each series, a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities (the Exchange Securities) of the Company issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects to the Initial Securities of such series (except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Initial Securities and the provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) that would be registered under the Securities Act. The Company shall (i) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act, (ii) consummate such Registered Exchange Offer no later than 465 days (or, if such 465th day is not a business day, the first business day thereafter) after the date of original issue of the Initial Securities (the Issue Date) and (iii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective for not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period being called the Exchange Offer Registration Period). For the avoidance of doubt, the offer of securities to be registered by the Company pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement can include securities other than the Exchange Securities.
Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) electing to exchange the Initial Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder (a) is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, (b) is not holding Securities that have, or that are reasonably likely to have, the status of an unsold allotment in the initial placement, (c) acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holders business, (d) has no arrangements with any person to participate, and is not participating, in the distribution of the Exchange Securities and (e) is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of the several states of the United States.
The Company acknowledges that, pursuant to current interpretations by the Commissions staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder that is a broker-dealer electing to exchange Securities, acquired for its own account as a result of market making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange Securities (an Exchanging Dealer), is required, in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, to deliver a prospectus containing the information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover, (b) Annex B hereto in the Exchange Offer Procedures section and the Purpose of the Exchange Offer section, and (c) Annex C hereto in the Plan of Distribution section of such prospectus in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) an Initial Purchaser that elects to sell Exchange Securities acquired in exchange for Initial Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in connection with such sale.
The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (as it relates to the Exchange Securities) effective and to amend and supplement the prospectus contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided, however, that (i) in the case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period shall be the lesser of (x) 180 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective and (y) the period ending on the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and the Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless such period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Company shall make such prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange Securities at any time during such 180-day (or shorter as provided in the clause (i)) period in order to facilitate such resales.
The Initial Securities and the Exchange Securities are herein collectively called the Securities.
In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;
(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last business day on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.
As soon as reasonably practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(x) accept for exchange all the Initial Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;
(y) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Initial Securities so accepted for exchange; and
(z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities equal in principal amount to the Initial Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the Securities of a series will vote and consent together
on all matters as to which the Indenture provides for voting and consent as one class and that none of the Securities of a series will have the right to vote or consent as a class separate from one another on any matter.
Interest on each Exchange Security issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the Initial Securities, from the date of original issue of the Initial Securities.
Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be required to represent to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate, and is not participating, in the distribution of the Initial Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an affiliate, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of the Company, or if it is an affiliate, such Holder will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Securities, (v) if such Holder is a broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities, (vi) such Holder is not acting on behalf of any person who, to its knowledge, could not truthfully make the foregoing representations and (vii) such other representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable SEC rules, regulations or interpretations to render the use of Form S-4 or another appropriate form under the Securities Act available or for the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective.
Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to such prospectus, shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
2. Shelf Registration. If (i) because of any change in law or in applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Company is not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 465 days of the Issue Date (or, if the 465th day is not a business day, the first business day thereafter), (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with respect to the Initial Securities not eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer or (iv) any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer) is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer or, in the case of any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer) that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer, such Holder does not receive freely tradeable Exchange Securities on the date of the exchange, the Company shall take the following actions:
(a) The Company shall, (i) at its cost, file with the Commission on or prior to the 30th day after the date so required or requested pursuant to this Section 2 (such 30th day being a Shelf Registration Statement Filing Deadline), provided that, in no event shall the Company be required to cause such Shelf Registration Statement (as defined below) to be filed earlier than the 465th day after the Issue Date (or, if the 465th day is not a business day, the first business day thereafter) and (ii) thereafter shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective (unless it becomes effective automatically upon filing) a registration statement (the Shelf Registration Statement and, together with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a Registration Statement) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter, the Shelf Registration); provided, however, that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, the offer of securities to be registered by the Company pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement can include securities other than the Transfer Restricted Securities.
(b) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of the relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for such longer period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the Issue Date or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold pursuant thereto or (ii) have been distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act. The Company shall be deemed not to have used its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Securities during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf Registration contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the original offering) is participating in the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to reflect in such document, when so filed with the Commission, such
comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the Exchange Offer Procedures section and the Purpose of the Exchange Offer section and in Annex C hereto in the Plan of Distribution section of the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and include the information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser, include the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; (iv) include within the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled Plan of Distribution, reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the Commission with respect to the potential underwriter status of any broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) of Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (a Participating Broker-Dealer), whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the Commission or such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers based upon advice of counsel (which may be in-house counsel), represent the prevailing views of the staff of the Commission; and (v) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include in the prospectus included in the Shelf Registration Statement (or, if permitted by Commission Rule 430B(b), in a prospectus supplement that becomes a part thereof pursuant to Commission Rule 430B(f)) that is delivered to any Holder pursuant to Section 3(d) and (f), the names of the Holders who propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, as selling securityholders.
(b) The Company shall advise each of the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the Company has received prior written notice that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been made):
(i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for additional information;
(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, of the issuance by the Commission of a notification of objection to the use of the form on which the Registration Statement has been filed, and of the happening of any event that causes the Company to become an ineligible issuer, as defined in Commission Rule 405;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(v) of the happening of any event that requires the Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the prospectus in order that the Registration Statement and
the prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
(c) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal, at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, upon the written request of such Holder, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or supplement thereto, including financial statements and schedules and all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference).
(e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and each Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if any Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all exhibits thereto (including those incorporated by reference).
(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of the Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.
(g) The Company shall, during the Exchange Offer Registration Period, deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement.
(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company shall reasonably cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such states of the United States as any Holder of the Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (ii) take any action that would subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request at least three days prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by any of paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for which the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders of the Securities or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with any of paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made, then the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any such Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such prospectus, and the period of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement provided for in Section 2(b) above and the Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 1 above shall each be extended by the number of days from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received such amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j).
(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for each series of the Initial Securities or the Exchange Securities, as the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with printed certificates for the Initial Securities or the Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(l) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make generally available to its security holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the Companys first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.
(m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the appointment of a new trustee under any Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of such Indenture.
(n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder that unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
(o) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements (including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.
(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the Companys officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by you and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in Section 4 hereof.
(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the Securities in customary form addressed to such Holders and the Managing Underwriters (as defined in Section 8 hereof), if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall be substantially similar to those set forth in the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Purchase Agreement); (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all customary documents and certificates and updates thereof requested by any underwriters of the applicable Securities and (iii) its independent public accountants and the independent public accountants with respect to any other entity for which financial information is provided in the Shelf Registration Statement to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72 / AU 634 (or any successor bulletins).
(r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested by any Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the Company shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a signed opinion in the form set forth in Section 7(c) of the Purchase Agreement with such changes as are customary in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement and (ii) its independent public accountants to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a comfort letter, in customary form, meeting the requirements as to the substance thereof as set forth in Section 7(a) of the Purchase Agreement, with appropriate date changes.
(s) If a Registered Exchange Offer is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the Exchange Securities, the Company shall mark, or caused to be marked, on the Initial Securities so exchanged that such Initial Securities are being canceled in exchange for the Exchange Securities; in no event shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(t) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
4. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 1 through 3 hereof (including the reasonable fees and expenses, if any, of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, incurred in connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, provided that such fees do not exceed $20,000), whether or not the Registered Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration is filed or becomes effective, and, in the event of a Shelf Registration, shall bear or reimburse the Holders of the Securities covered thereby for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of counsel designated by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Initial Securities covered thereby to act as counsel for the Holders of the Initial Securities in connection therewith.
5. Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons are referred to collectively as the Indemnified Parties) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Commission Rule 433 (Issuer FWP), relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, upon demand, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that (i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability or action arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus or Issuer FWP relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus relating to such Securities was required to be delivered (including through satisfaction of the conditions of Commission Rule 172) by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer under the Securities Act in connection with such purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer results from the fact that there was not conveyed to such person, at or prior to the time of the sale of such Securities to such person, an amended or supplemented prospectus or, if permitted by Section 3(d), an Issuer FWP correcting such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer; provided further, however, that this indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such Indemnified Party. The Company shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders.
(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect thereof, to which the Company or any such controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus or Issuer FWP relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as incurred, the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may otherwise have to the Company or any of its controlling persons.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof, unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; (iii) the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any single proceeding or related proceeding involving substantially similar legal claims in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. Each indemnified party, as a condition of the indemnity agreements contained in Sections 5(a) and 5(b), shall use all reasonable efforts to cooperate with the indemnifying party in the defense of any such action or claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action, and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other from the exchange of the Securities, pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may be, on the other, and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls such indemnified party within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such indemnified party and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
6. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances. (a) Additional interest (the Additional Interest) with respect to the Initial Securities shall be assessed as follows if either of the following events occurs (each such event in clauses (i) and (ii) below a Registration Default):
(i) If by August 20, 2016, neither the Registered Exchange Offer is consummated nor, if required in lieu thereof, the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission; or
(ii) If after either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement is declared (or becomes automatically) effective (A) such Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective; or (B) such Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable (except as permitted by Section 6(b) hereof) in connection with resales of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified herein because either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the related prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or (2) it shall be necessary to amend such Registration Statement or supplement the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder.
Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of Initial Securities over and above the interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of a Registration Default and by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, up to a maximum Additional Interest rate of 0.50% per annum.
(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(ii)(B) hereof shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events with respect to the Company that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events; provided, however, that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 45 days, Additional Interest shall be payable in accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default occurs until such Registration Default is cured.
(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of Section 6(a) above will be payable in cash on the regular interest payment dates with respect to the Initial Securities. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest rate by the principal amount of the Initial Securities, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.
(d) Transfer Restricted Securities means each Security until (i) the date on which such Transfer Restricted Security has been exchanged by a person other than a broker-dealer for a freely
transferable Exchange Security in the Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer of an Initial Security for an Exchange Note, the date on which such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or (iii) the date on which such Initial Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement.
7. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner, and if at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Initial Securities, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales of their Securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of Initial Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Initial Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company will provide a copy of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any Holder of Initial Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.
8. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering (the Managing Underwriters) will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities to be included in such offering.
No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such persons Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail, facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:
(1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company.
(2) if to the Initial Purchasers;
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010-3629
Fax No.: (212) 325-4296
Attention: Transactions Advisory Group
with a copy to:
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Worldwide Plaza
825 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Fax No.: (212) 474-3700
Attention: Craig F. Arcella
(3) if to the Company, at its address as follows:
The Chemours Company
1007 Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19898
Attention: General Counsel
with a copy to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Four Times Square
New York, New York 10036
Fax No.: (917) 777-3497
Attention: Stacy J. Kanter
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged by recipients facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
(c) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the date hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter into, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(g) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(h) Severability. If any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
(i) Securities Held by the Company. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
[signature page follows]
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Issuer a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the several Initial Purchasers, the Issuer and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours, | ||
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY TT, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
INTERNATIONAL DIOXCIDE, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
CHEMFIRST INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
FIRST CHEMICAL CORPORATION | ||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
FIRST CHEMICAL TEXAS, L.P. | ||
By FT CHEMICAL, INC., its general partner | ||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
FT CHEMICAL, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
FIRST CHEMICAL HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Mark E. Newman | |
Name: | Mark E. Newman | |
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written. | ||||
CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Jonathan Singer | |||
Name: | Jonathan Singer | |||
Title: | Managing Director | |||
Acting on behalf of itself and on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers. | ||||
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Catherine Barber | |||
Name: | Catherine Barber | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
Acting on behalf of itself and on behalf of the several Initial Dollar Purchasers. | ||||
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES PLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Todd Rothman | |||
Name: | Todd Rothman | |||
Title: | Managing Director | |||
Acting on behalf of itself and on behalf of the several Initial Euro Purchasers. |
ANNEX A
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See Plan of Distribution.
ANNEX B
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities, where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See Plan of Distribution.
ANNEX C
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until , 20[ ], all dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to deliver a prospectus.(1)
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Securities or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Company will promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
(1) | In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus. |
ANNEX D
CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
Name: |
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Address: |
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If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act.
Exhibit 10.16
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
EQUITY AND INCENTIVE PLAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section | Page | |||||
1. | PURPOSE; TYPES OF AWARDS; CONSTRUCTION. | 1 | ||||
2. | DEFINITIONS. | 1 | ||||
3. | ADMINISTRATION. | 6 | ||||
4. | ELIGIBILITY. | 7 | ||||
5. | STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. | 7 | ||||
6. | SPECIFIC TERMS OF AWARDS. | 8 | ||||
7. | CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS. | 13 | ||||
8. | GENERAL PROVISIONS. | 17 |
i
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
EQUITY AND INCENTIVE PLAN
1. | PURPOSE; TYPES OF AWARDS; CONSTRUCTION. |
The purposes of the Equity and Incentive Plan of The Chemours Company are to attract, motivate and retain (a) employees of the Company and any Subsidiary and Affiliate, (b) independent contractors who provide significant services to the Company, any Subsidiary or Affiliate and (c) nonemployee directors of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate. The Plan is also designed to encourage stock ownership by such individuals, thereby aligning their interest with those of the Companys stockholders and to permit the payment of compensation that qualifies as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code. Pursuant to the provisions hereof, there may be granted stock options (including incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options), and other stock-based awards, including but not limited to restricted stock, restricted stock units, dividend equivalents, performance units, stock appreciation rights (payable in cash or shares) and other long-term stock-based or cash-based Awards. In addition, the Plan permits the issuance of long-term incentive awards in substitution of long-term incentive awards that covered shares of the common stock of DuPont immediately prior to the spinoff of the Company by DuPont. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan, to the extent that any Award would be subject to Section 409A of the Code, no such Award may be granted if it would fail to comply with the requirements set forth in Section 409A of the Code and any regulations or guidance promulgated thereunder.
2. | DEFINITIONS. |
For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:
(a) | Affiliate means an affiliate of the Company, as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. |
(b) | Award means individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards, Other Cash-Based Awards or Conversion Awards. |
(c) | Award Terms means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing an Award. |
(d) | Beneficial Owner shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act. |
(e) | Board means the Board of Directors of the Company. |
(f) | Cause shall have the meaning set forth in the Grantees employment or other agreement with the Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate, if any, provided that if the Grantee is not a party to any such employment or other agreement or |
such employment or other agreement does not contain a definition of Cause, then Cause shall mean (i) the willful and continued failure of the Grantee to perform substantially the Grantees duties with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Grantee by the employing Company, Subsidiary or Affiliate that specifically identifies the alleged manner in which the Grantee has not substantially performed the Grantees duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by the Grantee in illegal conduct or misconduct that is injurious to the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, including without limitation any breach of the Companys Code of Business Conduct or other applicable ethics policy. |
(g) | Change in Control shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(c) hereof. |
(h) | Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. |
(i) | Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall be comprised solely of directors who are (a) nonemployee directors under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, (b) outside directors under Section 162(m) of the Code and (c) independent directors pursuant to New York Stock Exchange requirements. |
(j) | Company means The Chemours Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor corporation. |
(k) | Conversion Award shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c) hereof. |
(l) | Covered Employee shall have the meaning set forth in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code. |
(m) | Disability means that a Grantee is considered to be disabled within the meaning of the applicable Company benefit plan. |
(n) | DuPont means E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. |
(o) | DuPont Award shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c) hereof. |
(p) | Effective Date means the date on which the Company becomes publicly traded in connection with its separation from DuPont. |
(q) | Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and as now or hereafter construed, interpreted and applied by regulations, rulings and cases. |
(r) | Excise Tax shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(d) hereof. |
2
(s) | Fair Market Value means, with respect to Stock or other property, the fair market value of such Stock or other property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in good faith, the per share Fair Market Value of Stock as of a particular date shall mean, (i) the closing sales price per share of Stock on the national securities exchange on which the Stock is principally traded, or (ii) if the shares of Stock are then traded in an over-the-counter market, the average of the closing bid and asked prices for the shares of Stock in such over-the-counter market for the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Stock in such market, or if the shares of Stock are not then listed on a national securities exchange or traded in an over-the-counter market, such value as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine in good faith. |
(t) | Good Reason shall have the meaning set forth in the Grantees employment or other agreement with the Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate, if any, provided that if the Grantee is not a party to any such employment or other agreement or such employment or other agreement does not contain a definition of Good Reason, then Good Reason shall mean (i) a material diminution in the Grantees base compensation, (ii) a material diminution in the Grantees authority, duties, or responsibilities, or (iii) a material change in the geographic location at which the Grantee must perform his/her services for the Company. |
(u) | Grantee means an individual who, as an employee of or independent contractor or nonemployee director with respect to the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate, has been granted an Award under the Plan. |
(v) | ISO means any Option intended to be and designated in the applicable Award Terms as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. |
(w) | NQSO means any Option that is not designated as an ISO in the applicable Award Terms. |
(x) | Option means a right, granted to a Grantee under Section 6(b)(i), to purchase shares of Stock. An Option may be either an ISO or an NQSO. |
(y) | Other Cash-Based Award means an Award granted to a Grantee under Section 6(b)(iv) hereof, including cash awarded as a bonus or upon the attainment of Performance Goals or otherwise as permitted under the Plan. |
(z) | Other Stock-Based Award means an Award granted to a Grantee pursuant to Section 6(b)(iv) (and to the extent applicable Section 6(b)(i)) hereof, that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Stock including but not limited to performance units, Stock Appreciation Rights (payable in cash or shares) or dividend equivalents, each of which may be subject to the attainment of Performance Goals or a period of continued employment or other terms and conditions as permitted under the Plan. |
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(aa) | Performance Goals means performance goals based on one or more of the following criteria: (i) earnings, including operating income, earnings before or after taxes, earnings before or after interest, depreciation, amortization, or extraordinary or special items or book value per share (which may exclude nonrecurring items); (ii) pre-tax income or after-tax income; (iii) earnings per common share (basic or diluted); (iv) operating profit; (v) revenue, revenue growth or rate of revenue growth; (vi) return on assets (gross or net), return on investment, return on capital, or return on equity; (vii) returns on sales or revenues; (viii) operating expenses; (ix) stock price appreciation; (x) cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on investment (discounted or otherwise), net cash provided by operations, or cash flow in excess of cost of capital; (xi) implementation or completion of critical projects or processes; (xii) economic value created; (xiii) cumulative earnings per share growth; (xiv) operating margin or profit margin; (xv) common stock price or total stockholder return; (xvi) cost targets, reductions and savings, productivity and efficiencies; (xvii) strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified market penetration, geographic business expansion, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, human resources management, supervision of litigation, information technology, and goals relating to acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and similar transactions, and budget comparisons; (xviii) personal professional objectives, including any of the foregoing performance goals, the implementation of policies and plans, the negotiation of transactions, the development of long-term business goals, formation of joint ventures, research or development collaborations, and the completion of other corporate transactions; and (xix) any combination of, or a specified increase in, any of the foregoing. Where applicable, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of attaining a specified level of the particular criteria or the attainment of a percentage increase or decrease in the particular criteria, and may be applied to one or more of the Company, a Subsidiary or Affiliate, or a division or strategic business unit of the Company, or may be applied to the performance of the Company relative to a market index, a group of other companies or a combination thereof, all as determined by the Committee. The Performance Goals may include a threshold level of performance below which no payment will be made (or no vesting will occur), levels of performance at which specified payments will be made (or specified vesting will occur), and a maximum level of performance above which no additional payment will be made (or at which full vesting will occur). Each of the foregoing Performance Goals shall be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, if applicable, and shall be subject to certification by the Committee; provided that, to the extent an Award is intended to satisfy the performance-based compensation exception to the limits of Section 162(m) of the Code and then to the extent consistent with such exception, the Committee shall have the authority to make equitable adjustments to the Performance Goals in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, in response to changes in applicable laws or regulations, or to account for items of gain, loss or expense determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment of a business or related to a change in accounting principles. |
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(bb) | Person shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof and the rules thereunder, except that such term shall not include (1) the Company or any Subsidiary corporation, (2) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary corporation, (3) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (4) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company. |
(cc) | Plan means this The Chemours Company Equity and Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time. |
(dd) | Plan Year means a calendar year. |
(ee) | Restricted Stock means an Award of shares of Stock to a Grantee under Section 6(b)(ii) that may be subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture. |
(ff) | Restricted Stock Unit means a right granted to a Grantee under Section 6(b)(iii) of the Plan to receive Stock or cash at the end of a specified period, which right may be subject to the attainment of Performance Goals in a period of continued employment or other terms and conditions as permitted under the Plan. |
(gg) | Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3, as from time to time in effect promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, including any successor to such Rule. |
(hh) | Stock means shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company. |
(ii) | Stock Appreciation Right or SAR means an Other Stock-Based Award, payable in cash or stock, that entitles a Grantee upon exercise to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Stock underlying the Award over the base price established in respect of such Stock. |
(jj) | Subsidiary means any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of granting of an Award, each of the corporations (other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain) owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain. |
(kk) | Total Payments shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(d) hereof. |
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3. | ADMINISTRATION. |
(a) | The Plan shall be administered by the Committee or, at the discretion of the Board, the Board, provided that any Award to the Chairman of the Board shall be subject to ratification by the Board. In the event the Board is the administrator of the Plan, references herein to the Committee shall be deemed to include the Board. The Board may from time to time appoint a member or members of the Committee in substitution for or in addition to the member or members then in office and may fill vacancies on the Committee however caused. The Committee shall choose one of its members as chairman and shall hold meetings at such times and places as it shall deem advisable. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum and any action may be taken by a majority of those present and voting at any meeting. Subject to applicable law, the Board may delegate to one or more officers, acting alone or together with one or more members of the Board, authority to grant Awards to employees who are not subject to potential liability under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act with respect to transactions involving equity securities of the Company at the time any such delegated authority is exercised, subject however to prescribed limits set forth in the resolution of the Board delegating such authority. |
(b) | The decision of the Committee as to all questions of interpretation and application of the Plan shall be final, binding and conclusive on all individuals and entities. The Committee shall have the authority in its discretion, subject to and not inconsistent with the express provisions of the Plan, to administer the Plan and to exercise all the power and authority either specifically granted to it under the Plan or necessary or advisable in the administration of the Plan, including without limitation, the authority to grant Awards, to determine the individuals to whom and the time or times at which Awards shall be granted, to determine the type and number of Awards to be granted, the number of shares of Stock to which an Award may relate and the terms, conditions, restrictions and Performance Goals relating to any Award; to determine Performance Goals no later than such time as is required to ensure that an underlying Award which is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code so complies; to determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled, canceled, forfeited, accelerated, exchanged, or surrendered (provided that, unless approved by the Companys stockholders, no Award shall be settled, canceled, forfeited, exchanged or surrendered in exchange or otherwise in consideration for a new Award with a value in excess of the value of such settled, canceled, forfeited, exchanged or surrendered Award); to make adjustments in the terms and conditions (including Performance Goals) applicable to Awards; to construe and interpret the Plan and any Award; to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; to determine the terms and provisions of the Award Terms (which need not be identical for each Grantee); and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award Terms granted hereunder in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. No Committee member (or any individual to whom the Committees authority hereunder is delegated) shall be liable for any action or determination made with respect to the Plan or any Award. |
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4. | ELIGIBILITY. |
(a) | Awards may be granted to officers, independent contractors, employees and nonemployee directors of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates; provided, that ISOs shall be granted only to employees (including officers and directors who are also employees) of the Company, its parent or any of its Subsidiaries. |
(b) | No ISO shall be granted to any employee of the Company, its parent or any of its Subsidiaries if such employee owns, immediately prior to the grant of the ISO, stock representing more than 10% of the voting power or more than 10% of the value of all classes of stock of the Company or a parent or a Subsidiary, unless the purchase price for the stock under such ISO shall be at least 110% of its Fair Market Value at the time such ISO is granted and the ISO, by its terms, shall not be exercisable more than five years from the date it is granted. In determining the stock ownership under this paragraph, the provisions of Section 424(d) of the Code shall be controlling. |
5. | STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. |
(a) | The maximum number of shares of Stock reserved for the grant or settlement of Awards under the Plan (the Share Limit) shall be [xxx] plus the number of shares of Stock made subject to Conversion Awards and shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein. The aggregate number of shares of Stock made subject to Awards granted during any fiscal year to any single individual (other than with regard to Conversion Awards) shall not exceed [xxx]. Determinations made in respect of the limitation set forth in the preceding sentence shall be made in a manner consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code. Such shares may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued shares or shares that shall have been or may be reacquired by the Company in the open market, in private transactions or otherwise. If any shares subject to an Award (other than a Conversion Award) are forfeited, canceled, exchanged or surrendered or if an Award (other than a Conversion Award) otherwise terminates or expires without a distribution of shares to the Grantee, the shares of stock with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, exchange, surrender, termination or expiration, again be available for Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares of Stock that are exchanged by a Grantee or withheld by the Company as full or partial payment in connection with any Award under the Plan, as well as any shares of Stock exchanged by a Grantee or withheld by the Company or any Subsidiary to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to any Award under the Plan, shall not be available for subsequent Awards under the Plan. Upon the exercise of any Award granted in tandem with any other Awards, such related Awards shall be canceled to the extent of the number of shares of Stock as to which the Award is exercised and, notwithstanding the foregoing, |
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such number of shares shall no longer be available for Awards under the Plan. Upon the exercise of a SAR, the total number of shares subject to such SAR shall not again be available for Awards under the Plan. |
(b) | Except as provided in an Award Terms or as otherwise provided in the Plan, in the event that the Committee shall determine that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Stock, or other property), recapitalization, Stock split, reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or share exchange, or other similar corporate transaction or event, affects the Stock such that an adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Grantees under the Plan, then the Committee shall make such equitable changes or adjustments as it deems necessary or appropriate to any or all of (i) the number and kind of shares of Stock or other property (including cash) that may thereafter be issued in connection with Awards or the total number of Awards issuable under the Plan, (ii) the number and kind of shares of Stock or other property issued or issuable in respect of outstanding Awards, (iii) the exercise price, grant price or purchase price relating to any Award, (iv) the Performance Goals and (v) the individual limitations applicable to Awards; provided that, with respect to ISOs, any adjustment shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 424(h) of the Code and any regulations or guidance promulgated thereunder, and provided further that no such adjustment shall cause any Award hereunder which is or becomes subject to Section 409A of the Code to fail to comply with the requirements of such section. |
6. | SPECIFIC TERMS OF AWARDS. |
(a) | General. The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Terms, payments to be made by the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate upon the grant, maturation, or exercise of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter, including, without limitation, cash, Stock, or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or, subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, on a deferred basis. |
(b) | Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant to Grantees the following Awards, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards. |
(i) | Options and SARs. The Committee is authorized to grant Options and SARs to Grantees on the following terms and conditions: |
(A) | The Award Terms evidencing the grant of an Option under the Plan shall designate the Option as an ISO or an NQSO. |
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(B) | The exercise or base price per share of Stock underlying under an Option or SAR shall be determined by the Committee, but in no event shall the exercise or base price of an Option or SAR per share of Stock be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock as of the date of grant of such Option or SAR. The purchase price of Stock as to which an Option is exercised shall be paid in full at the time of exercise; payment may be made in cash, which may be paid by check, or other instrument acceptable to the Company, or, with the consent of the Committee, in shares of Stock, valued at the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise (including shares of Stock that otherwise would be distributed to the Grantee upon exercise of the Option), or if there were no sales on such date, on the next preceding day on which there were sales or (if permitted by the Committee and subject to such terms and conditions as it may determine) by surrender of outstanding Awards under the Plan, or the Committee may permit such payment of exercise price by any other method it deems satisfactory in its discretion. In addition, subject to applicable law and pursuant to procedures approved by the Committee, payment of the exercise price may be made through the sale of Stock acquired on exercise of the Option, valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise, sufficient to pay for such Stock (together with, if requested by the Company, the amount of federal, state or local withholding taxes payable by Grantee by reason of such exercise). Any amount necessary to satisfy applicable federal, state or local tax withholding requirements shall be paid promptly upon notification of the amount due. The Committee may permit such amount of tax withholding to be paid in shares of Stock previously owned by the employee, or a portion of the shares of Stock or cash, as applicable that otherwise would be distributed to such employee upon exercise of an Option or SAR, or a combination of cash and shares of such Stock. |
(C) | Options and SARs shall be exercisable over the exercise period (which shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant), at such times and upon such conditions as the Committee may determine, as reflected in the Award Terms; provided that, the Committee shall have the authority to accelerate the exercisability of any outstanding Option or SAR at such time and under such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. An Option or SAR may be exercised to the extent of any or all full shares of Stock as to which the Option has become exercisable, by giving written notice of such exercise to the Committee or its designated agent. No partial exercise may be made for less than one hundred (100) full shares of Stock. |
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(D) | Upon the termination of a Grantees employment or service with the Company and its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, the Options or SARs granted to such Grantee, to the extent that they are exercisable at the time of such termination, shall remain exercisable for such period as may be provided in the applicable Award Terms, but in no event following the expiration of their term. The treatment of any Option or SAR that is unexercisable as of the date of such termination shall be as set forth in the applicable Award Terms. |
(E) | Options or SARs may be subject to such other conditions including, but not limited to, restrictions on transferability of, or provisions for recovery of, the shares acquired upon exercise of such Options or SARs (or proceeds of sale thereof), as the Committee may prescribe in its discretion or as may be required by applicable law. |
(ii) | Restricted Stock. |
(A) | The Committee may grant Awards of Restricted Stock, alone or in tandem with other Awards under the Plan, subject to such restrictions, terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion and as shall be evidenced by the applicable Award Terms. The vesting of a Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan and the terms upon which transfer restrictions shall lapse may be conditioned upon the completion of a specified period of employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals, and/or upon such other criteria as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion. |
(B) | The Committee shall determine the price, which, to the extent required by law, shall not be less than par value of the Stock, to be paid by the Grantee for each share of Restricted Stock or unrestricted stock or stock units subject to the Award. Each Award Terms with respect to such stock award shall set forth the amount (if any) to be paid by the Grantee with respect to such Award and when and under what circumstances such payment is required to be made. |
(C) | Except as provided in the applicable Award Terms, no shares of Stock underlying a Restricted Stock Award may be assigned, transferred, or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by the Grantee until such shares of Stock have vested in accordance with the terms of such Award and all restrictions on transfer shall have lapsed. |
(D) | If and to the extent that the applicable Award Terms may so provide, a Grantee shall have the right to vote and receive |
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dividends on Restricted Stock granted under the Plan. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Terms, any Stock received as a dividend on or in connection with a stock split of the shares of Stock underlying a Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to the same vesting conditions and transfer restrictions as the shares of Stock underlying such Restricted Stock Award. |
(E) | Upon the termination of a Grantees employment or service with the Company and its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, the Restricted Stock granted to such Grantee shall be subject to the terms and conditions specified in the applicable Award Terms. |
(iii) | Restricted Stock Units. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Units to Grantees, subject to the following terms and conditions: |
(A) | The vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit Award granted under the Plan may be conditioned upon the completion of a specified period of employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals, and/or upon such other criteria as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion. The Committee shall have the authority to accelerate the settlement of any outstanding award of Restricted Stock Units at such time and under such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. |
(B) | Unless otherwise provided in an Award Terms or except as otherwise provided in the Plan, upon the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit there shall be delivered to the Grantee, as soon as practicable following the date on which such Award (or any portion thereof) vests (but in any event within such period as is required to avoid the imposition of a tax under Section 409A of the Code), that number of shares of Stock equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units becoming so vested. |
(C) | Subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, an Award of Restricted Stock Units may provide the Grantee with the right to receive dividend equivalent payments with respect to Stock subject to the Award (both before and after the Stock subject to the Award is earned or vested), which payments may be either made currently or credited to an account for the Grantee, and may be settled in cash or Stock, as determined by the Committee. Any such settlements and any such crediting of dividend equivalents may be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee shall establish, including the reinvestment of such credited amounts in Stock equivalents. |
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(D) | Upon the termination of a Grantees employment or service with the Company and its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, the Restricted Stock Units granted to such Grantee shall be subject to the terms and conditions specified in the applicable Award Terms. |
(iv) | Other Stock-Based or Cash-Based Awards. |
(A) | The Committee is authorized to grant Awards to Grantees in the form of Other Stock-Based Awards or Other Cash-Based Awards, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards, consistent with the terms of the Plan, at the date of grant or thereafter, including the Performance Goals and performance periods. Stock or other securities or property delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(b)(iv) shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, Stock, other Awards, notes or other property, as the Committee shall determine, subject to any required corporate action. |
(B) | The maximum value of the aggregate payment that any Grantee may receive with respect to Other Cash-Based Awards pursuant to this Section 6(b)(iv) in respect of any annual performance period is $[xxx] and for any other performance period in excess of one year, such amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months in the performance period and the denominator of which is twelve (12). No payment shall be made to a Covered Employee prior to the certification by the Committee that the Performance Goals have been attained. The Committee may establish such other rules applicable to the Other Stock- or Cash-Based Awards to the extent not inconsistent with Section 162(m) of the Code. |
(C) | Payments earned in respect of any Cash-Based Award may be decreased or, with respect to any Grantee who is not a Covered Employee, increased in the sole discretion of the Committee based on such factors as it deems appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Awards may be adjusted in accordance with Section 5(b) hereof. |
(c) | Converted DuPont Awards. The Company is authorized to issue Awards (Conversion Awards) in connection with the equitable adjustment by DuPont of certain stock options, performance shares, restricted stock awards, performance units, restricted stock unit awards and any other equity-based awards previously granted by DuPont (collectively, the DuPont Awards). Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in accordance with a formula for the |
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conversion of DuPont Awards as determined by the Company in a manner consistent with the terms of the Employee Matters Agreement entered into in connection with the separation of the Company from DuPont, (i) the number of shares to be subject to a Conversion Award shall be determined by the Committee and (ii) the other terms and conditions of each Conversion Award, including option exercise price, shall be determined by the Committee. |
7. | CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS. |
(a) | Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or evidenced in an applicable Award Terms or employment or other agreement, in the event of a Change in Control: |
(i) | Options and Stock Appreciation Rights |
(A) | If the Company is the surviving entity or the surviving entity assumes the Options or SARs or substitutes in lieu thereof equivalent stock options or SARs relating to the stock of such surviving entity (Substitute Options/SARs), the Options/SARs or the Substitute Options/SARs, as applicable, shall be governed by their respective terms; |
(B) | If the Company is the surviving entity or the surviving entity assumes the Options/SARs or issues Substitute Options/SARs, and the Grantee is terminated without Cause or for Good Reason within twenty-four (24) months following the Change in Control, Options/SARs or Substitute Options/SARs held by the Grantee that were not previously vested and exercisable shall become fully vested and remain exercisable until the date that is two (2) years following the date of such termination, or the original expiration date, whichever first occurs; or |
(C) | If the Company is not the surviving entity, and the surviving entity neither assumes the Options/SARs nor issues Substitute Options/SARs, each Option/SAR shall become fully vested and cancelled in exchange for a cash payment in an amount equal to (i) the excess of Fair Market Value per share of the Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control over the exercise or base price (if any) per share of Stock subject to the Award multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of Stock subject to the Option/SAR. |
(ii) | Other Awards Not Subject to Performance Goals |
(A) | If the Company is the surviving entity or the surviving entity assumes Awards (other than Options or SARs) not subject to Performance Goals (Time-Vested Awards) or substitutes in lieu thereof equivalent stock awards relating to the stock of such surviving entity (Substitute Awards), the Time-Vested Awards or the Substitute Awards, as applicable, shall be governed by their respective terms; |
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(B) | If the Company is the surviving entity or the surviving entity assumes the Time-Vested Awards or issues Substitute Awards, and the Grantee is terminated without Cause or for Good Reason within twenty-four (24) months following the Change in Control, Time-Vested Awards or Substitute Awards held by the Grantee that were not previously vested shall become fully vested; or |
(C) | If the Company is not the surviving entity, and the surviving entity does not assume the Time-Vested Awards or issue Substitute Awards, the Time-Vested Awards shall become fully vested and cancelled in exchange for a cash payment in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control multiplied by the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award. |
(iii) | Other Awards Subject to Performance Goals. Awards (other than Options or SARs) subject to Performance Goals shall be converted into Time-Vested Awards at target, without proration, and continue to vest as though such Award had originally been granted as a Time-Vested Award with a restricted period equal in length to the performance period of such Award. Such Time-Vested Award shall thereafter be governed in accordance with their respective otherwise applicable terms and subsection (ii) above. |
(b) | The Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide that: (i) each Award shall, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, be canceled in exchange for a payment in an amount equal to (A) the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control over the exercise or base price (if any) per share of Stock subject to the Award multiplied by (B) the number of Shares granted under the Award; and (ii) each Award shall, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, be canceled without payment therefore if the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control is less than the exercise or purchase price (if any) per share of Stock subject to the Award. |
(c) | For purposes of the Plan, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if the event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred: |
(i) | any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates) representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities, excluding any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction described in clause (A) of paragraph (iii) below; |
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(ii) | the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals who, on the date hereof, constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Companys stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the date hereof or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended; |
(iii) | there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with any other corporation or other entity, other than (A) a merger or consolidation which results in (I) the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, at least 60% of the combined voting power of the securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and (II) the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constituting immediately thereafter at least a majority of the board of directors of the Company, the entity surviving such merger or consolidation or, if the Company or the entity surviving such merger is then a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof, or (B) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities Beneficially Owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates) representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities; or |
(iv) | the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets (it being conclusively presumed that any sale or disposition is a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of its assets if the consummation of the sale or disposition is contingent upon approval by the Companys stockholders unless the Board expressly determines in writing that such approval is required solely by reason of |
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any relationship between the Company and any other Person or an Affiliate of the Company and any other Person), other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets to an entity (A) at least 60% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or disposition and (B) the majority of whose board of directors immediately following such sale or disposition consists of individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the common stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.
(d) | Unless otherwise provided by the Committee or set forth in a Grantees Award Terms, notwithstanding the provisions of this Plan, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by the Grantee in connection with a Change in Control or the termination of the Grantees employment or service (whether pursuant to the terms of this Plan or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any Subsidiary, any Affiliate, any Person whose actions result in a Change in Control or any Person affiliated with the Company or such Person) (all such payments and benefits, Total Payments) would be subject (in whole or part), to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the Excise Tax), then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the payment or benefit to be received by the Grantee upon a Change in Control shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which the Executive would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments). |
(e) | Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, a Change in Control shall result in the acceleration of the time of payment under an Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code only if the Change in Control also constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Companys assets for purposes of Section 409A of the Code; provided that to the extent that the time of payment under an Award otherwise would have been accelerated but for the application of this Section 7(e), vesting of the Grantee in such payment shall be accelerated. |
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8. | GENERAL PROVISIONS. |
(a) | Nontransferability, Deferrals and Settlements. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or provided in an Award Terms, Awards shall not be transferable by a Grantee except by will or the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of a Grantee only by such Grantee or his guardian or legal representative. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any transfer of Awards to independent third parties for cash consideration without stockholder approval is prohibited. Any Award shall be null and void and without effect upon any attempted assignment or transfer, except as herein provided, including without limitation any purported assignment, whether voluntary or by operation of law, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition, attachment, divorce, trustee process or similar process, whether legal or equitable, upon such Award. The Committee may require or permit Grantees to elect to defer the issuance of shares of Stock (with settlement in cash or Stock as may be determined by the Committee or elected by the Grantee in accordance with procedures established by the Committee), or the settlement of Awards in cash under such rules and procedures as established under the Plan to the extent that such deferral complies with Section 409A of the Code and any regulations or guidance promulgated thereunder. It may also provide that deferred settlements include the payment or crediting of interest, dividends or dividend equivalents on the deferral amounts. |
(b) | No Right to Continued Employment, etc. Nothing in the Plan or in any Award granted or any Award Terms, promissory note or other agreement entered into pursuant hereto shall confer upon any Grantee the right to continue in the employ or service of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate or to be entitled to any remuneration or benefits not set forth in the Plan or such Award Terms, promissory note or other agreement or to interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any such Subsidiary or Affiliate to terminate such Grantees employment or service. |
(c) | Taxes. The Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate is authorized to withhold from any Award granted, any payment relating to an Award under the Plan, including from a distribution of Stock, or any other payment to a Grantee, amounts of withholding and other taxes due in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company and Grantees to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award. This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Stock or other property with a Fair Market Value not in excess of the minimum amount required to be withheld and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Grantees tax obligations. |
(d) | Stockholder Approval; Amendment and Termination. The Plan shall take effect on the Effective Date but the Plan shall be subject to approval by DuPont, which approval must occur before the Effective Date and within twelve (12) months after the date that the Plan is adopted by the Board. The Board may amend, alter |
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or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration, or discontinuation shall be made that would impair the rights of a Grantee under any Award theretofore granted without such Grantees consent, or that without the approval of the stockholders (as described below) would, except as provided in Section 5, increase the total number of shares of Stock reserved for the purpose of the Plan. In addition, stockholder approval shall be required with respect to any amendment that materially increases benefits provided under the Plan or materially alters the eligibility provisions of the Plan or with respect to which stockholder approval is required under the rules of any stock exchange on which Stock is then listed. Unless earlier terminated by the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, the Plan shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of its Effective Date. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after such termination date. |
(e) | No Rights to Awards; No Stockholder Rights. No individual shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Grantees. No individual shall have any right to an Award or to payment or settlement under any Award unless and until the Committee or its designee shall have determined that an Award or payment or settlement is to be made. Except as provided specifically herein, a Grantee or a transferee of an Award shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by the Award until the date of the issuance of such shares. |
(f) | Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to constitute an unfunded plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Grantee pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall give any such Grantee any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company. |
(g) | No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated. |
(h) | Regulations and Other Approvals. |
(i) | The obligation of the Company to sell or deliver Stock with respect to any Award granted under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable federal and state securities laws, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee. |
(ii) | Each Award is subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Committee determines, in its absolute discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of Stock issuable pursuant to the Plan is required by any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary |
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or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Award or the issuance of Stock, no such Award shall be granted or payment made or Stock issued, in whole or in part, unless listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee. |
(iii) | In the event that the disposition of Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a then current registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and is not otherwise exempt from such registration, such Stock shall be restricted against transfer to the extent required by the Securities Act or regulations thereunder, and the Committee may require a Grantee receiving Stock pursuant to the Plan, as a condition precedent to receipt of such Stock, to represent to the Company in writing that the Stock acquired by such Grantee is acquired for investment only and not with a view to distribution. |
(i) | Section 409A. This Plan is intended to comply and shall be administered in a manner that is intended to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Code and shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that an Award, issuance and/or payment is subject to Section 409A of the Code, it shall be awarded and/or issued or paid in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, including proposed, temporary or final regulations or any other guidance issued by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto. Any provision of this Plan that would cause an Award, issuance and/or payment to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code shall have no force and effect until amended to comply with Code Section 409A (which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by applicable law). Notwithstanding anything contained herein or in an Award Agreement to the contrary, (i) to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, a Grantee shall not be considered to have terminated employment with the Company or its Affiliates for purposes of any Award, and no payment under any Award shall be due to the Grantee as a result of such termination, until the Grantee would be considered to have incurred a separation from service from the Company and its Affiliates within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and (ii) to the extent that any payments to be made upon a Grantees separation from service would result in the imposition of any individual penalty tax imposed under Section 409A of the Code, the payment shall instead be made on the first business day after the earlier of (A) the date that is six (6) months following such separation from service and (B) the date of the Grantees death. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates makes any representations that any or all of the payments provided under any Award will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code and none of them makes any undertaking to preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to any such payment. |
(j) | Awards to Employees Outside the United States. Awards may be granted to Grantees who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, or both, |
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on such terms and conditions different from those applicable to Awards to Grantees employed in the United States as may, in the judgment of the Committee, be necessary or desirable in order to recognize differences in local law or tax policy. The Committee also may impose conditions on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to minimize the Companys obligation with respect to tax equalization for Grantees on assignments outside their home country. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of, the Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes without thereby affecting the terms of the Plan as in effect for any other purpose, provided that no such supplements, amendments, restatements or alternative versions shall include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as then in effect, unless the Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the stockholders of the Company. |
(k) | Governing Law. The Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof. |
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Exhibit 10.17
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
RETIREMENT SAVINGS RESTORATION PLAN
ARTICLE I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Name. The name of this Plan is The Chemours Company Retirement Savings Restoration Plan (the Plan).
1.2 Purpose. This Plan is established by the Company effective as of the Effective Date for the purposes of providing Eligible Employees with deferrals of compensation that are not available under the Qualified Plan by reason of the limits imposed under Sections 401(a)(17) and 415(c)(1)(A) of the Code. The Company intends that the Plan shall at all times be maintained on an unfunded basis for federal income tax purposes under the Code and administered for purposes of ERISA as a plan for a select group of management or highly compensated employees. The Company also intends that the Plan be operated and maintained in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and guidance thereunder.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
Whenever the following initially capitalized words and phrases are used in this Plan, they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary:
2.1 Account shall mean, with respect to each Participant, the value of all notional accounts maintained on behalf of a Participant, whether attributable to Employee Contributions, Matching Contributions, Non-elective Contributions, Transition Contributions or Section 415 Contributions or any returns on Deemed Investment Options credited thereon as described in Section 5.3.
2.2 Affiliate shall mean any corporation, organization or entity which is under common control with the Company or which is otherwise required to be aggregated with the Company pursuant to paragraphs (b), (c), (m), or (o) of Section 414 of the Code.
2.3 Beneficiary shall mean such person or legal entity as may be designated by a Participant pursuant to rules established by the Committee or, if no such person is properly designated or such person has predeceased the Participant, the Participants estate.
2.4 Change in Control shall have the meaning set forth in the Companys Equity and Incentive Plan, provided that, to the extent such event affects the timing of any payment hereunder, such event also constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets, of the Company, in each case within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.
2.5 Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.6 Committee shall mean the Senior Vice President, Human Resources or delegate thereof.
2.7 Company shall mean The Chemours Company, a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware and any successor thereto.
2.8 Compensation shall mean in respect of any Participant in respect of any Plan Year the Participants base salary for the Plan Year, including amounts deferred under this Plan, and any annual incentive earned by the Participant in respect of such Plan Year (determined in respect of the first Plan Year as the total amount of annual incentive earned for such Plan Year and payable by DuPont, the Company and their respective Affiliates multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days remaining in the Plan Year after the Effective Date and the denominator of which is 365).
2.9 Deemed Investment Option shall mean the investment options available from time to time under the Qualified Plan in respect of new contributions under the Qualified Plan.
2.10 DuPont shall mean E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.
2.11 Effective Date shall mean the date on which the Company becomes publicly traded in connection with its separation from DuPont.
2.12 Election Form shall mean such form prescribed from time to time by the Committee pursuant to which a Participant elects to make Employee Contributions.
2.13 Eligible Employee shall mean any U.S.-based employee of the employer who is designated from time to time by the Employer as eligible to elect Employee Contributions in accordance with Article 4 hereof, and (b) eligible to participate in the Qualified Plan.
2.14 Employee Contribution shall mean any amount credited to a Participants account hereunder pursuant to Section 4.1.
2.15 Employer shall mean the Company and any Affiliate which, with the consent of the Company, adopts this Plan.
2.16 ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
2.17 Identification Date shall mean each December 31.
2.18 Installment Payment shall means a series of substantially equal annual payments equal in value to a Participants Account (as adjusted each year to reflect earnings and losses attributable to the Participants Deemed Investment Options) paid over a period, as elected by the Participant, ranging from two years to fifteen years.
2.19 Lump Sum Payment shall mean a single sum distribution of the entire value of a Participants Account.
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2.20 Matching Contribution shall mean any amount credited to a Participants account hereunder pursuant to Section 4.2.
2.21 Non-elective Contribution shall mean any amount credited to a Participants account hereunder pursuant to Section 4.3.
2.22 Participant shall mean each Eligible Employee whose Account has not yet been distributed in full.
2.23 Payment Date shall mean the date elected by a Participant for payment(s) from the Participants Account to commence, which date shall be either the date of the Participants Separation from Service or any date during any of the first five calendar years following the year in which his/her Separation from Service occurs.
2.24 Plan shall mean this The Chemours Company Retirement Savings Restoration Plan as it may be amended from time to time.
2.25 Plan Pay shall mean that portion of a Participants Compensation in respect of any Plan Year that is in excess of the limit established under Section 401(a)(17) of the Code in respect of such Plan Year, provided that solely for purposes of determining whether Plan Pay for the first Plan Year is in excess of the limit established under Section 401(a)(17) of the Code, a Participants Plan Pay shall be the excess over $265,000 of the Participants base salary and annual incentive attributable to DuPont, the Company and their respective Affiliates, collectively.
2.26 Plan Year shall mean the calendar year, provided that the first Plan Year shall commence on the Effective Date and end on the next following December 31.
2.27 Qualified Plan shall mean The Chemours Company Retirement Savings Plan or any successor thereto.
2.28 Section 409A shall mean Section 409A of the Code.
2.29 Section 415 Contribution shall mean any amount credited to a Participants account hereunder pursuant to Section 4.5.
2.30 Service shall mean the service credited to a Participant under the Qualified Plan from time to time for vesting purposes.
2.31 Separation from Service shall mean the date a Participants employment with the Company and its Affiliates terminates, provided that such termination of employment constitutes a Separation from Service within the meaning of Section 409A.
2.32 Specified Employee shall mean an officer of the Employer at any time during the 12-month period ending on an Identification Date. If a Participant is a Specified Employee as of an Identification Date, such Participant is treated as a Specified Employee for the 12-month period beginning on the first day of the first month following the Identification Date. For the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the first Identification Date after the
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Effective Date, the Specified Employees shall be each employee of an Employer who immediately before the Effective Date was treated as a specified employee (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i)) in respect of the DuPont Retirement Savings Restoration Plan.
2.33 Transition Contribution shall mean any amount credited to a Participants account hereunder pursuant to Section 4.4.
ARTICLE III
PARTICIPATION AND VESTING
3.1 Participation. Each Eligible Employee shall become a Participant upon first becoming an Eligible Employee and shall remain a Participant until his or her Account has been distributed in full, provided that the Committee in its discretion may determine in advance of any Plan Year that any Participant shall be ineligible to make Employee Contributions or be credited with Non-Elective Contributions in respect of such Plan Year.
3.2 Vesting.
(a) Employee Contributions, Matching Contributions, and any attributable returns on Deemed Investment Options shall be one hundred percent (100%) vested at the time such amounts are credited to the applicable Participants Account.
(b) Non-elective Contributions and any attributable returns on Deemed Investment Options shall be vested after the applicable Participant completes three (3) years of Service, or if earlier, upon (a) the occurrence of a Change in Control that occurs before his or her Separation from Service or (b) a Separation from Service attributable to (A) divestiture to an entity less than fifty percent (50%) owned by the Company, (B) disability within the meaning of the Companys applicable long-term disability plan, (C) lack of work or (D) death.
(c) Transition Contributions and any attributable returns on Deemed Investment Options shall be vested after the applicable Participant completes two (2) years of Service after the Effective Date, or if earlier, upon (a) the occurrence of a Change in Control that occurs before his or her Separation from Service or (b) a Separation from Service attributable to (A) divestiture to an entity less than fifty percent (50%) owned by the Company, (B) disability within the meaning of the Companys applicable long-term disability plan, (C) lack of work or (D) death.
(d) A Participant shall forfeit any amount credited to his/her Account to the extent it is not yet vested upon his/her Separation from Service.
ARTICLE IV
CONTRIBUTIONS
4.1 Employee Contributions. A Participant may elect to defer a percentage, not to exceed 6%, of his/her Plan Pay with respect to any Plan Year; provided, however, that such
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deferral election shall be made by executing an Election Form (i) during the open enrollment period established by the Committee for that purpose and (ii) on or before the last day of the calendar year preceding the first day of the Plan Year to which such deferral election relates or, with respect to annual incentive compensation, such later date as may be permitted under Section 409A of the Code; and provided further that, in respect of the Plan Year in which the Effective Date occurs, the election shall be that election (if any) made in respect of such year under the Retirement Savings Restoration Plan of DuPont. Any election made pursuant to this Section 4.1 shall remain in effect unless and until changed by the Participant; provided, however, that with respect to Plan Pay earned in any future taxable year, such election becomes irrevocable on December 31 of the preceding calendar year or, with respect to annual incentive compensation, such later date as may be permitted under Section 409A of the Code.
4.2 Matching Contributions. In respect of each Plan Year the Company shall credit to the Account of any Participant who elects to make an Employee Contribution in respect of such Plan Year an amount equal to such Employee Contribution. Any such Matching Contribution shall be credited to the Participants Account as soon as administratively practicable following the end of the Plan Year to which it relates or at such other time(s) as the Committee may determine.
4.3 Non-elective Contributions. Each Plan Year the Company shall credit to a Participants Account an amount equal to 3% of his/her Plan Pay in respect of such Plan Year. Such Non-elective Contribution shall be credited to the Participants Account as soon as administratively practicable following the end of the Plan Year to which it relates or at such other time(s) as the Committee may determine.
4.4 Transition Contributions. For each Plan Year for which the Company shall make a Transition Benefit contribution to the Qualified Plan in respect of a Participant, the Company shall credit to the Participants Account an amount equal to the portion (if any) of such Transition Benefit contribution that would have been but could not be made under the Qualified Plan by reason of the application of Section 401(a)(17) of the Code.
4.5 Section 415 Contributions. For each Plan Year in respect of which the contributions to the Qualified Plan in respect of a Participant are limited by reason of Section 415(c)(1)(A) of the Code, the Company shall credit to the Participants Account the amount that would have been but could not be made under the Qualified Plan in respect of such Plan Year by reason of the application of Section 415(c)(1)(A) of the Code.
4.6 Termination as an Active Participant. No amount shall be credited to a Participant under this Article IV in respect of the period following his/her Separation from Service.
ARTICLE V
FUNDING AND INVESTMENTS
5.1 Plan Unfunded. This Plan shall be unfunded and no trust is created by this Plan. There will be no funding of any amounts to be paid pursuant to this Plan; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent the Company from establishing one or more grantor trusts from which benefits due under this Plan may be paid in certain instances. All benefits shall be paid
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from the general assets of the Company or any such grantor trust and a Participant (or his or her Beneficiary) shall have the rights of a general, unsecured creditor against the Company for any distributions due hereunder. This Plan constitutes a mere promise by the Company to make benefit payments in the future.
5.2 Participants Interest in Plan. A Participant has an interest only in the benefits to be paid pursuant to this Plan. A Participant has no rights or interests in any specific funds, stock or securities. Nothing in this Plan shall be interpreted as a guaranty that any funds in a grantor trust or the assets of the Company will be sufficient to pay any such benefit.
5.3 Deemed Investment Options. A Participants Account shall be deemed invested in the Deemed Investment Options designated from time to time by the Participant pursuant to the rules governing investment direction and crediting under the Qualified Plan from time to time. Notwithstanding that the rates of return credited to a Participants Account under the Deemed Investment Options are based upon their actual performance, the Company shall not be obligated to invest any amounts credited under the Plan, or any other amounts, in such portfolios or in any other investment funds.
5.4 Valuation of Account. The value of a Participants Account as of any date shall equal the amounts theretofore credited to such Account, including any earnings (positive or negative) deemed to be earned on such Account in accordance with Section 5.3 through the day preceding such date, less the amounts theretofore deducted from such Account.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS
6.1 Payment Date and Form of Payment Generally.
(a) A Participant shall designate on his/her Election Form in respect of any Plan Year the Payment Date in respect of such Plan Year and whether amounts credited to his Account in respect of any Plan Year shall be distributed in the form of a Lump Sum or Installment Payments (and, in the case of Installment Payments, the duration of such payments). An Election Form shall remain in effect unless and until changed by the Participant; provided, however, that such election in respect of any Plan Year shall become irrevocable on the December 31 preceding such Plan Year.
(b) Unless distributed earlier as provided in this Plan, distributions from a Participants Account shall commence within sixty days of the Payment Date elected by the Participant; provided, however that if the Participant is classified as a Specified Employee at the time the individual incurs a Separation from Service other than by reason of death or disability within the meaning of Section 409A, then any distributions otherwise scheduled to be paid by reason of and within six months following such Separation from Service shall instead be paid on or as soon as practicable following the date that is six months following such Separation from Service.
(c) If a Participant fails properly to elect a Payment Date and/or form of payment in respect of any Plan Year, the Payment Date shall be the date of the Participants Separation from Service and the form of payment shall be a Lump Sum.
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6.2 Distributions on Death. In the event of a Participants death before his/her Account has been distributed in full, distribution of the remaining Account balance shall be made to the Participants Beneficiary in a Lump Sum Payment as soon as practicable following the date of death.
6.3 Permissible Acceleration of Payments. No acceleration of time or schedule of payments under the Plan shall be permitted except as set forth in this Section 6.3 or as otherwise permitted under the Plan and Section 409A(a)(3) of the Code.
(a) Distribution for Taxes. The Committee may accelerate payment of all or part of a Participants Account to satisfy any state, local, or foreign tax obligations, taxes imposed under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act or the Railroad Retirement Act, and any related federal income tax thereon, arising from a Participants participation in the Plan. Such payment of withholding must be limited to the amount necessary to fulfill such tax obligation.
(b) Small Payment. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if the total value of a Participants Account payable hereunder is not greater than the applicable dollar amount under Section 402(g)(1)(B) of the Code upon the Participants Separation from Service, and the Participant is not entitled to a benefit from any other plan that is required to be aggregated with this Plan pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(c)(2), the Committee may distribute such amount to the Participant upon such Separation from Service in the form of a Lump Sum Payment.
ARTICLE VII
ADMINISTRATION
7.1 Administration. The Committee shall be in charge of the overall operation and administration of this Plan. The Committee shall have, to the extent appropriate and in addition to the powers described elsewhere in this Plan, full discretionary authority to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and to adopt, alter and repeal administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan.
7.2 Delegation. The Committee may delegate specific responsibilities to other persons or entities as the Committee shall determine. The Committee may authorize one or more of its number, or any agent, to execute or deliver any instrument or to make any payment in its behalf. The Committee may employ and rely on the advice of counsel, accountants, and such other persons as may be necessary in administering the Plan.
7.3 Interpretation. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Committee may take any action, correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan, or in any election hereunder, in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary to carry this Plan into effect or to carry out the Companys purposes in adopting this Plan. Any decision, interpretation or other action made or taken in good faith by or at the direction of the Company or the Committee arising out of or in connection with the Plan, shall be within the absolute discretion of each of them, and shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Company, all Participants and Beneficiaries and their respective heirs, executors, successors and assigns. The
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Committees determinations hereunder need not be uniform, and may be made selectively among Eligible Employees, whether or not they are similarly situated.
7.4 Records and Reports. The Committee shall keep a record of proceedings and actions and shall maintain or cause to be maintained all such books of account, records, and other data as shall be necessary for the proper administration of the Plan. Such records shall contain all relevant data pertaining to individual Participants and their rights under this Plan. The Committee shall have the duty to carry into effect all rights or benefits provided hereunder to the extent assets of the Company are properly available.
7.5 Payment of Expenses. The Company shall bear all expenses incurred by the Committee in administering this Plan.
7.6 Indemnification for Liability. The Company shall indemnify the Committee and the employees of the Company to whom the Committee delegates duties under this Plan against any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses and liabilities arising from their responsibilities in connection with this Plan, unless the same is determined to be due to gross negligence or willful misconduct.
7.7 Claims Procedure. If a claim for benefits or for participation under this Plan is denied in whole or in part, a Participant will receive written notification. The notification will include specific reasons for the denial, specific reference to pertinent provisions of this Plan, a description of any additional material or information necessary to process the claim and why such material or information is necessary, and an explanation of the claims review procedure.
7.8 Review Procedure. Within ninety days after the claim is denied, a Participant (or his or her duly authorized representative) may file a written request with the Committee for a review of his or her denied claim. The Participant may review pertinent documents that were used in processing his or her claim, submit pertinent documents, and address issues and comments in writing to the Committee. The Committee will notify the Participant of his or her final decision in writing. In his or her response, the Committee will explain the reason for the decision, with specific references to pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision was based.
7.9 Incompetency of Participant or Beneficiary. The Committee may from time to time establish rules and procedures which it determines to be necessary for the proper administration of the Plan in the event that a Participant or Beneficiary is declared incompetent and a conservator or other person legally charged with such individuals care is appointed. Except as otherwise provided herein, when the Committee determines that such individual is unable to manage his or her financial affairs, the Committee may pay such individuals benefits to such conservator, person legally charged with such individuals care, or institution then contributing toward or providing for the care and maintenance of such individual. Any such payment shall constitute a complete discharge of any liability of the Company and this Plan for such individual.
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ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
8.1 Amendment and Termination. The Company reserves the right to change or discontinue this Plan in its discretion by action of the Compensation Committee of its Board of Directors or its delegate; provided, however, that following a Change in Control no such amendment or termination may adversely affect the deferrals made under the Plan prior to the termination or adoption of the amendment (including, without limitation, any terms, conditions or distribution alternatives applicable to such deferrals). In addition, notwithstanding the preceding sentence, for a period of two years following a Change in Control, the Company shall not terminate the Plan in whole or in part or make any amendment to the Plan which in any way adversely affects or limits the terms and conditions of benefits as available pursuant to the Plan immediately prior to the Change in Control.
8.2 Continuation. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.1, any amendment or termination of the Plan shall not be given effect to the extent it would cause amounts credited under the Plan to be subject to tax under Section 409A.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
9.1 Right of Company to Take Employment Actions. The adoption and maintenance of this Plan shall not be deemed to constitute a contract between the Company (including its Affiliates) and any Eligible Employee, nor to be a consideration for, nor an inducement or condition of, the employment of any person. Nothing herein contained, or any action taken hereunder, shall be deemed to give any Eligible Employee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or its Affiliates or to interfere with the right of the Company or its Affiliates to discharge any Eligible Employee at any time, nor shall it be deemed to give to the Company or its Affiliates the right to require the Eligible Employee to remain in the employ of the Company or any of its Affiliates, nor shall it interfere with the Eligible Employees right to terminate his or her employment at any time. Nothing in this Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from amending, modifying, or terminating any other benefit plan.
9.2 Alienation or Assignment of Benefits. A Participants rights and interest under this Plan shall not be assigned or transferred except as otherwise provided herein, and the Participants rights to benefit payments under this Plan shall not be subject to alienation, pledge, or garnishment by or on behalf of creditors (including heirs, beneficiaries, or dependents) of the Participant or of a Beneficiary.
9.3 Right to Withhold. To the extent required by law in effect at the time a distribution is made from this Plan, the Company, its Affiliates or the agents of the foregoing shall have the right to withhold or deduct from any benefit payments any taxes required to be withheld by federal, state, or local governments.
9.4 Construction. All legal questions pertaining to this Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, to the extent such laws are not superseded by the Code or ERISA.
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9.5 Severability. If any provision of this Plan is held unenforceable, the remainder of the Plan shall continue in full force and effect without regard to such unenforceable provision and shall be applied as though the unenforceable provision were not contained in the Plan.
9.6 Headings. The headings of the Articles and Sections of this Plan are for reference only and shall be disregarded in its construction.
9.7 Number and Gender. Whenever any words used herein are in the singular form, they shall be construed as though they were also used in the plural form in all cases where they would so apply, and references to the male gender shall be construed as applicable to the female gender where applicable, and vice versa.
9.8 Limitation of Liability. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, neither the Company nor any individual acting as employee or agent of the Company shall be liable to any Participant, former Participant, Beneficiary, or any other person for any claim, loss, liability, or expense incurred in connection with this Plan, unless attributable to fraud or willful misconduct on the part of the Company or any such agent of the Company.
9.9 Section 409A. The Plan is intended to comply with the applicable requirements of Section 409A to the extent subject thereto and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted and be administered to be in compliance therewith to the extent subject thereto. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, elections to defer Plan Pay and distributions from the Plan may only be made in a manner and as permitted by Section 409A, and to the extent a Participants action or inaction under the Qualified Plan with respect to elective deferrals and/or employee pre-tax and after-tax contributions results in a decrease in the amounts deferred under this Plan, such decrease shall comport with the requirements under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(5)(iii) or (iv), as the case may be, to the extent the decrease would otherwise cause the imposition of a tax under Section 409A of the Code. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the short-term deferral period as defined in Section 409A shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable law requires otherwise. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A, a Participant shall not be considered to have separated from service with the Company for purposes of the Plan and no payment shall be due to the Participant under the Plan on account of a separation from service until the Participant would be considered to have incurred a separation from service from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A. To the extent that any provision of the Plan would cause a conflict with the requirements of Section 409A, or would cause the administration of the Plan to fail to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A, such provision shall be deemed null and void to the extent permitted by applicable law. For purposes of Section 409A, each Installment Payment shall be treated as a separate payment. The Company makes no representation that any or all of the payments or benefits described in the Plan will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A from applying to any such payment. Each Participant shall be solely responsible for the payment of any taxes and penalties incurred under Section 409A.
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Exhibit 10.18
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
MANAGEMENT DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
Article 1. Purpose. The Chemours Company (Company) desires to provide certain of its employees with an opportunity to accumulate additional retirement savings through voluntary compensation deferral contributions to a plan intended to constitute a non-qualified deferred compensation plan which, in accordance with Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), is unfunded and maintained by the Company primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees. The Company intends that a participants compensation deferrals, and the earnings thereon, will not be subject to federal income tax until such amounts are paid or made available to the participant. The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date.
Article 2. Definitions.
Section 2.01 Account means each account established on the books of account of the Employer to reflect the balance of Plan benefits attributable to a Participant. An Account shall be credited or debited, as applicable, with Deferral Contributions, Credited Investment Return and Dividend Equivalent Units, and any payments made by the Employer to the Participant or the Participants Beneficiary pursuant to this Plan. A Participants Account shall be divided into Directed Investment Subaccounts, with respect to which he/she shall be permitted to make Deemed Investment Elections, and Stock Unit Subaccounts, with respect to which he/she shall not be permitted to make Deemed Investment Elections.
Section 2.02 Active Participant means a Participant on whose behalf a current Deferral Election is in effect.
Section 2.03 Administrator means the Company.
Section 2.04 Affiliate means any corporation, organization or entity which is under common control with the Company or which is otherwise required to be aggregated with the Company pursuant to paragraphs (b), (c), (m), or (o) of Section 414 of the Code.
Section 2.05 Base Salary means the basic pay from the Employer (excluding LTI Awards and STI Awards, distributions from nonqualified deferred compensation plans, commissions, overtime, severance, fringe benefits, stock options and other equity awards, relocation expenses, incentive payments, non-monetary awards, automobile and other allowances (whether or not such allowances are included in the Employees gross income) and other non-regular forms of compensation paid to a Participant for employment services rendered). Base Salary shall be calculated before reduction for compensation voluntarily deferred or contributed by the Participant pursuant to all qualified or nonqualified plans of any Employer and shall be calculated to include amounts not otherwise included in the Participants gross income under Code Sections 125, 132, 402(e)(3), 402(h), or 403(b) pursuant to plans or arrangements
established by any Employer; provided, however, that all such amounts will be included in Base Salary only to the extent that had there been no such plan, the amount would have been payable in cash to the Employee. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, Base Salary shall not include any amount paid pursuant to a long-term disability plan or pursuant to a long-term disability insurance policy.
Section 2.06 Base Salary Deferral Eligible Employee means any U.S.-based employee of the Employer who is designated from time to time by the Employer as eligible to defer the payment of Base Salary in accordance with Article 4 hereof.
Section 2.07 Beneficiary means the person or persons designated as such pursuant to Article 7 hereof.
Section 2.08 Change of Control means an objectively determined event that occurs with respect to the Company or the Employer for whom the Participant renders services and which constitutes both a Change in Control for purposes of the Equity and Incentive Plan and change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or Employer, as applicable, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Companys or Employers, as applicable, assets for purposes of Code Section 409A.
Section 2.09 Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and rulings issued thereunder.
Section 2.10 Common Stock Unit means a notional unit representing one share of common stock of the Company.
Section 2.11 Credited Investment Return means the hypothetical gain or loss credited to a Participants Directed Investment Subaccounts pursuant to Article 5 hereof.
Section 2.12 Deemed Investment Election means the selection by a Participant, pursuant to Article 5 hereof, of Investment Options in which his/her Directed Investment Subaccounts shall be deemed invested.
Section 2.13 Deferral Contributions means the elective contributions made to the Plan by a Participant pursuant to Article 4 hereof.
Section 2.14 Deferral Election means an election, pursuant to Article 4 hereof, to defer receipt of Base Salary or STI Awards, or the settlement of LTI Awards. Deferral Elections shall be made in accordance with the procedures established by the Administrator for that purpose. A Deferral Election may be cancelled due to an unforeseeable emergency as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(3) or a hardship distribution pursuant to Section 1.401(k)-1(d)(3). The Deferral Election must be cancelled, not merely postponed or otherwise delayed. Any later Deferral Election shall be subject to the provisions of Article 4 of this Plan governing Deferral Elections.
Section 2.15 Directed Investment Subaccount means that portion of a Participants Account to which a Participants Deferral Contributions of Base Salary and STI Awards, and Credited Investment Return and Dividend Equivalent Units attributable thereto, are allocated and with respect to which he/she may make Deemed Investment Elections in accordance with Article 5 hereof. A Participant may maintain no more than five (5) Directed Investment Subaccounts under this Plan.
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Section 2.16 Dividend Equivalent Units means additional Common Stock Units credited to a Participants Account pursuant to Section 5.05.
Section 2.17 Dividend Payment Date means each date on which the Company pays a dividend on its common stock.
Section 2.18 DuPont means E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.
Section 2.19 Effective Date means the date on which the Company becomes publicly traded in connection with its separation from DuPont.
Section 2.20 Eligible Employee means any Base Salary Deferral Eligible Employee, STI Deferral Eligible Employee or LTI Deferral Eligible Employee.
Section 2.21 Employer means the Company and any Affiliate which, with the consent of the Company, adopts this Plan.
Section 2.22 Equity and Incentive Plan means The Chemours Company Equity and Incentive Plan.
Section 2.23 Form of Payment means either (i) a lump sum or (ii) annual installments (for up to fifteen (15) years). Annual installments are available only in connection with a Separation from Service, a specified date determined by reference to a Separation from Service, or Change of Control. In the event of a Participants death, his/her remaining Account balance will be distributable in a single lump sum.
Section 2.24 Identification Date means each December 31.
Section 2.25 Investment Options means one or more alternatives designated from time to time, pursuant to Section 5.01 hereof, for purposes of crediting earnings or losses to Directed Investment Subaccounts.
Section 2.26 LTI Award means an award of RSUs or PSUs.
Section 2.27 LTI Deferral Eligible Employee means any U.S.-based employee of the Employer who is designated from time to time by the Company as eligible to defer the settlement of an LTI Award in accordance with Article 4 hereof.
Section 2.28 Participant means any Eligible Employee who has elected to participate in the Plan by completing the appropriate forms (including electronic forms) prescribed by the Administrator for that purpose.
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Section 2.29 Payment Event means any of the following:
(a) Separation from Service
(b) a specified date during any of the five calendar years beginning after Separation from Service
(c) The earlier of (i) Separation from Service or (ii) a specified date
(d) Change of Control
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in the event of a Participants death, his/her remaining Account balance will automatically be distributed to his/her Beneficiary in a single lump sum within ninety days (90) thereafter and (ii) a Participant may request that all or a portion of his/her Account be distributed on account of an unforeseeable emergency as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(3) and subject to the restrictions on such distributions set forth therein.
Section 2.30 Plan means The Chemours Company Management Deferred Compensation Plan.
Section 2.31 Plan Year means the twelve (12) month period beginning January 1 and ending December 31; provided, however, that the first Plan Year shall begin on the Effective Date and end on the next following December 31.
Section 2.32 PSU means a performance-based restricted stock unit granted under the Equity and Incentive Plan.
Section 2.33 Qualified Leave means military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence if the period of such leave does not exceed six months, or if longer, so long as the individual retains a right to reemployment with the service recipient under an applicable statute or by contract. A leave of absence constitutes a bona fide leave of absence only if there is a reasonable expectation that the employee will return to perform services for the employer. If the period of leave exceeds six months and the individual does not retain a right to reemployment under an applicable statute or by contract, the employment relationship is deemed to terminate on the first date immediately following such six-month period.
Section 2.34 RSU means a time-vested restricted stock unit granted under the Equity and Incentive Plan.
Section 2.35 Section 16 Person means any employee who in respect of the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) or the liability provisions of Section 16(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Section 2.36 Separation from Service means a separation from service as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).
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Section 2.37 Similar Plan means a plan required to be aggregated with this Plan under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(c)(2)(i)(A).
Section 2.38 Specified Employee means an officer of the Employer at any time during the 12-month period ending on an Identification Date. If a Participant is a Specified Employee as of an Identification Date, such Participant is treated as a Specified Employee for the 12-month period beginning on the first day of the first month following the Identification Date. For the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the first Identification Date after the Effective Date, each Specified Employee shall be an employee of an Employer who immediately before the Effective Date was a specified employee (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i)) in respect of the DuPont Management Deferred Compensation Plan.
Section 2.39 STI Award means a cash-based award under the Equity and Incentive Plan.
Section 2.40 STI Deferral Eligible Employee means any U.S.-based employee of the Employer who is designated from time to time by the Employer as eligible to defer the payment of an STI Award in accordance with Article 4 hereof.
Section 2.41 Stock Unit Subaccount means that portion of a Participants Account to which a Participants Deferral Contributions of LTI Awards, and Dividend Equivalent Units attributable thereto, are allocated and with respect to which he/she may not make Deemed Investment Elections in accordance with Article 5 hereof. A Participant may maintain no more than five (5) Stock Unit Subaccounts under this Plan.
Section 2.42 Triggering Event means, with respect to a Distribution Subaccount, the Payment Event elected by a Participant pursuant to Section 4.02.
Article 3. Eligibility.
Section 3.01 Procedure For and Effect of Admission. Each Eligible Employee who desires to participate in this Plan shall complete such forms (including electronic forms) and provide such data as is reasonably required by the Administrator. By becoming a Participant, an Eligible Employee shall be deemed to have consented to the provisions of this Plan and all amendments hereto.
Section 3.02 Cessation of Participation. A Participant shall cease to be an Active Participant on the earlier of:
(a) the date on which the Plan terminates;
(b) the date on which he/she ceases to be an Eligible Employee; or
(c) the date on which he/she is permitted by the Administrator to terminate Deferral Contributions to the Plan.
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A former Active Participant shall be considered a Participant for all purposes, except with respect to the right to make contributions, as long as he/she retains an Account.
Article 4. Deferral Elections.
Section 4.01 Annual Deferral Elections
(a) Deferral Contributions of Base Salary. A Base Salary Deferral Eligible Employee may elect to defer a percentage, not to exceed 60%, of his/her Base Salary payable with respect to services performed during the Plan Year; provided, however, that such Deferral Election shall be made (i) during the open enrollment period established by the Administrator for that purpose and (ii) on or before the last day of the calendar year preceding the first day of the Plan Year to which such Deferral Election relates; and provided further that, in respect of the Plan Year in which the Effective Date occurs, the election shall be that election (if any) made in respect of such year under the Management Deferred Compensation Plan of DuPont. Any election made pursuant to this Section 4.01(a) shall remain in effect unless and until changed by the Participant; provided, however, that with respect to Base Salary earned in any future taxable year, such election becomes irrevocable on December 31 of the preceding calendar year.
(b) Deferral Contributions of STI Awards. An STI Deferral Eligible Employee may elect to defer a percentage, not to exceed 60%, of an STI Award; provided, however, that (i) such STI Deferral Eligible Employee performs services continuously from the later of the beginning of the performance period or the date the performance criteria are established through the date the election to defer is made and (ii) such Deferral Election is made (A) during the open enrollment period established by the Administrator for that purpose and (B) on or before the date that is six months before the end of the performance period over which the STI Award shall be determined (provided such performance period lasts at least 12 months) or otherwise on or before the December 31 preceding the date of the STI Awards grant; provided that, in respect of any STI Award granted in the Plan Year in which the Effective Date occurs, the election shall be that election (if any) made by the STI Deferral Eligible Employee under the Management Deferred Compensation Plan of DuPont in respect of STI Awards (within the meaning of such plan) granted during such year by DuPont. Any election made pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) shall remain in effect unless and until changed by the Participant; provided, however, that with respect to any STI Award earned during any future taxable year, such election becomes irrevocable on the date that is six months before the end of the performance period over which the STI Award shall be determined (provided such performance period lasts at least 12 months) or otherwise on or before the December 31 preceding the date of the STI Awards grant.
(c) Deferral Contributions of LTI Awards.
(i) RSUs. An LTI Deferral Eligible Employee may elect to defer the settlement of RSUs granted during a Plan Year; provided, however, that such Deferral Election shall be made (i) during the open enrollment period established by the Administrator for that purpose and (ii) on or before the last day of the calendar year preceding the first day of the Plan Year to which such Deferral Election relates; and provided further that, in respect of the Plan Year in which the Effective Date occurs, the election shall be that election (if any) made by the LTI Deferral Eligible Employee under
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the Management Deferred Compensation Plan of DuPont in respect of LTI Awards (within the meaning of such plan) granted during such year by DuPont. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an LTI Deferral Eligible Employee may elect to defer the settlement of RSUs that are subject to a vesting period of at least 12 months, provided such election is made on or before the thirtieth (30th) day after the LTI Deferral Eligible Employee is granted the RSUs and further provided that the election is made at least 12 months in advance of the earliest date on which the vesting period could expire. In the event that a timely election to defer the settlement of RSUs may not be made pursuant to either of the foregoing sentences of this paragraph, an LTI Deferral Eligible Employee may elect to defer the settlement of RSUs provided such election is made at least 12 months in advance of the date on which the restrictions on such RSUs lapse and further provided that such RSUs may not be settled until the fifth anniversary of the date that the restrictions on the RSUs lapsed. Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, an LTI Deferral Eligible Employee shall not be permitted to elect to defer the settlement of RSUs unless such election complies with Code Section 409A. If a Participant elects to defer settlement of RSUs, any restrictions on transferability and/or events of forfeiture applicable to such RSUs under the Equity and Incentive Plan or the Award Terms (as defined under the Equity and Incentive Plan) shall continue in full force and effect. Upon expiration of all restrictions on transferability, the appropriate number of Common Stock Units of the Company, including Dividend Equivalent Units attributable thereto, shall be credited to the Participants applicable Stock Unit Subaccount. Any election made pursuant to this Section 4.01(c)(i) shall remain in effect unless and until changed by the Participant; provided, however, that with respect to RSUs granted in any future taxable year, such election becomes irrevocable on the last day of the calendar year preceding the Plan Year during which the RSUs are granted or, if later, on the thirtieth (30th) day after the LTI Deferral Eligible Employee is granted the RSUs and at least 12 months in advance of the earliest date on which the vesting period could expire.
(ii) PSUs. An LTI Deferral Eligible Employee may elect to defer the settlement of PSUs provided, however, that (i) such LTI Deferral Eligible Employee performs services continuously from the later of the beginning of the performance period or the date the performance criteria are established through the date the election to defer is made and (ii) such Deferral Election is made (A) during the open enrollment period established by the Administrator for that purpose and (B) on or before the date that is six months before the end of the performance period over which the PSU settlement shall be determined (provided such performance period lasts at least 12 months) or otherwise on or before the December 31 preceding the date of the PSUs grant. Any election made pursuant to this Section 4.01(c)(ii) shall remain in effect unless and until changed by the Participant; provided, however, that with respect to any PSUs earned during any future taxable year, such election becomes irrevocable on the date that is six months before the end of the performance period over which the PSU settlement shall be determined (provided such performance period lasts at least 12 months) or otherwise on or before the December 31 preceding the date of the PSUs grant.
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Section 4.02 Initial Distribution Elections.
(a) Directed Investment Subaccounts. A Participant may elect to establish up to five (5) Directed Investment Subaccounts under his/her Account. At the time a Participant establishes a Directed Investment Subaccount, he/she must also elect a Payment Event and Form of Payment with respect to such subaccount. When making a Deferral Election with respect to Base Salary or STI Awards, a Participant shall designate: (i) to which Directed Investment Subaccounts amounts deferred pursuant to that election, and Credited Investment Return and Dividend Equivalent Units attributable thereto, shall be allocated; and (ii) how those amounts shall be allocated among the designated Directed Investment Subaccounts. If a Participant fails to establish a Directed Investment Subaccount or fails to designate the Directed Investment Subaccount(s) to which his/her Deferral Contributions of Base Salary or STI Awards should be allocated, such Deferral Contributions shall be allocated to the default Directed Investment Subaccount established by the Administrator. The Payment Event with respect to such default Directed Investment Subaccount shall be Separation from Service and the Form of Payment shall be a lump sum.
(b) Stock Unit Subaccount. A Participant may elect to establish up to five (5) Stock Unit Subaccounts under his/her Account. At the time a Participant establishes a Stock Unit Subaccount, he/she must also elect a Payment Event and Form of Payment with respect to such subaccount. When making a Deferral Election with respect to LTI Awards, a Participant shall designate: (i) to which Stock Unit Subaccounts amounts deferred pursuant to that election, and Dividend Equivalent Units attributable thereto, shall be allocated; and (ii) how those amounts shall be allocated among the designated Stock Unit Subaccounts. If a Participant fails to establish a Stock Unit Subaccount or fails to designate the Stock Unit Subaccount(s) to which his/her Deferral Contributions of LTI Awards should be allocated, such Deferral Contributions shall be allocated to the default Stock Unit Subaccount established by the Administrator. The Payment Event with respect to such default Stock Unit Subaccount shall be Separation from Service and the Form of Payment shall be a lump sum.
Section 4.03 Subsequent Distribution Elections. A Participant may subsequently elect to change the Payment Event or Form of Payment elected with respect to one or more Directed Investment Subaccounts or Stock Unit Subaccounts in accordance with procedures established by the Administrator for such purpose; provided, however, that: (i) such subsequent election may not take effect until at least 12 months after the date on which it is made; (ii) the payment with respect to which such election is made must be deferred for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date such payment would otherwise have been made; and (iii) any subsequent election related to a payment at a specified time or in accordance with a fixed schedule may not be made less than 12 months prior to the date of the first scheduled payment.
Article 5. Investment of Accounts.
Section 5.01 Investment Options. The Administrator shall designate from time to time one or more Investment Options in which a Participants Directed Investment Subaccounts may be deemed invested. The Administrator shall have the sole discretion to determine the number of Investment Options to be designated hereunder and the nature of the Investment Options and may change or eliminate any of the Investment Options from time to time. In the event of such change or elimination, the Administrator shall give each Participant notice and opportunity to make a new election. No such change or elimination of any Investment Options shall be considered to be an amendment to the Plan pursuant to Section 9.01.
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Section 5.02 Making Deemed Investment Elections. A Participant shall select one or more Investment Options in which his/her Directed Investment Subaccounts shall be deemed invested. Separate Deemed Investment Elections may be made with respect to each Directed Investment Subaccount. Any such election shall be made by filing with the Administrator the appropriate form prescribed for that purpose. The Administrator shall establish procedures relating to Deemed Investment Elections. Deemed Investment Elections shall remain in effect until changed by a Participant pursuant to Section 5.03.
Section 5.03 Changes to Deemed Investment Elections. A Participant may request a change to his/her Deemed Investment Elections for future amounts allocated to his/her Directed Investment Subaccount and amounts already allocated to his/her Directed Investment Subaccount. Any such change shall be made by filing with the Administrator the appropriate form (including electronic forms) prescribed by the Administrator for that purpose. The Administrator shall establish procedures relating to changes in Deemed Investment Elections, which may include limiting the percentage, amount and frequency of such changes and specifying the effective date for any such changes.
Section 5.04 Crediting or Debiting of Investment Experience. Each Participants Directed Investment Subaccount shall be credited or debited, as applicable, daily (or on such other periodic basis as the Administrator shall establish from time to time) with the amount which the Participants Directed Investment Subaccount would have earned or lost, as applicable, if the amounts credited to such account had, in fact, been invested in accordance with the Participants Deemed Investment Elections.
Section 5.05 Dividend Equivalent Units. If dividends on the Companys common stock are paid during any period that a Participant holds Common Stock Units in one or more of his/her Directed Investment Subaccounts or Stock Unit Subaccounts, as of the applicable Dividend Payment Date, a number of additional Common Stock Units shall be credited to such Directed Investment Subaccount(s) or Stock Unit Subaccount(s), as applicable. The number of such additional Common Stock Units to be credited shall be determined by first multiplying: (a) the total number of Common Stock Units, including fractional units, standing to the Participants credit in such account on the day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date (including all Dividend Equivalent Units credited to such account on all previous Dividend Payment Dates); by (b) the per share dollar amount of the dividend paid on such Dividend Payment Date; and then (c) dividing the resulting amount by the closing trading price of one share of the Companys common stock on such Dividend Payment Date (or, if such date is not a trading day, on the most recently preceding trading day).
Article 6. Payment of Accounts.
Section 6.01 Payment in General. Upon the occurrence of a Triggering Event that is a Separation from Service or a Change of Control, the Employer shall, within 90 days thereafter, commence payment of the applicable Distribution Subaccount(s) to the Participant, or his/her Beneficiary, as applicable, in the Form of Payment elected by the Participant with respect thereto. Upon the occurrence of a Triggering Event that is a specified date or a fixed schedule of payments, the Employer shall commence payment of the applicable Subaccount to the Participant on such specified date or in accordance with such fixed schedule of payments. The amount of each payment made pursuant to this Section 6.01 shall be based upon the fair market value of the Participants Account as of the latest practicable date preceding the payment date and the number of remaining scheduled payments due.
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Section 6.02 Specified Employees. Notwithstanding Section 6.01, upon the occurrence of a Triggering Event that is a Separation from Service (other than on account of death) of a Participant who is a specified Employee, the Employer shall commence payment of the applicable Distribution Subaccount(s) to the Participant in the Form of Payment elected by the Participant with respect thereto on the later of: (1) the date that is six months and one day after such Triggering Event; or (2) the date on which such payment was otherwise scheduled to commence.
Section 6.03 Medium of Payments. Payments attributable to that portion of a Participants Directed Investment Subaccount which is deemed to be invested in Common Stock Units shall be paid in shares of the Companys common stock for each whole unit and cash for each fraction of a unit. Payments attributable to the remaining portion of a Participants Directed Investment Subaccount shall be paid in cash. Payments attributable to a Participants Stock Unit Subaccounts shall be delivered in shares of the Companys common stock for each whole unit and cash for each fraction of a unit.
Article 7. Beneficiary Designation.
Section 7.01 Right to Designate Beneficiary. A Participant shall have the right, at any time, to designate any person or persons as Beneficiary (both primary and contingent) to whom payment under the Plan will be made in the event of the Participants death. The Beneficiary designation shall be effective when it is submitted in writing or electronically to the Administrator during the Participants lifetime on a form prescribed by the Administrator.
Section 7.02 Cancellation/Revocation of Beneficiary Designation. The submission of a new Beneficiary designation shall cancel all prior Beneficiary designations.
Section 7.03 Failure to Designate Beneficiary or Death of Beneficiary. If a Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary as provided above, or if every person designated as Beneficiary predeceases the Participant, then the Administrator shall direct the distribution of the benefits to the Participants estate. If a primary Beneficiary dies after commencement the Participants death but prior to completion of benefits under this Plan, and no contingent Beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, any remaining payments shall be paid to the Beneficiarys estate.
Article 8. Plan Administration.
Section 8.01 Administrators Responsibilities. The Administrator is responsible for the day to day administration of the Plan. The Administrator may appoint other persons or entities to perform certain of its functions. Such appointment shall be made and accepted by the appointee in writing and shall be effective upon the written approval of the Company. The
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Administrator and any such appointee may employ advisors and other persons necessary or convenient to help him/her carry out his/her duties. The Administrator shall have the right to remove any such appointee from his/her position. Any person, group of persons or entity may serve in more than one capacity.
Section 8.02 Records and Accounts. All individual and group records relating to Participants and Beneficiaries, and all other records necessary for the proper operation of the Plan, shall be made available to the Employer and to each Participant and Beneficiary for examination during business hours except that a Participant or Beneficiary shall examine only such records as pertain exclusively to the examining Participant or Beneficiary and those records and documents relating to all Participants generally.
Section 8.03 Administrators Specific Powers and Duties. In addition to any powers, rights and duties set forth elsewhere in the Plan, the Administrator shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) to adopt such rules and regulations consistent with the provisions of the Plan;
(b) to enforce the Plan in accordance with its terms and any rules and regulations it establishes;
(c) to maintain records concerning the Plan sufficient to prepare reports, returns and other information required by the Plan or by law;
(d) to construe and interpret the Plan and to resolve all questions arising under the Plan;
(e) to direct the Employer to pay benefits under the Plan, and to give such other directions and instructions as may be necessary for the proper administration of the Plan;
(f) to engage assistants and professional advisors.
Section 8.04 Construction of the Plan. The Administrator shall have the sole and absolute discretion to interpret the Plan and shall resolve all questions arising in the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan. The Administrator shall correct any defect, reconcile any inconsistency, or supply any omission with respect to this Plan. All such corrections, reconciliations, interpretations and completions of Plan provisions shall be final and binding upon the parties.
Section 8.05 Employers Responsibility to Administrator. Each Employer shall furnish the Administrator such data and information as it may require. The records of the Employer shall be determinative of each Participants period of employment, termination of employment and the reason therefor, leave of absence, reemployment, years of service, personal data, and compensation reductions. Participants and their Beneficiaries shall furnish to the Administrator such evidence, data, or information, and execute such documents, as the Administrator requests.
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Section 8.06 Engagement of Assistants and Advisers; Plan Expenses. The Administrator shall have the right to hire such professional assistants and consultants as it, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable, including, but not limited to:
(a) investment managers and/or advisers;
(b) accountants;
(c) actuaries;
(d) attorneys;
(e) consultants; and
(f) clerical and office personnel.
Section 8.07 Liability. Neither the Administrator nor the Employer shall be liable to any person for any action taken or omitted in connection with the administration of this Plan unless attributable to its/his own fraud or willful misconduct; nor shall the Employer be liable to any person for such action unless attributable to fraud or willful misconduct on the part of a director, officer or employee of the Employer.
Section 8.08 Payment of Expenses. If directed by the Company, expenses of the Administrator incurred in the operation or administration of this Plan shall be charged against the Participants Accounts to which the expense relates. If an expense is applicable to more than one Participants Accounts, the expense shall be allocated among such Participants Accounts in a non-discriminatory manner as determined by the Company.
Section 8.09 Indemnity of Administrator. The Employer shall indemnify the Administrator (including any individual who is a member of a committee serving as the Administrator) or any individual who is a delegate of the Administrator against any and all claims, loss, damage, expense or liability arising from any action or failure to act, except when due to gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Article 9. Amendment or Termination.
Section 9.01 Amendment. The Board of Directors of the Company, or its delegate, may amend the Plan at any time and from time to time and any amendment may have retroactive effect, including, without limitation, amendments to the amount of contributions; provided, however, that no amendment shall (i) reduce the value of a Participants Account or (ii) change the form or timing of payment of an amount contributed prior to the date of amendment.
Section 9.02 Termination. While the Plan is intended to be permanent, the Board of Directors of the Company, or its delegate, may at any time terminate or partially terminate the Plan, provided that upon such termination, except to the extent otherwise permitted under Code Section 409A, all Accounts shall be distributed in accordance with the terms of the Plan as in effect on the date of termination. Written notice of such termination or partial termination, setting forth the date and terms thereof, shall be given to the Administrator.
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Section 9.03 Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, following a Change in Control (as such term is defined in the Companys Equity and Incentive Plan) no amendment or termination referenced in Section 9.01 or 9.02, respectively, may adversely affect any benefits accrued or deferrals made under the Plan prior to the adoption of the amendment or termination (including, without limitation, any terms, conditions or distribution alternatives applicable to such accrued benefits). In addition, for a period of two years following a Change in Control, the Plan shall not be terminated in whole or in part or be amended in any way that adversely affects or limits the terms and conditions of benefits as available pursuant to the Plan immediately prior to the Change in Control.
Article 10. Miscellaneous.
Section 10.01 Section 16 Person. With respect to Section 16 Persons, the Administrator may establish, in writing, such rules, regulations, policies or practices hereunder which it deems, in its sole discretion, to be necessary and appropriate.
Section 10.02 Claims Review. In any case in which a claim for Plan benefits of a Participant or Beneficiary is denied or modified, the Administrator shall furnish written notice to the claimant within 90 days (or within 180 days if additional information requested by the Administrator necessitates an extension of the 90-day period), which notice shall:
(a) State the specific reason or reasons for the denial or modification;
(b) Provide specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial or modification is based;
(c) Provide a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Participant, his/her Beneficiary, or representative to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and
(d) Explain the Plans claim review procedure as contained herein, including the claimants right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse review determination.
In the event a claim for Plan benefits is denied or modified, if the Participant, his/her Beneficiary, or a representative of such Participant or Beneficiary desires to have such denial or modification reviewed, he/she must, within 60 days following receipt of the notice of such denial or modification, submit a written request for review by the Administrator of its initial decision. In connection with such request, the Participant, his/her Beneficiary, or the representative of such Participant or Beneficiary may review any pertinent documents upon which such denial or modification was based and may submit issues and comments in writing. Within 60 days following such request for review the Administrator shall, after providing a full and fair review, render its final decision in writing to the Participant, his/her beneficiary or the representative of such Participant or Beneficiary stating specific reasons for such decision, making specific references to pertinent Plan provisions upon which the decision is based and stating that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the claim. If special circumstances require an extension of such 60-day period, the Administrators decision shall be rendered as
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soon as possible, but not later than 120 days after receipt of the request for review. If an extension of time for review is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the Participant, Beneficiary, or the representative of such Participant or Beneficiary prior to the commencement of the extension period.
Section 10.03 Limitation of Participants Rights. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed as conferring upon any Participant any right to continue in the employment of an Employer, nor shall it interfere with the rights of an Employer to terminate the employment of any Participant and/or take any personnel action affecting any Participant without regard to the effect which such action may have upon such Participant as a recipient or prospective recipient of benefits under the Plan.
Section 10.04 Obligations to Employer. If a Participant becomes entitled to a distribution of benefits under the Plan, and if at such time the Participant has outstanding any debt, obligation, or other liability representing an amount owing to an Employer, then such Employer may offset such amount owed to it against the amount of benefits otherwise distributable. Such determination shall be made by the Administrator.
Section 10.05 Nonalienation of Benefits. Except as expressly provided herein, no Participant or Beneficiary shall have the power or right to transfer (otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution), alienate, or otherwise encumber the Participants interest under the Plan. Any such attempted assignment shall be considered null and void. The interest of any Participant or any beneficiary receiving payments hereunder shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participants Beneficiary. An Employers obligations under this Plan are not assignable or transferable except to (a) a business entity which acquires all or substantially all of an Employers assets or (b) any business entity into which an Employer may be merged or consolidated.
Section 10.06 Unfunded Status of Plan. The Plan is intended to constitute an unfunded plan of deferred compensation for Participants for tax and for purposes of Title I of ERISA. The Plan constitutes a mere promise by the Employer to make benefit payments in the future. Each Employer shall not be liable for any benefit payments to any other Employers Eligible Employees who are Participant is this Plan. Benefits payable hereunder shall be payable out of the general assets of the applicable Employer, and no segregation of any assets whatsoever for such benefits shall be made. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of his/her Employer.
Section 10.07 Severability. If any provision of this Plan is held unenforceable, the remainder of the Plan shall continue in full force and effect without regard to such unenforceable provision and shall be applied as though the unenforceable provision were not contained in the Plan.
Section 10.08 Gender, Singular & Plural. All pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, or neuter, as the identity of the person or persons may require. As the context may require, the singular may be read as the plural and the plural as the singular.
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Section 10.09 Notice. Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to the Administrator under the Plan shall be sufficient if in writing and hand delivered, or sent by registered or certified mail, to the Administrator or to such representatives as the Administrator may designate from time to time. Such notice shall be deemed given as to the date of delivery or, if delivery is made by mail, as of the date shown on the postmark on the receipt for registration or certification.
Section 10.10 Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed and construed under the laws of the State of Delaware to the extent not preempted by Federal law which shall otherwise control.
Section 10.11 Binding Terms. The provisions of the Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, their respective heirs, executors, administrators and successors.
Section 10.12 Headings. All headings preceding the text of the several Sections hereof are inserted solely for reference and shall not constitute a part of this Plan, nor affect its meaning, construction or effect.
Section 10.13 Representations. The Employer does not represent or guarantee that any particular federal or state income, payroll, personal property or other tax consequence will result from participation in the Plan. A Participant should consult with professional tax advisors to determine the tax consequences of his/her participation. In addition, the Company does not represent or guarantee positive Credited Investment Return and shall not be required to restore any negative Credited Investment Return.
Section 10.14 Compliance with Code Section 409A. Each amount to be paid to a Participant under the Plan that constitutes deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Code Section 409A. The Company intends that this Plan provide for the deferral of compensation as permitted under Code Section 409A, to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted and be administered to be in compliance therewith or exempt therefrom. If any provision of this Plan is determined to be inconsistent with such intent, it shall be severable and the balance of this Plan shall remain in full force and effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates makes any representations that any or all of the payments provided under the Plan will be exempt from or comply with Code Section 409A and none of them makes any undertaking to preclude Code Section 409A from applying to any such payment.
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Exhibit 10.19
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
STOCK ACCUMULATION AND DEFERRED
COMPENSATION PLAN FOR DIRECTORS
1. | PURPOSE OF THE PLAN |
The purpose of The Chemours Company Stock Accumulation and Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors (the Plan) is to permit Directors to defer the payment of all or a specified part of their compensation for services performed as Directors.
This Plan is intended to reflect the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Code) and the rulings and regulations issued thereunder (collectively, Code Section 409A) and shall be administered and construed in accordance with such requirements.
2. | ELIGIBILITY |
Members of the Board of Directors of the Company who are not employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates shall be eligible under this Plan to defer compensation for services performed as Directors.
3. | ADMINISTRATION AND AMENDMENT |
The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the Committee). The decision of the Committee with respect to any questions arising as to the interpretation of this Plan, including the severability of any and all of the provisions thereof, shall be final, conclusive and binding. The Board of Directors of the Company reserves the right to modify the Plan from time to time, or to terminate the Plan entirely, provided, however, that (1) no modification of the Plan shall operate to annul an election already in effect for the current calendar year or any preceding calendar year; (2) that the foregoing shall not preclude any amendment necessary or desirable to conform to changes in applicable law, including, but not limited to, changes in the Code; and (3) upon termination of the Plan, except to the extent otherwise permitted under Code Section 409A, all balances will be distributed in accordance with the terms of the Plan as in effect on the date of termination.
The Committee is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Plan, from time to time to establish such rules and regulations as it deems appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan, and to make such determinations and take such steps in connection therewith as it deems necessary or advisable.
4. | COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16 OF THE EXCHANGE ACT / CHANGE IN LAW |
It is the Companys intent that the Plan comply in all respects with Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, or its successor, and any regulations promulgated thereunder. If any provision of this Plan is found not to be in compliance with such rule and regulations, the provision shall be deemed null and void, and the remaining provisions of the Plan shall continue in full force and effect. All
transactions under this Plan shall be executed in accordance with the requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, modify the terms and conditions of this Plan in response to and consistent with any changes in applicable law, rule or regulation.
5. | ELECTION TO DEFER AND FORM OF PAYMENT |
On or before December 31 of any calendar year, a Director may elect to defer, in the form of cash or stock units, the payment of all or a specified part of all fees payable to the Director for services as a Director during the following calendar year.
To the extent permitted under Code Section 409A, any person who shall become a Director during any calendar year, and who was not a Director of the Company on the preceding December 31, may elect, within thirty days after election to the Board, to defer in the same manner the receipt of the payment of all or a specified part of fees not yet earned for the remainder of that calendar year in the form of cash or stock units.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article 5, the election for 2015 in respect of any Director who on or after December 31, 2014 was a member of the Board of Directors of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) shall be that election, if any, made by such Director for 2015 under the DuPont Stock Accumulation and Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors.
At the time a Director elects to defer his/her fees for a calendar year, he/she must also elect:
i. | the payment event for such deferred amounts (a specified calendar year or his/her separation from service (within the meaning of Code Section 409A)) |
ii. | with respect to amounts deferred to separation from service, the form of payment (lump sum or equal annual installments) |
iii. | the number of equal annual installments, if applicable; and |
iv. | the calendar year following his/her separation from service in which payment(s) of such deferred amounts shall commence (if distribution is to commence by reason of a separation from service). For purposes of clarity, calendar year in this context refers to the sequential calendar year following separation from service (for example, first calendar year, second calendar year, etc.) |
Amounts deferred to a specified year shall be payable only in a lump sum during the specified calendar year. If amounts are payable in equal annual installments, the first annual installment shall be made in the calendar year specified pursuant to (iv) above with remaining installments paid in successive calendar years until all installments have been paid.
Except as provided above in respect of elections made by directors of DuPont in respect of 2015, elections shall be made by written notice delivered to the Secretary of the Committee. All such elections as to deferral and form of payment are irrevocable.
6. | DIRECTORS ACCOUNTS |
Fees deferred in the form of cash shall be held in the general funds of the Company and shall be credited to an account in the name of the Director. Deferred cash will bear interest at a rate corresponding to the average 30-year Treasury securities rate applicable for the quarter (or at such other rate as may be specified by the Committee from time to time). Interest will be compounded quarterly and will also be deferred. If the rate changes, the new rate will apply to all deferred cash amounts beginning with the following quarter. Fees deferred in the form of stock units shall be allocated to each Directors account based on the closing price of the Companys common stock as reported on the Composite Tape of the New York Stock Exchange (Stock Price) on the date the fees would otherwise have been paid. The Company shall not be required to reserve or otherwise set aside shares of common stock for the payment of its obligations hereunder, but shall make available as and when required a sufficient number of shares of common stock to meet the needs of the Plan. An amount equal to any cash dividends (or the fair market value of dividends paid in property other than dividends payable in common stock of the Company) payable on the number of shares represented by the number of stock units in each Directors account will be allocated to each Directors account in the form of stock units based upon the Stock Price on the dividend payment date. Any stock dividends payable on such number of shares will be allocated in the form of stock units. If adjustments are made to outstanding shares of common stock as a result of split-ups, recapitalizations, mergers, consolidations and the like, an appropriate adjustment shall also be made in the number of stock units in a Directors account. Stock units shall not entitle any person to rights of a stockholder unless and until shares of Company common stock have been issued to that person with respect to stock units as provided in Article 7.
7. | PAYMENT FROM DIRECTORS ACCOUNTS |
The aggregate amount of deferred fees, together with interest and dividend equivalents accrued thereon, shall be paid in accordance with the time and form of payment elections made by the Director as provided in Article 5. Amounts credited to a Directors account in cash shall be paid in cash and amounts credited in stock units shall be paid in one share of common stock of the Company for each stock unit, except that a cash payment will be made with any final installment for any fraction of a stock unit remaining in the Directors account. Such fractional share shall be valued at the closing Stock Price on the date of settlement.
8. | PAYMENT IN EVENT OF DEATH |
A Director may file with the Secretary of the Committee a written designation of a beneficiary for his or her account under the Plan on such form as may be prescribed by the Committee, and may, from time to time, amend or revoke such designation. If a Director should die before all deferred amounts credited to the Directors account have been distributed, the balance of any deferred fees and interest and dividend equivalents then in the Directors account shall be paid to the Directors designated beneficiary upon the Directors death. If the Director did not designate a beneficiary, or in the event that the beneficiary designated by the Director shall have predeceased the Director, the balance in the Directors account shall be paid promptly to the Directors estate.
9. | NONASSIGNABILITY |
During a Directors lifetime, the right to any deferred fees, including interest and dividend equivalents thereon, shall not be transferable or assignable, except as may otherwise be provided in rules established by the Committee.
10. | GOVERNING LAW |
The validity and construction of the Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
11. | CODE SECTION 409A |
To the extent that an amount is payable in connection with a Directors retirement or other separation from service as Director of the Company, no amounts shall be paid hereunder on account thereof unless such retirement or separation from service constitutes a separation from service within the meaning of Code Section 409A. To the extent that an amount is payable promptly at the beginning of a calendar year, whether as a result of a Directors deferral election or the terms of a prior plan document, such amount shall be paid no later than the last day of that calendar year. Each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided to a Director pursuant to this Plan that constitutes deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Code Section 409A.
Exhibit 10.20
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
SENIOR EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PLAN
WHEREAS, The Chemours Company considers it essential to the best interests of its stockholders to foster the continued employment of key management personnel;
WHEREAS, the Board recognizes that, as is the case with many publicly held corporations, the possibility of a Change in Control exists and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it may raise among the Companys management, may result in the departure or distraction of management personnel to the detriment of the Company and its stockholders; and
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of the Companys management to their assigned duties without distraction in the face of circumstances arising from the possibility of a Change in Control.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company hereby adopts The Chemours Company Senior Executive Severance Plan (the Plan) for the benefit of certain employees of the Company, on the terms and conditions hereinafter stated.
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. As hereinafter used:
1.1 Accounting Firm shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.3 hereof.
1.2 Accrued Rights shall mean (i) any base salary earned by the Participant through, but not paid to the Participant as of, the Date of Termination, (ii) any annual cash bonus earned by the Participant for a prior year but not paid to the Participant as of the Date of Termination and (iii) any vested employee benefits to which the Participant is entitled as of the Date of Termination under the employee benefit plans of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate.
1.3 Affiliate shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
1.4 Base Salary shall mean the Participants annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if higher, in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason.
1.5 Base Severance Payment shall mean the sum of Base Salary and Target Annual Bonus.
1.6 Beneficial Owner shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.
1.7 Board shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
1.8 Cash Payment shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(ii) hereof.
1.9 Cause shall have the meaning set forth in the Participants employment or other agreement with the Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate, if any; provided that if the Participant is not a party to any such employment or other agreement or such employment or other agreement does not contain a definition of cause, then Cause shall mean (i) the willful and continued failure of the Participant to perform substantially the Participants duties with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Participant by the employing Company, Subsidiary or Affiliate that specifically identifies the alleged manner in which the Participant has not substantially performed the Participants duties, and the failure of the Participant to substantially cure such failure within five (5) days after delivery of such written notice, or (ii) the willful engaging by the Participant in illegal conduct or misconduct that is injurious to the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, including without limitation any material breach of the Companys Code of Business Conduct or other applicable ethics policy, that is not substantially cured by the Participant within five (5) days after written notice of same is delivered to the Participant by the employing Company, Subsidiary or Affiliate.
1.10 Change in Control shall mean the first of the following events to occur:
(i) any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates) representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities, excluding any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction described in clause (I) of paragraph (iii) below; or
(ii) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals who, on the date hereof, constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Companys stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the date hereof or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended; or
(iii) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary with any other corporation or other entity, other than (I) a merger or consolidation which results in (A) the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary, at least 60% of the combined
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voting power of the securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and (B) the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constituting immediately thereafter at least a majority of the board of directors of the Company, the entity surviving such merger or consolidation or, if the Company or the entity surviving such merger is then a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof, or (II) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities Beneficially Owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates) representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities; or
(iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets (it being conclusively presumed that any sale or disposition is a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of its assets if the consummation of the sale or disposition is contingent upon approval by the Companys stockholders unless the Board expressly determines in writing that such approval is required solely by reason of any relationship between the Company and any other Person or an Affiliate of the Company and any other Person), other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets to an entity (i) at least 60% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or disposition and (ii) the majority of whose board of directors immediately following such sale or disposition consists of individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the common stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.
1.11 COBRA Period shall mean the period following the Date of Termination during which the Participant is eligible to receive coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended from time to time.
1.12 Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
1.13 Company shall mean The Chemours Company and, except in determining under Section 1.10 hereof whether or not a Change in Control has occurred, shall include its Subsidiaries and any successor to its business and/or assets which assumes this Plan by operation of law, or otherwise.
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1.14 Confidential Information shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1 hereof.
1.15 Date of Termination shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2 hereof.
1.16 Disability shall mean that a Participant is considered to be disabled within the meaning of the applicable Company benefit plan, as in effect immediately prior to the date of a Change in Control.
1.17 Effective Date means the date on which the Company ceases to be a Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.
1.18 Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
1.19 Excise Tax shall mean any excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code.
1.20 Good Reason shall mean, in each case without the Participants consent, (i) a material diminution in the Participants base compensation, annual target bonus opportunity or annual long-term incentive award opportunity, (ii) a material diminution in the Participants title, authority, duties or responsibilities, (iii) a material change in the geographic location at which the Participant must perform his/her services for the Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate, (iv) a material breach by the Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any material written agreement between the Participant and the Company or such Subsidiary or Affiliate or (v) the failure of any successor to expressly assume and agree to perform this Plan in accordance with Section 5.1 hereof. The Participants continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Good Reason hereunder. For purposes of any determination regarding the existence of Good Reason, any claim by the Participant that Good Reason exists shall be presumed to be correct unless the Company establishes to the Board by clear and convincing evidence that Good Reason does not exist.
1.21 Notice of Termination shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1 hereof.
1.22 Other Severance shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3 hereof.
1.23 Participant shall mean (i) each Tier 1 Participant and (ii) each Tier 2 Participant.
1.24 Person shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Section 13(d) and Section 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.
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1.25 Potential Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if the event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred before the date of the first occurrence of a Change in Control:
(I) the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control;
(II) the Company or any Person publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions which, if consummated, would constitute a Change in Control;
(III) any Person becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 15% or more of either the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates); or
(IV) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Plan, a Potential Change in Control has occurred.
1.26 Qualifying Termination shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.
1.27 Release shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.
1.28 Restricted Period shall mean (i) the eighteen (18) month period following a Qualifying Termination for each Tier 1 Participant and (ii) the twelve (12) month period following a Qualifying Termination for each Tier 2 Participant.
1.29 Retirement shall be deemed the reason for the termination by a Participant of the Participants employment if such employment is terminated in accordance with the Companys retirement policy, including early retirement, generally applicable to its salaried employees.
1.30 Severance Period shall mean (i) thirty-six (36) months for each Tier 1 Participant and (ii) twenty-four (24) months for each Tier 2 Participant.
1.31 Similar Benefits shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(iii) hereof.
1.32 Subsidiary shall mean any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations (other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain) owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain.
1.33 Target Annual Bonus shall mean the Participants target annual cash bonus pursuant to any annual bonus or incentive plan maintained by the Company in respect of the fiscal year in which occurs the Date of Termination or, if higher, immediately prior to the fiscal year in which occurs the first event or circumstance constituting Good Reason; provided,
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that if the Participant is not eligible to receive a specified target annual cash bonus following the Change in Control, then Target Annual Bonus shall mean such target annual cash bonus in effect as of immediately prior to the date of the Change in Control.
1.34 Tax Counsel shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.3 hereof.
1.35 Term shall mean the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, that commencing on the second anniversary of the Effective Date and on each anniversary thereafter, the Term shall be automatically extended for an additional one-year period unless the Board determines to terminate this Plan in accordance with Section 8 hereof; and provided, further, that if a Change in Control shall have occurred during the Term, the Term shall expire no earlier than twenty-four (24) months beyond the month in which such Change in Control occurred.
1.36 Tier 1 Participant shall mean each individual who is designated by the Board on or after the date hereof as a Tier 1 Participant.
1.37 Tier 2 Participant shall mean each individual who is designated by the Board on or after the date hereof as a Tier 2 Participant.
1.38 Total Payments shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.1 hereof.
SECTION 2. SEVERANCE ELIGIBILITY AND PAYMENTS.
2.1 Benefits Upon Qualifying Termination. If a Participants employment terminates following a Change in Control and during the Term, other than (1) by the Company, a Subsidiary or Affiliate for Cause, (2) by reason of the Participants death or Disability or (3) by the Participant without Good Reason (any such termination, a Qualifying Termination), then the Participant shall be entitled to (a) the Accrued Rights, and (b) provided that the Participant (x) executes a general release of claims in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto (the Release), and all applicable revocation periods relating to the Release expire within fifty-five (55) days following the Date of Termination, and (y) continues to comply with the provisions of Section 10 hereof:
(i) A lump sum cash payment equal to the product of the Base Severance Payment and (A) three (3) for each Tier 1 Participant and (B) two (2) for each Tier 2 Participant;
(ii) A lump sum cash payment equal to the product of (A) the Target Annual Bonus and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days elapsed in the calendar year in which occurs the Date of Termination, through and including the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365 (the sum of the amounts payable in subsections (i) and (ii) of this Section 2.1, the Cash Payment);
(iii) Continued participation in the Companys health and dental plans in which the Participant and his or her dependents were eligible to participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination, or, if more favorable to the Participant, those in which the Participant and his or her dependents were eligible to participate immediately prior to the first occurrence of
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an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason, on the same terms (including employee-paid and Company-paid portions of insurance premiums and co-pays) as are generally applicable to active employees in a position substantially similar to that of the Participant immediately prior to the Date of Termination (or immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason, if applicable) until the earlier of (A) the end of the Severance Period and (B) the date on which the Participant is eligible to receive substantially similarly health and dental benefits from a subsequent employer (such applicable date, the Benefits Termination Date). The costs of the Companys portion of any premiums due under the first sentence of this subsection (iii) shall be included in the Participants gross income to the extent the provision of such benefits is determined by the Company in good faith to be discriminatory under Section 105(h) of the Code or any successor thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing and to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code, in the event that the Company determines in good faith that the provision of benefits referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (iii) would cause adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Participant under applicable law, the Company shall instead provide the Participant with monthly cash payments, continuing until the Benefits Termination Date, in an amount equal to the amount of the Companys portion of any premiums due under the first sentence of this subsection (iii);
(iv) Continued financial counseling and tax preparation services in accordance with the Companys practices as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control until the earlier of (A) the end of the Severance Period and (B) the date on which substantially similar financial counseling and tax preparation services are provided to the Participant by a subsequent employer; and
(v) Outplacement services suitable to the Participants position until the earlier of (A) the end of the Severance Period and (B) the Participants acceptance of an offer of full-time employment from a subsequent employer.
2.2 Timing of Cash Payment. The Cash Payment shall be made to the Participant within sixty (60) days following the Date of Termination, but in no event later than five (5) days following the date on which the Release becomes irrevocable; provided, that if the sixty (60)-day period begins in one taxable year and ends in a second taxable year, the payment shall be made in the second taxable year.
2.3 Other Severance Payments. In the event that the Company is obligated by law or contract to pay a Participant other severance pay, a termination indemnity, notice pay, or the like, or if the Company is obligated by law to provide advance notice of separation (Other Severance), then the amount of the Cash Payment otherwise payable to such Participant shall be reduced by the amount of any such Other Severance actually paid to the Participant (but not below zero).
2.4 Coordination of Benefits. Notwithstanding anything set forth herein to the contrary, to the extent that any severance payable under a plan or agreement covering a Participant as of the date such Participant becomes eligible to participate in this Plan constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, then to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the portion of the benefits payable hereunder equal to such other amount shall instead be provided in the form set
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forth in such other plan or agreement. Further, to the extent, if any, that provisions of this Plan affect the time or form of payment of any amount which constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, then to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, if the Change in Control does not constitute a change in control event under Section 409A of the Code, the time and form (but not the amount) of payment shall be the time and form that would have been applicable in absence of a Change in Control.
2.5 Continued Employment. As a condition to participation in this Plan, each Participant is deemed to have agreed that, in the event of a Potential Change in Control during the Term, the Participant will remain in the employ of the Company until the earliest of (i) a date which is six (6) months from the date of such Potential Change in Control, (ii) the date of a Change in Control, (iii) the date of termination by the Participant of the Participants employment for Good Reason or by reason of death, Disability or Retirement, or (iv) the termination by the Company of the Participants employment for any reason.
2.6 Notice to the Company. Each Participant shall be required to provide notice to the Company of an event that would cause the benefits provided under Sections 2.1(iii), (iv) or (v) to cease with respect to the Participant within ten (10) business days after the occurrence thereof.
SECTION 3. TERMINATION PROCEDURES.
3.1 Notice of Termination. After a Change in Control and during the Term, any purported termination of the Participants employment (other than by reason of death) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination from one party hereto to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 6 hereof. For purposes of this Plan, a Notice of Termination shall mean a notice which shall (i) indicate the specific termination provision in this Plan relied upon and (ii) set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Participants employment under the provision so indicated. Further, any Notice of Termination for Cause is required to include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters (3/4) of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board which was called and held for the purpose of considering such termination (after reasonable notice to the Participant and an opportunity for the Participant, together with the Participants counsel, to be heard before the Board) finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Participant was guilty of conduct set forth in clause (i) or (ii) of the definition of Cause herein, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
3.2 Date of Termination. Date of Termination, with respect to any purported termination of the Participants employment after a Change in Control and during the Term, shall mean (i) if the Participants employment is terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given (provided that the Participant shall not have returned to the full-time performance of the Participants duties during such thirty (30) day period), and (ii) if the Participants employment is terminated for any other reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination (which, in the case of a termination by the Company, shall not be less than thirty (30) days (except in the case of a termination for Cause) and, in the case of a termination by the Participant, shall not be less than fifteen (15) days nor more than sixty (60) days, respectively, from the date such Notice of Termination is given).
3.3 Reimbursement of Expenses. The Company shall reimburse a Participant for all expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) incurred by the Participant in enforcing this Plan or any provision hereof or as a result of the Company contesting the validity or enforceability of this Plan or any provision hereof, regardless of the outcome thereof; provided, that the Company shall not be obligated to pay any such fees and expenses arising out of any action brought by a Participant if the finder of fact in such action determines that the Participants position in such action was frivolous or maintained in bad faith. Such costs shall be paid to such Participant promptly upon presentation of expense statements or other supporting information evidencing the incurrence of such expenses.
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SECTION 4. NO MITIGATION. The Company agrees that, if the Participants employment with the Company terminates during the Term, the Participant is not required to seek other employment or to attempt in any way to reduce any amounts payable to the Participant by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof. Further, except as explicitly set forth in Sections 2.1(iii), (iv) and (v), the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Plan shall not be reduced by any compensation earned by the Participant as the result of employment by another employer, by retirement benefits, by offset against any amount claimed to be owed by the Participant to the Company, or otherwise.
SECTION 5. SUCCESSORS; BINDING AGREEMENT.
5.1 Successors. In addition to any obligations imposed by law upon any successor to the Company, the Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Plan in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.
5.2 Enforcement by Participants Successors. The Companys obligations under this Plan shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Participants personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Participant shall die while any amount would still be payable to the Participant hereunder (other than amounts which, by their terms, terminate upon the death of the Participant) if the Participant had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Plan to the executors, personal representatives or administrators of the Participants estate.
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SECTION 6. NOTICES. Notices and all other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed, if to the Participant, to the most recent address shown in the personnel records of the Company and, if to the Company, to the address set forth below, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon actual receipt:
To the Company:
[TO COME]
SECTION 7. SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES. In the event of a claim by a Participant as to the amount or timing of any payment or benefit, such Participant shall present the reason for his claim in writing to the Board. The Board shall, within sixty (60) days after receipt of such written claim, send a written notification to the Participant as to its disposition. In the event the claim is wholly or partially denied, such written notification shall (i) state the specific reason or reasons for the denial, (ii) make specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based, (iii) provide a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Participant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary, and (iv) set forth the procedure by which the Participant may appeal the denial of his claim. In the event a Participant wishes to appeal the denial of his claim, he may request a review of such denial by making application in writing to the Board within sixty (60) days after receipt of such denial. Such Participant (or his duly authorized legal representative) may, upon written request to the Board, review any documents pertinent to his claim, and submit in writing issues and comments in support of his position. Within sixty (60) days after receipt of a written appeal (unless special circumstances, such as the need to hold a hearing, require an extension of time, but in no event more than one hundred twenty (120) days after such receipt), the Board shall notify the Participant of the final decision. The final decision shall be in writing and shall include specific reasons for the decision, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, and specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision is based.
SECTION 8. PLAN MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION. This Plan may be amended by the Board at any time; provided, that no amendment shall be made in respect of any Participant that is adverse to the Participants rights under this Plan without the Participants consent. The Board may terminate this Plan at any time that it shall have no Participants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Plan may not be terminated in whole or in part, or otherwise amended or modified in any respect, for two (2) years following a Change in Control.
SECTION 9. SECTION 280G.
9.1 Treatment of Payments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Plan, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by the Participant in connection with
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a Change in Control or the termination of the Participants employment or service (whether pursuant to the terms of this Plan or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any Subsidiary, any Affiliate, any Person whose actions result in a Change in Control or any Person affiliated with the Company or such Person) (all such payments and benefits, Total Payments) would be subject (in whole or part), to the Excise Tax, then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the payment or benefit to be received by the Participant upon a Change in Control shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which the Participant would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments).
9.2 Ordering of Reduction. In the case of a reduction in the Total Payments pursuant to Section 9.1, the Total Payments will be reduced in the following order: (i) payments that are payable in cash that are valued at full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24(a) will be reduced (if necessary, to zero), with amounts that are payable last reduced first; (ii) payments and benefits due in respect of any equity valued at full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24(a), with the highest values reduced first (as such values are determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24) will next be reduced; (iii) payments that are payable in cash that are valued at less than full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24, with amounts that are payable last reduced first, will next be reduced; (iv) payments and benefits due in respect of any equity valued at less than full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24, with the highest values reduced first (as such values are determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24) will next be reduced; and (v) all other non-cash benefits not otherwise described in clauses (ii) or (iv) will be next reduced pro-rata.
9.3 Certain Determinations. For purposes of determining whether and the extent to which the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax: (i) no portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which the Participant shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a payment within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code will be taken into account; (ii) no portion of the Total Payments will be taken into account which, in the opinion of tax counsel (Tax Counsel) reasonably acceptable to the Participant and selected by a nationally recognized accounting firm designated by the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control (the Accounting Firm), does not constitute a parachute payment within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code) and, in calculating the Excise Tax, no portion of such Total Payments will be taken into account which, in the opinion of Tax Counsel, constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the base amount (as set forth in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) that is allocable to such reasonable compensation; and (iii) the value of any non-cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments will be determined by the Accounting Firm in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.
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9.4 Written Statement. If any of the Total Payments are subject to reduction pursuant to Section 9.1, the Company will provide the Participant with a written statement setting forth the manner in which such reduction was calculated and the basis for such calculations, including any opinions or other advice the Company received from Tax Counsel, the Accounting Firm, or other advisors or consultants (and any such opinions or advice which are in writing will be attached to the statement). If the Participant objects to the Companys calculations, the Company will pay to the Participant such portion of the Total Payments (up to 100% thereof) as the Participant determines is necessary to result in the proper application of this Section 9. All determinations required by this Section 9 (or requested by either the Participant or the Company in connection with this Section 9) will be at the expense of the Company.
9.5 Additional Payments. If the Participant receives reduced payments and benefits by reason of this Section 9 and it is established pursuant to a determination of a court of competent jurisdiction which is not subject to review or as to which the time to appeal has expired, or pursuant to an Internal Revenue Service proceeding, that the Participant could have received a greater amount without resulting in any Excise Tax, then the Company shall thereafter pay the Participant the aggregate additional amount which could have been paid without resulting in any Excise Tax as soon as reasonably practicable.
SECTION 10. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.
10.1 Confidential Information. At all times following a Qualifying Termination of the Participants employment with the Company, the Participant may not use or disclose, except on behalf of the Company and pursuant to the Companys directions, any Company Confidential Information (i.e., information concerning the Company and its business that is not generally known outside the Company, and includes, but is not limited to, (a) trade secrets; (b) intellectual property; (c) information regarding the Companys present and/or future products, developments, processes and systems, including invention disclosures and patent applications; (d) information on customers or potential customers, including customers names, sales records, prices, and other terms of sales and Company cost information; (e) Company business plans, marketing plans, financial data and projections; and (f) information received in confidence by the Company from third parties). For purposes of this Section 10.1, information regarding products, services or technological innovations in development, in test marketing or being marketed or promoted in a discrete geographic region, which information the Company is considering for broader use, shall be deemed not generally known until such broader use is actually commercially implemented.
10.2 Solicitation of Employees. During the Restricted Period, the Participant may not hire, recruit, solicit or induce, or cause, allow, permit or aid others to hire, recruit, solicit or induce, any employee of the Company who possesses Confidential Information of the Company to terminate his or her employment with the Company and/or to seek employment with the Participants new or prospective employer.
10.3 Solicitation of Customers. During the Restricted Period, the Participant may not, directly or indirectly, on behalf of the Participant or any other individual, company or entity, solicit or participate in soliciting, products or services competitive with or similar to products or services offered by, manufactured by, designed by or distributed by the Company to
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any individual, company or entity which was a customer or potential customer for such products or services and with which the Participant had direct or indirect contact regarding those products or services or about which the Participant learned Confidential Information at any time during the two (2) years prior to the Participants termination of employment with the Company.
10.4 Non-Competition Regarding Products or Services. During the Restricted Period, the Participant may not, directly or indirectly, in any capacity, provide products or services competitive with or similar to products or services offered by the Company to any individual, company or entity which was a customer for such products or services and with which customer the Participant had direct or indirect contact regarding those products or services or about which customer the Participant learned Confidential Information at any time during the two (2) years prior to the Participants termination of employment with the Company.
10.5 Non-Competition Regarding Activities. During the Restricted Period, the Participant may not engage in activities which are entirely or in part the same as or similar to activities in which the Participant engaged at any time during the two years preceding termination of the Participants employment with the Company for any individual, company or entity in connection with products, services or technological developments (existing or planned) that are entirely or in part the same as, similar to, or competitive with, any products, services or technological developments (existing or planned) on which the Participant worked at any time during the two (2) years preceding termination of the Participants employment. This Section 10.5 applies in countries in which the Participant has physically been present performing work for the Company at any time during the two (2) years preceding termination of the Participants employment.
10.6 Non-Disparagement. At all times following a Qualifying Termination of the Participants employment with the Company, the Participant may not, except to the extent required by law or legal process, make, or cause to be made, any statement or communicate any information (whether oral or written) that disparages or reflects negatively on the Company or any of its officers, directors, partners, shareholders, attorneys, employees and agents.
10.7 Application. For purposes of this Section 10, Company shall mean The Chemours Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates.
10.8 Reasonableness. In consideration of receiving payments and benefits hereunder upon a Qualifying Termination, each Participant hereby acknowledges that (i) the Participants obligations under this Section 10 are reasonable in the context of the nature of the Companys business and the competitive injuries likely to be sustained by the Company if the Participant were to violate such obligations and (ii) the benefits provided under this Plan are made in consideration of, and are adequately supported by, the agreement of the Company to perform its obligations under this Plan and by other consideration, which the Participant acknowledges constitutes good, valuable and sufficient consideration.
SECTION 11. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
11.1 Administration. This Plan shall be interpreted, administered and operated by the Board, which shall have complete authority, in its sole discretion subject to the express
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provisions of this Plan, to interpret this Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to it and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan. All questions of any character whatsoever arising in connection with the interpretation of this Plan or its administration or operation shall be submitted to and settled and determined by the Board in accordance with the procedure for claims and appeals described in Section 7 hereof. Any such settlement and determination shall be final and conclusive, and shall bind and may be relied upon by the Company, each of the Participants and all other parties in interest. The Board may delegate any of its duties hereunder to such person or persons from time to time as it may designate.
11.2 Assignment. Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, no right or interest of any Participant under this Plan shall be assignable or transferable, in whole or in part, either directly or by operation of law or otherwise, including without limitation, by execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge or in any manner; no attempted assignment or transfer thereof shall be effective; and no right or interest of any Participant under this Plan shall be subject to any obligation or liability of such Participant. When a payment is due under this Plan to a Participant who is unable to care for his affairs, payment may be made directly to his legal guardian or personal representative.
11.3 Governing Law; Interpretation. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. All references to sections of the Exchange Act or the Code shall be deemed also to refer to any successor provisions to such sections.
11.4 Withholding. Any payments and benefits provided for hereunder shall be paid net of any applicable withholding required under federal, state or local law.
11.5 Survival. The obligations of the Company and the Participant under this Plan which by their nature may require either partial or total performance after the expiration of the Term (including, without limitation, those under Section 2, Section 3 and Section 10 hereof) shall survive such expiration.
11.6 No Right to Continued Employment. Neither the establishment of this Plan, nor any modification thereof, nor the creation of any fund, trust or account, nor the payment of any benefits shall be construed as giving any Participant, or any person whomsoever, the right to be retained in the service of the Company, and all Participants shall remain subject to discharge to the same extent as if this Plan had never been adopted.
11.7 Headings; Gender. The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of this Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of this Plan. References in this Plan to any gender include references to all genders, and references to the singular include references to the plural and vice versa.
11.8 Benefits Unsecured. This Plan shall not be funded. No Participant shall have any right to, or interest in, any assets of the Company which may be applied by the Company to the payment of benefits or other rights under this Plan.
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11.9 Enforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Plan, which shall remain in full force and effect.
11.10 Section 409A. The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Plan be exempt from, or comply with, Section 409A of the Code, and accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Plan shall be interpreted and administered to be in accordance therewith. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Participant shall not be considered to have terminated employment with the Company for purposes of any payments under this Plan which are subject to Section 409A of the Code until the Participant would be considered to have incurred a separation from service from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided under this Plan shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, and any payments described in this Plan that are due within the short term deferral period as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable law requires otherwise. Without limiting the foregoing and notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to this Plan during the six (6)-month period immediately following a Participants separation from service shall instead be paid on the first business day after the date that is six (6) months following the Participants separation from service (or, if earlier, death). To the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts reimbursable to the Participant under this Plan shall be paid to the Participant on or before the last day of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred and the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement (and in-kind benefits provided) during any one year may not effect amounts reimbursable or provided in any subsequent year. The Company makes no representation that any or all of the payments described in this Plan will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to any such payment. The Participant shall be solely responsible for the payment of any taxes and penalties incurred under Section 409A.
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Exhibit A
Form of Release
[Companys standard form of release to be inserted]
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Exhibit 99.1
Preliminary and Subject to Completion, dated May 13, 2015
INFORMATION STATEMENT
The Chemours Company
Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share
This information statement is being furnished to the holders of common stock of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) in connection with the distribution of shares of common stock of The Chemours Company (Chemours). Chemours is a wholly owned subsidiary of DuPont that operates DuPonts Performance Chemicals segment, which includes its titanium technologies, fluoroproducts and chemical solutions businesses. DuPont will distribute all of the outstanding shares of Chemours common stock on a pro rata basis to DuPonts common stockholders.
Chemours was organized as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware and was converted to a corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware on April 30, 2015.
For every five shares of DuPont common stock held of record by you as of the close of business on [], 2015, the record date for the distribution, you will receive one share of Chemours common stock. No fractional shares of Chemours common stock will be issued. Instead, you will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares. As discussed under The Distribution Trading Between the Record Date and Distribution Date, if you sell your DuPont common stock in the regular-way market after the record date and before the separation and distribution, you also will be selling your right to receive shares of Chemours common stock in connection with the separation and distribution. We expect the shares of Chemours common stock to be distributed by DuPont to you on July 1, 2015, pending final approval from DuPonts board of directors. We refer to the date of the distribution of Chemours common stock as the distribution date. After the distribution, we will be an independent, publicly traded company.
No vote of DuPonts stockholders is required to effect the distribution. Therefore, you are not being asked for a proxy to vote on the separation or the distribution, and you are requested not to send us a proxy. You do not need to pay any consideration, exchange or surrender your existing shares of DuPont common stock or take any other action to receive your shares of Chemours common stock.
The distribution is intended to be tax-free to DuPont shareholders for United States federal income tax purposes, except for cash received in lieu of fractional shares. The distribution is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by DuPont of certain conditions, including the continued effectiveness of a private letter ruling that DuPont has received from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and opinions of tax counsel confirming that the distribution and certain transactions entered into in connection with the distribution generally will be tax-free to DuPont and its shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except for cash received in lieu of fractional shares. Cash received in lieu of any fractional shares of Chemours common stock will generally be taxable to you.
DuPont currently owns all of the outstanding shares of Chemours. Accordingly, there is no current trading market for Chemours common stock, although we expect that a limited market, commonly known as a when-issued trading market, will develop on or shortly before the record date for the distribution, and we expect regular-way trading of Chemours common stock to begin on the first trading day following the completion of the separation and distribution. Chemours intends to apply to have its common stock authorized for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. under the symbol CC.
In reviewing this information statement, you should carefully consider the matters described under the caption Risk Factors beginning on page 23.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this information statement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This information statement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.
References in this information statement to specific codes, legislation or other statutory enactments are to be deemed as references to those codes, legislation or other statutory enactments, as amended from time to time.
The date of this information statement is [], 2015.
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MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT |
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISTRIBUTION |
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178 |
The following is a summary of material information discussed in this information statement. This summary may not contain all the details concerning the separation and distribution or other information that may be important to you. To better understand the separation, distribution and Chemours business and financial position, you should carefully review this entire information statement. Except as otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, the information included in this information statement, including the combined financial statements of Chemours, which are comprised of the assets and liabilities of DuPonts Performance Chemicals segment, which includes its titanium technologies, fluoroproducts and chemical solutions businesses, and certain additional assets and liabilities associated with the DuPont business, assumes the completion of all the transactions referred to in this information statement in connection with the separation and distribution. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this information statement to The Chemours Company, The Chemours Company, LLC, Chemours, we, us, our and our company refer to The Chemours Company and its combined subsidiaries. References in this information statement to DuPont refer to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries (other than Chemours and its combined subsidiaries), unless the context otherwise requires. References to DuPont stockholders refer to stockholders of DuPont in their capacity as holders of common stock only, unless context otherwise requires.
Chemours was organized as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware and was converted to a corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware on April 30, 2015.
This information statement describes the business to be transferred to Chemours by DuPont in the separation as if the transferred business were our business for all historical periods described. References in this information statement to our historical assets, liabilities, products, businesses or activities of our business are generally intended to refer to the historical assets, liabilities, products, businesses or activities of the transferred business as the business was conducted as part of DuPont and its subsidiaries prior to the separation and distribution.
This summary highlights information contained in this information statement and provides an overview of our company, our separation from DuPont and the distribution of our common stock by DuPont to its stockholders. You should read this entire information statement carefully, including the risks discussed under Risk Factors, our audited and unaudited selected historical condensed combined financial statements and notes thereto, and our unaudited pro forma combined financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this information statement. Some of the statements in this summary constitute forward-looking statements. See Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements.
You should not assume that the information contained in this information statement is accurate as of any date other than the date set forth on the cover. Changes to the information contained in this information statement may occur after that date, and we undertake no obligation to update the information, except in the normal course of our public disclosure obligations.
Distributing Company
DuPont was founded in 1802 and was incorporated in Delaware in 1915. Today, DuPont is creating higher growth and higher value by extending the companys leadership in agriculture and nutrition, strengthening and growing capabilities in advanced materials and leveraging cross-company skills to develop a world-leading bio-based industrial business. Through these strategic priorities, DuPont is helping customers find solutions to capitalize on areas of growing global demand enabling more, safer, nutritious food; creating high-performance, cost-effective energy efficient materials for a wide range of industries; and increasingly delivering renewably sourced bio-based materials and fuels. Total worldwide employment at December 31, 2014, was about
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63,000 people. DuPont has operations in more than 90 countries worldwide and about 62 percent of consolidated net sales are made to customers outside the United States of America (U.S.).
Our Company
Chemours is a leading global provider of performance chemicals through three reporting segments: Titanium Technologies, Fluoroproducts and Chemical Solutions. Our performance chemicals are key inputs into products and processes in a variety of industries. Our Titanium Technologies segment is the leading global producer of titanium dioxide (TiO2), a premium white pigment used to deliver opacity. Our Fluoroproducts segment is a leading global provider of fluoroproducts, such as refrigerants and industrial fluoropolymer resins. Our Chemical Solutions segment is a leading North American provider of industrial and specialty performance chemicals used in gold production, oil refining, agriculture, industrial polymers and other industries. Our position with each of these businesses reflects the strong value proposition we provide to our customers based on our long history of innovation and our reputation within the chemical industry for safety, quality and reliability. We operate 37 production facilities located in 12 countries and serve several thousand customers located in more than 130 countries.
Our Strengths
Our competitive strengths include the following:
Leading Global Market Positions
We are the largest global producer of TiO2, with annual TiO2 capacity of approximately 1.2 million metric tons. We are in the process of expanding capacity at our Altamira, Mexico production facility by 200,000 metric tons. Production at the expansion is scheduled to start up in mid-2016. Each of our TiO2 production facilities ranks among those with the largest capacity globally, and our production facilities at New Johnsonville, Tennessee and DeLisle, Mississippi are the two largest capacity TiO2 production facilities in the world. We believe that our world-scale assets, consistent quality and delivery reliability differentiate us from our competitors in the TiO2 market.
We are the market leader in fluoroproducts, with leading positions in fluorinated refrigerants, and industrial fluoropolymer resins and downstream products. We have a leading position in hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants and are at the forefront of developing high-performance sustainable technologies such as our low global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluoro-olefin (HFO) refrigerants and foam expansion agents. We are also the market leader in industrial fluoropolymer resins and downstream products and coatings, marketed under the well-known Teflon® brand name. Teflon® industrial resins are used in high-performance wire and cable and multiple components in high-tech processing equipment.
We are the leading producer of solid sodium cyanide (primarily used in gold production) in the Americas. We lead in production capability, product stewardship offerings and distribution capabilities. We are the largest provider of sulfuric acid regeneration in the U.S. Northeast and the second largest provider in the U.S. Gulf Coast. In North America, we maintain market leading positions in aniline (primarily used to make polyurethane) and glycolic acid (primarily used in personal care products). We also have a strong market position in disinfectants used for water sanitization, animal health and bio-security.
Our market-leading positions are due to the scale and scope of our operations, our outstanding process technology, our differentiated products, our competitive pricing and efficient manufacturing base and long-standing partnerships with our customers.
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Industry-leading Cost Structure
We produce our products in cost-efficient manufacturing facilities that utilize proprietary process technologies to help drive our industry-leading cost structure. We continue to focus on increasing manufacturing efficiencies and mitigating cost inflation through process improvements, selected capital investments and adoption of best practices.
Our Titanium Technologies segment, in particular, has high asset productivity. Our proprietary TiO2 process technology allows us to optimize the use of a variety of titanium-bearing ore types, providing us with a cost advantage. Our world-scale TiO2 production facilities provide significant economies of scale. We operate large individual production lines at high utilization rates. The scale of our production facilities combined with our process technology capabilities, has allowed us to achieve one of the lowest manufacturing costs per unit in the industry over a sustained period of time. Our new Altamira, Mexico TiO2 production line is expected to be one of the lowest cost production lines in the world. In addition, we continually strive to improve our productivity and optimize our capacity by applying our engineering and manufacturing technology expertise to our production facilities.
Our leading fluoroproducts capacity, innovative production processes, effective supply chain and sourcing strategies make us highly cost competitive also in the fluoroproducts market. Our use of local contract manufacturing and joint venture partners in selected countries as a source of regional access and asset-light manufacturing (where possible) further enhances the overall cost position of our Fluoroproducts segment.
In Chemical Solutions, we believe we have highly attractive cost and asset positions within our cyanides, sulfur, and clean and disinfect businesses as a result of our proprietary process technologies, manufacturing scale, efficient supply chain processes, and proximity to large customers.
Leading Technology and Intellectual Property
As part of our DuPont heritage, our businesses have a long history of delivering innovative and high-quality products. We expect sustained technology leadership to be a key differentiator for Chemours, as the majority of our products are critical inputs that significantly impact the functionality, performance and quality of our customers products. Our product offerings are enhanced by application technology scientists and laboratories across the globe, whose goal it is to deliver formulation improvements to help our customers achieve lower costs, better performance and higher overall value-in-use from our products compared to those of our competitors.
In our Titanium Technologies segment, we commercialized the chloride process for TiO2 production in 1953, providing products with better opacity and superior whiteness due to lower impurities, and generating lower waste and byproducts than the traditional sulfate production technology. Currently, we are one of the limited number of TiO2 producers with rights to chloride process for production of TiO2. We believe that our proprietary chloride technology enables us to operate plants at a much higher capacity than other chloride technology based TiO2 producers, uniquely utilizing a broad spectrum of titanium bearing ore feedstocks and achieving the highest unit margins in our industry. Our research and development (R&D) and technology efforts focus on improving production processes, developing and yielding TiO2 grades that help customers achieve optimal performance. In our Fluoroproducts segment, we pioneered fluorine chemistry and invented polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), as well as developed the first generation of refrigeration agents in the first half of the 20th century. Our continuing innovation focus places us at the forefront of industry and regulatory changes with a focus on sustainable solutions. In fluoroproducts, we led the industry in the Montreal-Protocol (1987) driven transition from chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to the lesser ozone depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and non-ozone depleting HFCs. In 1988 we committed to cease production of CFCs and started manufacturing non-ozone depleting HFCs in the early 1990s. Driven by new and emerging environmental legislations and standards currently being implemented across the U.S., Europe, Latin America and Japan, we are now developing and commercializing Opteon®, a hydrofluoro-
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olefin (HFO) based refrigerant with very low GWP and zero ozone depletion potential (ODP), for air conditioning, refrigeration and other applications. This new patented technology offers similar functionality to current HFC products but meets or exceeds currently mandated environmental standards. Like Titanium Technologies and Fluoroproducts, our Chemical Solutions segment has strong technical capabilities and a reputation for its ability to manage hazardous materials. This ability is a key competitive advantage for Chemical Solutions, as several of its products end-users demand the highest level of excellence in the safe manufacturing, handling and shipping of the materials. Chemical Solutions also holds and occasionally licenses what it believes to be the leading process technologies for the production of aniline, acrylonitrile and hydrogen / sodium cyanide.
Our technological advantage is supported by our intellectual property portfolio of trade secrets, patents and protected innovations, covering process technologies, product formulations and various end-use applications. We maintain a world-renowned trademark portfolio, including the widely recognized brands Ti-Pure® and Vantage® for titanium dioxide products, Suva®, ISCEON®, Freon®, Opteon®, Teflon®, Tefzel®, Viton®, Krytox®, Formacel®, Dymel®, FM 200®, Nafion®, Capstone® for fluoroproducts, and Virkon® and Oxone® for Chemical Solutions.
Geographically Diverse Revenue Base Well-Positioned to Capitalize on Economic Growth
We operate 37 production facilities located in 12 countries and serve several thousand customers located in more than 130 countries. As a result of our strong global presence, we have a widely dispersed customer base that provides us with a geographically diversified revenue stream.
Demand for TiO2 comes from the coatings, paper and plastics industries and is highly correlated to growth in the global residential housing, commercial construction and packaging markets. Over the long-term, global TiO2 demand has grown in line with gross domestic product (GDP). Growth in emerging markets, including China, however, may be greater than GDP-level growth due in part to the rising middle class in such markets, which has become a key driver of demand for end products that use our TiO2.
We believe our Fluoroproducts segment, particularly through its low-GWP and zero-ODP products, will benefit from regulatory changes requiring phase-out and phase-downs of less sustainable incumbent products resulting in attractive margins and industry structure during sunset periods. In addition, customers continually require innovative next generation advanced materials, particularly industrial fluoropolymer resins, driving new product development and growth. We believe fluoroproducts demand growth in developed markets will be in line with global GDP, whereas demand growth in emerging markets will be higher than GDP. We also believe fluorochemicals growth will be driven by country-specific legislation phasing-down the current HFC-based refrigerants for which the new HFO-based products and blends are functional substitutes with a low environmental footprint. For fluoropolymers, we believe growth will be driven by the extension of higher performance applications in developed markets to developing markets, e.g. aerospace, automotive, electronics and communications and semiconductors in China.
Our Chemical Solutions segment serves customers in a diverse range of end markets that we believe generally grow in line with global GDP.
Long Standing and Diverse Customer Base
We serve approximately 5,000 customers across a wide range of end markets in more than 130 countries. Many of our commercial and industrial relationships have been in place for decades and are based on our proven value proposition of safely and reliably supplying our customers with the materials needed for their operations. Our customers are comprised of a diverse group of companies, many of which are leaders in their respective industries. Our sales are not materially dependent on any single customer. As of December 31, 2014, no one individual customer balance represented more than five percent of Chemours total outstanding receivables balance and no single customer represented more than ten percent of our sales.
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Knowledge of our customers business needs is at the core of our innovative processes and forms the basis of our product development initiatives. We work closely with our customers to optimize their formulations and products. We also provide ongoing technical support services to these customers, which helps them to maximize the effectiveness of our advanced performance products.
Strong Management Team with Deep Industry Experience
Chemours has a strong executive management team that combines in-depth industry experience and demonstrated leadership. Mark Vergnano, our Chief Executive Officer, previously served as Executive Vice President of DuPont since 2009. His prior experience includes 35 years in a variety of general management, manufacturing and technical leadership positions, including vice president and general manager for DuPont Nonwovens, DuPont Building Innovations and group vice president of DuPont Safety & Protection. Mark Newman, our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, previously served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of SunCoke Energy Inc. Prior to his time at SunCoke, Mr. Newman served in a number of senior operating and finance leadership roles in the U.S. and China, primarily with the General Motors Corporation where he began his career in 1986. Chemours segment presidents are B.C. Chong, Thierry Vanlancker and Chris Siemer, each of whom has been in chemical industry leadership positions for more than twenty-five years. Mr. Chong has served as president of DuPonts Titanium Technologies business since 2011. Previously, he held leadership positions in manufacturing operations, new business development, strategic planning and sales and marketing. Mr. Vanlancker was named president of DuPonts Fluoroproducts and Chemical Solutions business in 2012. He brings over a decade of experience in managing fluoro-based businesses and has held leadership positions in general management and sales and marketing. Mr. Siemer joined DuPont in 2010 and has managed global industrial and specialty chemical business portfolios for more than twenty years.
In addition to our strong executive management team, we have an experienced group of employees who work to maintain our leading market positions with their commitment to safe and efficient production, technology leadership, expansion of product offerings and customer relationships.
Cash Flow Generation
We believe that after the separation we will have a balance sheet supported by a world class asset base, adequate liquidity and substantial undrawn revolving credit facility, no pension or Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) plans in the U.S. (except for a frozen non-qualified pension restoration plan and a U.S. OPEB plan sponsored by an unconsolidated equity investment) and minimal unfunded non-U.S. pension liability. We expect our EBITDA to increase over time through low-cost incremental production and/or overall unit cost reductions from Chemours TiO2 capacity expansion at its Altamira site, potential upside from an anticipated cyclical recovery in TiO2, EU-mandated environmental regulations driving conversion to refrigerants with low GWP, and our focus on productivity improvements. The completion of the Altamira expansion in mid-2016 will meaningfully reduce our annual capital expenditures.
Our operating cash flow generation is driven by, among other things, global economic conditions generally and the resulting impact on demand for our products, raw material and energy prices, and industry-specific issues, such as production capacity and utilization. We have generated strong operating cash flow through various industry and economic cycles evidencing the operating strength of our businesses. Over the industry cycles in recent years, cash flows from operating activities increased in the years leading up to 2011, and have declined annually since the historical peak profitability achieved in 2011. Despite challenging market conditions in the TiO2 industry since achieving a historical peak in terms of profitability in 2011 and what are believed to be relatively weak market conditions in 2013 and 2014, we have generated strong operating cash flow. For each of the past four fiscal years, Chemours has generated cash flows from operating activities in excess of $500 million,
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with such cash flows averaging approximately $1 billion per year. See our disclosure under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Liquidity & Capital Resources.
Capital expenditures have on average equaled approximately $460 million per year during the past four years. A significant increase in each of the past three fiscal years was due to expenditures relating to the expansion of the TiO2 production facility at Altamira, Mexico. We expect our capital expenditures to be reduced in 2016 and in the near term thereafter due to the completion of the Altamira expansion, which should further bolster our free cash flow as the new capacity is expected to come online in mid-2016.
Our Strategy
Continue to Drive Operational Excellence and Asset Efficiency
Operational excellence, which includes a commitment to safety, environmental stewardship and improved reliability, is key to our future success. We continually evaluate our business to identify opportunities to increase operational efficiency throughout our production facilities with a focus on maintaining operational excellence and maximizing asset efficiency. We continue to set new, stricter operational excellence targets for each of our facilities based on industry-leading benchmarks. We intend to continue focusing on increasing manufacturing efficiencies through selected capital projects, process improvements and best practices in order to lower unit costs. We will also carefully manage our portfolio, especially in our Chemical Solutions segment, and take appropriate actions to address product lines that face challenging market conditions and do not generate returns on invested capital that we believe are sufficient to create long-term shareholder value.
Focus on Cash Flow Generation
Our goal is to focus on cash flow generation and return on invested capital through the continuing optimization of our cost structure, improvement in working capital and supply chain efficiencies, and a disciplined approach to capital expenditures.
We have a proven track record of mitigating fixed cost inflation with cost saving actions and productivity improvements. We intend to continue to identify incremental cost saving opportunities based in large part on benchmarks of industry-leading performance and productivity improvements by utilizing our engineering and manufacturing technology expertise and partnerships with low cost producers. Our goal is to maintain a cost structure that positions us favorably to compete and grow. Our goal is to continue upgrading our customer and product mix to increase our sales of value-added, differentiated products to achieve premium pricing to improve margins and enhance cash flow.
We intend to actively manage our working capital by increasing inventory turnover and reducing finished goods and raw materials inventory without affecting our ability to deliver products to our customers. We strive to improve our supply chain efficiency by focusing on reducing both operating costs and working capital needs. Our supply chain efforts to lower operating costs have consisted of reducing procurement spending, lowering transportation and warehouse costs and optimizing production scheduling.
We remain focused on disciplined capital allocation among our segments. We plan to allocate our capital expenditures to projects required to enhance the reliability of our manufacturing operations and maintain the overall asset portfolio. This includes key maintenance and repair activities in each segment, and necessary regulatory and maintenance spending to ensure safe operations. We intend to optimize capital spending on growth projects across our various businesses based on a thorough comparison of risk-adjusted returns for each project.
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Maintain Strong Customer Focus
A key component of our strategy is to produce innovative, high-performance products that offer enhanced value propositions to our customers at competitive prices. Our goal is to continually work closely with our customers to provide solutions and products that optimize their formulations and products. This market-driven product development enables us to offer a high-quality product portfolio to our customers and provides our businesses with the ability to respond quickly and efficiently to changes in market demands.
Leverage our Leadership to Drive Organic Growth
We plan to continue to capitalize on our global operations network, distribution infrastructure and technology to pursue global growth. We will focus our efforts on those geographic areas and end products that we believe offer the most attractive growth and long-term profitability prospects.
Our strategy in our Titanium Technologies segment is to continue to strengthen our leading position from both product offering and cost perspective in order to increase the segments sales and profitability. We intend to continue to position Chemours as the preferred supplier of TiO2 worldwide by delivering the highest quality product offering to our customers coupled with superior technical expertise. We are currently expanding capacity at our Altamira, Mexico production facility, which will increase our global capacity by more than 15 percent and will be one of the lowest cost TiO2 production lines in the world. Production at the expansion is scheduled to start up in mid-2016.
Our Fluoroproducts segment plans to make ongoing, selective investments to capitalize on market opportunities based on our innovation capabilities and industry dynamics. We intend to continue to leverage our fluoroproducts and process expertise to develop new high-performance, differentiated offerings and to promote industry transition towards more sustainable technologies. Specifically, our strategy is to focus on development of proprietary, high-value, sustainable specialties (for example, Opteon® YF and HFO-1336, which are designed to meet tighter regulatory standards and replace commodity HFC refrigerants or foaming agents).
Our Chemical Solutions segment intends to capitalize on potential growth opportunities in businesses in which we have strong regional positions, e.g. sulfuric acid and sodium cyanide. We plan to make selective capital investments to grow our sulfur products and sodium cyanide businesses, in which we have leading market positions in the Americas, and to take initiatives to improve profitability in the remainder of the businesses in our Chemical Solutions segment.
Deepen Our Presence in Emerging Markets
Emerging markets are a strategic priority for a number of our businesses. We are well positioned not only to leverage our strong market positions in mature but highly sophisticated markets in North America and Europe, but also to participate in the expected growth of emerging markets in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. We believe that improving living standards and growth in GDP across emerging markets are combining to create increased demand for our products. We expect to capitalize on this growth opportunity by expanding our customer base and local capabilities in order to increase our market share across emerging markets, especially China. To accelerate our penetration of these markets and maintain our competitive cost position, we may develop relationships with leading local partners, especially in businesses where participation in the fast-growing Chinese market is particularly important for long-term sustainable growth. For example, we are well positioned to leverage our strong production technology in our industrial fluoropolymers resins business, where the Chinese market is expected to continue to evolve from low-end fluoropolymer applications to higher value PTFE, copolymer and fluoroelastomer products, as a result of an increasing percentage of aerospace, automotive, semiconductor, electronics and telecommunications manufacturing transitions to China.
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Drive Organizational Alignment
We believe that maintaining alignment of the efforts of our employees with our overall business strategy and operational excellence goals is critical to our success. We have outstanding people and assets and, with the commitment to values of safety, customer appreciation, simplicity, collective entrepreneurship and integrity, we believe that we can maintain our competitiveness and help achieve our operational excellence and asset efficiency strategic objectives.
Risks Associated with Our Business
An investment in Chemours common stock is subject to a number of risks. The following list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Please read the information in the section captioned Risk Factors for a more thorough description of these and other risks.
| Conditions in the global economy and global capital markets may adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows. |
| Market conditions, as well as global and regional economic downturns that adversely affect the demand for the end-use products that contain TiO2, fluoroproducts or our other products, could adversely affect the profitability of our operations and the prices at which we can sell our products, negatively impacting our financial results. |
| The markets for many of our products have seasonally affected sales patterns. |
| Changes in government policies and laws and certain geopolitical conditions and activities could adversely affect our financial results. |
| Our reported results could be adversely affected by currency exchange rates and currency devaluation could impair our competitiveness. |
| Price fluctuations in energy and raw materials could have a significant impact on our ability to sustain and grow earnings. |
| We are subject to extensive environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that may result in unanticipated loss or liability, which could reduce our profitability. |
| Hazards associated with chemical manufacturing, storage and transportation could adversely affect our results of operations. |
| The businesses in which we compete are highly competitive. This competition may adversely affect our results of operations and operating cash flows. |
| Our significant indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition, and we could have difficulty fulfilling our obligations under our indebtedness, either of which could have a material adverse effect on the value of our common stock. |
| We may need additional capital in the future and may not be able to obtain it on favorable terms. |
| The agreements governing our indebtedness will restrict our current and future operations, particularly our ability to respond to changes or to take certain actions. |
| If we are unable to innovate and successfully introduce new products, or new technologies or processes reduce the demand for our products or the price at which we can sell products, our profitability could be adversely affected. |
| Our results of operations and financial condition could be seriously impacted by business disruptions and security breaches, including cybersecurity incidents. |
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| If our intellectual property were compromised or copied by competitors, or if our competitors were to develop similar or superior intellectual property or technology, our results of operations could be negatively affected. |
| As a result of our current and past operations, including operations related to divested businesses and our discontinued operations, we could incur significant environmental liabilities. |
| Our results of operations could be adversely affected by litigation and other commitments and contingencies. |
The Separation and Distribution
On October 24, 2013, DuPont announced its intention to separate its Performance Chemicals segment, which includes its titanium technologies, fluoroproducts and chemical solutions businesses, from the other businesses of DuPont that comprise its Agriculture, Electronics & Communications, Industrial Biosciences, Nutrition & Health, Performance Materials and Safety & Protection segments (the DuPont Business). The distribution is intended to be generally tax free for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
In furtherance of this plan, on [], 2015, DuPonts board of directors approved the distribution of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Chemours common stock on the basis of one share of Chemours common stock for every five shares of DuPont common stock issued and outstanding on [], 2015, the record date for the distribution. As a result of the distribution, Chemours will become an independent, publicly traded company.
Internal Reorganization
DuPont will transfer the entities and related assets and liabilities that are necessary in advance of the distribution so that Chemours is transferred the entities, assets and liabilities associated with DuPonts Performance Chemicals segment, which includes its titanium technologies, fluoroproducts and chemical solutions businesses, and certain additional assets and liabilities associated with the DuPont Business. We are currently a wholly owned subsidiary of DuPont. In connection with the distribution, DuPont will undertake a series of internal reorganization transactions to facilitate the transfers of entities and the related assets and liabilities described above. See Our Relationship with DuPont Following the Distribution Separation Agreement for further discussion.
Chemours Post-Separation Relationship with DuPont
Chemours will enter into a Separation Agreement with DuPont, which is referred to in this information statement as the Separation Agreement, and which will contain the principles governing the internal reorganization discussed above and will specify the terms of the distribution. In connection with the separation and distribution, Chemours will enter into various other agreements to effect the separation and distribution and provide a framework for its relationship with DuPont after the separation and distribution. These other agreements will include a Transition Services Agreement, a Tax Matters Agreement, an Employee Matters Agreement, an IP Cross-License Agreement and certain manufacturing and supply arrangements. These agreements will provide for the allocation between Chemours and DuPont of DuPonts and Chemours assets, employees, liabilities and obligations (including investments, property and employee benefits and tax-related assets and liabilities) attributable to periods prior to, at and after Chemours separation from DuPont, and will govern certain relationships between Chemours and DuPont after the separation. For additional information regarding the Separation Agreement and other transaction agreements, see the sections entitled Risk Factors Risks Related to the Separation and Our Relationship with DuPont Following the Distribution.
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Description of Indebtedness
We have issued senior unsecured notes and entered into a credit agreement with a syndicate of banks to provide two senior secured credit facilities. Specifically, we issued senior unsecured notes in multiple tranches with terms and maturities of 2023 and 2025, and entered into a credit agreement providing a seven-year $1.5 billion senior secured term loan (the Term Loan Facility) and a five-year $1.0 billion senior secured revolving credit facility (the Revolving Credit Facility and together with the Term Loan Facility, the Senior Secured Credit Facilities). As a result, at the time of the spin-off, we will have approximately $4.0 billion of indebtedness, of which approximately $3.9 billion has been distributed, in cash or in-kind, to DuPont in recognition of the contribution of assets to us by DuPont in connection with the separation.
In connection with the incurrence of our indebtedness, we are subject to certain debt covenants that, among other things, limit our and certain of our subsidiaries ability to incur indebtedness, pay dividends or make other distributions, prepay, redeem or repurchase certain debt, make loans and investments, sell assets, incur liens, enter into transactions with affiliates and consolidate or merge. Additionally, under the terms of the credit agreement, we are subject to a maximum consolidated net leverage ratio (calculated by dividing total net debt by EBITDA, both as defined by the credit agreement) of 5.75 to 1.00 until December 31, 2015, and a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio (calculated by dividing EBITDA by interest expense, both as defined by the credit agreement) of 3.00 to 1.00. The credit agreement and the notes contain events of default customary for these types of financings, including cross default and cross acceleration provisions to our material indebtedness.
Over the next 12 months, we will have significant payments of interest relating to our indebtedness. We expect to fund these payments through cash generated from operations, available cash and cash equivalents and borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility.
At the time of the distribution, we expect to be assigned a credit rating of BB from Standard & Poors and a rating of Ba3 from Moodys. Our notes are rated BB- by Standard & Poors and B1 by Moodys, while our Senior Secured Credit Facilities are rated BBB- by Standard & Poors and Ba1 by Moodys. Our failure to maintain these credit ratings on our debt securities could negatively affect our ability to access capital and could increase our interest expense on certain existing and future indebtedness. We expect the credit rating agencies to periodically review our capital structure and the quality and stability of our earnings. Deterioration in our capital structure or the quality and stability of our earnings could result in a downgrade of the credit ratings on our debt securities. Any negative ratings actions could constrain the capital available to us and could limit our access to funding for our operations and/or increase the cost of such capital.
Chemours Significant Separation Payments and Costs
We have made an approximately $3.9 billion distribution to DuPont, funded primarily by third-party indebtedness that we have incurred. In addition, DuPont has informed us that DuPont expects to incur and pay all one-time costs associated with the separation. We also expect to incur certain ongoing costs associated with operating as an independent, publicly traded company. Such ongoing costs may adversely impact our profitability, financial condition and results of operations. For additional information, see the sections entitled Risk Factors Risks Related to the Separation.
Indemnification Obligations to DuPont
In connection with our separation we will assume, and indemnify DuPont for, certain liabilities, including, among others certain environmental liabilities and specified litigation liabilities. Most of our indemnification obligations to DuPont may be uncapped, and may include, among other items, associated defense costs, settlement amounts and judgments. Payments pursuant to these indemnities may be significant and could negatively impact our business. Each of these risks could negatively affect our business, financial condition,
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results of operations and cash flows. For additional information, see the sections entitled Our Relationship with DuPont Following the Distribution, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Environmental Matters, Risk Factors Risks Related to the Separation and Distribution and Financial Statements Notes to the Combined Financial Statements.
Environmental Matters
As a result of our operations, we are subject to extensive environmental and health and safety laws and regulations at national, international and local levels in numerous jurisdictions relating to pollution, protection of the environment, climate change, transporting and storing raw materials and finished products and storing and disposing of hazardous wastes. If we are found to be in violation of these laws or regulations, we may incur substantial costs, including fines, damages, criminal or civil sanctions and remediation costs, or experience interruptions in our operations. We also may be subject to changes in our operations and production based on increased regulation or other changes to, or restrictions imposed by, any such additional regulations. In the event of a catastrophic incident involving any of the raw materials we use or chemicals we produce, we could incur material costs as a result of addressing the consequences of such event and future reputational costs associated with any such event.
We incur costs for pollution abatement activities including waste collection and disposal, installation and maintenance of air pollution controls and wastewater treatment, emissions testing and monitoring, and obtaining permits. We also incur costs for environmental related research and development activities including environmental field and treatment studies as well as toxicity and degradation testing to evaluate the environmental impact of products and raw materials.
We are also subject to contingencies pursuant to environmental laws and regulations that in the future may require further action to correct the effects on the environment of prior disposal practices or releases of chemical or petroleum substances by Chemours or other parties. We accrue for environmental remediation activities consistent with the policy as described in Note 3 to the Combined Financial Statements. The accrual includes estimated costs related to a number of sites identified for which it is probable that environmental remediation will be required, but which are not currently the subject of enforcement activities.
At December 31, 2014, the Combined Balance Sheet included a liability of $295 million relating to these matters in the aggregate which, in managements opinion, is appropriate based on existing facts and circumstances. Remediation activities vary substantially in duration and cost from site to site. These activities, and their associated costs, depend on the mix of unique site characteristics, evolving remediation technologies, diverse regulatory agencies and enforcement policies, as well as the presence or absence of other potentially responsible parties. We note that considerable uncertainty exists with respect to environmental remediation costs and, under adverse changes in circumstances, the potential liability may range up to approximately $650 million above the amount accrued at December 31, 2014. See Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Environmental Matters and Risk Factors Risks Related to Our Business.
Regulatory Approvals
Chemours must complete the necessary registration under U.S. federal securities laws of Chemours common stock, as well as the applicable New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) listing requirements for such shares.
Other than the requirements discussed above, we do not believe that any other material governmental or regulatory filings or approvals will be necessary to consummate the distribution.
DuPonts stockholders will not have any appraisal rights in connection with the distribution.
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Corporate Information
Chemours was organized in the state of Delaware on February 18, 2014 as Performance Operations, LLC, and changed its name to The Chemours Company, LLC on April 15, 2014. Chemours was converted from a limited liability company to a Delaware corporation on April 30, 2015. The address of Chemours principal executive offices is []. Chemours telephone number is [].
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION
What is Chemours and why is DuPont separating the Chemours business and distributing Chemours stock? |
Chemours currently is a wholly owned subsidiary of DuPont that was formed to operate DuPonts Performance Chemicals segment, which includes its titanium technologies, fluoroproducts and chemical solutions businesses. The separation will be effected by a distribution of Chemours common stock on a pro rata basis to DuPonts stockholders. Following the separation and distribution, Chemours will be a separate company from DuPont, and DuPont will not retain any ownership interest in Chemours. |
The separation of Chemours from DuPont and the distribution of Chemours common stock are intended to provide you with equity investments in two separate companies that will be able to focus on each of their respective businesses. DuPont and Chemours expect that the separation will result in enhanced long-term performance of each business for the reasons discussed in the sections entitled The Distribution Background of the Distribution and The Distribution Reasons for the Separation and Distribution. |
Why am I receiving this document? |
DuPont is delivering this document to you because you are a holder of DuPont common stock. If you are a holder of DuPont common stock as of the close of business on [], 2015, the record date for the distribution, you are entitled to receive one share of our common stock for every five shares of DuPont common stock that you hold at the close of business on such date. This document will help you understand how the separation and distribution will affect your investment in DuPont and your investment in Chemours after the separation. |
What are the reasons for the separation? |
DuPonts board of directors determined that the separation and distribution of the Chemours business from the DuPont Business would be in the best interests of DuPont and its stockholders and approved the plan of separation. A wide variety of factors were considered by DuPonts board of directors in evaluating the separation and distribution. Among other things, DuPonts board of directors considered the following potential benefits of the separation and distribution: |
| Closer alignment of DuPonts businesses with its evolving strategic direction DuPonts overall mission is to bring world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials and services. Increasingly, DuPonts strategic direction and business model is focused on advancing the companys integrated capabilities in biology, chemistry and materials science to further strengthen its leading positions across three strategic priorities: agriculture and nutrition, advanced materials and biobased industrials. DuPont is focused on high potential commercial opportunities in secular growth markets in food, energy, and protection where the companys innovation, global scale and efficient execution have the potential to create |
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valuable new outcomes. In addition, the Performance Chemicals Segment is highly cyclical and its performance is volatile as compared to DuPonts other businesses. Its leading businesses in Titanium Technologies and Fluoroproducts, and Chemical Solutions, well-established positions in attractive markets, and cash flow generation will be better positioned as an independent company. The separation and distribution will allow DuPont to continue its transformation into a higher growth, less cyclical company, resulting in greater value creation for its shareholders. |
| Direct Access to Capital Markets The distribution will create an independent equity and debt structure that will afford Chemours direct access to capital markets from what is expected to be a deep pool of investors that target companies in Chemours industry and/or with its credit profile and facilitate the ability to capitalize on its unique growth opportunities. |
DuPonts board of directors considered a number of potentially negative factors in evaluating the separation and distribution, including risks relating to the creation of a new public company, possible increased administrative costs and one-time separation costs, but concluded that the potential benefits of the separation and distribution outweighed these factors. For more information, see the sections entitled The Distribution Reasons for the Separation and Distribution and Risk Factors included elsewhere in this information statement. |
Why is the separation of Chemours structured as a distribution? |
The board of directors of DuPont has approved a plan to separate DuPonts performance chemicals business into a new publicly traded company. DuPont currently believes the separation by way of distribution is the most efficient way to separate its performance chemicals business from DuPont for various reasons. In particular, we believe a separation will (i) provide a high degree of assurance that decisions regarding our capital structure will support future financial stability; (ii) offer a high degree of certainty of completion in a timely manner, lessening disruption to current business operations; and (iii) generally be a tax-free distribution of Chemours shares to DuPonts stockholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. After consideration of strategic opportunities, DuPont believes that a tax-free separation will enhance the long-term value of both DuPont and us. See The Distribution Reasons for the Separation and Distribution. |
What do I have to do to participate in the distribution? |
Nothing. You are not required to take any action to receive your Chemours shares, although you are urged to read this entire document carefully. No stockholder approval of the distribution is required or sought. Therefore, you are not being asked for a proxy to vote on the separation or the distribution, and you are requested not to send us a proxy. You will neither be required to pay anything for the shares of Chemours common stock nor be |
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required to surrender any shares of DuPont common stock to participate in the distribution. Please do not send in your DuPont stock certificates. |
What is the record date for the distribution? |
DuPont will determine record ownership as of the close of business on [], 2015, which we refer to as the record date. |
What will I receive in distribution? |
If you hold DuPont common stock as of the record date, on the distribution date you will receive one share of our common stock for every five shares of DuPont common stock. You will receive only whole shares of our common stock in the distribution. For a more detailed description, see The Distribution. |
How will fractional shares be treated in the distribution? |
You will not receive any fractional shares of our common stock in connection with the distribution. Instead, the distribution agent will aggregate all fractional shares into whole shares and sell the whole shares in the open market at prevailing market prices on behalf of DuPont stockholders entitled to receive a fractional share. The distribution agent will then distribute the aggregate cash proceeds of the sales, net of brokerage fees and other costs, pro rata to these holders (net of any required withholding for taxes applicable to each holder). We anticipate that the distribution agent will make these sales in the when-issued market, and when-issued trades will generally settle within two weeks following the distribution date. See How will Chemours common stock trade? for additional information regarding when-issued trading and The Distribution The Number of Shares of Chemours Common Stock You Will Receive for a more detailed explanation of the treatment of fractional shares. |
Will the number of DuPont shares I own change as a result of the distribution? |
No, the number of shares of DuPont common stock you own will not change as a result of the distribution. Your proportionate interest in DuPont will not change as a result of the separation and distribution. |
How many shares of Chemours common stock will be distributed? |
The actual number of shares of our common stock that DuPont will distribute will depend on the number of shares of DuPont common stock outstanding on the record date. The shares of our common stock that DuPont distributes will constitute all of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock immediately prior to the distribution. For more information on the shares being distributed, see Description of Our Capital Stock. |
When will the distribution occur? |
It is expected that the distribution will be effected prior to the opening of trading on the NYSE on July 1, 2015, pending final approval from DuPonts board of directors, which we refer to as the distribution date. On or shortly after the distribution date, the whole shares of our common stock will be credited in book-entry accounts for stockholders entitled to receive the shares in the distribution. We expect the distribution agent, acting on behalf of DuPont, to take about two weeks after the distribution date to fully distribute to DuPont stockholders any cash in lieu of the fractional shares they are |
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entitled to receive. See How will DuPont distribute shares of our common stock? for more information on how to access your book-entry account or your bank, brokerage or other account holding the Chemours common stock you receive in the distribution. |
If I sell my shares of DuPont common stock on or before the distribution date, will I still be entitled to receive shares of Chemours common stock in the distribution? |
If you hold shares of DuPont common stock on the record date and decide to sell them on or before the distribution date, you may choose to sell your DuPont common stock with or without your entitlement to our common stock. Beginning on or shortly before the record date and continuing up to and through the distribution, it is expected that there will be two markets in DuPont common stock: a regular-way market and an ex-distribution market. Shares of DuPont common stock that trade in the regular-way market will trade with an entitlement to shares of Chemours common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. Shares that trade in the ex-distribution market will trade without an entitlement to shares of Chemours common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. |
You should discuss these alternatives with your bank, broker or other nominee. See The Distribution Trading Between the Record Date and Distribution Date for more information. |
How will DuPont distribute shares of our common stock? |
Registered stockholders: If you are a registered stockholder (meaning you hold physical DuPont stock certificates or you own your shares of DuPont common stock directly through an account with DuPonts transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (Computershare), the distribution agent will credit the whole shares of our common stock you receive in the distribution to your book-entry account on or shortly after the distribution date. About two weeks after the distribution date, the distribution agent will mail you a book-entry account statement that reflects the number of whole shares of our common stock you own, along with a check for any cash in lieu of fractional shares you are entitled to receive. You will be able to access information regarding your book-entry account holding the Chemours shares at [] using the same credentials that you use to access your DuPont account or via our transfer agents interactive voice response system at []. |
Street name or beneficial stockholders: If you own your shares of DuPont common stock beneficially through a bank, broker or other nominee, your bank, broker or other nominee will credit your account with the whole shares of our common stock you receive in the distribution on or shortly after the distribution date, and the distribution agent will mail you a check for any cash in lieu of fractional shares you are entitled to receive. Please contact your bank, broker or other nominee for further information about your account. |
We will not issue any physical stock certificates to any stockholders, even if requested. See The Distribution When and How You Will Receive the Distribution for a more detailed explanation. |
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What are the conditions to the separation and distribution? |
The distribution is subject to a number of conditions, including, among others: |
| the making of an approximately $3.9 billion distribution from Chemours to DuPont prior to the distribution, and the determination by DuPont in its sole discretion that following the separation it shall have no further liability or obligation whatsoever under any financing arrangements that Chemours will be entering into in connection with the separation; |
| the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) having declared effective the registration statement, of which this information statement forms a part, no stop order relating to the registration statement being in effect, nor any proceeding seeking such stop order being pending, and the information statement having been distributed to DuPonts stockholders; |
| Chemours common stock having been approved and accepted for listing by the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance; |
| DuPont has received a ruling (IRS Ruling) from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) substantially to the effect that, among other things, the distribution of our ordinary shares, together with certain related transactions, will qualify under Sections 355 and 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Code), with the result that DuPont and DuPonts shareholders will not recognize any taxable income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the distribution, except to the extent of cash received in lieu of fractional shares. As a condition to the distribution, the IRS Ruling must remain in effect as of the distribution date. In addition, the distribution is conditioned on the receipt of an opinion of tax counsel (Tax Opinion), in form and substance acceptable to DuPont, substantially to the effect that certain requirements, including certain requirements that the IRS will not rule on, necessary to obtain tax-free treatment, have been satisfied. See Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Distribution; |
| the receipt of an opinion from an independent appraisal firm to the board of directors of DuPont confirming the solvency of each of DuPont and Chemours after the distribution that is in form and substance acceptable to DuPont in its sole discretion; |
| all permits, registrations and consents required under the securities or blue sky laws of states or other political subdivisions of the United States or of other foreign jurisdictions in connection with the distribution having been received; |
| no order, injunction, or decree issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the separation, distribution or any of the related transactions being in effect; |
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| the reorganization of DuPont and Chemours businesses prior to the separation and distribution having been effectuated; |
| the approval by the board of directors of DuPont of the distribution and all related transactions (and such approval not having been withdrawn); |
| DuPonts election of the individuals to be listed as members of our board of directors post-distribution, as described in this information statement, immediately prior to the distribution date; |
| Chemours having entered into certain agreements in connection with the separation and distribution and certain financing arrangements prior to or concurrent with the separation; and |
| no events or developments shall have occurred or exist that, in the sole and absolute judgment of DuPonts board of directors, make it inadvisable to effect the distribution or would result in the distribution and related transactions not being in the best interest of DuPont or its stockholders. |
Can DuPont decide to cancel the separation even if all the conditions have been met? |
Yes. The separation is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by DuPont of certain conditions. See The Distribution Conditions to the Distribution. Even if all such conditions are met, DuPont has the right not to complete the separation if, at any time prior to the distribution, the board of directors of DuPont determines, in its sole discretion, that the separation is not in the best interests of DuPont or its stockholders, that a sale or other alternative is in the best interests of DuPont or its stockholders, or that market conditions or other circumstances are such that it is not advisable at that time to separate the performance chemicals business from DuPont. DuPont has informed us that, to the extent the board of directors of DuPont determines not to proceed with the separation, DuPont will issue a press release publicly announcing any such decision. |
What are the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the distribution to me? |
The distribution is conditioned on the continued validity of the IRS Ruling, which DuPont has received from the IRS, and the receipt and continued validity of the Tax Opinion, in form and substance acceptable to DuPont, substantially to the effect that, among other things, the distribution will qualify as a tax-free transaction under Section 355 and Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, and certain transactions related to the transfer of assets and liabilities to Chemours in connection with the separation will not result in the recognition of any gain or loss to DuPont, Chemours or their stockholders. Such conditions are waivable by DuPonts board of directors in its sole and absolute discretion. DuPont received the IRS Ruling from the IRS on September 30, 2014. Accordingly, and so long as the distribution so qualifies, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, no gain or loss will be recognized by you, and no amount will be included in your income, upon the receipt of shares of our common stock pursuant to the distribution. However, any cash payments made instead of fractional shares will generally be taxable |
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to you. For a more detailed description, see The Distribution Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Distribution. |
How will the distribution affect my tax basis in my shares of DuPont common stock? |
Assuming that the distribution is tax-free to DuPont stockholders, your tax basis in your DuPont common stock held by you immediately prior to the distribution will be allocated between your DuPont common stock and Chemours common stock that you receive in the distribution in proportion to the relative fair market values of each immediately following the distribution. DuPont will provide its stockholders with information to enable them to compute their tax basis in both DuPont and Chemours shares. This information will be posted on DuPonts website, www.dupont.com, promptly following the distribution date. You should consult your tax advisor about how this allocation will work in your situation, including a situation where you have purchased DuPont shares at different times or for different amounts, and regarding any particular consequences of the distribution to you. For a more detailed description, see The Distribution Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Distribution. |
Will my shares of DuPont common stock continue to trade following the distribution? |
DuPont common stock will continue to trade on the NYSE under the symbol DD after the distribution. |
How will Chemours common stock trade? |
Currently, there is no public market for our common stock. We intend to list our common stock on the NYSE under the symbol CC. |
We anticipate that trading in our common stock will begin on a when-issued basis as early as [] trading days prior to the record date for the distribution and will continue up to and including the distribution date. When-issued trading in the context of a separation refers to a sale or purchase made conditionally on or before the distribution date because the securities of the separated entity have not yet been distributed. When-issued trades generally settle within two weeks after the distribution date. On the first trading day following the distribution date, any when-issued trading of our common stock will end and regular-way trading will begin. Regular-way trading refers to trading after the security has been distributed and typically involves a trade that settles on the third full trading day following the date of the trade. See The Distribution Trading Between the Record Date and Distribution Date for more information. We cannot predict the trading prices for our common stock before, on or after the distribution date. |
What indebtedness will Chemours have following the separation? |
On May 12, 2015, Chemours issued $2.5 billion aggregate principal of senior unsecured notes in a private placement consisting of $1.35 billion aggregate principal senior unsecured notes at an interest rate of 6.625% due 2023, $750 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes at an interest rate of 7.000% due 2025 and |
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360 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes at an interest rate of 6.125% due 2023. On the same day, Chemours also entered into a credit agreement with a syndicate of banks providing for a seven-year $1.5 billion senior secured term loan facility and a five-year $1.0 billion senior secured revolving credit facility. At the time of the spin-off, Chemours expects to have approximately $4.0 billion of indebtedness, of which approximately $3.9 billion has been distributed, in cash or in-kind, to DuPont in recognition of the contribution of assets to us by DuPont in connection with the separation. See the sections entitled Financing Arrangements and Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements for more information. |
Will the separation affect the trading price of my DuPont common stock? |
We expect the trading price of shares of DuPont common stock immediately following the distribution to be lower than immediately prior to the distribution because the trading price will no longer reflect the value of the performance chemicals business. Furthermore, until the market has fully analyzed the value of DuPont without Chemours, the trading price of shares of DuPont common stock may fluctuate. There can be no assurance that, following the distribution, the combined trading prices of DuPont common stock and the Chemours common stock will equal or exceed what the trading price of DuPont common stock would have been in the absence of the separation, and it is possible the post-distribution combined equity value of DuPont and Chemours will be less than DuPonts equity value prior to the distribution. |
Are there risks associated with owning shares of Chemours common stock? |
Yes. Our business faces both general and specific risks and uncertainties. Our business also faces risks relating to the separation. Following the separation, we will also face risks associated with being an independent, publicly traded company. Accordingly, you should read carefully the information set forth in the section entitled Risk Factors in this information statement. |
Does Chemours intend to pay cash dividends? |
Prior to the distribution, while we are a wholly-owned subsidiary of DuPont, our board of directors, consisting of DuPont employees, intends to declare a dividend of an aggregate amount of $100 million in total for the third quarter of 2015, to be paid to our stockholders as of a record date following the distribution. Following the distribution, we expect to continue to pay regular quarterly dividends in an aggregate amount of $100 million, with an aggregate annual dividend of approximately $400 million. The declaration, payment and amount of any subsequent dividend will be subject to the sole discretion of our post-distribution, independent board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition and prospects, our capital requirements and access to capital markets, covenants associated with certain of our debt obligations, legal requirements and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant, and there can be no assurances that we will continue to pay a dividend in the future. There can also be no assurance that the combined annual dividends on DuPont common stock and our common stock after the |
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distribution, if any, will be equal to the annual dividends on DuPont common stock prior to the distribution. |
What will Chemours relationship be with DuPont following the separation and distribution? |
Chemours will enter into a Separation Agreement with DuPont to effect the separation and provide a framework for Chemours relationship with DuPont after the separation and distribution and will also enter into certain other agreements, such as a Transition Services Agreement, a Tax Matters Agreement, an Employee Matters Agreement and an IP Cross-License Agreement and certain manufacturing and supply arrangements. These agreements will provide for the terms of the separation between Chemours and DuPont of the assets, employees, liabilities and obligations (including its investments, property and employee benefits and tax-related assets and liabilities) of DuPont and its subsidiaries attributable to periods prior to, at and after Chemours separation from DuPont and will govern the relationship between Chemours and DuPont subsequent to the completion of the separation and distribution. For additional information regarding the Separation Agreement and other transaction agreements, see the sections entitled Risk Factors Risks Related to the Separation and Our Relationship with DuPont Following the Distribution. |
Do I have appraisal rights in connection with the separation and distribution? |
No. Holders of DuPont stock are not entitled to appraisal rights in connection with the separation and distribution. |
Who is the transfer agent and registrar for Chemours common stock? |
Following the separation and distribution, [] will serve as transfer agent and registrar for our common stock. |
[] has two additional roles in the distribution. |
| Computershare currently serves and will continue to serve as DuPonts transfer agent and registrar. |
| In addition, [] will serve as the distribution agent in the distribution and will assist DuPont in the distribution of our common stock to DuPonts stockholders. |
Where can I get more information? |
If you have any questions relating to the mechanics of the distribution, you should contact the distribution agent at: |
[] |
Before the separation and distribution, if you have any questions relating to the separation and distribution, you should contact DuPont at: |
Investor Relations |
[] |
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Individual Holders: After the separation and distribution, if you have any questions relating to Chemours, you should contact us at: |
Investor Relations |
[] |
Individual Holders: After the separation and distribution, if you have any questions relating to DuPont, you should contact them at: |
Investor Relations |
[] |
Institutional Holders: After the separation and distribution, if you have any questions relating to Chemours, you should contact us at: |
Investor Relations |
[] |
Institutional Holders: After the separation and distribution, if you have any questions relating to DuPont, you should contact them at: |
Investor Relations |
[] |
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You should carefully consider the following risks and other information in this information statement in evaluating us and our common stock. The risk factors generally have been separated into three groups: risks related to our business, risks related to the separation and risks related to our common stock.
Any of the following risks, as well as additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. Our operations could be affected by various risks, many of which are beyond our control. Based on current information, we believe that the following identifies the most significant risk factors that could affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods. See Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements for more details.
Risks Related to Our Business
Conditions in the global economy and global capital markets may adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
Our business and operating results may in the future be adversely affected by global economic conditions, including instability in credit markets, declining consumer and business confidence, fluctuating commodity prices and interest rates, volatile exchange rates, and other challenges such as the changing financial regulatory environment that could affect the global economy. Our customers may experience deterioration of their businesses, cash flow shortages, and difficulty obtaining financing. As a result, existing or potential customers may delay or cancel plans to purchase products and may not be able to fulfill their obligations to us in a timely fashion. Further, suppliers could experience similar conditions, which could impact their ability to supply materials or otherwise fulfill their obligations to us. Because we will have significant international operations, there will be a large number of currency transactions that result from international sales, purchases, investments and borrowings. Also, our effective tax rate may fluctuate because of variability in geographic mix of earnings, changes in statutory rates, and taxes associated with repatriation of non-U.S. earnings. Future weakness in the global economy and failure to manage these risks could adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows in future periods.
Market conditions, as well as global and regional economic downturns that adversely affect the demand for the end-use products that contain TiO2, fluoroproducts or our other products, could adversely affect the profitability of our operations and the prices at which we can sell our products, negatively impacting our financial results.
Our revenue and profitability is largely dependent on the TiO2 industry and the industries that are end users of our fluoroproducts. TiO2 and our fluoroproducts, such as refrigerants and resins, are used in many quality of life products for which demand historically has been linked to global, regional and local GDP and discretionary spending, which can be negatively impacted by regional and world events or economic conditions. Such events are likely to cause a decrease in demand for our products and, as a result, may have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. The future profitability of our operations, and cash flows generated by those operations, also will be affected by the available supply of our products in the market, such as TiO2 and our fluoroproducts.
Additionally, our profitability may be affected by the market for, and use of, by-products generated as part of our manufacturing processes. A significant decrease in the demand for such products could adversely impact our operations by limiting our ability to manufacture our products.
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The markets for many of our products have seasonally affected sales patterns.
The demand for TiO2, certain of our fluoroproducts and certain of our other products during a given year is subject to seasonal fluctuations. As a result of seasonal fluctuations, our operating cash flow may be negatively impacted due to demand fluctuations. In particular, because TiO2 is widely used in coatings, demand is higher in the painting seasons of spring and summer. Because certain fluoroproducts are used in refrigerants, such products are in higher demand in the spring and summer in the Northern Hemisphere. We may be adversely affected by anticipated or unanticipated changes in regional weather conditions. For example, poor weather conditions in a region can lead to an abbreviated painting season, which can depress consumer sales of paint products that use TiO2, which could have a negative effect on our cash position.
As a substantial percentage of our operations are conducted internationally, and we plan to grow our presence in developing markets, unforeseen or adverse changes in government policies, laws or certain geopolitical conditions and activities could adversely affect our financial results.
We have 37 production facilities, with operations primarily located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the Netherlands, Belgium, China, Japan, Taiwan, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, France and Sweden. Sales to customers outside the U.S. constituted about 59 percent of our 2014 revenue. We anticipate that international production and sales, including those activities in developing markets, will be a continued and increasingly important factor in our growth and profitability. For example, we use local contract manufacturing and joint venture partners in Asia and Latin America, more specifically China, Vietnam and Mexico, as sources of regional access, asset-light production (where possible) and sourcing partners that decrease the cost of materials and production for our Fluoroproducts segment. However, our ability to achieve these improved cost positions is dependent on our ongoing relationships in the region, including our ability to source materials in those relevant countries and those relationships may be materially affected by geopolitical factors and government actions, such as the enactment of import/export restrictions or other trade limitations. To the extent our regional production or sourcing arrangements in Asia and Latin America are disrupted, that disruption could have an adverse effect on our costs and materially impact our financial results. Sales from developing markets represented 33 percent of our 2014 revenue and our growth plans include focusing on expanding our presence in developing markets, specifically markets in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. While we believe these developing markets offer prospects for business growth, we also anticipate that such markets could be subject to more volatile economic, political and market conditions than other market areas in which we operate and, should changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies, laws and regulations, or other activities of U.S. and non-U.S. governments, agencies and similar organizations have a negative effect on our sales to non-U.S. markets, our financial results could be affected adversely. In this regard, factors that could affect our sales, include, but are not limited to, changes in a countrys or regions economic or political conditions, trade or other economic-based regulations, environmental regulations, including climate change-based regulations or legislation and regulations relating to the transport or shipment of hazardous materials, and policies affecting production, pricing and marketing of products, local labor conditions and regulations, reduced protection of intellectual property rights in some countries, changes in the regulatory or legal environment, restrictions on currency exchange activities, burdensome taxes and tariffs and other trade barriers or policies. The certainty, timing and enforcement of these regulations is less predictable in developing countries, adding a further element of uncertainty to business decisions including those related to long-term capital investment. For example, demand growth in Chemours HFO based products and blends is expected to be driven by country-specific legislation phasing down the usage of comparative HFC based products, based on compliance with and implementation of the Montreal Protocol or similar environmental regulations governing the use of HCFCs, HFCs and HFOs. While a number of countries in Asia and Eastern Europe in which we sell or market our products have enacted legislation or otherwise adopted programs to phase-down the usage of HFC refrigerants, the enforcement of such legislation and impact of such programs is uncertain and any delays in such implementation and enforcement could have an adverse effect on our sales and financial results. In Titanium Technologies, we believe that some local producers in China may be required to incur additional capital expenditures to meet recently enacted environmental standards for pollution abatement, which could exert pressure on competing regional producers in China utilizing the sulfate process.
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Our reported results could be adversely affected by currency exchange rates and currency devaluation could impair our competitiveness.
Due to our international operations, we transact in many foreign currencies, including but not limited to the Euro, Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc and Mexican Peso. As a result, we are subject to the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. During times of a strengthening U.S. dollar, our reported net revenues and operating income will be reduced because the local currency will be translated into fewer U.S. dollars. During periods of local economic crisis, local currencies may be devalued significantly against the U.S. dollar, potentially reducing our margin. For example, unfavorable movement in the Euro negatively impacted our results of operations in the second half of 2014, and the further decline of the Euro in recent months could affect future periods. Chemours may enter forward exchange contracts and other financial contracts in an attempt to mitigate the impact of currency rate fluctuations. However, there can be no assurance that such actions will eliminate any adverse impact from variation in currency rates. Also, actions to recover margins may result in lower volume and a weaker competitive position, which may have an adverse effect on our profitability. For example, in Titanium Technologies, a substantial portion of our manufacturing is located in the United States and Mexico, while our TiO2 is delivered to customers around the world. Furthermore, our ore cost is principally denominated in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, in periods when the U.S. dollar or Mexican Peso strengthen against other local currencies, our costs are higher relative to our competitors who operate largely outside of the United States, and the benefits we realize from having lower costs associated with our manufacturing process will be reduced, impacting our profitability.
Price fluctuations in energy and raw materials could have a significant impact on our ability to sustain and grow earnings.
Our manufacturing processes consume significant amounts of energy and raw materials, the costs of which are subject to worldwide supply and demand as well as other factors beyond our control. Variations in the cost of energy, which primarily reflect market prices for oil and natural gas, and for raw materials, may significantly affect our operating results from period to period. Additionally, consolidation in the industries providing our raw materials may have an impact on the cost and availability of such materials. To the extent we do not have fixed price contracts with respect to specific raw materials, we have no control over the costs of raw materials and such costs may fluctuate widely for a variety of reasons, including changes in availability, major capacity additions or reductions, or significant facility operating problems. These fluctuations could negatively affect our operating margins and our profitability.
We endeavor to offset the effects of higher energy and raw material costs through selling price increases, productivity improvements and cost reduction programs. However, the outcome of these efforts is largely determined by existing competitive and economic conditions, and may be subject to a time delay between the increase in our raw materials costs and our ability to increase prices, which could vary significantly depending on the market served. If we are not able to fully offset the effects of higher energy or raw material costs, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
Effects of our raw materials contracts, including our inability to renew such contracts, could have a significant impact on our earnings.
When possible we have purchased, and we plan to continue to purchase, raw materials, including titanium bearing ores and fluorospar, through negotiated medium- or long-term contracts to minimize the impact of price fluctuations. To the extent that we have been able to achieve favorable pricing in our existing negotiated long-term contracts, we may not be able to renew such contracts at the current prices, or at all, and this may adversely impact our cash flow from operations. However, to the extent that the prices of raw materials that we utilize significantly decline, we may be bound by the terms of our existing long-term contracts and obligated to purchase such raw materials at higher prices as compared to other market participants.
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We are subject to extensive environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that may result in unanticipated loss or liability, which could reduce our profitability.
Our operations and production facilities are subject to extensive environmental and health and safety laws and regulations at national, international and local levels in numerous jurisdictions relating to pollution, protection of the environment, climate change, transporting and storing raw materials and finished products and storing and disposing of hazardous wastes. Such laws would include, in the United States, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, often referred to as Superfund), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and similar state and global laws for management and remediation of hazardous materials, the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the Clean Water Act, for protection of air and water resources, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and in the European Union, Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), for regulation of chemicals in commerce and reporting of potential known adverse effects and numerous local, state and federal laws and regulations governing materials transport and packaging. If we are found to be in violation of these laws or regulations, we may incur substantial costs, including fines, damages, criminal or civil sanctions and remediation costs, or experience interruptions in our operations. We also may be subject to changes in our operations and production based on increased regulation or other changes to, or restrictions imposed by, any such additional regulations. In addition, the manner in which adopted regulations (including environmental regulations) are ultimately implemented may affect our products and results of operations. In the event of a catastrophic incident involving any of the raw materials we use or chemicals we produce, we could incur material costs as a result of addressing the consequences of such event and future reputational costs associated with any such event.
There is also a risk that one or more of our key raw materials or one or more of our products may be found to have, or be characterized as having, a toxicological or health-related impact on the environment or on our customers or employees, which could potentially result in us incurring liability in connection with such characterization and the associated effects of any toxicological or health-related impact. If such a discovery or characterization occurs, we may incur increased costs in order to comply with new regulatory requirements or the relevant materials or products, including products of our customers incorporating our materials or products, may be recalled or banned. Changes in laws and regulations, or their interpretation, and our customers perception of such changes or interpretations may also affect the marketability of certain of our products.
Hazards associated with chemical manufacturing, storage and transportation could adversely affect our results of operations.
There are hazards associated with chemical manufacturing and the related storage and transportation of raw materials, products and wastes. These hazards could lead to an interruption or suspension of operations and have an adverse effect on the productivity and profitability of a particular manufacturing facility or on us as a whole. While we endeavor to provide adequate protection for the safe handling of these materials, issues could be created by various events, including natural disasters, severe weather events, acts of sabotage and performance by third parties, and as a result we could face the following potential hazards:
| piping and storage tank leaks and ruptures; |
| mechanical failure; |
| employee exposure to hazardous substances; and |
| chemical spills and other discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases. |
These hazards may cause personal injury and loss of life, damage to property and contamination of the environment, which could lead to government fines, work stoppage injunctions, lawsuits by injured persons, damage to our public reputation and brand, and diminished product acceptance. If such actions are determined adversely to us or there is an associated economic impact to our business, we may have inadequate insurance or cash flow to offset any associated costs. Such outcomes could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
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The businesses in which we compete are highly competitive. This competition may adversely affect our results of operations and operating cash flows.
Each of the businesses in which we operate is highly competitive. Competition in the performance chemicals industry is based on a number of factors such as price, product quality and service. We face significant competition from major international and regional competitors. Additionally, our Titanium Technologies business competes with numerous regional producers, including producers in China, which have expanded their readily available production capacity during the previous five years. Additionally, there have also been reports of potential development of chloride production of TiO2 by certain of such producers.
In addition, historically, information about our business and operations was presented as part of the broader DuPont corporate organization. As an independent, publicly traded company, we will be required to publicly provide more detailed information about our business and operations, including financial information, as a stand-alone company. This information will be accessible to our customers, suppliers and competitors, each of which may factor the new information into their commercial dealings with us or the markets in which we operate. The use of such information by third parties in the marketplace could have an adverse effect on us and our results of operations, including our relative level of profitability.
Our significant indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition, and we could have difficulty fulfilling our obligations under our indebtedness, either of which could have a material adverse effect on the value of our common stock.
Upon the consummation of our separation from DuPont, we expect to have approximately $4.0 billion of indebtedness. Our significant level of indebtedness increases the risk that we may be unable to generate cash sufficient to pay amounts due in respect of our indebtedness. The level of our indebtedness could have other important consequences on our business, including;
| making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to indebtedness; |
| increasing our vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions; |
| requiring us to dedicate a significant portion of our cash flow from operations to make payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital and other general corporate purposes; |
| limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate; |
| restricting us from capitalizing on business opportunities; |
| placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt; and |
| limiting our ability to borrow additional funds for working capital, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our business strategy or other general corporate purposes. |
The occurrence of any one or more of these circumstances could have a material adverse effect on us.
We may need additional capital in the future and may not be able to obtain it on favorable terms.
Our industry is capital intensive, and we may require additional capital in the future to finance our growth and development, implement further marketing and sales activities, fund ongoing research and development activities and meet general working capital needs. Our capital requirements will depend on many factors, including acceptance of and demand for our products, the extent to which we invest in new technology and research and development projects, and the status and timing of these developments, as well as general availability of capital from debt and/or equity markets.
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However, debt or equity financing may not be available to us on terms we find acceptable, if at all. If we incur additional debt or raise equity through the issuance of our preferred stock, the terms of the debt or our preferred stock issued may give the holders rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock, particularly in the event of liquidation. If we raise funds through the issuance of additional equity, your ownership in us would be diluted. Also, regardless of the terms of our debt or equity financing, our agreements and obligations under the Tax Matters Agreement may limit our ability to issue stock. For a more detailed discussion, see We intend to agree to numerous restrictions to preserve the tax-free treatment of the transactions in the United States, which may reduce our strategic and operating flexibility. If we are unable to raise additional capital when needed, our financial condition, and thus your investment in us, could be materially and adversely affected.
Additionally, our failure to maintain the credit ratings on our debt securities could negatively affect our ability to access capital and could increase our interest expense on certain existing and future indebtedness. We expect the credit rating agencies to periodically review our capital structure and the quality and stability of our earnings. Deterioration in our capital structure or the quality and stability of our earnings could result in a downgrade of the credit ratings on our debt securities. Any negative ratings actions could constrain the capital available to us and could limit our access to funding for our operations and/or increase the cost of such capital. If, as a result, our ability to access capital when needed becomes constrained, our interest costs could increase, which could have material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The agreements governing our indebtedness will restrict our current and future operations, particularly our ability to respond to changes or to take certain actions.
The agreements governing our indebtedness contain, and the agreements governing future indebtedness and future debt securities will contain, significant restrictive covenants and, in the case of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, financial maintenance covenants that may limit our operations, including our ability to engage in activities that may be in our long-term best interests. These restrictive covenants may limit us, and our restricted subsidiaries, from taking, or give rights to the holders of our indebtedness in the event of, the following actions:
| incurring additional indebtedness and guaranteeing indebtedness; |
| paying dividends or making other distributions in respect of, or repurchasing or redeeming, our capital stock; |
| making acquisitions or other investments; |
| prepaying, redeeming or repurchasing certain indebtedness; |
| selling or otherwise disposing of assets; |
| selling stock of our subsidiaries; |
| incurring liens; |
| entering into transactions with affiliates; |
| entering into agreements restricting our subsidiaries ability to pay dividends; |
| entering into transactions that result in a change of control of us; and |
| consolidating, merging or selling all or substantially all of our assets. |
Our failure to comply with those covenants could result in an event of default that, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of some or all of our indebtedness, which could lead us to bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency.
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If we are unable to innovate and successfully introduce new products, or new technologies or processes reduce the demand for our products or the price at which we can sell products, our profitability could be adversely affected.
Our industries and the end-use markets into which we sell our products experience periodic technological change and product improvement. Our future growth will depend on our ability to gauge the direction of commercial and technological progress in key end-use markets and on our ability to fund and successfully develop, manufacture and market products in such changing end-use markets. We must continue to identify, develop and market innovative products or enhance existing products on a timely basis to maintain our profit margins and our competitive position. We may be unable to develop new products or technology, either alone or with third parties, or license intellectual property rights from third parties on a commercially competitive basis. If we fail to keep pace with the evolving technological innovations in our end-use markets on a competitive basis, including with respect to innovation with regard to the development of alternative uses for, or application of, products developed that utilize such end-use products, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. We cannot predict whether technological innovations will, in the future, result in a lower demand for our products or affect the competitiveness of our business. We may be required to invest significant resources to adapt to changing technologies, markets, competitive environments and laws and regulations. We cannot anticipate market acceptance of new products or future products. In addition, we may not achieve our expected benefits associated with new products developed to meet new laws or regulations if the implementation of such laws or regulations is delayed.
Our results of operations and financial condition could be seriously impacted by business disruptions and security breaches, including cybersecurity incidents.
Business and/or supply chain disruptions, plant downtime and/or power outages and information technology system and/or network disruptions, regardless of cause including acts of sabotage, employee error or other actions, geo-political activity, weather events and natural disasters could seriously harm our operations as well as the operations of our customers and suppliers. Failure to effectively prevent, detect and recover from security breaches, including attacks on information technology and infrastructure by hackers; viruses; breaches due to employee error or actions; or other disruptions could result in misuse of our assets, business disruptions, loss of property including trade secrets and confidential business information, legal claims or proceedings, reporting errors, processing inefficiencies, negative media attention, loss of sales and interference with regulatory compliance. Like most major corporations, we have been and expect to be the target of industrial espionage, including cyber-attacks, from time to time. We have determined that these attacks have resulted, and could result in the future, in unauthorized parties gaining access to certain confidential business information, and have included the obtaining of trade secrets and proprietary information related to the chloride manufacturing process for TiO2 by third parties. Although we do not believe that we have experienced any material losses to date related to these breaches, there can be no assurance that we will not suffer any such losses in the future. We plan to actively manage the risks within our control that could lead to business disruptions and security breaches. As these threats continue to evolve, particularly around cybersecurity, we may be required to expend significant resources to enhance our control environment, processes, practices and other protective measures. Despite these efforts, such events could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
If our intellectual property were compromised or copied by competitors, or if our competitors were to develop similar or superior intellectual property or technology, our results of operations could be negatively affected.
Intellectual property rights, including patents, trade secrets, confidential information, trademarks, tradenames and trade dress, are important to our business. We will endeavor to protect our intellectual property rights in key jurisdictions in which our products are produced or used and in jurisdictions into which our products are imported. Our success will depend to a significant degree upon our ability to protect and preserve our intellectual property rights. However, we may be unable to obtain protection for our intellectual property in key jurisdictions. Although we own and have applied for numerous patents and trademarks throughout the world, we may have to
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rely on judicial enforcement of our patents and other proprietary rights. Our patents and other intellectual property rights may be challenged, invalidated, circumvented, and rendered unenforceable or otherwise compromised. A failure to protect, defend or enforce our intellectual property could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Similarly, third parties may assert claims against us and our customers and distributors alleging our products infringe upon third party intellectual property rights.
We also rely materially upon unpatented proprietary technology, know-how and other trade secrets to maintain our competitive position. While we maintain policies to enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees and third parties to protect our proprietary expertise and other trade secrets, these agreements may not be enforceable or, even if legally enforceable, we may not have adequate remedies for breaches of such agreements. We also may not be able to readily detect breaches of such agreements. The failure of our patents or confidentiality agreements to protect our proprietary technology, know-how or trade secrets could result in significantly lower revenues, reduced profit margins or loss of market share.
If we must take legal action to protect, defend or enforce our intellectual property rights, any suits or proceedings could result in significant costs and diversion of our resources and our managements attention, and we may not prevail in any such suits or proceedings. A failure to protect, defend or enforce our intellectual property rights could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
As a result of our current and past operations, including operations related to divested businesses and our discontinued operations, we could incur significant environmental liabilities.
We are subject to various laws and regulations around the world governing the environment, including the discharge of pollutants and the management and disposal of hazardous substances. As a result of our operations, including the operations of divested businesses and certain discontinued operations, we could incur substantial costs, including remediation and restoration costs. The costs of complying with complex environmental laws and regulations, as well as internal voluntary programs, are significant and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. This includes costs we expect to continue to incur for environmental investigation and remediation activities at a number of our current or former sites and third-party disposal locations. However, the ultimate costs under environmental laws and the timing of these costs are difficult to accurately predict. While we establish accruals in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the ultimate actual costs and liabilities may vary from the accruals because the estimates on which the accruals are based depend on a number of factors (many of which are outside of our control), including the nature of the matter and any associated third-party claims, the complexity of the site, site geology, the nature and extent of contamination, the type of remedy, the outcome of discussions with regulatory agencies and other Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) at multi-party sites and the number and financial viability of other PRPs. See Note 17 to the Combined Financial Statements.
Our results of operations could be adversely affected by litigation and other commitments and contingencies.
We face risks arising from various unasserted and asserted litigation matters, including, but not limited to, product liability, patent infringement, antitrust claims, and claims for third party property damage or personal injury stemming from alleged environmental or other torts. We have noted a nationwide trend in purported class actions against chemical manufacturers generally seeking relief such as medical monitoring, property damages, off-site remediation and punitive damages arising from alleged environmental or other torts without claiming present personal injuries. We also have noted a trend in public and private nuisance suits being filed on behalf of states, counties, cities and utilities alleging harm to the general public. Various factors or developments can lead to changes in current estimates of liabilities such as a final adverse judgment, significant settlement or changes in applicable law. A future adverse ruling or unfavorable development could result in future charges that could have a material adverse effect on us. An adverse outcome in any one or more of these matters could be material to our financial results and could adversely impact the value of any of our brands that are associated with any such matters.
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In the ordinary course of business, we may make certain commitments, including representations, warranties and indemnities relating to current and past operations, including those related to divested businesses and issue guarantees of third party obligations. Additionally, we will be required to indemnify DuPont for uncapped amounts with regard to liabilities allocated to, or assumed by, us under each of the Separation Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement and the Intellectual Property Cross-License Agreement. If we were required to make payments, such payments could be significant and would exceed the amounts we have accrued with respect thereto, adversely affecting our results of operations.
Risks Related to the Separation
We may be unable to achieve some or all of the benefits that we expect to achieve from our separation from DuPont.
We believe that, as an independent, publicly traded company, we will continue to, among other things, focus our financial and operational resources on our specific business, growth profile and strategic priorities, design and implement corporate strategies and policies targeted to our operational focus and strategic priorities, guide our processes and infrastructure to focus on our core strengths, implement and maintain a capital structure designed to meet our specific needs and more effectively respond to industry dynamics. However, we may be unable to achieve some or all of these benefits. For example, in order to position ourselves for the separation, we are undertaking a series of strategic, structural and process realignment and restructuring actions within our operations. These actions may not provide the benefits we currently expect, and could lead to disruption of our operations, loss of, or inability to recruit, key personnel needed to operate and grow our businesses following the separation, weakening of our internal standards, controls or procedures and impairment of our key customer and supplier relationships. In addition, completion of the proposed separation will require significant amounts of managements time and effort, which may divert managements attention from operating and growing our businesses. If we fail to achieve some or all of the benefits that we expect to achieve as an independent company, or do not achieve them in the time we expect, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
If the distribution, together with certain related transactions, were to fail to qualify for non-recognition treatment for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then we could be subject to significant tax and indemnification liability and stockholders receiving our common stock in the distribution could be subject to significant tax liability.
DuPont has received the IRS Ruling from the IRS substantially to the effect that, among other things, the distribution will qualify as a tax-free transaction under Section 355 and Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code. The distribution is conditioned on the continued validity of the IRS Ruling, as well as on receipt of the Tax Opinion, in form and substance acceptable to DuPont, substantially to the effect that, among other things, the distribution will qualify as a tax-free transaction under Section 355 and Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, and certain transactions related to the transfer of assets and liabilities to us in connection with the separation and distribution will not result in the recognition of any gain or loss to DuPont, us or our stockholders. The IRS Ruling relies, and the Tax Opinion will rely, on certain facts, assumptions, and undertakings, and certain representations from DuPont and us, regarding the past and future conduct of both respective businesses and other matters, and the Tax Opinion will rely on the IRS Ruling. Notwithstanding the IRS Ruling and the Tax Opinion, the IRS could determine that the distribution or such related transactions should be treated as a taxable transaction if it determines that any of these facts, assumptions, representations, or undertakings is not correct, or that the distribution should be taxable for other reasons, including if the IRS were to disagree with the conclusions in the Tax Opinion that are not covered by the IRS Ruling.
If the distribution ultimately is determined to be taxable, then a stockholder of DuPont that received shares of our common stock in the distribution would be treated as having received a distribution of property in an amount equal to the fair market value of such shares on the distribution date and could incur significant income tax liabilities. Such distribution would be taxable to such stockholder as a dividend to the extent of DuPonts current
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and accumulated earnings and profits. Any amount that exceeded DuPonts earnings and profits would be treated first as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of such stockholders tax basis in its shares of DuPont stock with any remaining amount being taxed as a capital gain. DuPont would recognize a taxable gain in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares of our common stock held by DuPont on the distribution date over DuPonts tax basis in such shares. In addition, if certain related transactions fail to qualify for tax-free treatment under U.S. federal, state and/or local tax law and/or foreign tax law, we and DuPont could incur significant tax liabilities under U.S. federal, state, local and/or foreign tax law.
Generally, taxes resulting from the failure of the separation and distribution or certain related transactions to qualify for non-recognition treatment under U.S. federal, state and/or local tax law and/or foreign tax law would be imposed on DuPont or DuPonts stockholders and, under the Tax Matters Agreement that we will enter into with DuPont, DuPont is generally obligated to indemnify us against such taxes to the extent that we may be jointly, severally or secondarily liable for such taxes. However, under the terms of the Tax Matters Agreement, we also generally will be responsible for any taxes imposed on DuPont that arise from the failure of the distribution to qualify as tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes within the meaning of Section 355 of the Code or the failure of such related transactions to qualify for tax-free treatment, to the extent such failure to qualify is attributable to actions, events or transactions relating to our, or our affiliates, stock, assets or business, or any breach of our or our affiliates representations, covenants or obligations under the Tax Matters Agreement (or any other agreement we enter into in connection with the separation and distribution), the materials submitted to the IRS or other governmental authorities in connection with the request for the IRS Ruling or other tax rulings or the representation letter provided to counsel in connection with the Tax Opinion. Events triggering an indemnification obligation under the agreement include events occurring after the distribution that cause DuPont to recognize a gain under Section 355(e) of the Code. Such tax amounts could be significant. To the extent we are responsible for any liability under the Tax Matters Agreement, there could be a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows in future reporting periods. For a more detailed discussion, see Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Distribution.
We will be subject to continuing contingent tax-related liabilities of DuPont following the distribution.
After the distribution, there will be several significant areas where the liabilities of DuPont may become our obligations. For example, under the Code and the related rules and regulations, each corporation that was a member of DuPonts consolidated tax reporting group during any taxable period or portion of any taxable period ending on or before the effective time of the distribution is jointly and severally liable for the U.S. federal income tax liability of the entire consolidated tax reporting group for such taxable period. In connection with the separation, we will enter into a Tax Matters Agreement with DuPont that will allocate the responsibility for prior period taxes of DuPonts consolidated tax reporting group between us and DuPont. For a more detailed description, see Our Relationship with DuPont Following the Distribution Tax Matters Agreement. If DuPont were unable to pay any prior period taxes for which it is responsible, however, we could be required to pay the entire amount of such taxes, and such amounts could be significant. Other provisions of federal, state, local, or foreign law may establish similar liability for other matters, including laws governing tax-qualified pension plans, as well as other contingent liabilities.
We intend to agree to numerous restrictions to preserve the tax-free treatment of the transactions in the United States, which may reduce our strategic and operating flexibility.
Our ability to engage in significant equity transactions could be limited or restricted after the distribution in order to preserve, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax-free nature of the distribution by DuPont. Even if the distribution otherwise qualifies for tax-free treatment under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, the distribution may result in corporate-level taxable gain to DuPont under Section 355(e) of the Code if 50 percent or more, by vote or value, of shares of our stock or DuPonts stock are acquired or issued as part of a plan or series of related transactions that includes the distribution. The process for determining whether an acquisition or issuance triggering these provisions has occurred is complex, inherently factual and subject to interpretation of
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the facts and circumstances of a particular case. Any acquisitions or issuances of our stock or DuPonts stock within a two-year period after the distribution generally are presumed to be part of such a plan, although we or DuPont, as applicable, may be able to rebut that presumption. Accordingly, under the Tax Matters Agreement that we will enter into with DuPont, for the two-year period following the distribution, we will be prohibited, except in certain circumstances, from:
| entering into any transaction resulting in the acquisition of 40 percent or more of our stock or substantially all of our assets, whether by merger or otherwise; |
| merging, consolidating or liquidating; |
| issuing equity securities beyond certain thresholds; |
| repurchasing our capital stock; or |
| ceasing to actively conduct our business. |
These restrictions may limit our ability to pursue certain strategic transactions or other transactions that we may believe to otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders or that might increase the value of our business. In addition, under the Tax Matters Agreement, we will be required to indemnify DuPont against any such tax liabilities as a result of the acquisition of our stock or assets, even if we do not participate in or otherwise facilitate the acquisition. For a more detailed description, See Our Relationship with DuPont Following the Distribution Tax Matters Agreement.
We may be unable to make, on a timely or cost-effective basis, the changes necessary to operate as an independent company.
We have historically operated as part of DuPonts corporate organization, and DuPont has assisted us by providing various corporate functions. Following the separation and distribution, DuPont will have no obligation to provide us with assistance other than the transition services described under Our Relationship with DuPont Following the Distribution. These services do not include every service we have received from DuPont in the past, and DuPont is only obligated to provide these services for limited periods from the distribution date. Accordingly, following the separation and distribution, we will need to provide internally or obtain from unaffiliated third parties the services we currently receive from DuPont. These services include information technology, research and development, finance, legal, insurance, compliance and human resources activities, the effective and appropriate performance of which is critical to our operations. We may be unable to replace these services in a timely manner or on terms and conditions as favorable as those we receive from DuPont. In particular, DuPonts information technology networks and systems are complex, and duplicating these networks and systems will be challenging. Because our business previously operated as part of the wider DuPont organization, we may be unable to successfully establish the infrastructure or implement the changes necessary to operate independently, or we may incur additional costs that could adversely affect our business. Additionally, while we have developed certain internal controls and procedures, due to our current status as a subsidiary of DuPont, such internal controls and procedures have not yet been fully implemented in connection with our operations as a standalone company. The process of implementing our internal controls will require significant attention from management and we cannot be certain that these measures will ensure that we implement and maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future. Difficulties encountered in their implementation could harm our results of operations or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. If we fail to obtain the quality of administrative services necessary to operate effectively or incur greater costs in obtaining these services, our profitability, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
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Our historical condensed combined and pro forma combined financial data are not necessarily representative of the results we would have achieved as an independent, publicly traded company and may not be a reliable indicator of our future results.
The historical and pro forma financial data we have included in this information statement may not reflect what our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows would have been had we been an independent, publicly traded company during the periods presented or what our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows will be in the future when we are an independent company. This is primarily because:
| Prior to our separation, our business was operated by DuPont as part of its broader corporate organization, rather than as an independent, publicly traded company. In addition, prior to our separation, DuPont, or one of its affiliates, performed significant corporate functions for us, including tax and treasury administration and certain governance functions, including internal audit and external reporting. Our historical financial statements reflect allocations of corporate expenses from DuPont for these and similar functions, which are not necessarily representative of the costs we will incur for similar services in the future as an independent company. In addition, while our pro forma financial statements reflect estimates of the costs that we would have incurred as an independent company during the periods presented, the estimates may not accurately reflect the costs we would have incurred as an independent company during such periods, or will incur in the future. Furthermore, following the separation and distribution, we will also be responsible for the additional costs associated with being an independent, publicly traded company, including costs related to corporate governance and external reporting. |
| Our working capital requirements and capital for our general corporate purposes, including acquisitions and capital expenditures, historically have been satisfied as part of the company-wide cash management practices of DuPont. While our businesses have historically generated sufficient cash to finance our working capital and other cash requirements, following the separation and distribution, we will no longer have access to DuPonts cash pool. Without the opportunity to obtain financing from DuPont, we may need to obtain additional financing from banks, through public offerings or private placements of debt or equity securities or other arrangements. |
| We will enter into transactions with DuPont that did not exist prior to the separation. See Our Relationship with DuPont Following the Distribution for information regarding these transactions. |
| Other significant changes may occur in our cost structure, management, financing and business operations as a result of our operating as a company separate from DuPont. |
We will incur interest expense as part of our incurring debt in connection with the separation and distribution, whereas our historical financial data does not include an allocation of interest expense. In addition, the pro forma financial data included in this information statement is based on the best information available, which in part includes a number of estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions may prove not to be accurate, and accordingly, our pro forma financial data should not be assumed to be indicative of what our financial condition or results of operations actually would have been as a stand-alone company nor to be a reliable indicator of what our financial condition or results of operations actually may be in the future.
For additional information about our past financial performance and the basis of presentation of our financial statements, see Selected Historical Condensed Combined Financial Data, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements and our financial statements and the notes thereto included in this information statement.
As an independent, publicly traded company, we may not enjoy the same benefits that we did as a part of DuPont.
There is a risk that, by separating from DuPont, we may become more susceptible to market fluctuations and other adverse events than we would have been if we were still a part of the current DuPont organizational
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structure. As part of DuPont, we have been able to enjoy certain benefits from DuPonts operating diversity, purchasing power and opportunities to pursue integrated strategies with DuPonts other businesses. As an independent, publicly traded company, we will not have similar diversity or integration opportunities and may not have similar purchasing power or access to capital markets. Additionally, as part of DuPont, we have been able to leverage the DuPont historical market reputation and performance and brand identity to recruit and retain key personnel to run our business. As an independent, publicly traded company, we will not have the same historical market reputation and performance or brand identity as DuPont and it may be more difficult for us to recruit or retain such key personnel.
We will incur significant indebtedness in connection with the separation and distribution, and the degree to which we will be leveraged following completion of the distribution may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are incurring significant indebtedness in connection with the separation. We have historically relied upon DuPont for working capital requirements on a short-term basis and for other financial support functions. After the distribution, we will not be able to rely on DuPonts earnings, assets or cash flow, and we will be responsible for servicing our own debt, obtaining and maintaining sufficient working capital and paying dividends.
Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our indebtedness, including the debt incurred pursuant to the separation as well as any future debt that we may incur, will depend exclusively on our ability to generate cash in the future from our own operations, financings or asset sales. Our ability to generate cash is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. We may not generate sufficient funds to service our debt and meet our business needs, such as funding working capital or the expansion of our operations. If we are not able to repay or refinance our debt as it becomes due, we may be forced to take disadvantageous actions, including reducing spending on marketing, retail trade incentives, advertising and new product innovation, reducing financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes, selling assets or dedicating an unsustainable level of our cash flow from operations to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness. In addition, our ability to withstand competitive pressures and to react to changes in our industry could be impaired. The lenders who hold our debt could also accelerate amounts due in the event that we default, which could potentially trigger a default or acceleration of the maturity of our other debt.
We will incur significant costs in connection with the separation and distribution, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We have made an approximately $3.9 billion distribution to DuPont, funded primarily by third-party indebtedness that we have incurred and with respect to which we expect to make ongoing principal and interest payments during the term of such indebtedness. We also expect to incur certain ongoing costs associated with operating as an independent, publicly traded company. The ongoing costs of the separation may adversely impact our profitability, financial condition and results of operations. See also page 49 for a discussion of Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements and Note 2 of the Combined Financial Statements on page F-7 for additional information regarding the separation and our anticipated costs to operate as an independent, publicly traded company.
Restrictions under the Intellectual Property Cross-License Agreement could limit our ability to develop and commercialize certain products and/or prosecute, maintain and enforce certain intellectual property.
We are dependent to a certain extent on DuPont to prosecute, maintain and enforce certain of the intellectual property licensed under the Intellectual Property Cross-License Agreement. Specifically, DuPont will be responsible for filing, prosecuting and maintaining patents that DuPont licenses to us. DuPont also has the first right to enforce such patents trade secrets and the know-how licensed to us by DuPont. If DuPont fails to fulfill its obligations or chooses to not enforce the licensed patents, trade secrets or know-how under the Intellectual
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Property Cross-License Agreement, we may not be able to prevent competitors from making, using and selling competitive products (unless we are able to effectively exercise our secondary rights to enforce such patents, trade secrets and know-how).
In addition, our restrictions under the Intellectual Property Cross-License Agreement could limit our ability to develop and commercialize certain products. For example, the licenses granted to us under the agreement may not extend to all new products, services and businesses that we may in the future decide to enter into. These limitations and restrictions may make it more difficult, time consuming or expensive for us to develop and commercialize certain new products and services, or may result in certain of our products or services being later to market than those of our competitors.
Our customers, prospective customers, suppliers or other companies with whom we conduct business may need assurances that our financial stability on a stand-alone basis is sufficient to satisfy their requirements for doing or continuing to do business with them.
Some of our customers, prospective customers, suppliers or other companies with whom we conduct business may need assurances that our financial stability on a stand-alone basis is sufficient to satisfy their requirements for doing or continuing to do business with them, and may require us to provide additional credit support, such as letters of credit or other financial guarantees. Any failure of parties to be satisfied with our financial stability could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
In connection with our separation we will assume, and indemnify DuPont for, certain liabilities. If we are required to make payments pursuant to these indemnities to DuPont, we may need to divert cash to meet those obligations and our financial results could be negatively impacted. In addition, DuPont may indemnify us for certain liabilities. The DuPont indemnity may not be sufficient to insure us against the full amount of liabilities for which it will be allocated responsibility, and DuPont may not be able to satisfy its indemnification obligations in the future.
Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement and the Tax Matters Agreement with DuPont, we will agree to assume, and indemnify DuPont for, certain liabilities for uncapped amounts, which may include, among other items, associated defense costs, settlement amounts and judgments, as discussed further in Our Relationship With DuPont Following the Distribution and Financial Statements Notes to the Combined Financial Statements. Payments pursuant to these indemnities may be significant and could negatively impact our business, particularly indemnities relating to our actions that could impact the tax-free nature of the distribution. Third parties could also seek to hold us responsible for any of the liabilities of the DuPont Business. DuPont will agree to indemnify us for such liabilities, but such indemnity from DuPont may not be sufficient to protect us against the full amount of such liabilities, and DuPont may not be able to fully satisfy its indemnification obligations. Moreover, even if we ultimately succeed in recovering from DuPont any amounts for which we are held liable, we may be temporarily required to bear these losses ourselves. Each of these risks could negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
We cannot be certain that an active trading market for our common stock will develop or be sustained after the distribution, and following the distribution, our stock price may fluctuate significantly.
A public market for our common stock does not currently exist. We anticipate that on or prior to the record date for the distribution, trading of shares of our common stock will begin on a when-issued basis and will continue through the distribution date. However, we cannot guarantee that an active trading market will develop or be sustained for our common stock after the distribution. If an active trading market does not develop, you may have difficulty selling your shares of common stock at an attractive price, or at all. In addition, we cannot predict the prices at which shares of our common stock may trade after the distribution.
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Similarly, DuPont cannot predict the effect of the distribution on the trading prices of its common stock. After the distribution, DuPont common stock will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol DD. Subject to the consummation of the distribution, we expect our common stock to be listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol CC. The combined trading prices of DuPont common stock and our common stock after the distribution, as adjusted for any changes in the combined capitalization of these companies, may not be equal to or greater than the trading price of DuPont common stock prior to the distribution. Until the market has fully evaluated the business of DuPont without our businesses, or fully evaluated us, the price at which DuPonts or our common stock trades may fluctuate significantly.
The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly due to a number of factors, some of which may be beyond our control, including:
| our business profile and market capitalization may not fit the investment objectives of DuPonts current stockholders, causing a shift in our initial investor base, and our common stock may not be included in some indices in which DuPont common stock is included, causing certain holders to be mandated to sell their shares of our common stock; |
| our quarterly or annual earnings, or those of other companies in our industry; |
| the failure of securities analysts to cover our common stock after the distribution; |
| actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results; |
| changes in earnings estimates by securities analysts or our ability to meet those estimates or our earnings guidance; |
| the operating and stock price performance of other comparable companies; |
| overall market fluctuations and domestic and worldwide economic conditions; and |
| other factors described in these Risk Factors and elsewhere in this information statement. |
Stock markets in general have experienced volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of a particular company. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.
A number of shares of our common stock are or will be eligible for future sale, which may cause our stock price to decline.
Any sales of substantial amounts of shares of our common stock in the public market or the perception that such sales might occur, in connection with the distribution or otherwise, may cause the market price of our common stock to decline. Upon completion of the distribution, we expect that we will have an aggregate of approximately [] shares of our common stock issued and outstanding. These shares will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), unless the shares are owned by one of our affiliates, as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
We are unable to predict whether large amounts of our common stock will be sold in the open market following the distribution. We are also unable to predict whether a sufficient number of buyers would be in the market at that time. In this regard, a portion of DuPont common stock is held by index funds tied to stock indices. If we are not included in these indices at the time of distribution, these index funds may be required to sell our common stock.
We cannot guarantee the timing, amount, or payment of dividends on our common stock in the future.
Prior to the distribution, while we are a wholly-owned subsidiary of DuPont, our board of directors, consisting of DuPont employees, intends to declare a dividend of an aggregate amount of $100 million in total for the third
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quarter of 2015, to be paid to our stockholders as of a record date following the distribution. Following the distribution, we expect to continue to pay regular quarterly dividends in an aggregate amount of $100 million, with an aggregate annual dividend of approximately $400 million. The declaration, payment and amount of any subsequent dividend will be subject to the sole discretion of our post-distribution, independent board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition and prospects, our capital requirements and access to capital markets, covenants associated with certain of our debt obligations, legal requirements and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant, and there can be no assurances that we will continue to pay a dividend in the future. For more information, see the section entitled Dividend Policy.
Your percentage of ownership in us may be diluted in the future.
Your percentage ownership in us may be diluted because of equity issuances for acquisitions, capital market transactions or otherwise, including, without limitation, equity awards that we may be granting to our directors, officers and employees. Such issuances may have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share, which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. In addition, certain outstanding DuPont options, restricted stock unit awards and deffered stock units held by our directors and employees will convert into Chemours equity awards in connection with the separation. See Compensation Discussion and Analysis Treatment of Outstanding Equity Awards as of the Distribution Date.
In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize us to issue, without the approval of our stockholders, one or more classes or series of preferred stock having such designation, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, including preferences over our common stock with respect to dividends and distributions, as our board of directors generally may determine. The terms of one or more classes or series of preferred stock could dilute the voting power or reduce the value of our common stock. For example, we could grant the holders of preferred stock the right to elect some number of our directors in all events or on the happening of specified events or to veto specified transactions. Similarly, the repurchase or redemption rights or liquidation preferences we could assign to holders of preferred stock could affect the residual value of our common stock. See the section entitled Description of Our Capital Stock.
Certain provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws, and of Delaware law, may prevent or delay an acquisition of us, which could decrease the trading price of the common stock.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws will contain, and Delaware law contains, provisions that are intended to deter coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids by making such practices or bids unacceptably expensive to the bidder and to encourage prospective acquirers to negotiate with our board of directors rather than to attempt a hostile takeover. These provisions include, among others:
| the inability of our stockholders to act by written consent; |
| the limited ability of our stockholders to call a special meeting; |
| rules regarding how stockholders may present proposals or nominate directors for election at stockholder meetings; |
| the right of our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval; |
| the division of our board of directors into three approximately equal classes of directors, with each class serving a staggered three-year term, which will result in, under Delaware law, stockholders only being permitted to remove directors for cause; |
| the ability of our directors, and not stockholders, to fill vacancies (including those resulting from an enlargement of the board of directors) on our board of directors; and |
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| the requirement that stockholders holding at least 80 percent of our voting stock are required to amend certain provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated by-laws. |
In addition, following the distribution, we will be subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporations Law (the DGCL). Section 203 provides that, subject to limited exceptions, persons that (without prior board approval) acquire, or are affiliated with a person that acquires, more than 15 percent of the outstanding voting stock of a Delaware corporation shall not engage in any business combination with that corporation, including by merger, consolidation or acquisitions of additional shares, for a three-year period following the date on which that person or its affiliate becomes the holder of more than 15 percent of the corporations outstanding voting stock.
We believe these provisions will protect our stockholders from coercive or otherwise unfair takeover tactics by requiring potential acquirers to negotiate with our board of directors and by providing our board of directors with more time to assess any acquisition proposal. These provisions are not intended to make us immune from takeovers. However, these provisions will apply even if an acquisition proposal or offer may be considered beneficial by some stockholders and could delay or prevent an acquisition that our board of directors determines is not in our best interests and our stockholders. These provisions may also prevent or discourage attempts to remove and replace incumbent directors.
Several of the agreements that we have entered into with DuPont require DuPonts consent to any assignment by us of our rights and obligations, or a change of control of us, under the agreements. The consent rights set forth in these agreements might discourage, delay or prevent a change of control that you may consider favorable. See the sections entitled Our Relationship with DuPont Following the Distribution and Description of Our Capital Stock for a more detailed description of these agreements and provisions.
In addition, an acquisition or further issuance of our stock could trigger the application of Section 355(e) of the Code. For a discussion of Section 355(e), see the section entitled Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Distribution. Under the Tax Matters Agreement, we would be required to indemnify DuPont for the tax imposed under Section 355(e) of the Code resulting from an acquisition or issuance of its stock, even if it did not participate in or otherwise facilitate the acquisition, and this indemnity obligation might discourage, delay or prevent a change of control that you may consider favorable.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This information statement and other materials DuPont and Chemours have filed or will file with the SEC contain, or will contain, certain statements regarding business strategies, market potential, future financial performance, future action, results and other matters which are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words believe, expect, anticipate, project, estimate, budget, continue, could, intend, may, plan, potential, predict, seek, should, will, would, objective, forecast, goal, guidance, outlook, effort, target and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. Additionally, forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
| Chemours expectations as to future sales of products; |
| Chemours ability to protect its intellectual property in the United States and abroad; |
| Chemours estimates regarding its capital requirements and its needs for additional financing; |
| Chemours estimates of its expenses, future revenues and profitability; |
| Chemours estimates of the size of the markets for its products and services; |
| Chemours expectations related to the rate and degree of market acceptance of its products; |
| The outcome of certain Chemours contingencies, such as litigation and environmental matters; and |
| Chemours estimates of the success of other competing technologies that may become available. |
In particular, information included under the sections entitled Information Statement Summary, Risk Factors, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Business, and The Distribution contains forward-looking statements. The matters discussed in these forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in energy and raw material prices; failure to develop and market new products and optimally manage product life cycles; significant litigation and environmental matters; failure to appropriately manage process safety and product stewardship issues; changes in laws and regulations or political conditions; global economic and capital markets conditions, such as inflation, interest and currency exchange rates; business or supply disruptions; security threats, such as acts of sabotage, terrorism or war, weather events and natural disasters; ability to protect, defend and enforce Chemours intellectual property rights; increased competition; increasing consolidation of our core customers; changes in relationships with our significant customers and suppliers; unanticipated expenses such as litigation or legal settlement expenses; unanticipated business disruptions; our ability to predict, identify and interpret changes in consumer preferences and demand; our ability to realize the expected benefits of the separation; our ability to complete proposed divestitures or acquisitions; our ability to realize the expected benefits of acquisitions if they are completed; uncertainty regarding the availability of financing to us in the future and the terms of such financing; and disruptions in our information technology networks and systems. Additionally, there may be other risks and uncertainties that we are unable to identify at this time or that we do not currently expect to have a material impact on our business.
Where, in any forward-looking statement, an expectation or belief as to future results or events is expressed, such expectation or belief is based on the current plans and expectations of management and expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated include the matters described under the sections entitled Risk Factors, Business and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. DuPont and Chemours disclaim and do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law.
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Background of the Distribution
On October 24, 2013, DuPont announced its intention to separate its Performance Chemicals segment through a pro rata distribution of Chemours common stock to stockholders of DuPont. The distribution is intended to be generally tax free for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
In furtherance of this plan, on [], 2015, DuPonts board of directors approved the distribution of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Chemours common stock on the basis of one share of Chemours common stock for every five shares of DuPont common stock issued and outstanding on [], 2015, the record date for the distribution. As a result of the distribution, Chemours and DuPont will become two independent, publicly traded companies.
On July 1, 2015, the anticipated distribution date pending final approval from DuPonts board of directors, each DuPont stockholder will receive one share of Chemours common stock for every five shares of DuPont common stock held at the close of business on the record date, as described below. You will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Chemours common stock that you would have received as a result of the application of the distribution ratio. You will not be required to make any payment, surrender or exchange your DuPont common stock or take any other action to receive your shares of Chemours common stock in the distribution.
The distribution of Chemours common stock as described in this information statement is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions. For a more detailed description of these conditions, see this section under Conditions to the Distribution.
Reasons for the Separation and Distribution
DuPonts board of directors determined that the separation and distribution of the Chemours business from the DuPont Business would be in the best interests of DuPont and its stockholders and approved the plan of separation. A wide variety of factors were considered by DuPonts board of directors in evaluating the separation and distribution. Among other things, DuPonts board of directors considered the following potential benefits of the separation and distribution:
| Closer alignment of DuPonts businesses with its evolving strategic direction DuPonts overall mission is to bring world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials and services. Increasingly, DuPonts strategic direction and business model is focused on advancing the companys integrated capabilities in biology, chemistry and materials science to further strengthen its industry-leading positions across three strategic priorities: agriculture and nutrition, advanced materials and biobased industrials. DuPont is focused on high potential commercial opportunities in secular growth markets in food, energy, and protection where the companys innovation, global scale and efficient execution have the potential to create valuable new outcomes. In addition, the Performance Chemicals Segment is highly cyclical and its performance is volatile as compared to DuPonts other businesses. Its leading businesses in Titanium Technologies and Fluoroproducts, and Chemical Solutions, well-established positions in attractive markets, and cash flow generation will be better positioned as an independent company. The separation and distribution will allow DuPont to continue its transformation into a higher growth, less cyclical company, resulting in greater value creation for its shareholders. |
| Direct Access to Capital Markets The distribution will create an independent equity and debt structure that will afford Chemours direct access to capital markets from what is expected to be a deep pool of investors that target companies in Chemours industry and/or with its credit profile and facilitate the ability to capitalize on its unique growth opportunities. |
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Neither DuPont nor Chemours can assure you that, following the separation and distribution, any of the benefits described above or otherwise will be realized to the extent anticipated or at all.
DuPonts board of directors also considered a number of potentially negative factors in evaluating the separation and distribution, including the following factors impacting Chemours:
| Loss of synergies and joint purchasing power and increased costs As a current part of DuPont, Chemours takes advantage of DuPonts size and purchasing power in procuring certain goods and services. After the separation and distribution, as a separate, independent entity, Chemours may be unable to obtain these goods, services, and technologies at prices or on terms as favorable as those DuPont obtained prior to the separation and distribution. Chemours will also incur costs for certain functions previously performed by DuPont, such as accounting, tax, legal, human resources, and other general and administrative functions, that may be higher than the amounts reflected in Chemours historical financial statements, which could cause Chemours profitability to decrease. |
| Disruptions to the business as a result of the separation The actions required to separate DuPonts and Chemours respective businesses could disrupt Chemours operations. |
| Increased significance of certain costs and liabilities Certain costs and liabilities that were otherwise less significant to DuPont as a whole will be more significant for Chemours as a stand-alone company. |
| One-time costs of the separation and distribution Chemours will incur costs in connection with the transition to being a stand-alone public company that will include establishment of accounting, tax, legal, and other professional services costs, recruiting and relocation costs associated with hiring key senior management personnel new to Chemours, and costs to separate information systems. |
| Inability to realize anticipated benefits of the separation and distribution Chemours may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the separation and distribution for a variety of reasons, including, among others: (a) the separation and distribution will require significant amounts of managements time and effort, which may divert managements attention from operating and growing the Chemours business; (b) following the separation and distribution, Chemours may be more susceptible to market fluctuations and other events particular to one or more of Chemours products than if it were still a part of DuPont; and (c) following the separation and distribution, the Chemours business will be less diversified than DuPonts business prior to the separation and distribution. |
DuPonts board of directors concluded that the potential benefits of the separation and distribution outweighed these factors. However, neither DuPont nor Chemours can assure you that, following the separation and distribution, any of the benefits described above or otherwise will be realized to the extent anticipated or at all.
Formation of a Holding Company Prior to the Distribution
In connection with and prior to the distribution, Chemours was organized by DuPont in the state of Delaware on February 18, 2014 as Performance Operations, LLC, for the purpose of transferring to Chemours assets and liabilities, including any entities holding assets and liabilities, associated with certain of DuPonts Performance Chemicals segment. Chemours changed its name to The Chemours Company, LLC on April 15, 2014. The Chemours Company, LLC had nominal operations during the period from February 18, 2014 through December 31, 2014. Chemours was converted from a limited liability company to a Delaware corporation on April 30, 2015.
The Number of Shares of Chemours Common Stock You Will Receive
For every five shares of DuPont common stock that you own at the close of business on [], 2015, the record date, you will receive one share of Chemours common stock on the distribution date. DuPont will not distribute
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any fractional shares of Chemours common stock to its stockholders. Instead, if you are a registered holder, the distribution agent will aggregate fractional shares into whole shares, sell the whole shares in the open market at prevailing market prices and distribute the aggregate cash proceeds (net of discounts and commissions) of the sales pro rata (based on the fractional share such holder would otherwise have been entitled to receive) to each holder who otherwise would have been entitled to receive a fractional share in the distribution. The distribution agent, in its sole discretion, without any influence by DuPont or Chemours, will determine when, how, through which broker-dealer and at what price to sell the whole shares. Any broker-dealer used by the transfer agent will not be an affiliate of either DuPont or Chemours. Neither Chemours nor DuPont will be able to guarantee any minimum sale price in connection with the sale of these shares. Recipients of cash in lieu of fractional shares will not be entitled to any interest on the amounts of payment made in lieu of fractional shares.
The aggregate net cash proceeds of these sales will be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See the section entitled Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Distribution for an explanation of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the distribution. If you hold physical certificates for DuPont common stock and are the registered holder, you will receive a check from the distribution agent in an amount equal to your pro rata share of the aggregate net cash proceeds of the sales. Chemours estimates that it will take approximately two weeks from the distribution date for the distribution agent to complete the distributions of the aggregate net cash proceeds. If you hold your DuPont common stock through a bank or brokerage firm, your bank or brokerage firm will receive, on your behalf, your pro rata share of the aggregate net cash proceeds of the sales and will electronically credit your account for your share of such proceeds.
When and How You Will Receive the Distribution
With the assistance of the distribution agent, pending final approval from DuPonts board of directors, the distribution of Chemours common stock is expected to occur on July 1, 2015, the distribution date, to all holders of outstanding DuPont common stock on [], 2015, the record date. [] will serve as the distribution agent in connection with the distribution, and [] will serve as the transfer agent and registrar for Chemours common stock. DuPont stockholders will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Chemours common stock which they would have been entitled to receive.
If you own DuPont common stock as of the close of business on the record date, Chemours common stock that you are entitled to receive in the distribution will be issued electronically, as of the distribution date, to you or to your bank or brokerage firm on your behalf in direct registration or book-entry form. If you are a registered holder, the distribution agent or the transfer agent will then mail you a direct registration account statement that reflects your shares of Chemours common stock. If you hold your shares through a bank or brokerage firm, your bank or brokerage firm will credit your account for the shares. Direct registration form refers to a method of recording share ownership when no physical share certificates are issued to stockholders, as is the case in this distribution. Commencing on or shortly after the distribution date, if you hold physical share certificates that represent your DuPont common stock and you are the registered holder of the shares represented by those certificates, the distribution agent will mail to you an account statement that indicates the number of shares of Chemours common stock that have been registered in book-entry form in your name. If you sell DuPont common stock in the regular-way market up to and including the distribution date, you will be selling your right to receive shares of Chemours common stock in the distribution.
Most DuPont stockholders hold their common stock through a bank or brokerage firm. In such cases, the bank or brokerage firm would be said to hold the shares in street name and ownership would be recorded on the bank or brokerage firms books. If you hold your DuPont common stock through a bank or brokerage firm, your bank or brokerage firm will credit your account for the Chemours common stock that you are entitled to receive in the distribution, and the distribution agent will mail you a check for any cash in lieu of fractional shares you are entitled to receive. If you have any questions concerning the mechanics of having shares held in street name, please contact your bank or brokerage firm.
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Transferability of Shares You Receive
Shares of Chemours common stock distributed to holders in connection with the distribution will be transferable without registration under the Securities Act, except for shares received by persons who may be deemed to be Chemours affiliates. Persons who may be deemed to be Chemours affiliates after the distribution generally include individuals or entities that control, are controlled by or are under common control with Chemours, which may include certain of Chemours executive officers, directors or principal stockholders. Securities held by Chemours affiliates will be subject to resale restrictions under the Securities Act. Chemours affiliates will be permitted to sell shares of Chemours common stock only pursuant to an effective registration statement or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, such as the exemption afforded by Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
Results of the Distribution
After its separation from DuPont, Chemours will be an independent, publicly traded company. The actual number of shares to be distributed will be determined on [], 2015, the record date for the distribution, and will reflect any exercise of DuPont options between the date the DuPont board of directors declares the distribution and the record date for the distribution. The distribution will not affect the number of outstanding DuPont common stock or any rights of DuPonts stockholders. DuPont will not distribute any fractional shares of Chemours common stock.
Before the distribution, Chemours will enter into a Separation Agreement and other agreements with DuPont to effect the separation and provide a framework for Chemours relationship with DuPont after the separation and distribution. These agreements will provide for the allocation between DuPont and Chemours of DuPonts assets, liabilities and obligations (including employee benefits, intellectual property, and tax-related assets and liabilities) attributable to periods prior to, at and after Chemours separation from DuPont and will govern certain relationships between DuPont and Chemours after the separation and distribution. For a more detailed description of these agreements, see the section entitled Our Relationship with DuPont Following the Distribution.
Market for Chemours common stock
There is currently no public trading market for Chemours common stock. Chemours intends to apply to list its common stock on the NYSE under the symbol CC. Chemours has not and will not set the initial price of its common stock. The initial price will be established by the public markets.
Chemours cannot predict the price at which its common stock will trade after the distribution. In fact, the combined trading prices, after the distribution, of the shares of Chemours common stock that each DuPont stockholder will receive in the distribution and DuPont common stock held at the record date may not equal the regular-way trading price of a share of DuPont common stock immediately prior to the distribution. The price at which Chemours common stock trades may fluctuate significantly, particularly until an orderly public market develops. Trading prices for Chemours common stock will be determined in the public markets and may be influenced by many factors. See the section entitled Risk Factors Risks Related to Our Common Stock.
Trading Between the Record Date and Distribution Date
Beginning on or shortly before the record date and continuing up to and including through the distribution date, DuPont expects that there will be two markets in DuPont common stock: a regular-way market and an ex- distribution market. Shares of DuPont common stock that trade on the regular-way market will trade with an entitlement to Chemours common stock distributed pursuant to the separation. Shares of DuPont common stock that trade on the ex-distribution market will trade without an entitlement to Chemours common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. Therefore, if you sell DuPont common stock in the regular-way market up to and including through the distribution date, you will be selling your right to receive Chemours common
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stock in the distribution. If you own DuPont common stock at the close of business on the record date and sell those shares on the ex-distribution market up to and including through the distribution date, you will receive the shares of Chemours common stock that you are entitled to receive pursuant to your ownership as of the record date of DuPont common stock.
Furthermore, we anticipate that trading in our common stock will begin on a when-issued basis as early as [] trading days prior to the record date for the distribution and will continue up to and including the distribution date. When-issued trading in the context of a separation refers to a sale or purchase made conditionally on or before the distribution date because the securities of the separated entity have not yet been distributed. The when-issued trading market will be a market for Chemours common stock that will be distributed to holders of DuPont common stock on the distribution date. If you owned DuPont common stock at the close of business on the record date, you would be entitled to Chemours common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. You may trade this entitlement to shares of Chemours common stock, without DuPont common stock you own, on the when-issued market. On the first trading day following the distribution date, when-issued trading with respect to Chemours common stock will end, and regular-way trading will begin.
Conditions to the Distribution
Chemours expects that the distribution will be effective on July 1, 2015, the distribution date, provided that, among other conditions described in this information statement, the following conditions shall have been satisfied or waived by DuPont:
| the making of an approximately $3.9 billion distribution from Chemours to DuPont prior to the distribution, and the determination by DuPont in its sole discretion that following the separation and distribution it shall have no further liability or obligation whatsoever under any financing arrangements that Chemours will be entering into in connection with the separation; |
| the SEC having declared effective the registration statement, of which this information statement forms a part, no stop order relating to the registration statement being in effect, nor any proceeding seeking such stop order being pending, and the information statement having been distributed to DuPonts stockholders; |
| Chemours common stock having been approved and accepted for listing by the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance; |
| DuPont has received the IRS Ruling from the IRS substantially to the effect that, among other things, the distribution of our ordinary shares, together with certain related transactions, will qualify under Sections 355 and 368(a) of the Code, with the result that DuPont and DuPonts stockholders will not recognize any taxable income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the distribution, except to the extent of cash received in lieu of fractional shares. As a condition to the distribution, the IRS Ruling must remain in effect as of the distribution date. In addition, the distribution is conditioned on the receipt of the Tax Opinion, in form and substance acceptable to DuPont, substantially to the effect that certain requirements, including certain requirements that the IRS will not rule on, necessary to obtain tax-free treatment, have been satisfied. See Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Distribution; |
| the receipt of an opinion from an independent appraisal firm to the board of directors of DuPont confirming the solvency of each of DuPont and Chemours after the distribution that is in form and substance acceptable to DuPont in its sole discretion; |
| all permits, registrations and consents required under the securities or blue sky laws of states or other political subdivisions of the United States or of other foreign jurisdictions in connection with the distribution having been received; |
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| no order, injunction, or decree issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the separation, distribution or any of the related transactions being in effect; |
| the reorganization of DuPont and Chemours businesses prior to the separation and distribution having been effectuated; |
| the approval by the board of directors of DuPont of the distribution and all related transactions (and such approval not having been withdrawn); |
| DuPonts election of the individuals to be listed as members of our board of directors post-distribution, as described in this information statement, immediately prior to the distribution date; |
| Chemours having entered into certain agreements in connection with the separation and distribution and certain financing arrangements prior to or concurrent with the separation; and |
| no events or developments shall have occurred or exist that, in the sole and absolute judgment of DuPonts board of directors, make it inadvisable to effect the distribution or would result in the distribution and related transactions not being in the best interest of DuPont or its stockholders. |
The fulfillment of the foregoing conditions does not create any obligations on DuPonts part to effect the distribution, and DuPonts board of directors has reserved the right, in its sole discretion, to amend, modify or abandon the distribution and related transactions at any time prior to the distribution date. DuPont has informed us that, to the extent the board of directors of DuPont determines to waive, or take any action to amend or modify, any condition in a manner that is material or abandon the distribution, DuPont will issue a press release publicly announcing any such decision.
DuPont Preferred Stock
If you are a holder of shares of DuPont preferred stock, without par value-cumulative, Series $4.50 or DuPont preferred stock, without par value-cumulative, Series $3.50 (collectively, the DuPont Preferred Stock), you will retain your DuPont Preferred Stock and will not have the right to receive any of our common stock as a dividend with respect to such holdings as a result of the distribution.
Regulatory Approvals
Chemours must complete the necessary registration under U.S. federal securities laws of Chemours common stock, as well as the applicable NYSE listing requirements for such shares.
Other than the requirements discussed above, we do not believe that any other material governmental or regulatory filings or approvals will be necessary to consummate the distribution.
No Appraisal Rights
DuPonts stockholders will not have any appraisal rights in connection with the distribution.
Reasons for Furnishing this Information Statement
We are furnishing this information statement solely to provide information to DuPonts stockholders who will receive shares of our common stock in the distribution. You should not construe this information statement as an inducement or encouragement to buy, hold or sell any of our securities or any securities of DuPont. We believe that the information contained in this information statement is accurate as of the date set forth on the cover. Changes to the information contained in this information statement may occur after that date, and neither DuPont nor we undertake any obligation to update the information except in the normal course of DuPonts and our public disclosure obligations and practices.
46
Following the distribution, we expect to pay regular dividends. Prior to the distribution, while we are a wholly-owned subsidiary of DuPont, our board of directors, consisting of DuPont employees, intends to declare a dividend of an aggregate amount of $100 million in total for the third quarter of 2015, to be paid to our stockholders as of a record date following the distribution. Following the distribution, we expect to continue to pay regular quarterly dividends in an aggregate amount of $100 million, with an aggregate annual dividend of approximately $400 million.
The declaration, payment and amount of any subsequent dividend will be subject to the sole discretion of our post-distribution, independent board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition and prospects, our capital requirements and access to capital markets, covenants associated with certain of our debt obligations, legal requirements and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant, and there can be no assurances that we will continue to pay a dividend in the future. There can also be no assurance that the combined annual dividends on DuPont common stock and our common stock after the distribution, if any, will be equal to the annual dividends on DuPont common stock prior to the distribution.
47
The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of [], 2014, on a historical and on a pro forma basis to give effect to the separation and distribution and the transactions related to the separation and distribution as if they occurred on [], 2014. Explanation of the pro forma adjustments made to our historical combined financial statements can be found under Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements. The following table should be reviewed in conjunction with Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our historical combined financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this information statement.
As of [], 2014 | ||||||
(dollars in millions) | ||||||
Historical | Pro Forma | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents: |
$ | | ||||
|
|
| ||||
Debt, including current and long-term: |
||||||
Current debt |
$ | | ||||
Long-term debt |
| |||||
Total debt |
$ | | ||||
|
|
| ||||
Equity: |
||||||
Common stock, par value $0.01 |
$ | | ||||
Additional paid-in capital |
| |||||
DuPont Company Net Investment and noncontrolling interests |
| |||||
Total Equity |
$ | | ||||
|
|
| ||||
Total Capitalization |
$ | | ||||
|
|
|
We have not yet finalized our post-distribution capitalization. We will have cash on hand in an amount to be determined at or prior to the time of the distribution. We expect that, at the time of distribution, we will have significant third-party indebtedness, which we expect to incur through a bond offering, term loans or a combination of these and other financing arrangements. We intend to update our financial information to reflect our post-distribution capitalization in an amendment to this information statement.
48
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements are derived from the historical combined financial statements of Chemours, prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, which are included elsewhere in this information statement.
The Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Income Statement for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 gives effect to the distribution as if it had occurred on January 1, the first day of our last fiscal year. The Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2014 gives effect to the distribution as if it had occurred on December 31, 2014, our latest balance sheet date. These Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements include adjustments required by SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 1:B-3 and Article 11 of SEC Regulation S-X, including the following:
a. | the inclusion of $4.0 billion of debt at an expected weighted average interest rate of 5.75%; |
b. | the pro-rata distribution of approximately 181 million shares of Chemours common stock to DuPont stockholders; |
c. | establishment of the cash and cash equivalents target of $200 million, as defined in the Separation Agreement; |
d. | the dividend, net of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, of approximately $3.9 billion to DuPont, consisting of a cash distribution of approximately $3.4 billion and a distribution in-kind of 2025 Notes (defined below) with an aggregate principal amount of $507 million; |
e. | the assets and liabilities related to defined benefit pension and other post-retirement plans that were not included in Chemours Audited Combined Financial Statements; and |
f. | the impact of the Separation Agreement, Tax Matters Agreement, Employee Matters Agreement and other commercial agreements between Chemours and DuPont. |
The pro forma financial statements do not reflect all of the costs of operating as a stand-alone company, including possible higher information technology (IT), tax, accounting, treasury, legal, investor relations, and other similar expenses associated with operating as a stand-alone company. Only costs that management has determined to be factually supportable and recurring are included as pro forma adjustments. Incremental costs and expenses associated with operating as a stand-alone company, which are not reflected in the accompanying pro forma financial statements, are estimated to be in the range of approximately [] million to [] million before-tax annually.
Our historical combined financial statements included elsewhere in this information statement include intercompany charges for corporate shared services. After the separation and the distribution, certain services will continue to be provided by DuPont under transition services, IT transition services and site service agreements. These agreements are more fully described under Our Relationship with DuPont Following the Distribution included elsewhere in this information statement. The annual charges under these agreements will be comparable to the intercompany amounts currently charged by DuPont. Therefore, no pro forma adjustments have been made related to these agreements.
Subject to the terms of the Separation Agreement, DuPont will pay certain non-recurring third-party costs and expenses related to the separation. Such non-recurring amounts will include investment banker fees, outside legal and accounting fees and similar costs. After the separation, subject to the terms of the Separation Agreement, all costs and expenses related to ongoing support of a stand-alone company will be our responsibility.
49
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Income Statement
Year Ended December 31, 2014
(Dollars in millions, except for share data) |
Chemours | Pro Forma Adjustments |
Pro Forma | |||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 6,432 | $ | 6,432 | ||||||||||||
Cost of goods sold |
5,072 | (17 | ) | (A) | 5,055 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Gross profit |
1,360 | 1,377 | ||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expense |
685 | (14 | ) | (A) | 671 | |||||||||||
Research and development expense |
143 | (6 | ) | (A) | 137 | |||||||||||
Employee separation/asset related charges, net |
21 | 21 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total expenses |
849 | 829 | ||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of affiliates |
20 | 20 | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
| (242 | ) | (J) | (242 | ) | ||||||||||
Other income, net |
19 | 19 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Income before income taxes |
550 | 345 | ||||||||||||||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes |
149 | (79 | ) | (B) | 70 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net income |
401 | 275 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net income attributable to Chemours |
$ | 400 | $ | 274 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Unaudited pro forma earnings per common share |
||||||||||||||||
Basic (C) |
$ | 1.50 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted (D) |
$ | 1.49 | ||||||||||||||
Weighted average number of shares used in calculating unaudited pro forma earnings per common share |
||||||||||||||||
Basic (C) |
182,950,000 | |||||||||||||||
Diluted (D) |
184,375,000 |
See Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements.
50
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2014
(Dollars in millions, except for share data) |
Chemours | Pro Forma Adjustments |
Pro Forma |
|||||||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | | 200 | (E) | $ | 200 | ||||||||||
Accounts and notes receivable trade, net |
846 | 846 | ||||||||||||||
Inventories |
1,052 | 1,052 | ||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other |
43 | 43 | ||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
21 | 21 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total current assets |
1,962 | 2,162 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment |
9,282 | 9,282 | ||||||||||||||
Less accumulated depreciation |
(5,974 | ) | (5,974 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net property, plant and equipment |
3,308 | 3,308 | ||||||||||||||
Goodwill |
198 | 198 | ||||||||||||||
Other intangibles, net |
11 | 11 | ||||||||||||||
Investments in affiliates |
124 | 124 | ||||||||||||||
Other assets |
375 | 2 | (G) | 377 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 5,978 | $ | 6,180 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Liabilities and DuPont Company Net Investment |
||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 1,046 | $ | 1,046 | ||||||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
| 15 | (F) | 15 | ||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
9 | 9 | ||||||||||||||
Other accrued liabilities |
352 | 2 | (G) | 354 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
1,407 | 1,424 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Long-term debt |
| 3,908 | (F) | 3,908 | ||||||||||||
Other liabilities |
464 | 83 | (G) | 547 | ||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
434 | 434 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total liabilities |
2,305 | 6,313 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Equity |
||||||||||||||||
DuPont Company Net Investment |
3,650 | (3,650 | ) | (I) | | |||||||||||
Common stock, $0.01 par value; [] shares authorized; [] issued and outstanding on a pro forma basis |
| 2 | (H) | 2 | ||||||||||||
Capital in excess of par value |
| (101 | ) | (I) | (101 | ) | ||||||||||
Noncontrolling interests |
4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
19 | (57 | ) | (G) | (38 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total equity |
3,673 | (133 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total liabilities and equity |
$ | 5,978 | $ | 6,180 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements.
51
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(A) Represents changes to employee related costs based upon the Employee Matters Agreement. Adjustment comprises a reduction in expense of $50 million due to the exclusion of expenses associated with pension plans that will not be transferred to Chemours as part of the separation, as described in Note (G) below, partially offset by an increase in expense of $13 million associated with an enhanced 401(k) plan immediately following the separation.
(B) Reflects the tax effects of the pro forma adjustments at the applicable statutory income tax rates in the respective jurisdictions. The effective tax rate of Chemours could be different (either higher or lower) depending on activities subsequent to the distribution. The impacts of pro forma adjustments on long-term deferred tax assets and liabilities were offset against existing long-term deferred tax assets and liabilities reflected in the Chemours historical Combined Balance Sheet based on jurisdiction.
(C) The number of shares of Chemours common stock used to compute the unaudited pro forma basic earnings per common share is based on the weighted-average DuPont basic shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2014, adjusted for the distribution ratio of one share of Chemours common stock for every five shares of DuPont common stock.
(D) The unaudited pro forma diluted earnings per common share and pro forma weighted-average diluted shares outstanding give effect to the potential dilution from common shares related to stock-based awards granted to our employees under DuPonts stock-based compensation programs. This calculation may not be indicative of the dilutive effect that will actually result from Chemours stock-based awards issued in connection with the adjustment of outstanding DuPont stock-based awards or the grant of new stock-based awards. The number of dilutive shares of common stock underlying Chemours stock-based awards issued in connection with the adjustment of outstanding DuPont stock-based awards will not be determined until the distribution date or shortly thereafter. For the purposes of preparing the unaudited pro forma diluted earnings per common share and pro forma weighted-average diluted shares, we believe an estimate based on applying the distribution ratio described in Note (C) above to the weighted-average DuPont diluted shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2014 provides a reasonable approximation of the potential dilutive effect of the stock-based awards. Outstanding options and restricted stock awards will be converted in a manner designed to reflect the intrinsic value of such awards at the time of separation, which we expect may result in additional expense incurred by Chemours to the extent the conversion results in a change in fair value. The conversion of existing DuPont awards to Chemours awards will not be known until the distribution date or shortly thereafter, therefore we do not believe we can establish a reasonable estimate of the additional expense that may be incurred until such time. However, we do not expect the incremental expense to exceed $15 million. A portion of the incremental expense will be expensed on the date of the modification for the vested portion of awards, and the remainder will be recognized over the remaining vesting period.
(E) Reflects the establishment of the cash and cash equivalents target of $200 million, as defined in the Separation Agreement.
(F) Reflects indebtedness totaling $4.0 billion incurred by Chemours on May 12, 2015, in conjunction with the separation from DuPont, consisting of $1.5 billion in aggregate principal amount of borrowings under a senior secured term loan facility, $1.35 billion in aggregate principal amount of eight-year senior notes (the 2023 Notes), $750 million in aggregate principal amount of ten-year senior notes (the 2025 Notes) and $403 million in aggregate principal amount of eight-year Euro-denominated senior notes (the Euro Notes) with a notional amount of 360 million. For the purposes of preparing the Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Balance Sheet, the Euro-denominated senior notes were translated to U.S. Dollars (USD) based on the Euro to USD
52
exchange rate on May 12, 2015, the debt issuance date. The 360 million of Euro-denominated senior notes would translate to $440 million if translated at the Euro to USD exchange rate in effect on December 31, 2014. In addition, Chemours will have access to a $1.0 billion senior secured revolving credit facility that is expected to be undrawn at the time of separation. We used the proceeds from the financing transactions to fund a distribution to DuPont of approximately $3.9 billion, net of $80 million of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, consisting of a cash distribution of approximately $3.4 billion and a distribution in-kind of 2025 Notes with an aggregate principal amount of $507 million. We have not retained any cash as a result of these financing transactions. Total debt issuance costs incurred and capitalized are in the amount of $73 million, and original issue discount was in the amount of $7 million on the senior secured term loan facility, both of which will be amortized over the respective financing terms. The debt issuance costs are shown as a reduction of the outstanding Long-term debt as of December 31, 2014, consistent with the treatment prescribed under Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2015-03, Interest Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30), which will be adopted by Chemours as discussed in Note 3 to the Annual Combined Financial Statements. Borrowings under the senior secured term loan facility have an assumed variable interest rate of 3.75% and a term of seven years, the 2023 Notes have a fixed interest rate of 6.625%, the 2025 Notes have a fixed interest rate of 7.0% and the Euro Notes have a fixed interest rate of 6.125%. The senior secured revolving credit facility has a term of five years, with a variable interest rate on the drawn balance and an assumed variable commitment fee of 0.30% on the undrawn balance.
(G) Reflects the addition of net benefit plan liabilities that will be transferred to Chemours by DuPont as part of the separation. This adjustment includes a $2 million adjustment to Other assets, a $2 million adjustment to Other accrued liabilities, an $83 million adjustment to Other liabilities and a $57 million adjustment to Accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2014. These net benefit plan liabilities are excluded from the Chemours historical Combined Balance Sheet, which has been presented using the multiemployer approach. The benefit plan expenses associated with these liabilities are included in the Chemours historical Combined Income Statement, consistent with the multiemployer approach.
(H) Reflects the pro forma recapitalization of our equity. As of the distribution date, DuPont Company Net Investment in our business will be exchanged to reflect the distribution of our shares of common stock to DuPont stockholders, at a distribution ratio of one share of Chemours common stock for every five shares of DuPont common stock.
(I) Represents the elimination of DuPont Company Net Investment and adjustments to capital in excess of par to reflect the following:
Reclassification of DuPont Company Net Investment |
$ | 3,650 | ||
Establishment of cash and cash equivalents target as described in Note (E) |
200 | |||
Net proceeds transferred to DuPont as described in Note (F) |
(3,923 | ) | ||
Addition of net benefit plan assets and liabilities described in Note (G) |
(26 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Total DuPont Company Net Investment/Shareholders Equity |
(99 | ) | ||
Chemours common stock described in Note (H) |
2 | |||
|
|
|||
Total capital in excess of par value |
$ | (101 | ) | |
|
|
(J) Represents adjustments to interest expense and amortization of debt issuance costs related to $4.0 billion of debt that we have incurred as described in Note (F), based on an expected weighted-average interest rate of 5.75%. Interest expense may be higher or lower if our actual interest rates change. Due to a rate floor on the senior secured term loan facility, interest rates would need to increase by approximately 50 basis points before the expected interest expense on this facility would change.
53
SELECTED HISTORICAL CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table presents Chemours selected historical condensed combined financial data. The selected historical condensed combined financial data as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are derived from audited information contained in Chemours annual Combined Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Information Statement. The selected historical condensed combined financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, are derived from Chemours unaudited Combined Financial Statements that are not included in this Information Statement.
The selected historical condensed combined financial data include certain expenses of DuPont that were allocated to Chemours for certain corporate functions including information technology, research and development, finance, legal, insurance, compliance and human resources activities. These costs may not be representative of the future costs Chemours will incur as an independent, publicly traded company. In addition, Chemours historical financial information does not reflect changes that Chemours expects to experience in the future as a result of Chemours separation and distribution from DuPont, including changes in Chemours cost structure, personnel needs, tax structure, capital structure, financing and business operations. Chemours Combined Financial Statements also do not reflect the assignment of certain assets and liabilities between DuPont and Chemours as reflected under Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Information Statement. Consequently, the financial information included here may not necessarily reflect what Chemours financial position, results of operations and cash flows would have been had it been an independent, publicly traded company during the periods presented. Accordingly, these historical results should not be relied upon as an indicator of Chemours future performance.
For a better understanding, this section should be read in conjunction with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements and corresponding notes and the Combined Financial Statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this Information Statement.
(Dollars in millions) | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 (Unaudited) |
2010 (Unaudited) |
||||||||||||||||
Summary of operations: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 6,432 | $ | 6,859 | $ | 7,365 | $ | 7,972 | $ | 6,489 | ||||||||||
Income before income taxes |
$ | 550 | $ | 576 | $ | 1,485 | $ | 1,907 | $ | 969 | ||||||||||
Provision for income taxes on continuing operations |
$ | 149 | $ | 152 | $ | 427 | $ | 474 | $ | 247 | ||||||||||
Net income attributable to Chemours |
$ | 400 | $ | 423 | $ | 1,057 | $ | 1,431 | $ | 720 | ||||||||||
Financial position at year end: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Working capital |
$ | 555 | $ | 509 | $ | 600 | $ | 593 | $ | 373 | ||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 5,978 | $ | 5,621 | $ | 5,317 | $ | 5,257 | $ | 4,948 | ||||||||||
Long-term capital lease obligations |
$ | 1 | $ | 1 | $ | 1 | $ | 2 | $ | 2 | ||||||||||
General: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Purchases of property, plant and equipment1 |
$ | 615 | $ | 438 | $ | 432 | $ | 355 | $ | 220 | ||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
$ | 257 | $ | 261 | $ | 266 | $ | 272 | $ | 279 | ||||||||||
Employees (thousands) |
9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
1 | Purchases of property, plant and equipment includes $11 million of purchases of property, plant and equipment included in accounts payable excluded from the Statement of Cash Flows. |
54
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The discussion and analysis presented below refer to and should be read in conjunction with our audited combined financial statements (the Combined Financial Statements) and related notes, and the unaudited pro forma combined financial statements (the Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements), each included elsewhere in this information statement. The following discussion may contain forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. The words believe, expect, anticipate, project, and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The matters discussed in these forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include those discussed below and elsewhere in this information statement, particularly in Risk Factors and Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements. We believe the assumptions underlying the Combined Financial Statements are reasonable. However, the Combined Financial Statements included herein may not necessarily reflect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows in the future or what they would have been had we been a separate, stand-alone company during the periods presented.
As explained above, except as otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, the information included in this discussion and analysis assumes the completion of all the transactions referred to in this information statement in connection with the separation and distribution. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this information statement to The Chemours Company, The Chemours Company, LLC, Chemours, we, us, our and our company refer to The Chemours Company and its combined subsidiaries. References in this information statement to DuPont refers to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries (other than Chemours and its combined subsidiaries), unless the context otherwise requires. References to DuPont stockholders refer to stockholders of DuPont in their capacity as holders of common stock only, unless context otherwise requires.
Introduction
Managements discussion and analysis, which we refer to in this information statement as MD&A, of our results of operations and financial condition is provided as a supplement to the Combined Financial Statements and footnotes included elsewhere herein to help provide an understanding of our financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of our operations.
Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events which may not be accurate or realized. Forward-looking statements also involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Chemours control. Some of the important factors that could cause Chemours actual results to differ materially from those projected in any such forward-looking statements are:
| Fluctuations in energy and raw material prices; |
| Failure to develop and market new products and optimally manage product life cycles; |
| Significant litigation and environmental matters; |
| Failure to appropriately manage process safety and product stewardship issues; |
| Changes in laws and regulations or political conditions; |
| Global economic and capital markets conditions, such as inflation, interest and currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices, as well as regulatory requirements; |
| Business or supply disruptions; |
| Security threats, such as acts of sabotage, terrorism or war, weather events and natural disasters; |
55
| Ability to protect, defend and enforce Chemours intellectual property rights; |
| Increased competition; |
| Increasing consolidation of our core customers; |
| Changes in relationships with our significant customers and suppliers; |
| Unanticipated expenses such as litigation or legal settlement expenses; |
| Unanticipated business disruptions; |
| Our ability to predict, identify and interpret changes in consumer preference and demand; |
| Our ability to realize the expected benefits of the separation; |
| Our ability to complete proposed divestitures or acquisitions, and our ability to realize the expected benefits of acquisitions if they are completed; |
| Uncertainty regarding the availability of financing to us in the future and the terms of such financing; and, |
| Disruptions in our information technology networks and systems. |
Additionally, there may be other risks and uncertainties that we are unable to identify at this time or that we do not currently expect to have a material impact on our business. For further discussion of some of the important factors that could cause Chemours actual results to differ materially from those projected in any such forward-looking statements, see the Risk Factors discussion beginning on page 23.
Separation and Distribution
On October 24, 2013, DuPont announced its intention to separate its Performance Chemicals segment through a pro rata distribution of Chemours common stock to stockholders of DuPont. The distribution is intended to be generally tax free for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Chemours is currently a subsidiary of DuPont. Chemours was organized in the state of Delaware on February 18, 2014 as Performance Operations, LLC, and changed its name to The Chemours Company, LLC on April 15, 2014. Chemours was converted from a limited liability company to a Delaware corporation on April 30, 2015. DuPont will generally transfer to us all the assets and all the liabilities relating to the Chemours business into a separate company. DuPont stockholders will not be required to pay for shares of our common stock received in the distribution or to surrender or exchange shares of DuPont common stock in order to receive shares of our common stock or to take any other action in connection with the distribution.
We will incur costs as a result of becoming an independent, publicly traded company for transition services and from establishing or expanding the corporate support for our business, including information technology, human resources, treasury, tax, risk management, accounting and financial reporting, investor relations, governance, legal, procurement and other services. We believe our cash flows from operations will be sufficient to fund these corporation expenses.
Commencing in 2015, when the Performance Chemicals operations are legally and operationally separated within DuPont in anticipation of the spin, some of the resulting newly created Chemours foreign entities will have their local currency as the functional currency.
Overview
Chemours delivers customized solutions with a wide range of industrial and specialty chemical products for markets including plastics and coatings, refrigeration and air conditioning, general industrial, mining and oil
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refining. Principal products include titanium dioxide, refrigerants, industrial fluoropolymer resins, and a portfolio of industrial chemicals including sodium cyanide, sulfuric acid and aniline. See the section titled, Business, included in this information statement for a detailed description of Chemours business and segments.
Chemours is a leading global provider of performance chemicals through three reportable segments: Titanium Technologies, Fluoroproducts and Chemical Solutions. Our performance chemicals are key inputs into products and processes in a variety of industries. Our business is globally operated with manufacturing facilities, sales centers, administrative offices, and warehouses located throughout the world. Chemours operations are primarily located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the Netherlands, Belgium, China, Taiwan, Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, the United Kingdom, France and Sweden.
Our Titanium Technologies segment is the leading global producer of TiO2, a premium white pigment used to deliver opacity. Titanium Technologies operates in six dedicated production facilities in the United States, Mexico and Taiwan.
Our Fluoroproducts segment is a leading global provider of fluoroproducts, such as refrigerants and industrial fluoropolymer resins. Our Fluoroproducts segment has 17 dedicated manufacturing and three contract manufacturing sites in the United States, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and Brazil.
Our Chemical Solutions segment is a leading North American provider of industrial and specialty chemicals used in gold production, oil refining, agriculture, industrial polymers and other industries. Chemical Solutions operates in 12 dedicated sites in the United States and the United Kingdom.
In addition to the dedicated sites described above, Chemours operates two production facilities that support both the Fluoroproducts and Chemical Solutions segments. Of the 40 total sites, three are currently shared with other DuPont businesses. At these sites, DuPont will continue its own manufacturing operations after separation, as well as contract manufacture for Chemours for the products currently produced by the Fluoroproducts segment at these sites.
Our position with each of these businesses reflects the strong value proposition we provide to our customers based on our long history of innovation and our reputation within the chemical industry for safety, quality and reliability.
Chemours manufacturing processes consume significant amounts of titanium ore, hydrocarbons and energy which are dependent on oil and natural gas pricing. The cost of these materials varies, reflecting market prices for oil and natural gas and other related inputs. Variations in cost relating to these inputs can be significant, and are described more fully in our risk factor on page 25 and in our business descriptions on page 92 for Titanium Technologies, page 100 for Fluoroproducts, and page 104 for Chemical Solutions.
Our Strategy
Continue to Drive Operational Excellence and Asset Efficiency
Operational excellence, which includes a commitment to safety, environmental stewardship and improved reliability, is key to our future success. We continually evaluate our business to identify opportunities to increase operational efficiency throughout our production facilities with a focus on maintaining operational excellence and maximizing asset efficiency. We continue to set new, stricter operational excellence targets for each of our facilities based on industry-leading benchmarks. We intend to continue focusing on increasing manufacturing efficiencies through selected capital projects, process improvements and best practices in order to lower unit costs. We will also carefully manage our portfolio, especially in our Chemical Solutions segment, and take appropriate actions to address product lines that face challenging market conditions and do not generate returns on invested capital that we believe are sufficient to create long-term shareholder value.
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Focus on Cash Flow Generation
Our goal is to focus on cash flow generation and return on invested capital through the continuing optimization of our cost structure, improvement in working capital and supply chain efficiencies, and a disciplined approach to capital expenditures.
We have a proven track record of mitigating fixed cost inflation with cost saving actions and productivity improvements. We intend to continue to identify incremental cost saving opportunities based in large part on benchmarks of industry-leading performance and productivity improvements by utilizing our engineering and manufacturing technology expertise and partnerships with low cost producers. Our goal is to maintain a cost structure that positions us favorably to compete and grow. We intend to continue to upgrade our customer and product mix to increase our sales of value-added, differentiated products, thereby achieving premium pricing to improve margins and enhance cash flow.
We intend to actively manage our working capital by increasing inventory turnover and reducing finished goods and raw materials inventory without affecting our ability to deliver products to our customers. We strive to improve our supply chain efficiency by focusing on reducing both operating costs and working capital needs. Our supply chain efforts to lower operating costs have consisted of reducing procurement spending, lowering transportation and warehouse costs and optimizing production scheduling.
We remain focused on disciplined capital allocation among our segments. We plan to allocate our capital expenditures to projects required to enhance the reliability of our manufacturing operations and maintain the overall asset portfolio. This includes key maintenance and repair activities in each segment, and necessary regulatory and maintenance spending to ensure safe operations. We intend to optimize capital spending on growth projects across our various businesses based on a thorough comparison of risk-adjusted returns for each project.
Maintain Strong Customer Focus
A key component of our strategy is to produce innovative, high-performance products that offer enhanced value propositions to our customers at competitive prices. Our goal is to continually work closely with our customers to provide solutions and products that optimize their formulations and products. This market-driven product development enables us to offer a high-quality product portfolio to our customers and provides our businesses with the ability to respond quickly and efficiently to changes in market demands.
Leverage our Leadership to Drive Organic Growth
We plan to continue to capitalize on our global operations network, distribution infrastructure and technology to pursue global growth. We will focus our efforts on those geographic areas and end products that we believe offer the most attractive growth and long-term profitability prospects.
Our strategy in our Titanium Technologies segment is to continue to strengthen our leading position from both the product offering and cost perspectives in order to increase the segments sales and profitability. We intend to continue to position Chemours as the preferred supplier of TiO2 worldwide by delivering the highest quality product offering to our customers coupled with superior technical expertise. We are currently expanding capacity at our Altamira, Mexico production facility, which will increase our global capacity by more than 15 percent and will be one of the lowest cost TiO2 production lines in the world. Production at the expanded portion of the facility is scheduled to start up in mid-2016.
Our Fluoroproducts segment plans to make ongoing, selective investments to capitalize on market opportunities based on our innovation capabilities and industry dynamics. We intend to continue to leverage our fluoroproducts and process expertise to develop new high-performance, differentiated offerings and to promote industry
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transition towards more sustainable technologies. Specifically, our strategy is to focus on development of proprietary, high-value, sustainable specialties (for example, Opteon® YF and HFO-1336, which are designed to meet tighter regulatory standards and replace commodity HFC refrigerants or foaming agents).
Our Chemical Solutions segment intends to capitalize on potential growth opportunities in businesses in which we have strong regional positions, e.g. sulfuric acid and sodium cyanide. We plan to make selective capital investments to grow our sulfur products and sodium cyanide businesses, in which we have leading market positions in the Americas, and to take initiatives to improve profitability in the remainder of the businesses in our Chemical Solutions segment.
Deepen Our Presence in Emerging Markets
Emerging markets are a strategic priority for a number of our businesses. We are well positioned not only to leverage our strong market positions in mature but highly sophisticated markets in North America and Europe, but also to participate in the expected growth of emerging markets in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. We believe that improving living standards and growth in GDP across emerging markets are combining to create increased demand for our products. We expect to capitalize on this growth opportunity by expanding our customer base and local capabilities in order to increase our market share across emerging markets, especially China. To accelerate our penetration of these markets and maintain our competitive cost position, we may develop relationships with leading local partners, especially in businesses where participation in the fast-growing Chinese market is particularly important for long-term sustainable growth. For example, we are well positioned to leverage our strong production technology in our industrial fluoropolymer resins business, where the Chinese market is expected to continue to evolve from low-end fluoropolymer applications to higher value PTFE, copolymer and fluoroelastomer products, as a result of an increasing percentage of aerospace, automotive, semiconductor, electronics and telecommunications manufacturing transitions to China.
Drive Organizational Alignment
We believe that maintaining alignment of the efforts of our employees with our overall business strategy and operational excellence goals is critical to our success. We have outstanding people and assets and, with the commitment to values of safety, customer appreciation, simplicity, collective entrepreneurship and integrity, we believe that we can maintain our competitiveness and help achieve our operational excellence and asset efficiency strategic objectives.
Our Near-Term Priorities
In the broader context of our strategic priorities as described above, as Chemours emerges as a separate, standalone public company, we have the following near-term priorities for our company:
| Achieve cost and capacity benefits of Altamira expansion |
| Promote adoption of next generation refrigerants, such as HFO, as markets transition away from more mature products such as HCFC/HFC |
| Continue to drive operational and functional effectiveness to achieve fixed cost and operational productivity improvements |
| Given the cyclical nature of the TiO2 market, anticipate and capture revenue growth from market cycle improvements |
Successfully achieving these priorities in the near-term would enable the business to achieve longer term objectives, enhancing operating free cash flow to reduce overall leverage anticipated in connection with our separation from DuPont, in turn achieving our operational excellence and asset efficiency strategic objectives.
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Our 2014 Results and Business Highlights
| Revenue and Business Growth Titanium Technologies net sales were three percent below prior year due to lower prices and the strengthening of the US dollar, partially offset by an increase in volume. In Fluoroproducts, segment sales were two percent below prior year primarily as a result of lower selling prices for refrigerants and industrial resins which were partially offset by higher volumes. In Chemical Solutions, 20% lower revenues were primarily the result of operational issues and the portfolio impact of a customers election to exercise a put/call option to acquire the entire property and equipment of our Baytown facility at the end of 2013. Market performance in each of our businesses remained consistent. |
| Productivity and Profitability Actions In Titanium Technologies, cost increases for raw materials and other business related costs were more than offset by improved ore-use and cost productivity actions. Working capital improvements also contributed to savings in the year. In Fluoroproducts, a focus on productivity and next generation HFOs enabled the business to deliver lowered production costs. In Chemical Solutions, improved volumes in Cyanides and Sulfur production were slightly offset by operational issues in certain facilities and the impact of a 2013 portfolio change. |
| Innovation, strategic actions, step-change milestones In Titanium Technologies, 2014 was a key year for the continuation of our Altamira expansion. We are on track to complete the expansion by mid-2016, and we launched new TiO2 offerings during the year. In Fluoroproducts, adoption rates for our low GWP refrigerant, Opteon® YF, continue to improve with sales to OEMs more than doubling when compared to 2013. |
Analysis of Operations
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 6,432 | $ | 6,859 | $ | 7,365 | ||||||
Cost of goods sold |
5,072 | 5,395 | 5,014 | |||||||||
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Gross Profit |
1,360 | 1,464 | 2,351 | |||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expense |
685 | 768 | 747 | |||||||||
Research and development expense |
143 | 164 | 145 | |||||||||
Employee separation/asset related charges, net |
21 | 2 | 36 | |||||||||
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Total expenses |
849 | 934 | 928 | |||||||||
Equity in earnings of affiliates |
20 | 22 | 25 | |||||||||
Other income, net |
19 | 24 | 37 | |||||||||
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Income before income taxes |
550 | 576 | 1,485 | |||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
149 | 152 | 427 | |||||||||
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Net income |
401 | 424 | 1,058 | |||||||||
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Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
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Net income attributable to Chemours |
$ | 400 | $ | 423 | $ | 1,057 | ||||||
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Results
Year Ended December 31, 2014 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2013
Income before income taxes decreased five percent to $550 million primarily due to lower TiO2 sales pricing in addition to the factors discussed below.
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The table below shows combined net sales and related variance percentages for the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively:
Percent Change Due to: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2014 Net Sales |
Percentage Change vs. 2013 |
Local Price | Currency Effect |
Volume | Portfolio / Other |
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Worldwide |
$ | 6,432 | (6 | )% | (5 | )% | | % | 3 | % | (4 | )% |
Net sales of $6.4 billion decreased six percent primarily due to a portfolio change in the Chemical Solutions segment and lower prices principally for titanium dioxide and refrigerants. The portfolio change involved a customers election to exercise a put/call option to acquire the entire property and equipment of the Baytown facility on December 31, 2013. Decreased selling prices for titanium dioxide were partially offset by increased volumes for Opteon® YF refrigerant.
Cost of goods sold (COGS) decreased six percent to $5.1 billion primarily as a result of a portfolio change experienced by the Chemical Solutions segment involving a customers election to exercise a put/call option to acquire the entire property and equipment of the Baytown facility, coupled with a decrease in pension costs. The portfolio change accounted for $248 million of the decrease in COGS. The decrease in pension costs is primarily related to improved returns on pension plan assets and an increase in the discount rate. COGS as a percentage of net sales was 79 percent, consistent with the year ended December 31, 2013.
Selling, general and administrative expense decreased 11 percent to $685 million, primarily due to lower pension costs. Chemours management expects that the allocated corporate and leveraged costs in Chemours Combined Financial Statements will approximate operating costs upon separation; however, these expenses may not be indicative of expenses that will be incurred by Chemours in future years (see Note 4 to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information). Additionally, selling, general and administrative expense in 2013 included higher legal fees associated with titanium dioxide antitrust litigation (see Note 17 to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information).
Research and development expense decreased by $21 million, which was mainly attributable to lower pension costs.
Employee separation/asset related charges incurred during 2014 consisted primarily of charges related to the 2014 restructuring program, including $16 million for employee separation costs and $3 million for asset shut-down costs. The actions associated with this charge and all related payments are expected to be substantially complete by December 31, 2015. Additional details related to the 2014 restructuring program discussed above can be found in Note 6 to the Combined Financial Statements.
Equity in earnings of affiliates decreased $2 million due to a reduction in net income recognized by Chemours equity affiliates in China and Japan.
Other income, net reflects a $40 million gain on sales of assets and businesses. These gains were offset by a $35 million increase in exchange losses, driven by the strengthening of the U.S. Dollar (USD) versus the Euro and Swiss Franc in 2014, and a reduction of $7 million for leasing, contract services and miscellaneous income. Furthermore, for the year ended December 31, 2013, Chemours recognized a $7 million gain on purchase of an equity investment that did not occur in 2014.
In 2014, Chemours recorded a tax provision of $149 million, reflecting a decrease from 2013 primarily due to a decrease in earnings. The increase in the effective tax rate in 2014 compared to 2013 was primarily due to geographic mix of earnings and valuation allowance partly offset by a one-time tax benefit recognized in 2014 relating to a tax accounting method change. This tax accounting method change allowed an increase in tax basis in certain depreciable fixed assets which resulted in a net tax benefit for Chemours of $10 million in 2014.
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Year Ended December 31, 2013 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2012
Income before income taxes decreased 61 percent to $576 million due to decreased sales and increased cost of goods sold. Net sales of $6.9 billion decreased seven percent driven by a 12 percent decrease related to lower selling prices, partially offset by a five percent increase in sales volume.
The table below shows 2013 combined net sales and percentage variances from 2012:
Percent Change Due to: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2013 Net Sales |
Percentage Change vs. 2012 |
Local Price |
Currency Effect |
Volume | Portfolio / Other |
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Worldwide |
$ | 6,859 | (7 | )% | (12 | )% | | % | 5 | % | | % |
Sales decreased seven percent, reflecting a global reduction of selling prices experienced in the Titanium Technologies and Fluoroproducts segments. Price reductions were partially offset by volume increases in both segments.
COGS increased eight percent to $5.4 billion, related to an increase in sales volumes in the Titanium Technologies and Fluoroproducts segments. COGS as a percentage of net sales was 79 percent, an 11 percent increase from 2012, principally reflecting the impact of increased raw materials costs, primarily ore. Additionally, Chemours incurred a $72 million charge for titanium dioxide antitrust litigation in 2013 (see Note 17 to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information).
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $21 million, largely due to increased direct use of functional support by Chemours. Research and development expense increased $19 million in 2013 due to increased direct research and development spending by the Fluoroproducts and Chemical Solutions segments.
The $36 million in charges recorded during 2012 in employee separation / asset related charges, net consisted of $3 million in charges related to the 2012 restructuring program, and $33 million in asset impairment charges to write-down the carrying value of an asset group to its fair value within the Chemical Solutions segment. Additional details related to the asset impairment discussed above can be found in Note 6 to the Combined Financial Statements.
Equity in earnings of affiliates decreased $3 million due to reductions in net income recognized by Chemours joint ventures in China and Japan. The $13 million decrease in other income was largely attributable to $26 million higher pre-tax foreign exchange losses which were primarily driven by a strengthening of the USD versus the Venezuelan Bolivar and the Brazilian Real in 2013. This decrease was partially offset by a $7 million gain recognized related to the 2013 purchase of remaining interest on an equity investment and a $6 million increase in leasing, contract services and miscellaneous income.
In 2013, Chemours recorded a provision for income taxes of $152 million, reflecting a decrease from 2012 due to a significant decrease in earnings. The decrease in the 2013 effective tax rate compared to 2012 was primarily due to geographic mix of earnings.
Segment Reviews
In general, the accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 3 to the Combined Financial Statements. Exceptions are noted as follows: (1) Segment adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (adjusted EBITDA) is defined as income (loss) before income taxes, depreciation and amortization excluding non-operating pension and other post-retirement employee benefit costs and exchange gains (losses), and (2) All references to prices are on a USD basis, including the impact of currency. Corporate costs and certain legal and environmental expenses that are not aligned with the reportable segments
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are reflected in Corporate and other. Adjusted EBITDA includes the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost. All other components of net periodic benefit cost are considered non-operating and are excluded from adjusted EBITDA.
Non-operating pension and other post-retirement employee benefit costs include interest cost, expected return on plan assets, amortization of loss (gain), and amortization of prior service cost (benefit). These costs for both the pension benefits and other post-retirement benefits are excluded from segment adjusted EBITDA.
A reconciliation of segment sales to combined net sales and segment adjusted EBITDA to income before income taxes for 2014, 2013, and 2012 is included in Note 20 to the Combined Financial Statements. Segment adjusted EBITDA and the related margin include certain items that management believes are significant to understanding the segment results discussed below. See Note 20 to the Combined Financial Statements for details related to these items.
Titanium Technologies
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 2,937 | $ | 3,019 | $ | 3,291 | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 759 | $ | 722 | $ | 1,454 | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
26 | % | 24 | % | 44 | % |
Change in segment sales from prior period |
Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
Price |
(4 | )% | (21 | )% | 8 | % | ||||||
Volume |
1 | % | 13 | % | (18 | )% | ||||||
Portfolio / Other |
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Total change |
(3 | )% | (8 | )% | (10 | )% |
Revenue and earnings performance in Titanium Technologies reflect the cyclical nature of the global TiO2 business. Following the global financial crisis, global economic recovery resulting from the impact of government stimulus resulted in strong customer demand for TiO2 compared to available supply. This drove TiO2 prices higher, ultimately reaching a historical peak in 2012. As global GDP growth fell back to 22.5 percent annual growth and new capacity came online throughout the industry from expansion decisions made in the period of strong demand during the global economic recovery, prices began to decline.
To mitigate the earnings impact of declining price and to improve operating results, our Titanium Technologies business endeavors to:
| improve efficiency by lowering energy use and improving ingredient yield; |
| trim discretionary costs during cycle low points; |
| use the broad capability of our manufacturing assets to tailor manufacturing and supply chain cost to softer demand conditions; and |
| sustain investment in development of offerings that serve applications which are less sensitive to economic cycles or more distinguished from the offerings of competitors. |
TiO2 pricing tends to move up and down in a cyclical manner depending in large part on global economic conditions. When customer demand is strong, TiO2 price typically increases. A declining global economic cycle softens TiO2 demand, resulting in lower capacity utilization and prices can begin to decline. TiO2 market cycles and swings in supply and demand are principally driven by global economic cycles and the time required to increase TiO2 production capacity.
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In the declining phase of the TiO2 cycle, prices can fall to the point where higher cost producers may be selling product at or below production cost. Although Chemours management does not have precise information regarding the prices and costs of other producers, our assessment of current global economic conditions and other factors is that we believe the industry is likely nearing the breakeven point in the TiO2 market cycle. As described, we have unique capabilities which deliver the industrys best cost position, so we have been able to continue to have strong operating cash flow during the down phase of the cycle.
2014 versus 2013 Sales declined by three percent from 2013 to 2014 due to lower prices which was partially offset by an increase in volume. Despite the stabilization of titanium dioxide market demand and improved sales volume, prices continued to decrease in 2014 due to low global titanium dioxide industry capacity utilization, and lower ore costs, primarily in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin increased primarily due to lower legal expenses. 2013 adjusted EBITDA included a $72 million charge related to titanium dioxide antitrust litigation (see Note 17 to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information).
2013 versus 2012 Sales declined in 2013 versus 2012 by eight percent, primarily due to lower prices which was partially offset by an increase in volume. Destocking and weak economic growth in the second half of 2012 and reduced market demand resulted in lower producer utilization levels and downward pricing pressures in 2013. As the titanium dioxide market destocking moderated and stabilized in 2013, sales volumes improved. However, the slower than expected global economic growth in 2013 continued to minimize growth in demand and depressed prices during the year.
2013 adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin decreased principally on lower selling prices. Volume gains were offset by higher raw material inventory costs, mainly ore costs. 2013 adjusted EBITDA includes a $72 million charge related to titanium dioxide antitrust litigation (see Note 17 to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information).
Fluoroproducts
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 2,327 | $ | 2,379 | $ | 2,559 | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 330 | $ | 377 | $ | 539 | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
14 | % | 16 | % | 21 | % |
Change in segment sales from |
Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
Price |
(8 | )% | (7 | )% | (1 | )% | ||||||
Volume |
6 | % | | % | (9 | )% | ||||||
Portfolio / Other |
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Total change |
(2 | )% | (7 | )% | (10 | )% |
Our Fluoroproducts segment sells products through two principal groups: fluorochemicals and fluoropolymers. Our fluorochemicals products include refrigerants, foam expansion agents, propellants and fire extinguishants. Change in the refrigerants industry is primarily driven by environmental regulatory change. As new regulations are implemented, customers are required to transition to new products and technologies to meet tighter regulatory standards. Our future performance in refrigerants will be driven in part by our ability to successfully manage product line transitions by continuing to meet demand for products that are being phased down, while remaining a leader in the introduction of new, more sustainable, cost-effective and easy to implement solutions that allow customers to adopt products to meet new regulatory requirements. We have consistently demonstrated expertise in these core capabilities by developing sustainable technology, trade secrets, and patents.
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Fluoroproducts sales fluctuate by season; sales in the first half of the year are slightly higher than sales in the second half of the year. This trend is primarily a result of inventory build in the first half of the year by refrigerant customers in the Northern hemisphere as they prepare for the summer season.
2014 versus 2013 Sales for 2014 decreased by two percent as compared to 2013, primarily due to lower selling prices for refrigerants and industrial resins. Refrigerant prices decreased in North America as a result of actions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) related to allowances on HCFCs (R-22) and the impact of lower cost Chinese imports on the overall pricing of HFC (R-134a) refrigerants and refrigerant blends globally. Industrial resin prices declined primarily as a result of pricing pressure from the addition of new production capacity by competitors. Pricing decreases were partially offset by higher volumes. Although the EPA actions and competition from lower priced providers have challenged our results in the near-term, we are developing and promoting adoption of our more profitable, low-GWP HFO products, such as Opteon® YF, for which we anticipate high levels of future demand. These HFO-based products and blends, which are functional substitutes for HCFCs and HFCs comply with country-specific legislation phasing down the current refrigerants and have a low environmental footprint.
Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin decreased, primarily due to lower prices. 2014 adjusted EBITDA included charges of $16 million relating to the 2014 restructuring plan. Margin impact from lower prices and restructuring charges was partially offset by lower business and overhead costs from productivity improvements. Additionally in 2014, expense relating to the short-term incentive plan was lower by approximately $8 million and a gain from the sale of businesses was recognized for $30 million.
2013 versus 2012 Sales for 2013 decreased seven percent from 2012, as a result of lower selling prices. Lower prices were experienced in all product markets in all regions, except for in the U.S., where prices increased slightly due to higher refrigerant selling prices in the first half of 2013.
2013 adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin decreased, primarily due to lower selling prices which more than offset higher volume and slightly lower period costs. The decline was primarily due to lower industrial resin prices and higher overall productions costs. Price declines came as a result of the addition of new production capacity by competitors and intense price competition in the more commoditized market segments.
Chemical Solutions
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 1,168 | $ | 1,461 | $ | 1,515 | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 29 | $ | 96 | $ | 116 | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
2 | % | 7 | % | 8 | % |
Change in segment sales from prior period |
Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
Price |
(2 | )% | 1 | % | 4 | % | ||||||
Volume |
1 | % | (4 | )% | (1 | )% | ||||||
Portfolio / Other |
(19 | )% | | % | | % | ||||||
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Total change |
(20 | )% | (3 | )% | 3 | % |
Chemical Solutions operates in three key market segments of cyanides, sulfur products and performance chemicals. In cyanides and sulfur products markets, we intend to continue our strategy to engage in long-term, multi-year, contractual relationships with key customers and invest in initiatives to further improve our uptime and yields. In cyanides, the focus will be on improving the output (plant uptime and yields) of sodium cyanide from our existing manufacturing facility in Memphis, TN and exploring other alternatives to better adjust our
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supply chain to our customer needs. In the sulfur market segment, in line with the increase in the U.S. oil production and related increase in the production capacity of the oil refineries, we will also invest in projects to improve our distribution capabilities and the overall mechanical integrity of the existing assets. For the performance chemicals market segment, our focus will be to reduce overall manufacturing cost and to take actions to improve the profitability levels of underperforming product lines.
2014 versus 2013 In 2014 sales decreased 20 percent, primarily due to the portfolio impact of a customers election to exercise a put/call option to acquire the entire property and equipment of the Baytown facility on December 31, 2013. Sales decreased further from lower prices across all products.
Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin decreased, primarily due to the portfolio impact noted above and lower prices.
2013 versus 2012 Sales in 2013 reflect a three percent decrease from 2012, primarily resulting from lower sales volumes in the cyanides and performance chemicals businesses and lower average prices in the sulfur products business. In cyanides, the reduction in volume was caused mainly by limited availability of sodium cyanide feedstock, resulting from unscheduled manufacturing interruptions. In sulfur products, the reduction in average prices was caused by a combination of lower market price for sulfuric acid in the U.S. and product mix. In performance chemicals, the reduction in volume was mainly caused by extensive scheduled maintenance shut-downs at our customers MDI (diphenylmethane diisocyanate producers) combined with lower demand of methylamines products in the Asia Pacific region.
Adjusted EBITDA margin in the period decreased one percent mainly caused by lower volumes and in cyanides and in sulfur products; lower average prices for sulfur, combined with higher manufacturing costs in cyanides and performance chemicals. In cyanides, lower yields caused by unscheduled manufacturing interruptions and higher cost of raw materials are the key reasons for the increased costs. In performance chemicals, higher manufacturing costs were caused mainly by lower yields resulting from the extensive shut-downs at MDI producers.
2013 adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin decreased primarily as a result of lower sales combined with lower plant utilization while 2012 adjusted EBITDA included a $33 million asset impairment charge (see Note 6 to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information).
Liquidity & Capital Resources
Historically, the primary source of liquidity for Chemours business is the cash flow provided by operations which has historically been transferred to DuPont to support its overall cash management strategy. Prior to separation, transfers of cash to and from DuPonts cash management system have been reflected in DuPont Company Net Investment in the historical Combined Balance Sheets, Statements of Cash Flows and Statements of Changes in DuPont Company Net Investment. Chemours has not reported cash or cash equivalents for the periods presented in the Combined Balance Sheets. We expect DuPont to continue to fund our cash needs through the date of the separation. Chemours has a historical pattern of seasonality, with working capital use of cash in the first half of the year, and a working capital source of cash in the second half of the year. Within the second half of the year, historical patterns indicate that the fourth quarter has been a significant period of working capital improvements.
Prior to our separation, while we are a wholly-owned subsidiary of DuPont, our board of directors, consisting of DuPont employees, intends to declare a dividend of an aggregate amount of $100 million in total for the third quarter of 2015, to be paid to our stockholders as of a record date following the distribution. Following the distribution, we expect to continue to pay regular quarterly dividends in an aggregate amount of $100 million, with an aggregate annual dividend of approximately $400 million. The declaration, payment and amount of any subsequent dividend will be subject to the sole discretion of our post-distribution, independent board of directors
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and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition and prospects, our capital requirements and access to capital markets, covenants associated with certain of our debt obligations, legal requirements and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant, and there can be no assurances that we will continue to pay a dividend in the future. There can also be no assurance that the combined annual dividends on DuPont common stock and our common stock after the distribution, if any, will be equal to the annual dividends on DuPont common stock prior to the distribution.
Upon separation from DuPont, Chemours anticipates to have $200 million of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities in the U.S. Chemours anticipates that its primary source of liquidity will be cash generated from operations, available cash and cash equivalents and borrowings under the debt financing arrangements as described below. We believe these sources will be sufficient to fund our planned operations, and in meeting our interest, dividend and contractual obligations.
Financing Transactions
On May 12, 2015, Chemours entered into certain financing transactions described below in connection with DuPonts previously announced separation and in recognition of the assets contributed to it by DuPont in anticipation of the separation.
The proceeds from the financing transactions were used to fund a cash distribution to DuPont of $3,416 million and a distribution in-kind of Notes, described below, with an aggregate principal amount of $507 million.
Senior Secured Credit Facilities
On May 12, 2015, Chemours entered into a credit agreement that provides for the Term Loan Facility, a seven-year senior secured term loan in a principal amount of $1,500 million, repayable in equal quarterly installments at a rate of one percent of the original principal amount per year, with the balance payable on the final maturity date. In 2015 Chemours will make principal payments of $8 million related to this obligation. Additionally, the credit agreement provides for up to $700 million plus an additional amount, so long as, on a pro forma basis (including the full amount of such incremental term loan borrowings and/or increased commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility) after giving effect to any such increases, our senior secured net leverage ratio does not exceed 1.50 to 1.00. The Term Loan Facility was issued with a $7 million original issue discount. The proceeds from the Term Loan Facility were used to fund the distribution to DuPont, along with related fees and expenses.
The credit agreement also provides for the Revolving Credit Facility, a five-year $1,000 million senior secured revolving credit facility. The proceeds of any loans made under the Revolving Credit Facility can be used to finance capital expenditures, acquisitions, working capital needs and for other general corporate purposes. The Revolving Credit Facility was undrawn at closing with $400 million available for issuance of letters of credit subject to the terms of the credit agreement.
The Senior Secured Credit Facilities bear interest, at Chemours option, at a rate equal to an adjusted base rate or LIBOR, plus, in each case, an applicable margin. In the case of the Term Loan Facility, the adjusted base rate and LIBOR will not, in any event, be less than 1.75% and 0.75%, respectively. The applicable margin is equal to, (i) in the case of the Term Loan, 2.00% for base rate loans and 3.00% for LIBOR loans and (ii) in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility, a range based on our total net leverage ratio between (a) 0.50% and 1.25% for base rate loans and (b) 1.50% and 2.25% for LIBOR loans. The applicable margin for the Revolving Credit Facility is currently at 1.00% for base rate loans and 2.00% for LIBOR loans. Chemours is required to pay a commitment fee on the average daily unused amount of the Revolving Credit Facility at a rate based on its total net leverage ratio, between 0.20% and 0.35%. Commitment fees are currently assessed at a rate of 0.30 percent. With respect to outstanding letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility, Chemours is required to pay letter of
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credit fees equal to the product of (A) the applicable margin with respect to euro dollar borrowings and (B) the average amount available to be drawn under such letters of credit. Interest, commitment fees and letter of credit fees are generally payable quarterly in arrears (or in the case of borrowings with an interest period of less than 3 months, at the end of the applicable interest period).
If the separation and distribution has not been completed on or before November 30, 2015, or if prior to such date, DuPont has abandoned the separation and distribution, then Chemours will be required to repay all loans outstanding under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities together with all accrued and unpaid interest and commitment fees, and the commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility will be terminated.
Chemours obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities are guaranteed on a senior secured basis by all of its material domestic subsidiaries, subject to certain agreed upon exceptions. The obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities are also, subject to certain agreed upon exceptions, secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of Chemours and its material wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries assets, including 100% of the stock of domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the stock of certain foreign subsidiaries.
The credit agreement contains financial covenants which, solely with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, require Chemours (i) not to exceed a maximum total net leverage ratio and, (ii) unless Chemours has achieved an investment grade rating as specified in the credit agreement, to maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio. In addition, the credit agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, limit or restrict Chemours and its subsidiaries ability, subject to certain exceptions, to incur liens, merge, consolidate or sell, transfer or lease assets, make investments, pay dividends, transact with subsidiaries and incur indebtedness. The credit agreement also contains customary representations and warranties and events of default.
Senior Unsecured Notes
On May 12, 2015, Chemours issued approximately $2,503 million aggregate principal of senior unsecured notes (the Notes) in a private placement. The 2023 notes (the 2023 Notes) with an aggregate principal amount of $1,350 million bear interest at a rate of 6.625 percent per annum and will mature on May 15, 2023 with all principal paid at maturity. The 2025 notes (the 2025 Notes) with an aggregate principal amount of $750 million bear interest at a rate of 7.000 percent per annum and will mature on May 15, 2025 with all principal paid at maturity. The 2023 euro notes (the Euro Notes) with an aggregate principal amount of 360 million bear interest at a rate of 6.125 percent per annum and will mature on May 15, 2023 with all principal paid at maturity. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on November 15, 2015.
The proceeds from the Notes offered by us were used to fund the cash and in kind distributions to DuPont and to pay related fees and expenses. The in kind distribution to DuPont of $507 million aggregate principal amount of Chemours 2025 Notes were exchanged by DuPont with third parties for certain DuPont notes.
The Notes were offered in the U.S. to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and outside the U.S. to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. Chemours is required to register the Notes with the SEC within 465 days. If Chemours fails to do so, it would be required to pay interest at a rate of 0.25% for the first 90 days following a default and by an addition 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, up to a maximum rate of 0.50%, until the registration requirements are met. Application is also expected to be made to the Irish Stock Exchange for the approval of listing particulars in relation to the Euro Notes prior to the first anniversary of the issue date of the Euro Notes.
The Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture (the Base Indenture), as supplemented by that certain first supplemental indenture (the First Supplemental Indenture), second supplemental indenture (the Second
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Supplemental Indenture) and third supplemental indenture (the Third Supplemental Indenture and, together with First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture and the Base Indenture, the Indenture) among Chemours, its subsidiaries that are guaranteeing its Senior Secured Credit Facilities (as defined above) and U.S. Bank, National Association., as trustee, each dated as of May 12, 2015.
Each series of Notes is or will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by Chemours existing and future domestic subsidiaries that guarantee (the Guarantors) the Senior Secured Credit Facilities or that guarantee other indebtedness of Chemours or any guarantor in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $75.0 million (the Guarantees). The Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of Chemours. The Guarantees are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Guarantors. The Notes rank equally in right of payment to all of Chemours existing and future unsecured unsubordinated debt and senior in right of payment to all of Chemours existing and future debt that is by its terms expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes. The Notes are subordinated to indebtedness under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities as well as any future secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt.
If the separation has not been completed on or before November 30, 2015, or if, prior to such date, DuPont has abandoned the separation, then Chemours will be required to redeem each series of notes at a redemption price equal to (a) 100% of the initial issue price of such series if the applicable redemption date is on or before August 15, 2015 and (b) 101% of the principal amount of such series of notes if the applicable redemption date is after August 15, 2015, in each case, plus accrued and unpaid interest but excluding, the redemption date.
Chemours is obligated to offer to purchase the Notes at a price of (a) 101% of their principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, upon the occurrence of certain change of control events and (b) 100% of their principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, with the proceeds from certain asset dispositions. These restrictions and prohibitions are subject to certain qualifications and exceptions set forth in the Indenture, including without limitation, reinvestment rights with respect to the proceeds of asset dispositions.
Chemours is permitted to redeem some or all of the 2023 Notes and Euro Notes by paying a make-whole premium prior to May 15, 2018. The Company also may redeem some or all of the 2023 Notes and Euro Notes on or after May 15, 2018 and thereafter at specified redemption prices. The Company also may redeem some or all of the 2025 Notes on or after May 15, 2020 at specified redemption prices.
Debt Covenants
Chemours is subject to certain debt covenants that, among other things, limit Chemours and certain of the Chemours subsidiaries to incur indebtedness, pay dividends or make other distributions, prepay, redeem or repurchase certain debt, make loans and investments, sell assets, incur liens, enter into transactions with affiliates and consolidate or merge. These covenants are subject to a number of exceptions and qualifications set forth in the respective agreements. Additionally, under the terms of the credit agreement, Chemours is subject to a maximum consolidated net leverage ratio (calculated by dividing total net debt by EBITDA, both as defined by the credit agreement) of 5.75 to 1.00 until December 31, 2015, and a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio (calculated by dividing EBITDA by interest expense, both as defined by the credit agreement) of 3.00 to 1.00. The Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Notes contain events of default customary for these types of financings, including cross default and cross acceleration provisions to material indebtedness of Chemours.
Chemours is currently in compliance with its debt covenants.
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Credit Ratings
The Company is expected to have the following ratings upon separation:
Standard & Poors | Moodys | |||
Corporate |
BB | Ba3 | ||
Senior Secured Credit Facilities |
BBB- | Ba1 | ||
Senior Unsecured Notes |
BB- | B1 |
Maturities
There are no debt maturities in each of the next seven years, except, in accordance with the credit agreement, Chemours has required principal payments related to the Term Loan Facility of $8 million in 2015 and $15 million each year from 2016 to 2021. Debt maturities related to the Term Loan Facility and the Notes in 2022 and beyond will be $3,905 million.
Near Term Liquidity
Over the next 12 months, Chemours will have significant payments of interest and dividends. We expect to fund these payments through cash generated from operations, available cash and cash equivalents and borrowings under the revolving credit facility. We anticipate that our operations and debt financings arrangements will provide sufficient liquidity over the next 12 months.
Cash Flow
The following table sets forth a summary of the net cash provided by (used for) operating, investing and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 505 | $ | 798 | $ | 1,390 | ||||||
Cash used for investing activities |
(560 | ) | (424 | ) | (429 | ) | ||||||
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities |
55 | (374 | ) | (961 | ) |
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Cash provided by operating activities decreased $293 million in 2014 compared to 2013 primarily due to increased payments of trade accounts payable for raw materials and lower earnings in 2014. The timing of ore purchases with longer payment terms in the second half of 2013 resulted in payments in early 2014 and was the primary influence for the decrease in cash provided by operating activities in 2014. These purchases contributed to the inventory increase of $78 million from December 31, 2012 to December 31, 2013, and the accounts payable increase of $134 million over the same period. In addition, Chemours paid $72 million related to titanium dioxide antitrust litigation in 2014 (see Note 17 to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information).
Cash provided by operating activities decreased $592 million in 2013 compared to 2012 due to lower cash from earnings, which was partially offset by increased cash provided from changes to working capital. Accounts payable increased from higher credit purchases during the fourth quarter of 2013 than during the fourth quarter of 2012 to meet the expected customer demand for titanium dioxide products. Accounts receivable increased due to higher fourth quarter credit sales in 2013 compared to the same period in 2012.
The Companys operating cash flow generation is driven by, among other things, global economic conditions generally and the resulting impact on demand for our products, raw material and energy prices, and industry-specific issues, such as production capacity and utilization. Chemours has generated strong operating cash flow through various industry and economic cycles evidencing the operating strength of our businesses. Over the
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industry cycles in recent years, cash flows from operating activities increased in years leading up to 2011, and have decreased annually since the historical peak profitability achieved in 2011. Despite the challenging market conditions in the TiO2 industry since the historical peak profitability in 2011 and what we believe may have been adverse market conditions in 2013 and 2014, we anticipate that our operations will provide sufficient liquidity in 2015.
Current Assets and Liabilities
Current Assets |
December 31, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Accounts and notes receivable - trade, net |
$ | 846 | $ | 841 | ||||
Inventories |
1,052 | 1,055 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other |
43 | 40 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
21 | 44 | ||||||
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Total current assets |
$ | 1,962 | $ | 1,980 |
As of December 31, 2014, total current assets remained consistent compared to December 31, 2013.
Current Liabilities |
December 31, | |||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 1,046 | $ | 1,057 | ||||
Deferred income taxes |
9 | 9 | ||||||
Other accrued liabilities |
352 | 1,471 | ||||||
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Total current liabilities |
$ | 1,407 | $ | 1,471 |
Current liabilities as of December 31, 2014 decreased $64 million compared to December 31, 2013 primarily due to $72 million related to titanium dioxide anti-trust litigation (See Note 17 to the Combined Financial Statements) for additional information.
Cash Used for Investing Activities
Cash used for investing activities increased $136 million for 2014 compared to the same period in 2013 primarily due to the expansion of Titanium Technologies Altamira plant in Mexico.
Cash used for investing activities in 2013 decreased $5 million compared to 2012. In 2013, there was an $11 million increase in proceeds from sales of assets and businesses largely attributable to a customers election to exercise a put/call option to acquire the entire property and equipment of the Baytown facility. This increase in proceeds from sales of assets and businesses was partially offset by an increase in purchases of property, plant and equipment. The Titanium Technologies segment increased capital expenditures on the expansion of the Altamira plant in Mexico while the Fluoroproducts and Chemical Solutions segments decreased its capital expenditures in 2013.
Purchases of property, plant and equipment totaled $604 million, $438 million, and $432 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Chemours management expects 2015 purchases of property, plant and equipment to be approximately $450 million. Capital expenditures related to the expansion of the Altamira plant were $227 million, $159 million and $78 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012.
Cash provided by (used for) Financing Activities
As DuPont manages Chemours cash and financing arrangements, all excess cash generated through earnings is remitted to DuPont and all sources of cash are funded by DuPont.
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Cash provided by financing activities increased $429 million in 2014 as compared to 2013. Cash provided by operations decreased for the reasons discussed above, resulting in DuPont transferring cash to Chemours. Additionally, the change in cash provided by financing activities was impacted by an increase in purchases of property, plant and equipment of $177 million primarily due to the Altamira expansion.
Cash used for financing activities decreased $587 million in 2013 compared to 2012. Earnings decreased for the reasons discussed above, resulting in less cash transferred to DuPont.
Capital Expenditures
Our operations are capital intensive, requiring ongoing investment to upgrade or enhance existing operations and to meet environmental and operational regulations. Our capital requirements have consisted, and are expected to continue to consist, primarily of:
| ongoing capital expenditures, such as those required to maintain equipment reliability, the integrity and safety of our manufacturing sites and to comply with environmental regulations; |
| investments in our existing facilities to help support introduction of new products and debottleneck to expand capacity and grow our business; |
| investment in projects to reduce future operating costs and enhance productivity |
The following table summarizes ongoing and expansion capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Purchases of property, plant and equipment1 |
$ | 615 | $ | 438 | $ | 432 |
1 | Purchases of property, plant, and equipment includes $11 million of purchases of plant, property and equipment included in accounts payable excluded from the Combined Statements of Cash Flows. |
Capital expenditures as a percentage of our revenue were ten, six and six percent in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The increase in capital expenditures, as a percentage of revenue, from 2013 to 2014 is attributable to the Altamira expansion. For 2015, we expect our capital expenditures to be about approximately $450 million, and then decline in 2016 and 2017 as we finish our Altamira expansion. Once our Altamira project is completed, we anticipate that capital spending will return to more normalized spending of about $300 million per year in total for maintenance and growth.
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Contractual Obligations
Information related to Chemours significant contractual obligations is summarized in the following table:
Total at December 31, 2014 |
Payments Due In | |||||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2015 | 2016 2017 | 2018 2019 | 2020 and Beyond |
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Operating leases |
$ | 278 | $ | 68 | $ | 96 | $ | 62 | $ | 52 | ||||||||||
Purchase obligations1 |
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Raw material obligations |
1,362 | 140 | 135 | 127 | 960 | |||||||||||||||
Utility obligations |
147 | 36 | 36 | 23 | 52 | |||||||||||||||
Other |
28 | 11 | 15 | 2 | | |||||||||||||||
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Purchase obligations, total |
1,537 | 187 | 186 | 152 | 1,012 | |||||||||||||||
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Other liabilities |
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Workers compensation |
40 | 5 | 18 | 8 | 9 | |||||||||||||||
Asset retirement obligations |
43 | | 6 | 2 | 35 | |||||||||||||||
Environmental remediation |
295 | 69 | 95 | 36 | 95 | |||||||||||||||
Legal settlements |
14 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||
Other2 |
34 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 12 | |||||||||||||||
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Other liabilities, total |
426 | 93 | 127 | 51 | 155 | |||||||||||||||
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Total contractual obligations3 |
$ | 2,241 | $ | 348 | $ | 409 | $ | 265 | $ | 1,219 | ||||||||||
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1 | Represents enforceable and legally binding agreements to purchase goods or services that specify fixed or minimum quantities; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the agreement. |
2 | Primarily represents employee-related benefits other than pensions and other long-term employee benefits included in the Combined Balance Sheets. |
3 | Due to uncertainty regarding the completion of tax audits and possible outcomes, the estimate of obligations related to unrecognized tax benefits cannot be made. See Note 8 to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information. |
The above contractual obligations table does not include the $4.0 billion indebtedness and related interest expense which was incurred on May 12, 2015 in conjunction with the planned separation from DuPont. Interest payments related to the total indebtedness are scheduled to be $122 million, $452 million, $449 million and $817 million for 2015, 20162017, 20182019 and 2020 and beyond, respectively. Included in these payments are amounts related to the use fee on the undrawn portion of the senior secured revolving credit facility and the outstanding balance on the senior secured term loan facility, both of which carry variable interest rates. The actual interest payments may vary due to changes in the outstanding balance of the senior secured revolving credit facility as well as changes to the underlying interest rates. Principal payments related to the total indebtedness are scheduled to be $8 million, $30 million, $30 million and $3,935 million for 2015, 20162017, 20182019 and 2020 and beyond, respectively. The actual principal payments may vary due to changes in the outstanding balance of the senior secured revolving credit facility.
Chemours expects to meet its contractual obligations through its normal sources of liquidity and believes it has the financial resources to satisfy these contractual obligations.
Accounting Estimates
Chemours significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 3 to the Combined Financial Statements. Management believes that the application of these policies on a consistent basis enables Chemours to provide users of the financial statements with useful and reliable information about Chemours operating results and financial condition.
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The preparation of the Combined Financial Statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Combined Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses, including allocations of costs as discussed above, during the reporting period. Managements estimates are based on historical experience, facts and circumstances available at the time and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable. Chemours reviews these matters and reflects changes in estimates as appropriate. Management believes that the following represents some of the more critical judgment areas in the application of Chemours accounting policies which could have a material effect on Chemours financial position, liquidity or results of operations.
New Accounting Guidance
See Note 3 to the Combined Financial Statements for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.
Goodwill
The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired, including identified intangibles, in a business combination is recorded as goodwill. Goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually on October 1; however, impairment tests are performed more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset may be impaired. Impairment exists when carrying value exceeds fair value. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is the level of our operating segments.
Evaluating goodwill for impairment is a two-step process. In the first step, Chemours compares the carrying value of net assets to the fair value of the related operations. Chemours estimates the fair value of its reporting units using the income approach based on the present value of future cash flows. The factors considered in determining the cash flows include: 1) macroeconomic conditions; 2) industry and market considerations; 3) costs of raw materials, labor or other costs having a negative effect on earnings and cash flows; 4) overall financial performance; and 5) other relevant entity-specific events. If the fair value is determined to be less than the carrying value, a second step is performed to compute the amount of the impairment. In 2014 and 2013, Chemours performed impairment tests for goodwill and determined that no goodwill impairment existed and the fair value of each reporting unit substantially exceeded its carrying value.
Valuation of Assets
The assets and liabilities of acquired businesses are measured at their estimated fair values at the dates of acquisition. The determination and allocation of fair value to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is based on various assumptions and valuation methodologies requiring considerable management judgment, including estimates based on historical information, current market data and future expectations. The principal assumptions utilized in Chemours valuation methodologies include revenue growth rates, operating margin estimates, royalty rates and discount rates. Although the estimates are deemed reasonable by management based on information available at the dates of acquisition, those estimates are inherently uncertain.
Assessment of potential impairment of property, plant and equipment, other intangible assets and investments in affiliates is an integral part of Chemours normal ongoing review of operations. Chemours evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets to be held and used when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. For purposes of recognition or measurement of an impairment loss, the assessment is performed at the lowest level for which independent cash flows can be identified, which varies, but can range from the reporting unit level to the individual production facility level. To determine the level at which the assessment is performed, Chemours considers factors such as revenue dependency, shared costs and the extent of vertical integration.
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The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the total projected undiscounted cash flows from the asset are separately identifiable and are less than its carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset. The fair value methodology used is an estimate of fair market value which is made based on prices of similar assets or other valuation methodologies including present value techniques. Long-lived assets to be disposed of other than by sale are classified as held for use until their disposal. Long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale are classified as held for sale and are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair market value less cost to sell. Depreciation is discontinued for long-lived assets classified as held for sale.
Testing for potential impairment of these assets is significantly dependent on numerous assumptions and reflects managements best estimates at a particular point in time. The dynamic economic environments in which Chemours segments operate, and key economic and business assumptions with respect to projected selling prices, market growth and inflation rates, can significantly affect the outcome of impairment tests. Estimates based on these assumptions may differ significantly from actual results. Changes in factors and assumptions used in assessing potential impairments can have a significant impact on the existence and magnitude of impairments, as well as the time in which such impairments are recognized. In addition, Chemours continually reviews its diverse portfolio of assets to ensure they are achieving their greatest potential and are aligned with Chemours growth strategy. Strategic decisions involving a particular group of assets may trigger an assessment of the recoverability of the related assets. Such an assessment could result in impairment losses. During 2012, Chemours recorded an asset impairment charge of $33 million to adjust the carrying value of an asset group to its fair value. See Note 6 to the Combined Financial Statements for additional details related to this charge.
Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures
Environmental liabilities and expenditures included in the Combined Financial Statements represent claims for matters for which Chemours will indemnify DuPont. Accruals for environmental matters are recorded in cost of goods sold when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Accrued liabilities do not include claims against third parties and are not discounted.
Costs related to environmental remediation are charged to expense in the period incurred. Other environmental costs are also charged to expense in the period incurred, unless they increase the value of the property or reduce or prevent contamination from future operations, in which case, they are capitalized and amortized.
Litigation
Litigation liabilities and expenditures included in the Combined Financial Statements represent litigation matters for which Chemours will indemnify DuPont. Accruals for litigation matters are made when the information available indicates that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Legal costs such as outside counsel fees and expenses are charged to expense in the period services are received.
Income Taxes
Income taxes as presented herein attribute current and deferred income taxes of DuPont to Chemours stand-alone financial statements in a manner that is systematic, rational, and consistent with the asset and liability method prescribed by Accounting Standards Codification 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740), issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Accordingly, Chemours income tax provision was prepared following the separate return method. The separate return method applies ASC 740 to the stand-alone financial statements of each member of the consolidated group as if the group member were a separate taxpayer and a stand-alone enterprise. As a result, actual tax transactions included in the consolidated financial statements of DuPont may not be included in the separate Combined Financial Statements of Chemours. Similarly, the tax treatment of certain items reflected in the separate Combined Financial Statements of Chemours may not be reflected in the
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consolidated financial statements and tax returns of DuPont; therefore, such items as net operating losses, credit carryforwards, and valuation allowances may exist in the stand-alone financial statements that may or may not exist in DuPonts consolidated financial statements.
The breadth of Chemours operations and the global complexity of tax regulations require assessments of uncertainties and judgments in estimating the taxes that Chemours will ultimately pay. The final taxes paid are dependent upon many factors, including negotiations with taxing authorities in various jurisdictions, outcomes of tax litigation and resolution of disputes arising from federal, state and international tax audits in the normal course of business.
The provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes. Under this approach, deferred taxes represent the future tax consequences expected to occur when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid. The provision for income taxes represents income taxes paid or payable for the current year plus the change in deferred taxes during the year. Deferred taxes result from differences between the financial and tax basis of Chemours assets and liabilities and are adjusted for changes in tax rates and tax laws when changes are enacted. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. It is Chemours policy to include accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in miscellaneous income and expenses, net, under other income, net. It is Chemours policy for income tax related penalties to be included in the provision for income taxes.
In general, the taxable income (loss) of various Chemours entities was included in DuPonts consolidated tax returns, where applicable, in jurisdictions around the world. As such, separate income tax returns were not prepared for many Chemours entities. Consequently, income taxes currently payable are deemed to have been remitted to DuPont, in cash, in the period the liability arose and income taxes currently receivable are deemed to have been received from DuPont in the period that a refund could have been recognized by Chemours had Chemours been a separate taxpayer.
As stated in Note 2 to the Combined Financial Statements, the operations comprising Chemours are in various legal entities which have no direct ownership relationship. Consequently, no provision has been made for income taxes on unremitted earnings of subsidiaries and affiliates.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Certain Guarantee Contracts
Information with respect to Chemours guarantees is included in Note 17 to the Combined Financial Statements. Historically, Chemours has not made significant payments to satisfy guarantee obligations; however, Chemours believes it has the financial resources to satisfy these guarantees.
Long-term Employee Benefits
DuPont offers various benefits to Chemours employees and retirees. DuPont maintains retirement-related programs in many countries that have a long-term impact on Chemours earnings and cash flows. DuPont offers plans that are shared amongst its businesses, including Chemours. In these cases, the participation of employees in these plans is reflected in these financial statements as though Chemours participates in a multiemployer plan with DuPont. A proportionate share of the cost is reflected in these Combined Financial Statements. Assets and liabilities are retained by DuPont. Further information on DuPonts plans is included in DuPonts annual report. As of the separation date, Chemours expects to record the net periodic benefit obligations for any plans that are transferred from DuPont. See Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements for additional information.
Chemours will not continue to participate in the U.S. defined benefit plans post separation. DuPont will retain all liabilities related to its U.S. pension plans post separation.
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These plans are typically defined benefit pension plans, as well as medical, dental and life insurance benefits for pensioners and survivors and disability benefits for employees (other long-term employee benefits). Approximately 69 percent of Chemours worldwide allocation of benefit costs for pensions and essentially all of Chemours worldwide allocated costs for other long-term employee benefit obligations are attributable to the U.S. benefit plans. Pension coverage for employees of Chemours non-U.S. combined subsidiaries is provided, to the extent deemed appropriate, through separate plans. DuPont regularly explores alternative solutions to meet its global pension obligations in the most cost-effective manner possible as demographics, life expectancy and country-specific pension funding rules change. Where permitted by applicable law, DuPont reserves the right to change, modify or discontinue its plans that provide pension, medical, dental, life insurance and disability benefits.
The majority of employees hired in the U.S. on or after January 1, 2007 are not eligible to participate in DuPonts pension and post-retirement medical, dental and life insurance plans, but receive benefits in its defined contribution plans.
In January 2012, DuPont contributed approximately $110 million to the principal U.S. pension plan representing an allocation of the contribution in respect of Chemours employees and retirees and no such contributions were made in 2013 or 2014. In 2015, DuPonts contributions on behalf of Chemours to its principal U.S. pension plan are expected to be less than $12 million.
Funding for each pension plan is governed by the rules of the sovereign country in which it operates. Thus, there is not necessarily a direct correlation between pension funding and pension expense. In general, however, an improvement in a plans funded status tend to moderate subsequent funding needs. DuPont contributed, in respect of Chemours employees and retirees, $35 million in 2014 and $34 million in 2013 and 2012 to its pension plans other than the principal U.S. pension plan.
DuPonts other long-term employee benefits are unfunded. DuPont contributed, in respect of Chemours employees and retirees, pre-tax cash requirements to cover actual net claims costs and related administrative expenses for $66 million, $58 million and $66 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. This amount is expected to be about $66 million in 2015. Changes in cash requirements reflect the net impact of higher per capita health care costs, demographic changes, plan amendments and changes in participant premiums, co-pays and deductibles.
Chemours income can be significantly affected by allocated costs for pension and defined contribution benefits as well as other long-term employee benefits provided by DuPont. The following table summarizes the extent to which Chemours income over each of the last three years was affected by allocated pre-tax charges related to long-term employee benefits:
(Dollars in millions) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Long-term employee benefit plan charges1 |
$ | 68 | $ | 164 | $ | 169 |
1 | The figures in this table represent the allocation of costs to Chemours, which were allocated based on active employee headcount. These figures do not represent cash payments to DuPont or DuPonts plans. |
See DuPonts 2014 10-K for additional information on the financial status of DuPonts significant plans.
Environmental Matters
Environmental Expenses
Environmental expenses charged to current operations include environmental operating costs and the increase in the remediation accrual, if any, during the period reported. As a result of its operations, Chemours incurs costs for pollution abatement activities including waste collection and disposal, installation and maintenance of air
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pollution controls and wastewater treatment, emissions testing and monitoring, and obtaining permits. Chemours also incurs costs for environmental related research and development activities including environmental field and treatment studies as well as toxicity and degradation testing to evaluate the environmental impact of products and raw materials. Management expects that such expenses in 2015 will be comparable to 2014 and, therefore, does not believe that year over year changes, if any, in environmental expenses charged to current operations will have a material impact on Chemours financial position, liquidity or results of operations.
Remediation Accrual
Changes in the remediation accrual balance are summarized below.
Annual expenditures in the near future are not expected to vary significantly from the range of such expenditures incurred in the past few years. Longer term, expenditures are subject to considerable uncertainty and may fluctuate significantly.
(Dollars in millions) | ||||
Balance at December 31, 2012 |
$ | 270 | ||
Remediation payments |
(36 | ) | ||
Increase in remediation accrual |
40 | |||
|
|
|||
Balance at December 31, 2013 |
$ | 274 | ||
Remediation payments |
(38 | ) | ||
Increase in remediation accrual |
59 | |||
|
|
|||
Balance at December 31, 2014 |
$ | 295 | ||
|
|
Chemours is also subject to contingencies pursuant to environmental laws and regulations that in the future may require further action to correct the effects on the environment of prior disposal practices or releases of chemical or petroleum substances by Chemours or other parties. Chemours accrues for environmental remediation activities consistent with the policy as described in Note 3 to the Combined Financial Statements. Much of this liability results from CERCLA, the RCRA and similar state and global laws. These laws require certain investigative, remediation and restoration activities at sites where Chemours conducts or once conducted operations or at sites where Chemours-generated waste was disposed. The accrual also includes estimated costs related to a number of sites identified for which it is probable that environmental remediation will be required, but which are not currently the subject of enforcement activities.
As of December 31, 2014, Chemours, through DuPont, has been notified of potential liability under the CERCLA or similar state laws at about 171 sites around the U.S., including approximately 22 sites for which Chemours does not believe it has liability based on current information. Active remediation is under way at approximately 55 of these sites. In addition, at December 31, 2014, liability at approximately 53 sites, has been resolved either by completing remedial actions with other Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) or participating in de minimis buyouts with other PRPs whose waste, like Chemours, represented only a small fraction of the total waste present at a site. The Company received notice of potential liability at one new site during 2014 compared with four similar notices in 2013 and 2012 collectively.
At December 31, 2014, the Combined Balance Sheet included a liability of $295 million relating to these matters which, in managements opinion, is appropriate based on existing facts and circumstances. The average time-frame over which the accrued or presently unrecognized amounts may be paid, based on past history, is estimated to be 15 to 20 years. Remediation activities vary substantially in duration and cost from site to site. These activities, and their associated costs, depend on the mix of unique site characteristics, evolving remediation technologies, diverse regulatory agencies and enforcement policies, as well as the presence or absence of other potentially responsible parties. In addition, Chemours, through DuPont, has limited available information for certain sites or is in the early stages of discussions with regulators. For these sites in particular there may be considerable variability between the remediation activities that are currently being undertaken or planned, as reflected in the liability recorded at December 31, 2014, and the ultimate actions that could be required.
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Therefore, considerable uncertainty exists with respect to environmental remediation costs and, under adverse changes in circumstances, the potential liability may range up to approximately $650 million above the amount accrued at December 31, 2014. Except for Pompton Lakes, which is discussed further below, based on existing facts and circumstances, management does not believe that any loss, in excess of amounts accrued, related to remediation activities at any individual site will have a material impact on the financial position, liquidity or results of operations of Chemours.
Pompton Lakes
The environmental remediation accrual of $295 million at December 31, 2014 and $274 million at December 31, 2013 includes $86 million and $78 million, respectively, related to activities at Chemours site in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey. Management believes that it is reasonably possible that potential liability for remediation activities at this site could range up to $116 million, including previously accrued amounts. This could have a material impact on the liquidity of Chemours in the period recognized. However, management does not believe this would have a material adverse effect on Chemours combined financial position, liquidity and results of operations. During the twentieth century, DuPont manufactured blasting caps, fuses and related materials at Pompton Lakes. Operating activities at the site were ceased in the mid 1990s. Primary contaminants in the soil and sediments are lead and mercury. Ground water contaminants include volatile organic compounds.
Under the authority of the EPA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, remedial actions at the site are focused on investigating and cleaning up the area. Ground water monitoring at the site is ongoing and Chemours, through DuPont, has installed and continues to install vapor mitigation systems at residences within the ground water plume. In addition, Chemours, through DuPont, is further assessing ground water plume/vapor intrusion delineation. In November 2014, the EPA announced a proposed remediation plan that would require Chemours to dredge mercury contamination from a 36 acre area of the lake and remove sediment from two other areas of the lake near the shoreline. The plan is subject to notice and comment. Chemours expects to spend approximately $60 million over the next three years, which is included in the remediation accrual at December 31, 2014, in connection with remediation activities at Pompton Lakes, including activities related to the EPAs proposed plan.
Environmental Capital Expenditures
As of December 31, 2014, Chemours spent approximately $40 million on environmental capital projects either required by law or necessary to meet Chemours internal environmental goals. Chemours currently estimates spending for environmental-related capital projects to be approximately $34 million in 2015. In the U.S., additional capital expenditures are expected to be required over the next decade for treatment, storage and disposal facilities for solid and hazardous waste and for compliance with the Clean Air Act (CAA). Until all CAA regulatory requirements are established and known, considerable uncertainty will remain regarding estimates for future capital expenditures. However, management does not believe that the costs to comply with these requirements will have a material impact on the financial position or liquidity of Chemours.
ITEM 7A. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
Derivatives and Other Hedging Instruments
Fluctuations in the value of the USD compared to foreign currencies may impact Chemours earnings. Chemours participates in DuPonts foreign currency hedging program to reduce earnings volatility associated with remeasurement of foreign currency denominated net monetary assets.
DuPont formally documents the hedge relationships, including identification of the hedging instruments and the hedged items, the risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transactions, and the methodologies used to assess effectiveness and measure ineffectiveness. Realized gains and losses on derivative instruments of DuPont are allocated by DuPont to Chemours based on projected exposure. Chemours recognizes
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its allocable share of the gains and losses on DuPonts derivative financial instruments in earnings when the forecasted purchases occur for natural gas hedges and when the forecasted sales occur for foreign currency hedges.
As disclosed on page F-13, the impact on Chemours participation in the foreign currency hedging program were gains of $4 million in 2014, $0 million in 2013 and $6 million in 2012. In relation to the parent sponsored program, Chemours was less than five percent of the program participation in the recent three fiscal years. Therefore, a ten percent change in rates on the parent sponsored program would have had an immaterial impact to cash flows and net income of Chemours for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
Chemours does not hold or issue financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes. Chemours does not hold, nor has it held, any derivative financial instruments, other financial instruments or derivative commodity instruments. Chemours will however evaluate and possibly enter into forward exchange contracts and other financial instruments to help mitigate the adverse impact of currency rate fluctuations on its earnings.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Chemours sales are not materially dependent on any single customer. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, no one individual customer balance represented more than five percent of Chemours total outstanding receivables balance. Credit risk associated with Chemours receivables balance is representative of the geographic, industry and customer diversity associated with Chemours global businesses. As a result of our customer base being widely dispersed, we do not believe our exposure to credit-related losses related to our business as of December 31, 2014 was material.
Chemours also maintains strong credit controls in evaluating and granting customer credit. As a result, it may require that customers provide some type of financial guarantee in certain circumstances. Length of terms for customer credit varies by industry and region.
Commodities Risk
A portion of our products and raw materials are commodities whose prices fluctuate as market supply and demand fundamentals change. Accordingly, product margins and the level of our profitability tend to fluctuate with changes in the business cycle. Chemours tries to protect against such instability through various business strategies. These include provisions in sales contracts allowing us to pass on higher raw material costs through timely price increases and formula price contracts to transfer or share commodity price risk. Chemours did not have any commodity derivative instruments in place as of December 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013.
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Chemours is a leading global provider of performance chemicals through three reporting segments: Titanium Technologies, Fluoroproducts and Chemical Solutions. Our performance chemicals are key inputs into products and processes in a variety of industries. Our Titanium Technologies segment is the leading global producer of TiO2, a premium white pigment used to deliver opacity. Our Fluoroproducts segment is a leading global provider of fluoroproducts, such as refrigerants and industrial fluoropolymer resins. Our Chemical Solutions segment is a leading North American provider of industrial and specialty chemicals used in gold production, oil refining, agriculture, industrial polymers and other industries. Our position with each of these businesses reflects the strong value proposition we provide to our customers based on our long history of innovation and our reputation within the chemical industry for safety, quality and reliability. For additional information see Notes 19 and 20 to the Combined Financial Statements.
We operate 37 production facilities located in 12 countries and serve several thousand customers located in more than 130 countries. The following chart illustrates the global reach of our business:
2014 Sales by Region
On October 24, 2013, DuPont announced its intention to separate its Performance Chemicals segment , which includes its titanium technologies, fluoroproducts and chemical solutions businesses. In furtherance of this plan, DuPont intends to distribute to its stockholders all of the issued and outstanding shares of Chemours common stock. The date of the distribution is currently anticipated to be July 1, 2015, pending final approval from DuPonts board of directors. The distribution is intended to be U.S. tax-free to Chemours, DuPont and their U.S. stockholders. As a result of the distribution, Chemours will become an independent, publicly traded company. Completion of the transaction is subject to certain conditions, which are set forth in the section entitled The Distribution Conditions to the Distribution.
Chemours is committed to creating value for our customers through the reliable delivery of high quality products and services which enable lifestyle improvements around the globe. In short, we help create a colorful, capable and cleaner world through the power of chemistry. We intend to grow our value to customers and stockholders through (i) operational excellence and asset efficiency, which includes our commitment to safety and environmental stewardship, (ii) strong customer focus to produce innovative, high-performance products, (iii) focus on cash flow generation and return on invested capital through optimization of our cost structure, improvement in working capital and supply chain efficiencies, (iv) organic growth based on leveraging our leadership, (v) expansion in emerging markets and (vi) creation of an organization that is committed to our corporate values of safety, customer appreciation, simplicity, collective entrepreneurship and integrity.
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Competitive Strengths
Our competitive strengths include the following:
Leading Global Market Positions
We are the largest global producer of TiO2, with annual TiO2 capacity of approximately 1.2 million metric tons. We are in the process of expanding capacity at our Altamira, Mexico production facility by 200,000 metric tons. Production at the expansion is scheduled to start up in mid-2016. Each of our TiO2 production facilities ranks among those with the largest capacity globally, and our production facilities at New Johnsonville, Tennessee and DeLisle, Mississippi are the two largest capacity TiO2 production facilities in the world. We believe that our world-scale assets, consistent quality and delivery reliability differentiate us from our competitors in the TiO2 market.
We are the market leader in fluoroproducts, with leading positions in fluorinated refrigerants, and industrial fluoropolymer resins and downstream products. We have a leading position in HFC refrigerants and are at the forefront of developing high-performance sustainable technologies such as our low GWP HFO refrigerants and foam expansion agents. We are also the market leader in industrial fluoropolymer resins and downstream products and coatings, marketed under the well-known Teflon® brand name. Teflon® industrial resins are used in high-performance wire and cable and multiple components in high-tech processing equipment.
We are the leading producer of solid sodium cyanide (primarily used in gold production) in the Americas. We lead in production capability, product stewardship offerings and distribution capabilities. We are the largest provider of sulfuric acid regeneration in the U.S. Northeast and the second largest provider in the U.S. Gulf Coast. In North America, we maintain market leading positions in aniline (primarily used to make polyurethane) and glycolic acid (primarily used in personal care products). We also have a strong market position in disinfectants used for water sanitization, animal health and bio-security.
Our market-leading positions are due to the scale and scope of our operations, our outstanding process technology, our differentiated products, our competitive pricing and efficient manufacturing base and long-standing partnerships with our customers.
Industry-leading Cost Structure
We produce our products in cost-efficient manufacturing facilities that utilize proprietary process technologies to help drive our industry-leading cost structure. We continue to focus on increasing manufacturing efficiencies and mitigating cost inflation through process improvements, selected capital investments and adoption of best practices.
Our Titanium Technologies segment, in particular, has high asset productivity. Our proprietary TiO2 process technology allows us to optimize the use of a variety of titanium-bearing ore types, providing us with a cost advantage. Our world-scale TiO2 production facilities provide significant economies of scale. We operate large individual production lines at high utilization rates. The scale of our production facilities combined with our process technology capabilities, has allowed us to achieve one of the lowest manufacturing costs per unit in the industry over a sustained period of time. Our new Altamira, Mexico TiO2 production line is expected to be one of the lowest cost production lines in the world. In addition, we continually strive to improve our productivity and optimize our capacity by applying our engineering and manufacturing technology expertise to our production facilities.
Our leading fluoroproducts capacity, innovative production processes, effective supply chain and sourcing strategies make us highly cost competitive also in the fluoroproducts market. Our use of local contract manufacturing and joint venture partners in selected countries as a source of regional access and asset-light manufacturing (where possible) further enhances the overall cost position of our Fluoroproducts segment.
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In Chemical Solutions, we believe we have highly attractive cost and asset positions within our cyanides, sulfur, and clean and disinfect businesses as a result of our proprietary process technologies, manufacturing scale, efficient supply chain processes, and proximity to large customers.
Leading Technology and Intellectual Property
As part of our DuPont heritage, our businesses have a long history of delivering innovative and high-quality products. We expect sustained technology leadership to be a key differentiator for Chemours, as the majority of our products are critical inputs that significantly impact the functionality, performance and quality of our customers products. Our product offerings are enhanced by application technology scientists and laboratories across the globe, whose goal it is to deliver formulation improvements to help our customers achieve lower costs, better performance and higher overall value-in-use from our products compared to those of our competitors.
In our Titanium Technologies segment, we commercialized the chloride process for TiO2 production in 1953, providing products with better opacity and superior whiteness due to lower impurities, and generating lower waste and byproducts than the traditional sulfate production technology. Currently, we are one of the limited number of TiO2 producers with rights to chloride process for production of TiO2. We believe that our proprietary chloride technology enables us to operate plants at a much higher capacity than other chloride technology based TiO2 producers, uniquely utilizing a broad spectrum of titanium bearing ore feedstocks and achieving the highest unit margins in our industry. Our R&D and technology efforts focus on improving production processes, developing and yielding TiO2 grades that help customers achieve optimal performance. In our Fluoroproducts segment, we pioneered fluorine chemistry and invented PTFE, as well as developed the first generation of refrigeration agents in the first half of the 20th century. Our continuing innovation focus places us at the forefront of industry and regulatory changes with a focus on sustainable solutions. In fluoroproducts, we led the industry in the Montreal-Protocol (1987) driven transition from CFCs to the lesser ozone depleting HCFCs, and non-ozone depleting HFCs. In 1988 we committed to cease production of CFCs and started manufacturing non-ozone depleting HFCs in the early 1990s. Driven by new and emerging environmental legislations and standards currently being implemented across the U.S., Europe, Latin America and Japan, we are now developing and commercializing Opteon®, a HFO based refrigerant with very low GWP and zero ODP, for air conditioning, refrigeration and other applications. This new patented technology offers similar functionality to current HFC products but meets or exceeds currently mandated environmental standards. Like Titanium Technologies and Fluoroproducts, our Chemical Solutions segment has strong technical capabilities and a reputation for its ability to manage hazardous materials. This ability is a key competitive advantage for Chemical Solutions, as several of its products end-users demand the highest level of excellence in the safe manufacturing, handling and shipping of the materials. Chemical Solutions also holds and occasionally licenses what it believes to be the leading process technologies for the production of aniline, acrylonitrile and hydrogen / sodium cyanide.
Our technological advantage is supported by our intellectual property portfolio of trade secrets, patents and protected innovations, covering process technologies, product formulations and various end-use applications. We maintain a world-renowned trademark portfolio, including the widely recognized brands Ti-Pure® and Vantage® for titanium dioxide products, Suva®, ISCEON®, Freon®, Opteon®, Teflon®, Tefzel®, Viton®, Krytox®, Formacel®, Dymel®, FM 200®, Nafion®, Capstone® for fluoroproducts, and Virkon® and Oxone® for Chemical Solutions.
Geographically Diverse Revenue Base Well-Positioned to Capitalize on Economic Growth
Demand for TiO2 comes from the coatings, paper and plastics industries and is highly correlated to growth in the global residential housing, commercial construction and packaging markets. Over the long-term, global TiO2 demand has grown in line with GDP. Growth in emerging markets, including China, however, may be greater than GDP-level growth due in part to the rising middle class in such markets, which has become a key driver of demand for end products that use our TiO2.
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We believe our Fluoroproducts segment, particularly through its low-GWP and zero-ODP products, will benefit from regulatory changes requiring phase-out and phase-downs of less sustainable incumbent products resulting in attractive margins and industry structure during sunset periods. In addition, customers continually require innovative next generation advanced materials, particularly industrial fluoropolymer resins, driving new product development and growth. We believe fluoroproducts demand growth in developed markets will be in line with global GDP, whereas demand growth in emerging markets will be higher than GDP. We also believe fluorochemicals growth will be driven by country-specific legislation phasing-down the current HFC-based refrigerants for which the new HFO-based products and blends are functional substitutes with a low environmental footprint. For fluoropolymers, we believe growth will be driven by the extension of higher performance applications in developed markets to developing markets, e.g. aerospace, automotive, electronics and communications and semiconductors in China.
Our Chemical Solutions segment serves customers in a diverse range of end markets that we believe generally grow in line with global GDP.
Long Standing and Diverse Customer Base
We serve approximately 5,000 customers across a wide range of end markets in more than 130 countries. Many of our commercial and industrial relationships have been in place for decades and are based on our proven value proposition of safely and reliably supplying our customers with the materials needed for their operations. Our customers are comprised of a diverse group of companies, many of which are leaders in their respective industries. Our sales are not materially dependent on any single customer. As of December 31, 2014, no one individual customer balance represented more than five percent of Chemours total outstanding receivables balance and no single customer represented more than ten percent of our sales.
Knowledge of our customers business needs is at the core of our innovative processes and forms the basis of our product development initiatives. We work closely with our customers to optimize their formulations and products. We also provide ongoing technical support services to these customers, which helps them to maximize the effectiveness of our advanced performance products.
Strong Management Team with Deep Industry Experience
Chemours has a strong executive management team that combines in-depth industry experience and demonstrated leadership. Mark Vergnano, our Chief Executive Officer, previously served as Executive Vice President of DuPont since 2009. His prior experience includes 35 years in a variety of general management, manufacturing and technical leadership positions, including vice president and general manager for DuPont Nonwovens, DuPont Building Innovations and group vice president of DuPont Safety & Protection. Mark Newman, our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, previously served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of SunCoke Energy Inc. Prior to his time at SunCoke, Mr. Newman served in a number of senior operating and finance leadership roles in the U.S. and China, primarily with the General Motors Corporation where he began his career in 1986. Chemours segment presidents are B.C. Chong, Thierry Vanlancker and Chris Siemer, each of whom has been in chemical industry leadership positions for more than twenty-five years. Mr. Chong has served as president of DuPonts Titanium Technologies business since 2011. Previously, he held leadership positions in manufacturing operations, new business development, strategic planning and sales and marketing. Mr. Vanlancker was named president of DuPonts Fluoroproducts and Chemical Solutions business in 2012. He brings over a decade of experience in managing fluoro-based businesses and has held leadership positions in general management and sales and marketing. Mr. Siemer joined DuPont in 2010 and has managed global industrial and specialty chemical business portfolios for more than twenty years.
In addition to our strong executive management team, we have an experienced group of employees who work to maintain our leading market positions with their commitment to safe and efficient production, technology leadership, expansion of product offerings and customer relationships.
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Cash Flow Generation
We believe that after the separation we will have a balance sheet supported by a world class asset base, adequate liquidity and substantial undrawn revolving credit facility, no pension or Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) plans in the U.S. (except for a frozen non-qualified pension restoration plan and a U.S. OPEB plan sponsored by an unconsolidated equity investment) and minimal unfunded non-U.S. pension liability. We expect our EBITDA to increase over time through low-cost incremental production and/or overall unit cost reductions from Chemours TiO2 capacity expansion at its Altamira site, potential upside from an anticipated cyclical recovery in TiO2, EU-mandated environmental regulations driving conversion to refrigerants with low GWP, and our focus on productivity improvements. The completion of the Altamira expansion in mid-2016 will meaningfully reduce our annual capital expenditures.
Our operating cash flow generation is driven by, among other things, global economic conditions generally and the resulting impact on demand for our products, raw material and energy prices, and industry-specific issues, such as production capacity and utilization. We have generated strong operating cash flow through various industry and economic cycles evidencing the operating strength of our businesses. Over the industry cycles in recent years, cash flows from operating activities increased in the years leading up to 2011, and have declined annually since the historical peak profitability achieved in 2011. Despite challenging market conditions in the TiO2 industry since achieving a historical peak in terms of profitability in 2011 and what are believed to be relatively weak market conditions in 2013 and 2014, we have generated strong operating cash flow. For each of the past four fiscal years, Chemours has generated cash flows from operating activities in excess of $500 million, with such cash flows averaging approximately $1 billion per year. See our disclosure under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Liquidity & Capital Resources.
Capital expenditures have on average equaled approximately $460 million per year during the past four years. A significant increase in each of the past three fiscal years was due to expenditures relating to the expansion of the TiO2 production facility at Altamira, Mexico. We expect our capital expenditures to be reduced in 2016 and in the near term thereafter due to the completion of the Altamira expansion, which should further bolster our free cash flow as the new capacity is expected to come online in mid-2016.
Business Strategies
Continue to Drive Operational Excellence and Asset Efficiency
Operational excellence, which includes a commitment to safety, environmental stewardship and improved reliability, is key to our future success. We continually evaluate our business to identify opportunities to increase operational efficiency throughout our production facilities with a focus on maintaining operational excellence and maximizing asset efficiency. We continue to set new, stricter operational excellence targets for each of our facilities based on industry-leading benchmarks. We intend to continue focusing on increasing manufacturing efficiencies through selected capital projects, process improvements and best practices in order to lower unit costs. We will also carefully manage our portfolio, especially in our Chemical Solutions segment, and take appropriate actions to address product lines that face challenging market conditions and do not generate returns on invested capital that we believe are sufficient to create long-term shareholder value.
Focus on Cash Flow Generation
Our goal is to focus on cash flow generation and return on invested capital through the continuing optimization of our cost structure, improvement in working capital and supply chain efficiencies, and a disciplined approach to capital expenditures.
We have a proven track record of mitigating fixed cost inflation with cost saving actions and productivity improvements. We intend to continue to identify incremental cost saving opportunities based in large part on benchmarks of industry-leading performance and productivity improvements by utilizing our engineering and
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manufacturing technology expertise and partnerships with low cost producers. Our goal is to maintain a cost structure that positions us favorably to compete and grow. Our goal is to continue upgrading our customer and product mix to increase our sales of value-added, differentiated products to achieve premium pricing to improve margins and enhance cash flow.
We intend to actively manage our working capital by increasing inventory turnover and reducing finished goods and raw materials inventory without affecting our ability to deliver products to our customers. We strive to improve our supply chain efficiency by focusing on reducing both operating costs and working capital needs. Our supply chain efforts to lower operating costs have consisted of reducing procurement spending, lowering transportation and warehouse costs and optimizing production scheduling.
We remain focused on disciplined capital allocation among our segments. We plan to allocate our capital expenditures to projects required to enhance the reliability of our manufacturing operations and maintain the overall asset portfolio. This includes key maintenance and repair activities in each segment, and necessary regulatory and maintenance spending to ensure safe operations. We intend to optimize capital spending on growth projects across our various businesses based on a thorough comparison of risk-adjusted returns for each project.
Maintain Strong Customer Focus
A key component of our strategy is to produce innovative, high-performance products that offer enhanced value propositions to our customers at competitive prices. Our goal is to continually work closely with our customers to provide solutions and products that optimize their formulations and products. This market-driven product development enables us to offer a high-quality product portfolio to our customers and provides our businesses with the ability to respond quickly and efficiently to changes in market demands.
Leverage our Leadership to Drive Organic Growth
We plan to continue to capitalize on our global operations network, distribution infrastructure and technology to pursue global growth. We will focus our efforts on those geographic areas and end products that we believe offer the most attractive growth and long-term profitability prospects.
Our strategy in our Titanium Technologies segment is to continue to strengthen our leading position from both product offering and cost perspective in order to increase the segments sales and profitability. We intend to continue to position Chemours as the preferred supplier of TiO2 worldwide by delivering the highest quality product offering to our customers coupled with superior technical expertise. We are currently expanding capacity at our Altamira, Mexico production facility, which will increase our global capacity by more than 15 percent and will be one of the lowest cost TiO2 production lines in the world. Production at the expansion is scheduled to start up in mid-2016.
Our Fluoroproducts segment plans to make ongoing, selective investments to capitalize on market opportunities based on our innovation capabilities and industry dynamics. We intend to continue to leverage our fluoroproducts and process expertise to develop new high-performance, differentiated offerings and to promote industry transition towards more sustainable technologies. Specifically, our strategy is to focus on development of proprietary, high-value, sustainable specialties (for example, Opteon® YF and HFO-1336, which are designed to meet tighter regulatory standards and replace commodity HFC refrigerants or foaming agents).
Our Chemical Solutions segment intends to capitalize on potential growth opportunities in businesses in which we have strong regional positions, e.g. sulfuric acid and sodium cyanide. We plan to make selective capital investments to grow our sulfur products and sodium cyanide businesses, in which we have leading market positions in the Americas, and to take initiatives to improve profitability in the remainder of the businesses in our Chemical Solutions segment.
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Deepen Our Presence in Emerging Markets
Emerging markets are a strategic priority for a number of our businesses. We are well positioned not only to leverage our strong market positions in mature but highly sophisticated markets in North America and Europe, but also to participate in the expected growth of emerging markets in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. We believe that improving living standards and growth in GDP across emerging markets are combining to create increased demand for our products. We expect to capitalize on this growth opportunity by expanding our customer base and local capabilities in order to increase our market share across emerging markets, especially China. To accelerate our penetration of these markets and maintain our competitive cost position, we may develop relationships with leading local partners, especially in businesses where participation in the fast-growing Chinese market is particularly important for long-term sustainable growth. For example, we are well positioned to leverage our strong production technology in our industrial fluoropolymers resins business, where the Chinese market is expected to continue to evolve from low-end fluoropolymer applications to higher value PTFE, copolymer and fluoroelastomer products, as a result of an increasing percentage of aerospace, automotive, semiconductor, electronics and telecommunications manufacturing transitions to China.
Drive Organizational Alignment
We believe that maintaining alignment of the efforts of our employees with our overall business strategy and operational excellence goals is critical to our success. We have outstanding people and assets and, with the commitment to values of safety, customer appreciation, simplicity, collective entrepreneurship and integrity, we believe that we can maintain our competitiveness and help achieve our operational excellence and asset efficiency strategic objectives.
Titanium Technologies Segment
Our Titanium Technologies segment is the leading global manufacturer of TiO2. TiO2 is a pigment used to deliver whiteness, opacity, brightness and protection from sunlight in applications such as architectural and industrial coatings, flexible and rigid plastic packaging, PVC window profiles, laminate papers, coated paper and coated paperboard used for packaging. We sell our TiO2 products under the Ti-Pure® brand name to approximately 850 customers globally. We believe our leading competitive position is the result of our industry-leading manufacturing cost position as well as our ability to offer superior product quality, delivery reliability and high quality technical services. We operate five TiO2 production facilities: three in the United States, one in Mexico and another in Taiwan. In addition, we have a large-scale repackaging and distribution facility in Belgium and operate a mineral sands mining operation in Starke, Florida. In total, we have a TiO2 production capacity of 1.2 million metric tons per year. We are currently expanding our TiO2 production facility in Altamira, Mexico which will increase our total TiO2 production capacity to 1.4 million metric tons per year.
Highly efficient large scale assets based on our proprietary chloride technology and superior feedstock flexibility have historically provided us with a cost advantage in producing TiO2. All of our production facilities use our proprietary chloride process technology, providing us with one of the industrys lowest manufacturing cost positions. We have the ability to deliver superior product quality and consistency to our customers.
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A breakdown of our TiO2 sales by region and by category is shown in the charts below:
2014 Sales by Region
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2014 Sales by End Market
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Industry demand for TiO2 is generally expected to be in line with global GDP, but can be cyclical due to economic and industry specific demand and inventory fluctuations. In developing economies, industry demand is projected to be approximately twice that of developed economies.
History of TiO2 Production
Titanium dioxide was first manufactured and used commercially in 1916 at Fredrikstad, Norway. It was produced by mixing sulfuric acid with titanium-bearing ores in order to dissolve and separate titanium from the underlying ore. This process is known as the sulfate process.
DuPont entered the TiO2 market in 1931 with the acquisition of Krebs Pigment, based in Wilmington, Delaware. The site is known today as the Edge Moor plant. In the 1940s, DuPont began developing a new TiO2 manufacturing process, which is known as the chloride process. The chloride process uses high temperature chlorination of titanium-bearing ores to separate titanium from iron and other metals. The resulting titanium tetrachloride is then oxidized in high temperature reactors to produce TiO2 particles. This method of manufacture directly produces the rutile crystal of TiO2 while the early sulfate process produced the anatase crystal form of TiO2.
The chloride process delivers a higher quality product with fewer impurities than the sulfate process. Moreover, the waste and by-products generated by the chloride process are less than the waste and by-products generated from the sulfate process. DuPont began commercializing TiO2 product using the chloride process at the Edge Moor plant in 1953. Today, several TiO2 producers use the chloride process, accounting for substantially all of North American TiO2 production and approximately 44 percent of global capacity. Chemours uses only its proprietary chloride process. We operate two other TiO2 production facilities in the United States, located in New Johnsonville, TN and DeLisle, MS. These production facilities began operations in 1959 and 1979, respectively, and are the two largest TiO2 production facilities in the world. In 1994, we began operating our Taiwan production facility, which primarily serves the Asia Pacific region. In addition, in 1976, we began chloride production at the Altamira, Mexico production facility, which is currently being expanded to include a new TiO2 production line. Customers in Europe are supplied through a large-scale repackaging and distribution facility in Kallo-Antwerpen, Belgium, that receives bulk TiO2 shipments from North America.
TiO2 Chloride Manufacturing Process
The chloride process uses high temperature chlorination of titanium-bearing ores to separate titanium from iron and other metals. The resulting titanium tetrachloride is then oxidized in high temperature reactors to produce TiO2 particles. This method of manufacture produces the rutile crystal of TiO2 while the early sulfate process produced the anatase crystal form of TiO2. The rutile form delivers better opacity than the anatase form and was
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a step-change in product quality at the time of introduction. Rutile TiO2 is preferred over anatase TiO2 for many of the largest end-use applications, such as coatings and plastics, because its superior opacity imparts better hiding power at lower quantities than the anatase form and it is more suitable for outdoor use because it is more durable. As process technologies evolved over time, sulfate technology has improved and today is also able to produce the rutile crystal form of TiO2 and products which perform comparably to chloride products in several applications. However, the TiO2 produced by chloride process remains the preferred pigment for many higher end applications of TiO2.
All of our TiO2 is produced using the chloride process. Our chloride process technology is the industry leader on the basis of cost efficiency of our manufacturing operations, feedstock ore flexibility and product quality and consistency. Moreover, our process is unique in its ability to chlorinate ilmenite ore, which has significantly less titanium content than rutile ore and is a cheaper feedstock source as a result. The creation of TiO2 is the result of numerous complex and hazardous chemical processes. We emphasize employee and process safety, which is evidenced by our strong safety track record.
Business
We are the worlds largest producer of TiO2. We market our products under the Ti-Pure® brand for a diverse range of industrial applications primarily in coatings, plastics, laminates and paper products end markets. Our leading competitive position is the result of our low manufacturing cost and ability to offer superior quality, delivery reliability and technical services for our customers. Our ability to reliably deliver consistent, high quality TiO2 leads to greater customer satisfaction and consequently increased customer loyalty.
Our proprietary chloride process is unique in the industry as it reflects the long-standing technology advantage that we have relative to our competitors. Our process technology delivers best-in-class productivity, operating rates, manufacturing scale, product consistency and feedstock flexibility and allows us to achieve an advantaged cost position that we believe is sustainable, relative to our major competitors that produce similar quality product offerings. Additionally, our ability to use lower grade ilmenite ore feedstock to produce high quality product is an advantage that we believe is currently unmatched by any of our major competitors.
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We are constructing a new 200,000 metric ton line at our Altamira facility in Mexico. Production at the expansion is scheduled to start up in mid-2016 and is expected to increase our worldwide TiO2 production capacity to approximately 1.4 million metric tons per year and improve the overall efficiency of our production circuit. This new line incorporates our latest TiO2 production technology with the ability to use various grades of ore to produce high quality TiO2 products. This line is expected to be one of the lowest cost TiO2 production lines in the world and will benefit from Altamiras existing integration into our global supply chain.
We have operated a titanium mine in Starke, Florida since 1949. The mine provides us with access to a low cost source of domestic, high quality ilmenite feedstock. Co-products of our mining operations are zircon (zirconium silicate) and staurolite minerals. We are a major supplier of high quality zircon in North America, primarily focused on the precision investment casting (PIC) industry, foundry and specialty applications, and ceramics. Our staurolite blasting abrasives, sold as Starblast, are widely used in steel preparation and maintenance, and paint removal.
Our plants and equipment are maintained and in good operating condition. We believe we have sufficient production capacity to meet demand in 2015. Properties are primarily owned by Chemours; however, certain properties are leased. Certain properties are shared with other tenants under long-term leases.
We recognize that the security and safety of our operations are critical to our employees, community and to the future of Chemours. Physical security measures will be combined with process safety measures (including the use of inherently safer technology), administrative procedures and emergency response preparedness into an integrated security plan. Prior to the separation, DuPont conducted vulnerability assessments at our operating facilities in the U.S. and high priority sites worldwide and identified and implemented appropriate measures to protect these facilities from physical and cyber-attacks. We intend to conduct similar vulnerability assessments periodically post-separation. We are partnering with carriers, including railroad, shipping and trucking companies, to secure chemicals in transit.
We sell approximately 20 different grades or forms of TiO2, each tailored for different applications. Key Ti-Pure® titanium dioxide products are shown in the table below along with their respective key applications:
Titanium Technologies | ||||
Product Group |
Key Products |
Key Applications | ||
Coating Applications |
Ti-Pure® R902+
Ti-Pure® R706
Ti-Pure® R931
Ti-Pure® R960
Ti-Pure® Select 6200
Ti-Pure® R746
Ti-Pure® R741
Ti-Pure® Select 6300 |
Easily dispersed universal grade
Blue undertone universal grade
Flat/matte finish coatings
High durability coatings
High dispersion, high durability
Slurry form universal grade
Slurry form of flat/matte finish grade
New, high efficiency flat/matte grade | ||
Plastics Applications |
Ti-Pure® R101
Ti-Pure® R103
Ti-Pure® R104
Ti-Pure® R105
Ti-Pure® R350 |
Polyolefin and chalking PVC
Urethane, rubber, ABS applications
High dispersion for polyolefin masterbatches
PVC and highly durable polyolefin
Semi-durable polyolefin and ABS | ||
Paper and Laminates Applications |
Ti-Pure® T796+
RPS Vantage® |
Light stable laminate papers
Coated paperboard, coated paper, filled sheet |
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As shown above, the product groups for which TiO2 is a critical input are coatings, plastics, and paper and laminates. In coatings, TiO2 is used to provide opacity, brightness and durability in industrial coatings. TiO2 is also used in coatings for home interiors and exteriors, automobiles, aircraft, machines, appliances, traffic paint and other special purpose coatings. In plastics, TiO2 is used to improve the optical and physical properties, including whiteness and opacity, in plastic items such as containers and packaging materials, and in vinyl products such as windows, doors and siding. TiO2 is also used to provide hiding power, neutral undertone, brightness and surface durability for plastic housewares, appliances, toys, computer cases and food packages. In paper, TiO2 is used to provide whiteness, brightness, opacity and color stability. TiO2 is also used in paper laminates as an opacifier to enable a vivid color palette in laminate furniture, flooring and cabinets that does not fade with exposure to sunlight.
TiO2 Industry Overview and Competitors
Worldwide effective capacity in 2014 was estimated to be approximately 6.8 million tons. This capacity base was sufficient to serve worldwide demand for TiO2 in 2014 of approximately 5.6 million tons.
The global TiO2 market in which we operate is highly competitive. Competition is based primarily on product price, quality and technical service. We face competition from producers using the chloride process as well as those using the sulfate process. Furthermore, due to the low cost of transporting TiO2, there is also competition between producers with production facilities located in different geographies, with the cost advantage belonging to the production facility that is closest to the customer.
In most regions of the world, we compete primarily against large multinational producers such as The National Titanium Dioxide Company, Ltd. (Cristal), Huntsman International LLC, Kronos Worldwide, Inc. and Tronox Limited. In recent years, manufacturing capacity of those multinational producers has only modestly increased, primarily due to de-bottlenecking of the industrys existing production facilities.
In addition to these multinational producers, we also compete against numerous smaller producers, including Chinese producers, who have significantly expanded their TiO2 production capacity over the last decade. However, most Chinese producers primarily utilize the sulfate process to produce a product line that, while cost competitive in China, is suitable principally for lower-end applications. We believe that some local producers in China may be required over time to incur additional capital expenditures to meet increasing environmental standards. In fact, due to increasing concerns about pollution in China, the government has enacted the TiO2 Industry Access Conditions and the Environmental Protection Law which is scheduled to go into effect in 2015. These laws are expected to exert pressure on the heavily polluting small and medium-sized enterprises.
TiO2 is an approximately $15 billion annual market globally, as of 2011. Global growth in TiO2 demand tracks GDP growth in developed markets, but regional and application specific growth rates may vary depending on application technology, and the relative rate of growth in the housing, construction, automobile manufacturing, white goods and packaging industries.
Research and Development
Our research and development team has responsibility for improving chloride production processes, improving product quality and strengthening our competitive position by developing new applications. Our research and development efforts in titanium technologies are focused on the following areas:
| Process technology innovations, which deliver cost efficiencies by lowering raw material and energy consumption and enhancing ore source flexibility, while effectively managing the impurities contained in those ores; |
| Process technology innovations that enable us to significantly increase the throughput capacity of current production lines at investment levels far below those of brownfield or greenfield lines; |
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| Innovations based on the unique TiO2 particle formation capability of our chloride process which enable greater product differentiation relative to competitors; and |
| Improved product offerings to enable more efficient usage of TiO2 in our customers products, thereby resulting in lower cost or better product performance for our customers. |
Raw Materials
The primary raw materials used in the manufacture of TiO2 are titanium-bearing ores, chlorine, calcined petroleum coke and energy. We source titanium-bearing ores from a number of suppliers around the globe, who are primarily located in Australia, South Africa, Canada and Madagascar. To ensure proper supply volume and to minimize pricing volatility, we generally enter into contracts in which volume is requirement-based and pricing is determined by a range of mechanisms structured to help us achieve competitive pricing relative to the market. To ensure availability of supply, we typically enter into long-term supply contracts and source our raw material from multiple suppliers across different regions and from multiple sites per supplier. Furthermore, we typically purchase multiple grades of ore from each supplier to limit our exposure to any single supplier for any single grade of ore. Historically, we have not experienced any problems renewing such contracts for raw materials or securing our supply of titanium-bearing ores. Nevertheless, when such contracts expire we may be subject to current market pricing for the underlying raw materials.
We encourage the development of ore sources by offering off-take agreements to suppliers. We also play an active role in ore source development around the globe, especially for those ores which can only be used by us, given the capability of our unique process technology. Supply chain flexibility allows for ore purchase and use optimization to manage short-term demand fluctuations and for long-term competitive advantage. Our process technology and ability to use lower grade ilmenite ore gives us the flexibility to alter our ore mix to the lowest cost configuration based on sales, demand and projected ore pricing. Lastly, we have taken steps to optimize routes for distribution and increase storage capacity at our production facilities.
We believe we are one of the largest merchant buyers of chlorine in the United States. Transporting chlorine is becoming increasingly costly due to its hazardous nature and we have taken steps to reduce our exposure to this expense. In 2011, we entered into an agreement with Occidental Chemical Corporation, a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation, to construct an onsite chlor-alkali production facility at our Johnsonville location. The chlor-alkali production facility began operation in May 2014. Calcined petroleum coke is an important raw material input to our process. We source calcined petroleum coke from well-established suppliers in North America and China, typically under contracts that run multiple years to facilitate material and logistics planning through the supply chain. Pricing depends on various market factors including refinery crude quality trends and coal price. Distribution efficiency is enhanced through use of bulk ocean, barge and rail transportation modes.
Lastly, energy is another key input cost into TiO2 manufacturing process, representing approximately 10 percent of the production cost. Chemours has access to natural gas based energy at our four U.S. and Mexico TiO2 production facilities and Florida minerals plant, supporting advantaged energy costs given the low cost shale gas in the United States. We continually evaluate investments to replace aging coal- and oil-based steam supply assets with natural gas at our sites. Natural gas-based cogeneration of steam and electricity is being extended as part of the major expansion at one of our TiO2 production facilities.
Sales, Marketing and Distribution
We sell the majority of our products through our direct sales force located across 32 of the approximately 90 countries in which we sell. We also utilize third-party sales agents and distributors who are authorized to sell our products in the majorities of markets served.
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TiO2 represents a significant raw material cost for our customers and as a result, purchasing decisions are often made by our customers senior management team. Our sales organization works to develop and maintain close relationships with key decision makers.
In addition, our sales team and technical service team work together to develop relationships with all layers of our customers organizations to ensure that we meet our customers commercial and technical requirements. When appropriate, we collaborate closely with customers to solve formulation or application problems by modifying product characteristics or developing new product grades.
To ensure an efficient distribution, we have a large fleet of railcars, which are predominantly used for outbound distribution of products (TiO2, TiC14 and coproducts of manufacture) in the United States and Canada. Lease terms are typically staggered, which provides us with a competitive cost position as well as flexibility to on-hire and off-hire containers in response to changes in market conditions. A dedicated logistics team, along with external partners, continually optimizes the assignment of our transportation equipment to product lines and geographic regions in order to maximize utilization and maintain an efficient supply chain.
Customers
Globally, we serve approximately 850 customers through our Titanium Technologies segment. In 2014, our ten largest Titanium Technologies customers accounted for approximately 30 percent of the segments sales. No single Titanium Technologies customer represented more than three percent of our sales in 2014. Our larger customers in the United States and Europe are typically served through direct sales and tend to have medium to long-term contracts. We serve our small- and mid-size customers through a combination of our direct sales and distribution network.
Our direct customers in Titanium Technologies are producers of decorative coatings, automotive and industrial coatings, polyolefin masterbatches, polyvinylchloride window profiles, engineering polymers, laminate paper, coatings paper and coated paperboard. We focus on developing long-term partnerships with key market participants in each of these sectors. We also deliver a high level of technical service to satisfy our customers specific needs, which helps us maintain strong customer relationships.
Seasonality
The demand for TiO2 is subject to moderate seasonality because certain applications, such as decorative coatings, are influenced by weather conditions or holiday seasons. As a result, our TiO2 sales volume is typically lowest in the first quarter, highest in the second and third quarters and moderate in the fourth quarter. This pattern applies to the entire TiO2 market, but may vary by region, country or application. It can also be altered by economic or other demand cycles.
Fluoroproducts Segment
Our Fluoroproducts segment creates products for high-performance applications across a broad array of industries and is the global leader in providing sustainable fluoroproducts, such as refrigerants and industrial fluoropolymer resins and derivatives. We own the well-known brands Freon® and Teflon®, which are used across multiple products and end markets, including consumer cookware, chemical processing industry and electronics/semiconductors.
Our Fluoroproducts segment is a global leader in providing most sustainable fluorine-based advanced materials solutions. Our Fluoroproducts segment was the pioneer of fluorine chemistry in the first half of the 20th century and has continued to develop leading and innovative fluoroproduct technologies. Consequently, we have strong market positions in fluorochemical gases, fluoropolymer resins, fluoromonomers, fluorotelomers, fluoroelastomers, coatings, films and membranes. The unique chemical properties of fluorine, including chemical
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and electrical resistance, thermal stability and low surface energy, make fluoroproducts suitable as critical inputs in many applications across a broad variety of industries, including refrigeration, automotive, aerospace, personal care, wire & cable and electronics. Our Teflon® brand is globally well recognized and used in a diverse array of product applications and licensing agreements with partners. The success of the Fluoroproducts segment is based on our core competencies of leadership in fluorine chemistry and materials science, market-driven application development and commercialization, customer and channel knowledge, proactive development of sustainable solutions, strong intellectual property rights, process development and process safety management. Our Fluoroproducts segment supplies customers from 17 dedicated production facilities around the world with approximately half of our sales in North America.
A breakdown of Fluoroproducts 2014 sales by region and product group is shown in the charts below:
2014 Sales by Region
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2014 Sales by Product Group
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History
Our Fluoroproducts segment was established in the first half of the 20th century, when DuPont pioneered the development of fluorine chemistry. Since then, DuPont has remained a leader in fluoroproduct innovation and continues to re-invent the category. We developed much of the science that makes air conditioning and refrigeration possible. Key milestones in the history of the Fluoroproducts segment are listed below:
1930: Freon® CFCs are first manufactured by DuPont in a JV with General Motors
1930s: DuPont commercializes Freon® CFCs and HCFCs
1938: DuPont scientists invent PTFE, the first fluoropolymer
1945: DuPont trademarks the fluoropolymer as Teflon®
1960s: Development of new technologies for fluoroplastics ion exchange membranes and fluorolubricants
1961: Cookware with DuPont Teflon® Nonstick Coatings was first introduced to retailers in the U.S.
1970s: DuPont identifies HFCs as a potential lower ozone depletion replacement for CFCs
1987: The Montreal Protocol details the phase out of CFCs/HCFCs over a 35-year period
1990s: DuPont commercializes HFCs to replace CFCs and HCFCs
2000s: DuPont introduces ISCEON® HFC blends as a drop-in replacement for HCFC
2006: The EU bans HFC-134a in car air conditioning starting 2012 and fully phased out in new cars by 2017
2007: DuPont and Honeywell jointly develop HFO-1234yf (Chemours brand Opteon® YF), as a low GWP HFC-134a replacement for car air conditioning
2011: First commercial shipment of Opteon® YF
2011: HFO-1336 foaming agent and liquid refrigerant development
2013: Low global warming HFO refrigerants are commercialized
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Business
The Fluoroproducts segments specialty chemicals are critical for numerous industrial applications. We have established a global leadership position in fluoroproducts because of our leadership in fluorine chemistry and materials science, continuous innovation and market driven application development based on deep knowledge of our customers product needs.
We are cost competitive in our key markets due to our manufacturing expertise, scale and integrated global supply chain. We also benefit from the geographic proximity of our technical resources to key customers and our high quality product offering. Our strategy is to maximize productivity for our most mature product lines while investing differentially in higher growth, higher performance and more sustainable new fluoroproduct offerings.
Our integrated manufacturing process is shown in the chart below:
Fluorine chemistry is highly complex; however, as one of the pioneers of fluorine chemistry, we have decades of experience. To liberate elemental fluorine, we transform calcium fluorite (fluorspar ore) into hydrofluoric acid. Multiple chemical processes are then utilized to transform hydrofluoric acid into fluorochemicals, fluoroplastics, fluoropolymers, fluoromonomers, fluorotelomers, fluoroelastomers, films, membranes and coatings.
The manufacturing of fluoroproducts involves intermediates that are highly corrosive and hazardous in complex processes. We have an industry-leading safety culture and apply world-class technical expertise to ensure that our operations are run safely and reliably. These capabilities also enable us to continuously improve production yields, reduce unplanned downtime and increase our throughput, which in turn improves our overall manufacturing efficiency.
The high value, advanced materials created by Chemours enable global markets and industries to address challenging science and technology requirements where traditional chemicals and engineered materials break down or do not perform as effectively. Fluorine-based advanced materials have numerous beneficial properties including high chemical inertness, high temperature resistance, UV resistance, low friction properties, dielectric strength and non-flammability. Consequently, they are uniquely suited for markets such as cooling, refrigeration, lubrication, electrical insulation, non-stick coatings and fire suppression. For many applications, fluoroproducts provide significant performance and cost advantages over potential substitute products.
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Our Fluoroproducts segment sells products through two principal groups: fluorochemicals and fluoropolymers, the key products and key applications for which are shown in the table below:
Fluoroproducts | ||||
Product Group |
Key Products |
Key Applications | ||
Fluorochemicals |
ISCEON®, Freon®, Opteon® Refrigerants
Formacel® Foam Expansion Agents
Dymel® Aerosol Propellants
FM 200® Clean Agent Fire Extinguishants |
Commercial Refrigeration
Refrigerated Transport
Residential, Commercial and Automotive Air Conditioning
Foam Expansion Agent for Construction
Propellants for Personal Care
Clean Agent Fire Suppression Systems for data rooms | ||
Fluoropolymers |
Teflon® PTFE Resins
Teflon® and Tefzel®Melt Processable Fluoropolymer Resins
Viton® Fluoroelastomers
Krytox® Performance Lubricants
Nafion® Ion Exchange Membranes
Teflon® Consumer and Industrial finishes
Capstone® and Teflon® Surface Active Agents |
Aerospace Materials
Chemical Processing
Semiconductor Manufacturing
Telecom Wire and Cabling
Automotive Hoses, Gaskets
Sintered bearings lubrication
Chloralkali production
Non-stick Cookware
Upholstery
Industrial Bakeware
Surfactants in Paint
Fire Fighting Foams in Oil & Gas |
Fluorochemicals
Our fluorocehmicals business is focused on two key strategies that relate to strong advocacy for more stringent environmental legislation. One, we introduce new IP-protected products into the market to meet new environmental regulations. Second, we focus on extracting maximum value from existing fluorochemical products that are being phased down.
Our fluorochemicals products include refrigerants, foam expansion agents, propellants and fire extinguishants.
Refrigerants include more than twenty fluorinated gases and liquids and blends; applications include automotive air conditioning, commercial refrigeration and refrigerated transport. We are the leading global refrigerants producer due to our ability to produce innovative products and we have been able to effectively transition from one product generation to the next over three significant waves in refrigerant technology.
Change in the refrigerants industry is primarily driven by environmental regulatory change. As new regulations are implemented, customers are required to transition to new products and technologies to meet tighter regulatory standards. Chemours was the first manufacturer of CFCs based refrigerants and has continued to stay at the forefront of industry and regulatory changes, proactively driving development and leading industry transitions to more sustainable technologies over time. We took a leadership role in the transition from ozone-depleting CFCs to less ozone-depleting HCFCs and were once again at the forefront in leading the industry transition from
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HCFCs to non-ozone depleting HFCs as stipulated by the Montreal Protocol. Chemours currently produces both second generation HCFC products (such as HCFC-22) and third generation HFC products (such as ISCEON®). As a result of additional regulatory changes, the typically higher GWP HFCs are also gradually being phased down over time. In response, we have developed a fourth generation HFO platform, including HFO-1234yf (which Chemours markets and sells under the brand name Opteon® YF), an innovative, low-GWP refrigerant jointly developed by Chemours, through DuPont, and Honeywell International, Inc. in response to the European Unions (EU) Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC) Directive. This patented technology is both zero ozone depleting and has very low GWP while keeping the functionality of HFCs. Even though the joint development activities resulted in a commercially available refrigerant satisfying the MAC Directive, the European Commission launched an investigation in 2011 and in October 2014, announced its preliminary view that the agreements between the companies regarding production may have hindered competition in violation of the EUs antitrust laws. The Commission seeks fines and equitable relief to increase competition, including cessation of cooperation between the companies. Chemours and Honeywell have always marketed and sold the refrigerant separately and independently. Chemours, through DuPont, has complied at all times with applicable laws in the development and production of HFO-1234yf and plans to vigorously defend against the Commissions allegations and preliminary conclusions. Chemours does not expect this matter to have a material impact on its results of operations.
Chemours proprietary Opteon® YF is a next generation automotive air conditioning refrigerants with lower cost per vehicle versus alternative low-GWP products. It is designed as a strong candidate to replace HFC-134a, the HFC automotive air conditioning refrigerant currently used in automotive air conditioning applications. Opteon® YF has 99.9 percent lower GWP than HFC-134a and well below the 150 GWP threshold required by the MAC Directive. It offers automotive manufacturers an optimal balance of performance, cost, energy efficiency and improved sustainability, especially under current regulatory trends in the EU, U.S. and Japan. ISCEON® is part of our third-generation HFC product family and serves as a drop-in replacement for HCFCs which are being phased out under the Montreal Protocol. ISCEON® enables the continued use of existing equipment with minimal downtime for retrofitting and the avoidance of costly equipment replacement. ISCEON® is patent protected and continues to be an important product for the Fluoroproducts segment.
Our future performance in refrigerants will be driven in part by our ability to successfully manage product line transitions by continuing to meet demand for products that are being phased down, while remaining a leader in the introduction of new, more sustainable, cost-effective and easy to implement solutions that allow customers to adopt products to meet new regulatory requirements. We have consistently demonstrated expertise in these core capabilities by developing sustainable technology trade secrets and patents.
Our Formacel® foam expansion agents (FEA) are used in a variety of construction, appliance, transportation, packaging and other applications in the thermoset and thermoplastic industries. We are developing a novel fourth generation foam expansion agent for polyurethane foams, HFO-1336mzz, which will be marketed as Formacel® 1100 foam expansion agent. The product not only has zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and less than one percent of the GWP of the HFCs currently used in rigid polyurethane insulating foam, but is non-flammable and offers superior insulation performance compared to alternative technologies.
Chemours Dymel® propellants are used in a broad variety of applications including household products, such as hair sprays and air fresheners and industrial products, such as adhesives, spray paints and insulating foams. Our Dymel® propellants are used as safe alternatives to smog forming and volatile organic compounds (VOC) or flammable propellants. Due to their low VOC formulation potential, Dymel® 152a propellants enable manufacturers to comply with local, state and federal air quality standards.
Our clean agent fire extinguishants offer increased safety, non-conductivity, non-corrosiveness and the absence of residue upon usage. Because of these properties, they are preferred solutions for applications such as computer rooms, museums, hospitals, laboratories and airplanes where suppressing fire quickly while protecting people and assets is paramount. Our clean agent product lines are branded and include the leading FM-200® and FE-25 trademarks.
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We maintain strong positions in the markets for clean agents fire extinguishants and propellants due to our competitive cost position and leading regulatory and product stewardship.
Fluoropolymers
Our fluoropolymers business is an industry that grows mostly in line with GDP in developed markets and slightly above GDP in emerging markets. Fluoropolymers have a wide-variety of industrial and consumer applications including automotive, aerospace, wire and cable, cookware, apparel and coatings.
Our fluoropolymers products include a broad range of industrial fluoropolymer resins and diversified products such as Krytox® performance lubricants, Nafion® ion exchange membranes, Teflon® consumer and industrial finishes and Capstone® and Teflon® surface active agents.
Industrial fluoropolymer resins are used across a broad range of applications in various industries such as automotive, wire and cable, aerospace, semiconductors and chemical processing. Industrial fluoropolymer resins products fall into three principal product lines: Teflon® branded PTFE resins, melt processable fluoropolymers such as Teflon® branded fluorinated ethylene propylene and perfluoroalkoxy and Tefzel® branded ethylene-tetrafluoroethelyne fluoroplastics, and Viton® branded fluoroelastomers.
In general, Chemours has strong leadership positions in high-end fluoroplastic product lines used in high-value applications, many of which require specification with industrial customers. We continue to introduce differentiated offerings to meet customers critical needs. Our ECCtreme ECA 3000 fluoroplastic resin is an industry-changing class of high-temperature perfluoroplastic (HTP) that combines the beneficial properties of typical perfluoroplastics with the potential capability to maintain operational performance under extreme temperatures and extreme conditions. The first of its kind, ECCtreme ECA 3000 fluoroplastic resin, the first thermoplastic with a UL® certification for continued use above 300°C addresses the demand for HTPs in sustainable energy production, particularly in wire and cable applications.
Industrial products developed with Teflon® fluoroplastic resins have exceptional resistance to high temperatures, corrosion and stress cracking. The properties of Teflon® make it the preferred solution for many industrial applications and different processing techniques. Teflon® continues to have strong brand recognition and customer preference due to its unique properties, which will drive growth in branded fluoropolymer offerings. Chemours industrial fluoroplastic resins business includes a broad range of PTFE applications and a portion of the branded Teflon® franchise, principally Teflon® films and numerous other industrial applications, such as automotive, cabling materials, aerospace and renewable energy. PTFE is a versatile industrial fluoropolymer resin and its various grades are used in both specialized and lower-end product applications. For lower-end applications such as stock shapes for chemical processing equipment, PTFE is a commodity product. For higher-end applications such as aerospace, PTFE is formulated to provide distinct performance characteristics and is a specialty product.
Viton®, our leading fluoroelastomer, is used to improve systems durability, minimize systems downtime and repair seal failures because of its high chemical and temperature resistance. It is the most specified fluoroelastomer for fuel system seals and hoses, O-rings and gaskets in automotive applications.
In the industrial fluoropolymer resins market, product differentiation, and productivity are becoming increasingly important to our success. Going forward, the industrial fluoropolymer resins business will continue to focus on commercializing higher-end products and branded offerings at a premium price while also prioritizing manufacturing productivity through process innovation.
With Krytox® Performance Lubricants, Chemours is one of the global leaders in the perfluoropolyether (PFPE) oils and greases markets. Krytox® offers a combination of outstanding lubrication and highly desirable chemical properties that increase the service life and productivity of industrial machinery and components in the automotive and aerospace industries. Krytox® oils and greases are nontoxic, can be regenerated and last longer
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than conventional lubricants. They are also non-flammable, chemically inert and maintain their lubricity and viscosity in extreme low or high temperatures and humidity.
We are one of the global leaders in the ion exchange perfluorinated membranes market through our ion-exchange product, Nafion®. Our membranes offer high conductivity to cations, chemical resistance and resistance to high operating temperature. The primary application for Nafion® is production of chlorine and caustic soda by electrolysis. This has become the preferred method for chlorine and caustic soda production because of its significant operating cost advantages over older mercury and diaphragm technologies.
Fluoropolymers business also includes our globally recognized Teflon® branded line of finishes, which are, for example, used as coatings in the manufacturing of easy-to-clean, non-stick cookware. The brand is also used in conjunction with our industrial finishes, as well as fluoroadditives, which are used in textiles to provide oil and water repellency and in paints to provide easy-to-clean functionality. Our broad family of surface active agents includes fluoroadditives, repellants and surfactants commercialized under the Capstone® and Teflon® trademarks. They are used in a wide variety of industries and applications around the world such as fluorosurfactants in architectural paint.
Industry Overview and Competitors
Our Fluoroproducts segment is the global leader in providing sustainable, fluorine-based, advanced material solutions. Our Fluoroproducts segment competes against a broad variety of global manufacturers, including Honeywell, Arkema, Mexichem, Daikin, Solvay and Dyneon, as well as local Chinese and Indian manufacturers. We have a leadership position in fluorine chemistry and materials science, a broad scope and scale of operations, market driven application development and deep customer knowledge.
Chemours has global leadership positions in a number of fluoroproduct categories as set forth in the table below:
Fluoroproducts Leadership Positions | ||||||
Product Group |
Position |
Key Applications |
Key Competitors | |||
Fluorochemicals |
#1 Globally | Refrigeration and Air conditioning |
Honeywell, Arkema, Mexichem, Dongyue, Juhua | |||
Fluoropolymers |
#1 Globally | Diversified industrial applications |
Daikin, 3M, Solvay, Asahi Glass Company, Dongyue, Chenguang, Whitford |
We believe the size of the global fluoroproducts end markets that we serve was approximately $10 to $12 billion in 2014. We believe the fluoroproducts demand growth in developed markets is in line with global GDP, whereas demand growth in emerging markets is higher than GDP. Developed markets represent the largest fluoroproducts markets today. Emerging markets and especially China present the largest potential growth markets driven primarily by the emergence of a very large middle class and the increasing demand for consumer electronics, telecommunications, automobiles, refrigerators, air conditioners and an expanding infrastructure, all of which require fluoroproducts to operate effectively.
Research and Development
Our Fluoroproducts segment conducts R&D at dedicated research facilities, technical service labs and production facilities. We have 11 research and technical service locations in the U.S., Europe and Asia Pacific, with the highest concentration of researchers in Wilmington, Delaware.
Our current R&D focus is on the implementation of asset productivity programs and the development of new products for sustainable growth. Fluorochemicals R&D efforts are focused on low global warming alternatives
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for HFCs. Product development, process development, and application all revolve around low global warming alternatives for HFCs. Fluoropolymers R&D efforts are focused on existing plant productivity and new product generation. Areas of new product generation include fluoropolymers, oil and water repellants, surfactants, ion exchange membranes, and lubricants. A deep understanding of our customers is at the core of our innovation process.
Raw Materials
The primary raw materials required to support the Fluoroproducts segment are fluorspar, chlorinated organics, chlorinated inorganics, hydrofluoric acid and vinylidene fluoride. Fluorspar is available in many countries and not concentrated in any particular region.
Our supply chains are designed for maximum competitiveness through advantaged sourcing of key raw materials. Starting with our sourcing agreements, we use a mixture of fixed and market-based pricing and we engage in long-term supply contracts to ensure a reliable supply of raw materials. Although the fluoroproduct industry has historically relied primarily on fluorspar exports from China, Chemours has diversified its sourcing through multiple geographic regions and suppliers to ensure a stable and cost competitive supply. The current supply agreements are generally in effect through 2020.
Fluoroproducts raw material needs are covered by contracts with terms that span from two to ten years, except for the purchase for resale from China that are negotiated on a monthly basis. Most qualified Fluorspar sources have market based pricing.
Sales, Marketing and Distribution
With more than 85 years of innovation and development in fluorine science, our technical, marketing and sales teams around the world have deep expertise in our products and their end-uses and work with customers to select the appropriate fluoroproducts to meet their performance needs. We sell our products through direct channels and through resellers. Selling agreements vary by product line and markets served and include both spot pricing arrangements and longer term contracts with a typical duration of one-year.
We maintain one of the largest fleets of railcars, tank trucks and containers in the fluoroproducts industry. For the portion of the fleet that is leased, related lease terms are usually staggered, which provides us with a competitive cost position as well as the ability to adjust the size of our fleet in response to changes in market conditions. A dedicated logistics team, along with external partners, continually optimizes the assignment of our transportation equipment to product lines and geographic regions in order to maximize utilization and flexibility of the supply chain.
Customers
We serve thousands of customers and distributors globally and in many instances these commercial relationships have been in place for decades. No single Fluoroproducts customer represented more than 10 percent of our sales in 2014.
Seasonality
Seasonality in Fluorochemicals sales is driven by increased demand for residential, commercial and automotive air conditioning in the spring. This demand peaks in the summer months and declines in the fall and winter. Commercial refrigeration demand is fairly steady throughout the year, but demand is slightly higher during the summer months. There is no significant seasonality for Fluoropolymers as demand is consistent throughout the year. Slight increases in demand are typical during construction season (e.g. warmer months).
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Chemical Solutions Segment
Our Chemical Solutions segment comprises a diverse portfolio of industrial and specialty chemical businesses primarily operating in the Americas. Chemical Solutions products are used by a diverse group of industries in which they serve as important raw materials and effect chemicals for industries including, among others, gold production, oil refining agriculture and industrial polymers. We are the leading provider of several Chemical Solutions products, including cyanide and sulfuric acid. Chemical Solutions generates value through the use of market leading manufacturing technology, safety performance and product stewardship, and differentiated logistics capabilities.
Chemical Solutions operates at 12 dedicated production facilities, which are concentrated in North America. Chemical Solutions sells our products and solutions through three primary product groups: Cyanides, Sulfur Products, and Performance Chemicals & Intermediates. Performance Chemicals & Intermediates business includes a number of product lines including Clean & Disinfect chemicals, Aniline, Methylamines and Reactive Metals. A breakdown of Chemical Solutions 2014 sales by region and primary product groups is shown in the charts below.
2014 Sales by Region
|
2014 Sales by Product Group
|
Business
The industrial and specialty chemicals produced by our Chemical Solutions segment are important raw materials for a wide range of industries and end markets. We hold a long standing reputation for high quality and the safe handling of hazardous products such as sodium cyanide and sulfuric acid. We believe that we have leading cost positions in cyanides, sulfur products and our clean & disinfect products. We believe that our costs positions in these products are the result of our process technology, manufacturing scale, efficient supply chain and proximity to large customers. Our Chemical Solutions segment also holds, and occasionally licenses, what we believe to be the leading process technologies for the production of aniline, a key building block for polyurethanes, and for hydrogen and sodium cyanide, which are used in industrial polymers and in gold production.
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Our Chemical Solutions segment consists of three primary product groups, the key products and key applications for which are summarized as follows:
Chemical Solutions | ||||
Product Group |
Key Products |
Key Applications | ||
Cyanides |
Sodium Cyanide
Hydrogen Cyanide
Potassium Cyanide
|
Gold and Silver Mining
Acrylics
Plating/Pharmaceuticals
| ||
Sulfur Products |
Non-Fuming Sulfuric Acid
Spent Acid Regeneration
Sulfur Derivatives Oleums, SO3, Chlorosulfonic Acid (CSA)
|
Refining
Chemicals, Paper, Metal
Surfactants, Personal Care
| ||
Performance Chemicals & Intermediates |
||||
Chlorine Dioxide
Virkon® Disinfectants
Glycolic Acid
Oxone® Chlorine free oxidizer |
Water Sanitation and Treatment, Oil and Gas
Animal and Human Health,
Industrial Cleaning
High Purity Anti-aging
Pool and Spa care
| |||
Aniline
Nitrobenzene
Nitric Acid |
MDI (methylene diphenyl disocyanate) for Rigid Polyurethane Foam for Construction and Refrigerators Insulation
Rubber Chemicals, Dyes
| |||
Amines MMA, DMA, TMA
Amides MMF, DMF
DMAc
DMS
Vazo® Azo Free Radical Initiator
|
Agricultural Chemicals
Water Treatment
Oil and Gas Drilling
Electronics
Industrial Solvents
Surfactants, Fabric
| |||
Sodium Metal
Lithium Metal |
Pulp and Paper, Titanium, Silicon
Life Sciences, Batteries
Bio-Diesel
|
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Cyanides
The principal product of our Cyanides product group is solid sodium cyanide, of which we are a leading producer in the Americas. Solid sodium cyanide is primarily sold for gold and silver production because it is the most efficient and lowest cost method to leach ore. Among the on-purpose producers of solid sodium cyanide, we hold a superior delivered-cost position in the Americas primarily due to higher hydrogen cyanide yields, attractive raw material cost (ammonia and natural gas), economies of scale and close proximity to our customer base. Though sodium cyanide only represents two to three percent of ore extraction cost, it is essential to the ore extraction process. Demand for solid sodium cyanide in the Americas has increased substantially over the last decade because of increased gold mining activity due to the regions structurally lower ore and refining costs, and resulting increases in production.
Our leading position in cyanides is attributable to our proprietary advanced technological capabilities in next-generation hydrogen cyanide and sodium cyanide manufacturing, best-in-class product stewardship and global distribution capabilities. Our ability to source and produce locally coupled with our strong distribution capabilities through strategically located warehouses, re-packing terminals and differentiated packaging are key differentiators. In addition, our reputation for supply safety is highly valued by our customers. Since operations began approximately 60 years ago, the cyanides business has had a leading safety record, lending confidence to customers that our products will be delivered safely.
Sulfur Products
The U.S.-based Sulfuric Acid Products product group is a leading producer of both non-fuming sulfuric acid products and higher value sulfur derivative products (HVSDs) such as oleum, sulfur trioxide and chlorosulfonic acid. We also provide spent acid regeneration and sulfur gas recovery services to the oil refining industry, where our merchant regeneration capacity is ranked #1 and #2 in the U.S. Northeast and Gulf Coast, respectively. Non-fuming sulfuric acid is one of the most produced chemicals in the world by volume and it is an input in a broad range of industrial applications including inorganic and organic chemicals, catalysts, paper, water treatment and chemical process water removal. HVSDs are primarily used in surfactants, flame retardants and shampoos. As part of our suite of services, our Sulfur Products business offers customers the option to transport spent sulfuric acid back to us to be recovered and regenerated.
Our Sulfur Products operations rely on an advantaged supply chain that leverages multiple cost-competitive U.S. plant sites, best-in-class process technology via our Acid Technology Center and deep and long-held customer relationships. We are the industry leader in acid plant reliability and provide our customers with a secure supply of sulfuric acid and HVSDs.
Performance Chemicals & Intermediates
Performance Chemicals & Intermediates business manufactures a wide range of products including Clean & Disinfect chemicals, Aniline, Methylamines and Reactive Metals. Clean & Disinfect chemicals consist of chlorine dioxide (ClO2), disinfectants, glycolic acid and Oxone®. These chemicals have leading positions in a number of segments including animal production bio-security through our Virkon® products, household and industrial cleaning solutions through our glycolic acid and Oxone® products and water disinfection through our ClO2 offerings. Clean & Disinfect chemicals are well positioned to take advantage of potential growth in each of these end markets due to our technological expertise, product pipeline and broad global market access through our network of channel partners. Aniline is a critical raw material in methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) production, an essential component of polyurethane. Besides use in MDI production, aniline is used in rubber processing chemicals, specialty aramid fibers such as aromatic polyamide, agricultural chemicals such as amide herbicides, dyes and pigments. In Methylamines we provide key industries, including water treatment, agricultural chemicals and specialty fibers, a reliable domestic source of primary amines and the only domestic source for amides, dimethyleacetamide, dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfate in the U.S. In the Asia-Pacific region, Methylamines business primarily serves the specialty fibers and electronics segments. Methylamines
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business also manages the manufacture and sales of Vazo®, azo free radical initiators, which are used in a range of chemical processes. We are the leading North American sodium metal producer serving the silicon, titanium, pulp and paper industries. We also produce lithium metal, which is sold for the production of butyl lithium.
Chemical Solutions Leadership Positions | ||||||
Product (Product Group) |
Position |
Key Applications |
Key Competitors | |||
Cyanides |
#1 in Solid Sodium Cyanide in Americas | Gold Production | Orica, Cyanco, Samsung | |||
Sulfur Products |
#1 in Spent Acid Regeneration in U.S. Northeast Region
#2 in Spent Acid Regeneration in U.S. Gulf Coast Region |
Refining | Ecoservices, Chemtrade | |||
Performance Chemicals & Intermediates |
Leading positions in U.S. in number of products e.g. | |||||
Chlorine Dioxide | Water treatment | Evoqua, OxyChem | ||||
Glycolic Acid | Household, institutional and industrial cleaning, Personal care |
CABB, Taicang Xinmao | ||||
Oxone® | Recreational Water treatment, dentures cleaning |
United Initiators |
Research and Development
The Chemical Solutions research and development team is primarily focused on developing and improving chemical production processes to improve asset safety, sustainability, capacity, productivity and product quality. The team also supports, from time to time, the licensing of proprietary technologies to generate incremental profitability and improving asset productivity across all businesses. The segments new product research and development is limited and highly focused.
Raw Materials
Key raw materials for Chemical Solutions include ammonia, methanol, sulfur, natural gas, formaldehyde, hydrogen and caustic soda. We source raw materials from global and regional suppliers where possible and maintain multiple supplier relationships to protect against supply disruptions and potential price increases. To further mitigate the risk of raw material availability and cost fluctuation, Chemical Solutions has also taken steps to optimize routes for distribution, increase the storage capacity at our production facilities, lock-in long-term contracts with key suppliers and increase the number of customer contracts with raw material price pass-through terms. We do not believe that the loss of any particular supplier would be material to our business.
Sales, Marketing and Distribution
Our technical, marketing and sales teams around the world have deep expertise with our products and their end markets. We predominantly sell directly to customers, although we do also use a network of distributors for specific product lines and geographies. Sales may take place through either spot transactions or via long-term contracts.
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Most of Chemical Solutions raw materials and products can be delivered by efficient bulk transportation. As such, we maintain one of the largest fleets of railcars, tank trucks and containers in the chemicals industry. For the portion of the fleet that is leased, related lease terms are usually staggered, which provides us with a competitive cost position as well as the ability to adjust the size of our container fleet in response to changes in market conditions. A dedicated logistics team, along with external partners, continually optimizes the assignment of our transportation equipment to product lines and geographic regions in order to maximize utilization and flexibility of the supply chain.
The strategic placement of our production facilities in locations designed to serve our key customer base gives us robust distribution capabilities.
Customers
Our Chemical Solutions segment focuses on developing long-term partnerships with key market participants. Many of our commercial and industrial relationships have been in place for decades and are based on our proven value proposition of safely and reliably supplying our customers with the materials needed for their operations. Our reputation and long-term track record is a key competitive advantage as several of the products end users demand the highest level of excellence in safe manufacturing, distribution, handling and storage. Chemical Solutions has Department of Transportation Special Permits and Approvals in place for distribution of various materials associated with each of our business lines as required. Our Chemical Solutions segment serves several hundred customers globally. Only one Chemical Solutions customer represented approximately 10 percent of segment sales in 2014.
Seasonality
Our sales are subject to minimal seasonality. Our Sulfur Products business is influenced by seasonal fluctuations as in the warmer summer months we typically sell a higher volume of acid due to oil refinery customers operating at higher capacities.
Chemours Intellectual Property
Intellectual property, including trade secrets, certain patents, trademarks, copyrights, know-how and other proprietary rights, is a critical part of maintaining our technology leadership and competitive edge. Our business strategy is to file patent and trademark applications globally for proprietary new product and application development technologies. We hold many patents, particularly in our Fluoroproducts segment, as described herein. These patents, including various patents that expire during the period of 2015 to 2034, in the aggregate, are believed to be of material importance to our business. However, we believe that no single patent (or related group of patents) is material in relation to our business as a whole. In addition, particularly in our Titanium Technologies segment, we hold significant intellectual property in the form of trade secrets and, while we believe that no single trade secret is material in relation to our combined business as a whole, we believe they are material in the aggregate. Unlike patents, trade secrets do not have a predetermined validity period, but are valid indefinitely, so long as their secrecy is maintained. We work actively on a global basis to create, protect and enforce our intellectual property rights. The protection afforded by these patents and trademarks varies based on country, scope of individual patent and trademark coverage, as well as the availability of legal remedies in each country. Although certain proprietary intellectual property rights are important to the success of our company, we do not believe that we are materially dependent on any particular patent or trademark. We believe that securing our intellectual property is critical to maintaining our technology leadership and our competitive position, especially with respect to new technologies or the extensions of existing technologies. Our proprietary process technology is also a source of incremental income through licensing arrangements.
Our Titanium Technologies segment in particular relies upon unpatented proprietary knowledge and continuing technological innovation and other trade secrets to develop and maintain our competitive position in this space. Our proprietary chloride production process is an important part of our technology and our business could be
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harmed if our trade secrets are not maintained in confidence. In our Titanium Technologies intellectual property portfolio, we consider our trademark Ti-Pure® to be a valuable asset and have registered this trademark in a number of countries.
Our Fluoroproducts segment is the technology leader in the markets in which it participates. We have one of the largest patent portfolios in the fluorine derivatives industry. In our Fluoroproducts intellectual property portfolio, we consider our Suva®, ISCEON®, Freon®, Opteon®, Teflon®, Tefzel®, Viton®, Krytox®, Formacel®, Dymel®, FM 200®, Nafion® and Capstone®, trademarks to be valuable assets.
Our Chemical Solutions segment is a manufacturing and application development technology leader in a majority of the markets in which it participates. In our Chemical Solutions intellectual property portfolio, we consider our Virkon® and Oxone® trademarks to be valuable assets. Trade secrets are one of the key elements of our intellectual property security in Chemical Solutions as most of the segments manufacturing and application development technologies are no longer under patent coverage.
Please also see the section entitled Our Relationship with DuPont Following the Distribution for a description of the material terms of the intellectual property license arrangements that we intend to enter into with DuPont prior to the consummation of the separation and distribution.
Chemours Production Facilities and Technical Centers
Our corporate headquarters are in [], [], and we will maintain a global network of production facilities and technical centers located in cost-effective and strategic locations. We will also use contract manufacturing and joint venture partners in order to provide regional access or to lower manufacturing costs as appropriate. The following chart lists our production facilities:
Production Facilities | ||||||||
Titanium Technologies |
Fluoroproducts |
Chemical Solutions |
Shared Locations | |||||
North America |
Edge Moor, DE
DeLisle, MS
New Johnsonville, TN
Starke, FL (Mine) |
El Dorado, AR(1)
Elkton, MD(1)
Louisville, KY
Fayetteville, NC
Deepwater, NJ
Corpus Christi, TX
LaPorte, TX(2)
Washington, WV
Maitland, Canada
|
Red Lion, DE(1)
Wurtland, KY
Burnside, LA
Morses Mill, NJ(1)
Niagara, NY
Fort Hill, OH
N. Kingstown, RI(1)
Memphis, TN
Beaumont, TX
Borderland, TX(1)
James River, VA
|
Pascagoula, MS (Chemical Solutions and Fluoroproducts)(3)
Belle, WV (Chemical Solutions and Fluoroproducts)(3) | ||||
EMEA |
Mechelen, Belgium
Villers St. Paul, France(1)
Dordrecht, Netherlands
Malmo, Sweden
|
Sudbury, UK |
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Production Facilities | ||||||||
Titanium Technologies |
Fluoroproducts |
Chemical Solutions |
Shared Locations | |||||
Latin America |
Altamira, Mexico
|
Barra Mansa, Brazil(2)
|
||||||
Asia Pacific |
Kuan Yin, Taiwan |
Changshu, China
Chiba, Japan (Joint Venture)
Shimizu, Japan (Joint Venture) |
(1) | Leased from third party. |
(2) | Leased from DuPont. |
(3) | Shared facility between the Chemical Solutions and Fluoroproducts segments. |
We have technical centers and R&D facilities located at number of our production facilities. We also maintain standalone technical centers to serve our customers and provide technical support. The following chart lists our standalone technical centers:
Technical Centers | ||||||||
Region |
Titanium Technologies |
Fluoroproducts |
Chemical Solutions |
Shared Locations | ||||
North America |
Akron, OH(2) |
Wilmington, DE (All Segments)(2), (3) | ||||||
EMEA |
Moscow, Russia(1) |
Mantes, France(1) Meyrin, Switzerland(2) |
||||||
Latin America |
Paulinia, Brazil(2) Mexico City, Mexico(1) |
|||||||
Asia Pacific |
Utsonomyia, Japan(2) |
Shanghai, China(2) (All Segments) |
(1) | Leased from third party. |
(2) | Leased from DuPont. |
(3) | There are two facilities in this location. |
Chemours plants and equipment are maintained and in good operating condition. Chemours believes it has sufficient production capacity for its primary products to meet demand in 2015. Properties are primarily owned by Chemours; however, certain properties are leased. No title examination of the properties has been made for the purpose of this report and certain properties are shared with other tenants under long-term leases.
Chemours recognizes that the security and safety of its operations are critical to its employees, community, and to the future of Chemours. Physical security measures have been combined with process safety measures (including the use of inherently safer technology), administrative procedures and emergency response preparedness into an integrated security plan. Prior to the separation, DuPont conducted vulnerability assessments at operating facilities in the U.S. and high priority sites worldwide and identified and implemented appropriate measures to protect these facilities from physical and cyber-attacks. Chemours intends to conduct
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similar vulnerability assessments periodically post-separation. Chemours is partnering with carriers, including railroad, shipping and trucking companies, to secure chemicals in transit.
Chemours Employees
We have approximately 9,000 employees, approximately 32 percent of whom are represented by unions. Management believes its relations with its employees to be good.
Regulatory
Chemours operates in a constantly evolving regulatory environment and we are subject to numerous and varying regulatory requirements for our operations and end products. It is our practice to identify potential regulatory risks early in the research and development process and manage them proactively throughout the product lifecycle through use of routine assessments, protocols, standards, performance measures and audits. Governing bodies regularly issue new regulations and changes to existing regulations and we have implemented global systems and procedures designed to ensure compliance with existing laws and regulations.
We continuously analyze and improve our practices, processes and products to reduce their risk and impact through the product life cycle. For example, in 2013, we met our commitment to no longer make, use or buy perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) by 2015, two years ahead of the U.S. EPA PFOA Stewardship Program.
We work collaboratively with a number of stakeholder groups including government agencies, trade associations and non-governmental organizations to proactively engage in federal, state, and international public policy processes ranging from climate change to chemical management. We also have ongoing interactions with our suppliers, carriers, distributors, and customers to achieve similar product stewardship.
Environmental Matters
Chemours global manufacturing, product handling and distribution facilities are subject to a broad array of environmental laws and regulations. Such rules are subject to change by the implementing governmental agency, and Chemours monitors these changes closely. Company policy requires that all operations fully meet or exceed legal and regulatory requirements. In addition, Chemours implements voluntary programs to reduce air emissions, minimize the generation of hazardous waste, decrease the volume of water use and discharges, increase the efficiency of energy use and reduce the generation of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic materials. Management has noted a global upward trend in the amount and complexity of proposed chemicals regulation. The costs to comply with complex environmental laws and regulations, as well as internal voluntary programs and goals, are significant and will continue to be significant for the foreseeable future. Annual expenditures are expected to continue to increase in the near future; however, they are not expected to vary significantly from the range of such expenditures experienced in the past few years. Longer term, expenditures are subject to considerable uncertainty and may fluctuate significantly.
Climate Change
Chemours believes that climate change is an important global issue that presents risks and opportunities. Expanding upon significant global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other environmental footprint reductions made in the period 1990-2004, Chemours reduced its environmental footprint achieving in 2013 reductions of 19 percent in GHG emissions and six percent in water consumption versus our 2004 baselines. Chemours continuously evaluates opportunities for existing and new product and service offerings in light of the anticipated demands of a low-carbon economy. About $145 million of Chemours 2014 revenue was generated from sales of products that help direct and downstream customers reduce GHG emissions.
Legislative efforts to control or limit GHG emissions could affect Chemours energy source and supply choices as well as increase the cost of energy and raw materials derived from fossil fuels. Such efforts are also
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anticipated to provide the business community with greater certainty for the regulatory future, help guide investment decisions, and drive growth in demand for low-carbon and energy-efficient products, technologies, and services. Similarly, demand is expected to grow for products that facilitate adaptation to a changing climate.
At the national and regional level, there are existing efforts to address GHG emissions. Several of Chemours facilities in the EU are regulated under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. China has begun pilot programs for trading of GHG emissions in selected areas and South Korea will begin to implement its emission trading scheme in 2015. In the EU, U.S. and Japan, policy efforts to reduce the GHG emissions associated with gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning create market opportunities for lower GHG solutions. The current unsettled policy environment in the U.S. adds an element of uncertainty to business decisions particularly those relating to long-term capital investments. If in the absence of federal legislation, states were to implement programs mandating GHG emissions reductions, Chemours, its suppliers and customers could be competitively disadvantaged by the added costs of complying with a variety of state-specific requirements.
In 2010, EPA launched a phased-in scheme to regulate GHG emissions first from large stationary sources under the existing Clean Air Act permitting requirements administered by state and local authorities. As a result, large capital investments may be required to install Best Available Control Technology on major new or modified sources of GHG emissions. This type of GHG emissions regulation by EPA, in the absence of or in addition to federal legislation, could result in more costly, less efficient facility-by-facility controls versus a federal program that incorporates policies that provide an economic balance that does not severely distort markets. Differences in regional or national legislation could present challenges in a global marketplace highlighting the need for coordinated global policy action. In 2013 EPA proposed more stringent regulations for new Electric Generating Units (EGUs) that may affect the long-term price and supply of electricity. The precise impact is uncertain.
Legal Proceedings
Chemours is subject to various litigation matters, including, but not limited to, product liability, antitrust claims, and claims for third party property damage or personal injury stemming from alleged environmental or other torts.
Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, Chemours indemnifies DuPont against certain liabilities, including the litigation and environmental liabilities discussed below that arose prior to the distribution. The term of this indemnification is indefinite and includes defense costs and expenses, as well as monetary and non-monetary settlements and judgments. Also, pursuant to the Separation Agreement, Chemours indemnifies DuPont against liabilities that may arise in the future in connection with the Chemours business, including environmental, tax and product liabilities. For additional information see Note 17 to the Combined Financial Statements.
Litigation
Asbestos
At December 31, 2014, there were about 2,500 lawsuits pending against DuPont alleging personal injury from exposure to asbestos. These cases are pending in state and federal court in numerous jurisdictions in the United States and are individually set for trial. Most of the actions were brought by contractors who worked at sites at some point between 1950 and the 1990s. A small number of cases involve similar allegations by DuPont employees. A limited number of the cases were brought by household members of contractors and DuPont employees. Finally, certain lawsuits allege personal injury as a result of exposure to DuPont products. At December 31, 2014, Chemours had an accrual of $38 million related to this matter. Management believes it is remote that Chemours would incur losses in excess of the amounts accrued in connection with this matter.
PFOA: Environmental and Litigation Proceedings
Chemours used PFOA (collectively, perfluorooctanoic acids and its salts, including the ammonium salt), as a processing aid to manufacture some fluoropolymer resins at various sites around the world including its
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Washington Works plant in West Virginia. At December 31, 2014, Chemours had an accrual of $14 million related to this matter.
The accrual includes charges related to DuPonts obligations under agreements with the EPA and voluntary commitments to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. These obligations and voluntary commitments include surveying, sampling and testing drinking water in and around certain company sites and offering treatment or an alternative supply of drinking water if tests indicate the presence of PFOA in drinking water at or greater than the national Provisional Health Advisory.
Drinking Water Actions
In August 2001, a class action, captioned Leach v. DuPont, was filed in West Virginia state court alleging that residents living near the Washington Works facility had suffered, or may suffer, deleterious health effects from exposure to PFOA in drinking water.
DuPont and attorneys for the class reached a settlement in 2004 that binds about 80,000 residents. In 2005, DuPont paid the plaintiffs attorneys fees and expenses of $23 million and made a payment of $70 million, which class counsel designated to fund a community health project. Chemours, through DuPont, funded a series of health studies which were completed in October 2012 by an independent science panel of experts (the C8 Science Panel). The studies were conducted in communities exposed to PFOA to evaluate available scientific evidence on whether any probable link exists, as defined in the settlement agreement, between exposure to PFOA and human disease.
The C8 Science Panel found probable links, as defined in the settlement agreement, between exposure to PFOA and pregnancy-induced hypertension, including preeclampsia; kidney cancer; testicular cancer; thyroid disease; ulcerative colitis; and diagnosed high cholesterol.
In May 2013, a panel of three independent medical doctors released its initial recommendations for screening and diagnostic testing of eligible class members. In September 2014, the medical panel recommended follow-up screening and diagnostic testing three years after initial testing, based on individual results. The medical panel has not communicated its anticipated schedule for completion of its protocol. Through DuPont, Chemours is obligated to fund up to $235 million for a medical monitoring program for eligible class members and, in addition, administrative cost associated with the program, including class counsel fees. In January 2012, Chemours, through DuPont, put $1 million in an escrow account to fund medical monitoring as required by the settlement agreement. The court appointed Director of Medical Monitoring has established the program to implement the medical panels recommendations and the registration process, as well as eligibility screening, is ongoing. Diagnostic screening and testing has begun and associated payments to service providers are being disbursed from the escrow account.
In addition, under the settlement agreement, DuPont must continue to provide water treatment designed to reduce the level of PFOA in water to six area water districts, including the Little Hocking Water Association (LHWA), and private well users.
Class members may pursue personal injury claims against DuPont only for those human diseases for which the C8 Science Panel determined a probable link exists. At December 31, 2014, there were approximately 2,900 lawsuits filed in various federal and state courts in Ohio and West Virginia, an increase of about 2,800 over December 31, 2013. In accordance with a stipulation reached in the third quarter 2014 and other court procedures, these lawsuits have been or will be served and consolidated in multi-district litigation in Ohio federal court (MDL). Based on information currently available to the company the majority of the lawsuits allege personal injury claims associated with high cholesterol and thyroid disease from exposure to PFOA in drinking water. At December 31, 2014, there were 27 lawsuits alleging wrongful death. In 2014, six plaintiffs from the MDL were selected for individual trial. The first trial is scheduled to begin in September 2015, and the second in
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November 2015. Chemours, through DuPont, denies the allegations in these lawsuits and is defending itself vigorously. No claims have been dismissed, settled or resolved during the periods presented.
Additional Actions
An Ohio action brought by the LHWA is ongoing. In addition to general claims of PFOA contamination of drinking water, the action claims imminent and substantial endangerment to health and or the environment under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). In the second quarter 2014, DuPont filed a motion for summary judgment and LHWA moved for partial summary judgment. In the first quarter of 2015, the court granted in part and denied in part both parties motions. As a result, the litigation process will continue with respect to certain of the plaintiffs claims.
While it is probable that Chemours will incur costs related to the medical monitoring program discussed above, such costs cannot be reasonably estimated due to uncertainties surrounding the level of participation by eligible class members and the scope of testing.
Chemours believes that it is reasonably possible that it could incur losses that could be material in the period recognized with respect to the other PFOA matters discussed above. However, a range of such losses, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated at this time due to the uniqueness of the individual MDL plaintiffs claims and Chemours defenses to those claims both as to potential liability and damages on an individual claim basis, among other factors. Although considerable uncertainty exists, management does not currently believe that the ultimate disposition of these matters would have a material adverse effect on Chemours combined results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
Environmental Proceedings
Chambers Works Plant, Deepwater, New Jersey
In 2010, the government initiated an enforcement action alleging that the facility violated recordkeeping requirements of certain provisions of the CAA and the Federal Clean Air Act Regulations (FCAR) governing Leak Detection and Reporting (LDAR) and that it failed to report emissions of a compound from Chambers Works waste water treatment facility under EPCRA. The alleged non-compliance was identified by the EPA in 2007 and 2009 following separate environmental audits. In the first quarter of 2015, the District Court in New Jersey entered the agreement between DuPont and the Department of Justice (DOJ) settling this matter. The settlement agreement provides that DuPont pay a penalty of about $0.5 million and agree to modification of its air permit ensuring continued compliance with refrigeration unit repair requirements.
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Executive Officers Following the Distribution
The following sets forth information regarding individuals who are expected to serve as our executive officers, including their positions after the distribution. While some of these individuals currently serve as officers and employees of DuPont, after the distribution, none of our executive officers will be executive officers or employees of DuPont.
Mark P. Vergnano, age 57, will serve as our President and Chief Executive Officer. In October 2009, Mr. Vergnano was appointed Executive Vice President of DuPont and was responsible for businesses in the Chemours segment: DuPont Chemicals & Fluoroproducts and Titanium Technologies. Prior to that, he had several assignments in manufacturing, technology, marketing, sales and business strategy. In June 2006, he was named Group Vice President of DuPont Safety & Protection. In February 2003, he was named Vice President and General Manager Nonwovens and Vice President and General Manager Surfaces and Building Innovations in October 2005. Mr. Vergnano joined DuPont in 1980 as a process engineer.
Mark E. Newman, age 51, will serve as our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Newman joined Chemours in November 2014 from SunCoke Energy where he was SunCoke Energys Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and led its financial, strategy, business development and information technology functions. Mr. Newman joined SunCokes leadership team in March 2011 to help drive SunCokes separation from its parent company, Sunoco, Inc. He led SunCoke through an initial public offering and championed a major restructuring of SunCoke, which resulted in the initial public offering of SunCoke Energy Partners in January 2013, creating the first coke-manufacturing master limited partnership. Prior to joining SunCoke, Mr. Newman served as Vice President Remarketing & Managing Director of SmartAuction, Ally Financial Inc (previously General Motors Acceptance Corporation). Mr. Newman began his career at General Motors in 1986 as an Industrial Engineer and progressed through several financial and operational leadership roles within the global automaker, including Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Shanghai General Motors Limited; Assistant Treasurer of General Motors Corporation; and North America Vice President and CFO.
Boo Ching (B.C.) Chong, age 53, will serve as our President Titanium Technologies. Mr. Chong was named president DuPont Titanium Technologies in January 2011. In October 2009, he was named vice president DuPont Performance Coatings, Asia Pacific. In July 2008, he was named vice president and general manager of DuPont Automotive OEM Coatings. From 2004 to 2007, he was global business director DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers, Ethylene Copolymers. Mr. Chong was named vice president and general manager DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers in June 2007. From 2001 to 2003, he was global business director for Delrin® polyacetal and Asia Pacific regional director for Engineering Polymers before assuming the additional role of managing director for DuPont in Singapore. Mr. Chong joined DuPont in 1989 in Singapore as operations manager for DuPont Engineering Polymers.
Thierry F.J. Vanlancker, age 50, will serve as our President Fluoroproducts. Mr. Vanlancker was named president DuPont Chemicals & Fluoroproducts in May 2012. He was named vice president for DuPont Performance Coatings EMEA in November 2010. In 2006, he moved to Wilmington, Delaware to serve as global business and market director Fluorochemicals. In 2004, after two years as sales manager for all Refinish Brands EMEA, he was appointed as regional director Fluoroproducts EMEA based in Geneva, Switzerland. He moved to Belgium in 1999 to be part of the Herberts Acquisition/Integration Team within the newly formed DuPont Performance Coatings business and in 2000 was appointed business manager for the Spies Hecker Refinish paint brand based in Cologne, Germany. In 1996, he transferred to Wilmington, Delaware as global technical service manager for P&IP and was appointed global product manager Vamac® ethylene acrylic elastomers in 1998. In 1993 he transferred to Bad Homburg, Germany, and was appointed market development consultant for P&IP Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA). Mr. Vanlancker joined DuPont in 1988 in Belgium as a sales representative.
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Christian W. Siemer, age 56, will serve as our President Chemical Solutions. Mr. Siemer joined DuPont in 2010 as the Managing Director of Clean Technologies, a business unit of DuPont Sustainable Solutions focused on process technology development and licensing. He led the successful acquisition of MECS Inc., the global leader in technology for the production of sulfuric acid. Mr. Siemer began his career in 1980 with Stauffer Chemicals as a process engineer. Following Stauffers acquisition by ICI plc, Mr. Siemer moved through a range of commercial roles and overseas assignments managing portfolios of international industrial and specialty chemical businesses.
David C. Shelton, age 51, will serve as our General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. In 2011, Mr. Shelton was appointed Associate General Counsel, DuPont, and was responsible for the US Commercial team the business lawyers and paralegals counseling all the DuPont business units with the exception of Agriculture and Pioneer. Mr. Shelton was the Commercial attorney to a variety of DuPont businesses including the Performance Materials platform, which he advised on international assignment in Geneva, and the businesses now comprising the DuPont Chemicals and Fluoroproducts business unit. Prior to that, Mr. Shelton advised the company on environmental and remediation matters as part of the environmental legal team. Mr. Shelton joined DuPont in 1996, after seven years in private practice as a litigator in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
E. Bryan Snell, age 58, will serve as Senior Vice President Corporate Strategy and Productivity. Mr. Snell was appointed Planning Director DuPont Performance Chemicals in May, 2014. Prior to that, he held leadership positions in DuPont Titanium Technologies, including Planning Director (2011-12 in Wilmington, DE and 2012-13 in Singapore) and Global Sales and Marketing Director (2008-2010). Mr. Snell served as Regional Operations Director DuPont Coatings and Color Technologies Platform in 2007 and 2008. He was posted in Taiwan from 2002 to 2006, in the roles of Plant Manager Kuan Yin Plant and Asia/Pacific Regional Director, DuPont Titanium Technologies. Mr. Snell joined DuPont in 1978 as a process engineer and has experience in nuclear and petrochemical operations, as well as sales, business strategy and M&A.
Beth Albright, age 47, will serve as our Senior Vice President Human Resources. Mrs. Albright joined DuPont in October 2014 from Day & Zimmermann, where she held the position of Senior Vice-President Human Resources since May 2011. Prior to her experience at Day & Zimmermann, Mrs. Albright was the Global Vice President Human Resources for Tekni-Plex, which she joined in July 2009. She joined Rohm and Haas in 2000 and held various Human Resources supporting global businesses, technology, manufacturing and staff functions. In 1995 she joined FMC as site Human Resources manager at a manufacturing site and progressed into the corporate office. Mrs. Albright began her career with Fluor Daniel Construction in their Industrial Relations department in 1989.
Erich Parker, age 63, will serve as our Vice President of Corporate Communications and Chief Brand Officer. Mr. Parker was appointed Creative Director and Global Director of Corporate Communications of DuPont in 2010. He led the initiative to develop corporate positioning and its creative expression through branded content and program sponsorship with large international media outlets. In 2008, Mr. Parker was appointed Communications Leader for DuPonts Safety and Protection Platform. Prior to joining DuPont, Mr. Parker was principal of his own public relations and marketing communications firm based in Washington, D.C., and New York. Mr. Parker has also served as Executive Vice President of Association & Issues Management; Director of Communications for the American Academy of Actuaries; founding publisher and Executive Editor of the magazine Contingencies; and Public Affairs Aide for Renewable Energy to the Secretary of Energy, US Department of Energy.
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Board of Directors Following the Distribution
The following sets forth information with respect to those persons who are expected to serve on our board of directors following the distribution. After the distribution, none of these individuals will be directors or employees of DuPont.
Curtis V. Anastasio, age 58, will serve on our board of directors. Mr. Anastasio currently serves as Executive Chair of GasLog Partners LP, since 2014, a global owner, operator, and manager of liquefied natural gas carriers. Mr. Anastasio also serves as Vice Chair of Par Petroleum Corporation, a diversified energy company, since 2014. Formerly, he served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of NuStar Energy, L.P. (formerly Valero L.P.) from 2001-2013. He also served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of NuStar GP Holdings, LLC (formerly Valero GP Holdings, LLC) from 2006-2013. Mr. Anastasio serves as Chair of the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County and the Boy Scouts of America Alamo Area Council, since 2014. Mr. Anastasio also serves on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, since 2014. We believe Mr. Anastasios qualifications to sit on our board of directors include, among other factors, his leadership experience and experience with issues involving corporate governance, risk management, and financial matters.
Bradley J. Bell, age 62, will serve on our board of directors. Mr. Bell currently is on the board of directors of Momentive Performance Materials Holdings Inc., a global manufacturer of silicones, quartz, and ceramics, since October 2014, where he has been Non-Executive Chair since December 2014. Mr. Bell also serves on the board of directors of Compass Minerals International, Inc., a leading producer of salt and specialty nutrients, since 2003. He formerly served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Nalco Holding Company, a global leader in water treatment and process chemical services, from 2003-2010. Prior to joining Nalco Holding, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Rohm and Haas Company from 1997-2003. We believe Mr. Bells qualifications to sit on our board of directors include, among other factors, his financial expertise and prior experience as a Chief Financial Officer of two public companies, risk management, corporate governance and succession planning.
Richard H. Brown, age 67, will serve as Chair of our board of directors. Mr. Brown currently serves as Chair of Browz, LLC, a global leader of contractor pre-qualification and compliance solutions since 2005. Formerly, he served as Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Electronic Data Systems (EDS) from 1999-2003. Prior to joining EDS, Mr. Brown served as Chief Executive Officer of Cable & Wireless PLC from 1996-1999, H&R Block Inc. from 1995-1996 and Illinois Bell Telephone Company from 1990-1995. He is a Trustee Emeritus of the Ohio University Foundation. Mr. Brown previously served on the board of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company from 2001-2015 and formerly served as a member of the Business Roundtable, the Presidents Advisory Committee on Trade and Policy Negotiations, the U.S.-Japan Business Council, the French-American Business Council, and the Presidents National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. We believe Mr. Browns qualifications to sit on our board of directors include, among other factors, his experience serving as Chief Excutive Officer and Chair of the Board of several public companies, experience with issues involing global business management and operations as well as the chemicals industry, corporate governance and financial matters.
Mary B. Cranston, age 67, will serve on our board of directors. Ms. Cranston is a retired Senior Partner and Chair Emeritus of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLC, an international law firm. Prior to her retirement in 2012, Ms. Cranston served as Senior Partner and Chair Emeritus from 2007-2011 and Chair and Chief Executive Officer from 1999-2006. Ms. Cranston currently serves on the boards of Visa, Inc. and Juniper Networks, Inc., since 2007. We believe Ms. Cranstons qualifications to sit on our board of directors include, among other factors, her experience in leadership, financial matters, and issues involving risk management and corporate governance.
Curtis J. Crawford, age 67, will serve on our board of directors. Mr. Crawford currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of XCEO, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in leadership and corporate governance,
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since 2003. Prior to founding XCEO Inc. in 2003, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Onix Microsystems and Zilog Inc. Mr. Crawford currently serves on the boards of Xylem Inc., since 2011 and ON Semiconductor, since 1999 and is the author of three books on leadership and corporate governance. He previously served on the board of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company from 1998-2015, and on the boards of ITT Corp., Agilysys, Lyondell Petrochemical, The Sisters of Mercy Health Corporation and DePaul University. In 2011, Dr. Crawford was awarded the B. Kenneth West Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) for his contribution to corporate governance and for having made a meaningful impact in the boardroom. We believe Mr. Crawfords qualifications to sit on our board of directors include, among other factors, his subject matter expertise in the areas of corporate governance and leadership as well as his experience with issues involving technological innovation and the chemicals industry.
Dawn L. Farrell, age 55, will serve on our board of directors. Ms. Farrell currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of TransAlta Corporation, since 2012, an electricity power generator and wholesale marketing company. Prior to becoming President and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Farrell held a variety of increasingly responsible leadership positions, including Chief Operating Officer from 2009-2011, and Executive Vice President of Commercial Operations and Development from 2007 to 2009. Prior to rejoining TransAlta in 2007, she served as the Executive Vice President of Generation for BC Hydro from 2003-2006. Ms. Farrell serves on the board of TransAlta Corporation, since 2012, and the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, since 2013. We believe Ms. Farrells qualifications to sit on our board of directors include, among other factors, her experience in leadership, global business management and operations, risk management and financial matters.
Stephen D. Newlin, age 62, will serve on our board of directors. Mr. Newlin currently serves as Executive Chair of PolyOne Corporation, a global provider of specialized polymer materials, services, and solutions, since 2014. Formerly, he served as the Chair, President, and Chief Executive Officer of PolyOne from 2006- 2014. Prior to joining PolyOne, Mr. Newlin served as President Industrial Sector of Ecolab Inc. from 2003-2006 and Vice Chair, President, and Chief Operating Officer of Nalco Chemical Company from 2000-2001. He currently serves as a Director of PolyOne Corporation since 2006, Univar Corporation since 2015, and Oshkosh Corporation, since 2013. We believe Mr. Newlins qualifications to sit on our board of directors include, among other factors, his leadership experience in global business management and operations as well as the chemicals industry, corporate governance, compensation and succession planning, issues involving technological innovation, risk management and financial matters.
Mark P. Vergnano, age 57, will serve as our President and Chief Executive Officer and Director. In October 2009, Mr. Vergnano was appointed Executive Vice President and was responsible for businesses in the Chemours segment: DuPont Chemicals & Fluoroproducts and Titanium Technologies. Prior to that, he had several assignments in manufacturing, technology, marketing, sales and business strategy. In June 2006, he was named Group Vice President of DuPont Safety & Protection. In February 2003, he was named Vice President and General Manager Nonwovens and Vice President and General Manager Surfaces and Building Innovations in October 2005. Mr. Vergnano joined DuPont in 1980 as a process engineer. Mr. Vergnano serves on the board of directors of Johnson Controls, Inc., since 2011, and the U.S. National Safety Council, since 2007. We believe Mr. Vergnanos qualifications to sit on our board of directors include, among other factors, his leadership in the chemicals industry and global business management and operations, technological innovation, risk management, corporate governance and financial matters.
Upon completion of the distribution, Chemours board of directors will be divided into three classes, each comprised of three directors. The directors designated as Class I directors will have terms expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the distribution, which Chemours expects to hold in 2016. The directors designated as Class II directors will have terms expiring at the following years annual meeting of stockholders, which Chemours expects to hold in 2017, and the directors designated as Class III directors will have terms expiring at the following years annual meeting of stockholders, which Chemours expects to hold in 2018. Chemours expects that Class I directors will be comprised of []; Class II directors will be comprised of []; and Class III directors will be comprised of []. Commencing with the first annual meeting of stockholders
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following the separation, directors for each class will be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the year in which the term for that class expires and thereafter will serve for a term of three years. However, Chemours classified board structure will be submitted to a stockholder vote at Chemours first annual meeting in 2016. If the classified structure described herein is not approved by a majority of the shares voted by its stockholders at the meeting, Chemours would declassify its board such that all directors would be up for annual election beginning with the 2017 annual meeting. At any meeting of stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the election will be determined by a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote in the election, with directors not receiving a majority of the votes cast required to tender their resignations for consideration by the board, expect that in the case of a contested election, the election will be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote in the election.
Director Independence
It is anticipated that all members of our board of directors, except our Chief Executive Officer, who will be an employee of Chemours, will meet the criteria for independence as defined by the rules of the NYSE and the corporate governance guidelines to be adopted by the board of directors. The board of directors of DuPont has affirmatively determined that each of the individuals who are anticipated to be elected to our board of directors, other than our Chief Executive Officer, will be independent under the rules of the NYSE and DuPonts corporate governance guidelines. No director will be considered independent unless he or she has no material relationship with us, either directly or as a partner, shareholder, or officer of an organization that has a relationship with us. Material relationships can include commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable, and familial relationships, among others. Our board of directors, upon recommendation of our Nominating and Governance Committee, is expected to formally determine the independence of our directors following the distribution. Our board of directors is expected to annually determine the independence of directors based on a review by the Nominating and Governance Committee and our directors. Our corporate governance guidelines, including our independence standards, will be posted to our website prior to the completion of the distribution.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Effective upon the completion of the distribution, our board of directors will have the following standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our board of directors will adopt a written charter for each of these committees, which will be posted on our website.
Audit Committee
The responsibilities of the Audit Committee will be more fully described in our Audit Committee Charter and will include, among other duties:
| Reviewing annual audited and quarterly financial statements, as well as our disclosures under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, with management and the independent auditors. |
| Obtaining and reviewing periodic reports, at least annually, from management assessing the effectiveness of our internal controls and procedures for financial reporting. |
| Reviewing our processes to assure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and corporate policy. |
| Recommending the public accounting firm to be proposed for appointment by the stockholders as our independent auditors and review the performance of the independent auditors. |
| Reviewing the scope of the audit and the findings and approve the fees of the independent auditors. |
| Satisfying itself as to the independence of the independent auditors and ensuring receipt of their annual independence statement. |
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| Reviewing proposed borrowings and issuances of securities. |
| Recommending to the board of directors the dividends to be paid on our common stock. |
| Reviewing cash management policies. |
The Audit Committee will consist entirely of independent directors, and we intend that each will meet the independence requirements set forth in the listing standards of NYSE and Rule 10A under the Exchange Act. Each member of the Audit Committee will be financially literate and have accounting or related financial management expertise, as such terms are interpreted by our board of directors in its business judgment. Additionally, at least one member of the Audit Committee will be an audit committee financial expert under SEC rules and the NYSE listing standards applicable to audit committees. The initial members of the Audit Committee are expected to be Mr. Bell (Chair), Mr. Anastasio, Mr. Crawford and Ms. Cranston.
Compensation Committee
The responsibilities of the Compensation Committee will be more fully described in our Compensation Committee Charter and will include, among other duties:
| Assessing current and future senior leadership talent, including assisting our board of directors in Chief Executive Officer succession planning. |
| Reviewing and approving our programs for executive development, performance and skill evaluations. |
| Overseeing the performance evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer based on input from other independent directors. |
| Recommending, for approval by the independent directors, Chief Executive Officer compensation. |
| Recommending and approving the principles guiding our executive compensation and benefits plans. |
| Reviewing our incentive compensation arrangements to determine whether they encourage excessive risk-taking, and evaluating compensation policies and practices that could mitigate any such risk. |
| Working with management to develop the Compensation Discussion and Analysis in regard to executive compensation disclosure. |
| Considering the voting results of any say-on-pay or related stockholder proposals. |
The Compensation Committee will consist entirely of independent directors, and we intend that each will meet the independence requirements set forth in the listing standards of NYSE. We also intend the members of the Compensation Committee to be non-employee directors (within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) and outside directors (within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code). The initial members of the Compensation Committee are expected to be Mr. Newlin (Chair), Mr. Bell, Ms. Farrell and Ms. Cranston.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The responsibilities of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will be more fully described in our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter and will include, among other duties:
| Identifying individuals qualified to become directors and recommend the candidates for all directorships. |
| Recommending individuals for election as officers. |
| Reviewing our Corporate Governance Guidelines and making recommendations for changes. |
| Considering questions of independence and possible conflicts of interest of directors and executive officers. |
| Taking an oversight role in shaping our policies and procedures. |
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The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consist entirely of independent directors, and we intend that each will meet the independence requirements set forth in the listing standards of NYSE. The initial members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are expected to be Mr. Crawford (Chair), Mr. Anastasio, Mr. Newlin and Ms. Farrell.
Stockholder Recommendations for Director Nominees and Director Qualification Standards
The Chemours Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider potential candidates suggested by board members, as well as management, stockholders and others.
The boards Corporate Governance Guidelines will describe qualifications for directors. Directors will be selected for their integrity and character; sound, independent judgment; breadth of experience, insight and knowledge; business acumen; and significant professional accomplishment. The specific skills, experience and critera that the board may consider, and which may vary over time depending on current needs, include leadership; experience involving technological innovation; relevant industry experience; financial experience; corporate governance; compensation and succession planning; familiarity with issues affecting global businesses; experience with global business management and operations; risk management; prior government service; and diversity. Additionally, directors will be expected to be willing and able to devote the necessary time, energy and attention to assure diligent performance of their responsibilities.
When considering candidates for nomination, the Nominating and Governance Committee will take into account these factors to assure that new directors have the highest personal and professional integrity, have demonstrated exceptional ability and judgment and will be most effective, in conjunction with other directors, in serving the long-term interest of all stockholders. The Nominating and Governance Committee will not nominate for election as a director a partner, member, managing director, executive officer or principal of any entity that provides accounting, consulting, legal, investment banking or financial advisory services to Chemours.
The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider candidates for director suggested by stockholders, applying the factors for potential candidates described above and taking into account the additional information described below. Stockholders wishing to suggest a candidate for director should write to the Corporate Secretary and include: (i) a statement that the writer is a stockholder of record (or providing appropriate support of ownership of Chemours stock); (ii) the name of and contact information for the candidate; (iii) a statement of the candidates business and educational experience; (iv) information regarding each of the factors described above in sufficient detail to enable the Committee to evaluate the candidate; (v) a statement detailing any relationship between the candidate and any customer, supplier or competitor of Chemours or any other information that bears on potential conflicts of interest, legal considerations or a determination of the candidates independence; (vi) information concerning service as an employee, officer or member of a board of any charitable, educational, commercial or professional entity; (vii) detailed information about any relationship or understanding between the proposing stockholder and the potential candidate; and (viii) a statement by the potential candidate that s/he is willing to be considered and to serve as a director if nominated and elected.
Once the Nominating and Governance Committee has identified a prospective candidate, the Nominating and Governance Committee will make an initial determination as to whether to conduct a full evaluation of the candidate. This initial determination will be based on whatever information is provided to the Nominating and Governance Committee with the recommendation of the prospective candidate, as well as the Nominating and Governance Committees own knowledge of the prospective candidate. This may be supplemented by inquiries to the person making the recommendation or others. The preliminary determination will be based primarily on the likelihood that the prospective nominee can satisfy the factors described above. If the Nominating and Governance Committee determines, in consultation with the Chair of the board and other board members as appropriate, that further consideration is warranted, it may gather additional information about the prospective nominees background and experience.
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The Nominating and Governance Committee also will consider other relevant factors as it deems appropriate, including the current composition of the board and specific needs of the board to assure its effectiveness. In connection with this evaluation, the Nominating and Governance Committee will determine whether to interview the prospective nominee. One or more members of the Nominating and Governance Committee and other directors, as appropriate, may interview the prospective nominee in person or by telephone. After completing this evaluation, the Committee will conclude whether to make a recommendation to the full board for its consideration.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During fiscal 2014, Chemours did not exist and did not have a compensation committee or any other committee serving a similar function. Decisions as to the compensation of those who currently serve as our executive officers were made by DuPont, as described in Compensation Discussion and Analysis.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our board of directors will adopt governance guidelines designed to assist Chemours and our board of directors in implementing effective corporate governance practices. The governance guidelines will be reviewed regularly by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in light of changing circumstances in order to continue serving our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders.
Communications with the Board of Directors and Procedures for Treatment of Complaints Regarding Accounting, Internal Accounting Controls and Auditing Matters
Stockholders and other parties interested in communicating directly with the board, or with our Chair or any other outside director, may do so by writing in care of the Corporate Secretary, The Chemours Company, 1007 Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19898. The boards independent directors have approved procedures for handling correspondence received by Chemours and addressed to the board, or to our Chair or any other outside director. Concerns relating to accounting, internal controls, auditing or ethical matters are immediately brought to the attention of the internal audit function and handled in accordance with procedures established by the Audit Committee with respect to such matters, which include an anonymous toll-free hotline ([]) and a website through which to report issues [(https:[]).]
Board Leadership Structure
Our governing documents allow the roles of Chair and CEO to be filled by the same or different individuals. This approach allows the board flexibility to determine whether the two roles should be separated or combined based upon our needs and the boards assessment of our leadership from time to time. It is expected that the board will regularly consider the advantages of having an independent Chair and a combined Chair and CEO and is open to different structures as circumstances may warrant.
At this time, the board believes that separating the roles of Chair and CEO serves the best interests of Chemours and its stockholders. By having an independent Chair, the CEO can focus primarily on our business strategy and operations at a time when Chemours becomes an independent, publicly traded company. While our CEO and senior management, working with the board, set the strategic direction for Chemours and our CEO provides day-to-day leadership, the independent Chair leads the board in the performance of its duties and serves as the principal liaison between the independent directors and the CEO.
Code of Ethics
The board will adopt a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors. In addition, Chemours will have a Code of Conduct applicable to all Chemours employees, including executive officers, and a Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Controller.
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Director Compensation
Following the distribution, director compensation will be determined by our board of directors with the assistance of its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. It is anticipated that such compensation will consist of the following:
| a cash retainer in the amount of $90,000 per year and |
| an initial equity award of restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of approximately $110,000 |
In addition, we anticipate that the Chair of our board of directors will receive an additional cash retainer in the amount of $110,000 per year and that the chairs of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will receive an additional cash retainer in the amount of $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000 per year, respectively. We will not provide directors who are also our employees any additional compensation for serving as a director.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
We expect to adopt stock ownership guidelines for directors that will require them to hold all annual equity awards until retirement or, at their election, until a later time as described below under Management Director Compensation Deferred Compensation.
Deferred Compensation
Under the Chemours Stock Accumulation and Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors we expect to adopt, a director will be eligible to defer all or part of his or her board retainer and committee chair fees in cash or stock units until retirement as a director or until a specified year after retirement. Interest will accrue on deferred cash payments, and dividend equivalents will accrue on deferred stock units. This deferred compensation will be an unsecured obligation of Chemours.
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
While Chemours has discussed its anticipated executive compensation programs and policies with the Human Resources & Compensation Committee of DuPonts board of directors (the DuPont Compensation Committee), those programs and policies remain subject to review and approval by Chemours own Compensation Committee. Chemours is currently a part of DuPont, and its Compensation Committee has not yet been formed. Accordingly, this Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) discusses DuPonts historical compensation programs as applied to certain individuals who are expected to be our named executive officers (NEOs) and outlines certain aspects of Chemours anticipated post-distribution compensation structure for those individuals.
For purposes of this CD&A, we refer to the following individuals as our NEOs:
| Mark P. Vergnano, who is expected to serve as our President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). |
| Mark E. Newman, who is expected to serve as our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. |
| Beth Albright, who is expected to serve as our Senior Vice President, Human Resources. |
| Thierry Vanlancker, who is expected to serve as our President, Fluoroproducts. |
| B. C. Chong, who is expected to serve as our President, Titanium Technologies. |
Messrs. Vergnano, Vanlancker and Chong are long-term DuPont employees. As such, their compensation and benefits are consistent with those provided by DuPont. While in each case the primary components of their total direct compensation consist of base salary, short-term cash incentive and long-term equity incentive awards, since Messrs. Vanlancker (based in Switzerland) and Chong (based in Singapore) are not based in the United States, their benefits and perquisites are consistent with those provided to employees in their respective local countries.
Mr. Newman and Mrs. Albright are newly hired executives of Chemours, joining us in the second half of 2014. Their compensation for 2014 is based on the terms and conditions set forth in their respective offer letters. For a description of the terms of their respective offer letters, see Compensation Discussion and Analysis Employment Offer Letters on page 127 below.
After the distribution, we will review the compensation for all of our executive officers and determine the appropriate compensation, benefits and perquisites for them, and accordingly the compensation, benefits and perquisites provided to them after the distribution will not necessarily be the same as those discussed below.
The descriptions below of DuPonts compensation, benefits and perquisites relate to U.S.-based individuals. For our NEOs based outside the United States, we have noted differences due to local country customs and practices.
I. DuPonts Executive Compensation Philosophy
We expect our executive compensation program upon the distribution will generally include the same elements as DuPonts executive compensation programs. Following the distribution, our Compensation Committee will review all aspects of compensation and may make adjustments that it believes are appropriate in structuring our executive compensation arrangements.
DuPonts compensation programs are designed and administered around the following core principles:
1. | Establish a strong link between pay and performance |
2. | Align executives interests with stockholders interests |
3. | Reinforce business strategies and drive long-term sustained stockholder value |
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DuPont Leadership Advancing DuPont Through Innovation
For more than 200 years, DuPont leaders have guided DuPont through great changes, maintaining its position as a market leader fueled by science and innovation.
At DuPont, its executive compensation programs are dependent on achieving strategic operating goals and financial performance that ultimately drive stockholder returns.
II. How DuPont Determines Executive Compensation
The DuPont Compensation Committee determines compensation for its NEOs and other executive officers. The NEOs are DuPonts Chair and CEO, the Chief Financial Officer, and the three next most highly compensated executive officers.
For 2014, the DuPont Compensation Committee again retained Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (Cook), as its independent compensation consultant on executive compensation matters. Cook performs work at the direction and under the supervision of the DuPont Compensation Committee, and provides no services to DuPont other than those for the DuPont Compensation Committee.
Oversight Responsibilities for Executive Compensation
Following the distribution, we expect our board of directors will adopt a Compensation Committee Charter that initially will grant our Compensation Committee similar responsibilities to those of the DuPont Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee Charter will include the authority to retain an independent advisor for the purpose of reviewing and providing guidance related to executive compensation programs.
Summarized in the table below are responsibilities for DuPonts executive compensation.
Human Resources and Compensation Committee |
Establishes executive compensation philosophy
Approves incentive compensation programs and target performance expectations the short-term incentive program (STIP) and performance-based restricted stock unit (PSU)
Approves all compensation actions for the executive officers, other than the CEO, including base salary, target and actual STIP, long-term incentive (LTI) grants and target and actual PSU awards
Recommends to the full Board compensation actions for the CEO, including base salary, target and actual STIP, LTI grant, and target and actual PSU award | |
All Independent Board Members |
Assess performance of the CEO
Approve all compensation actions for the CEO, including base salary, target and actual STIP, LTI grant, and target and actual PSU award | |
Independent Committee |
Provides independent advice, research, and analytical services on a variety of subjects to the DuPont Compensation Committee, including compensation of executive officers, nonemployee director compensation and executive compensation trends |
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Participates in the DuPont Compensation Committee meetings as requested and communicates with the Chair of the DuPont Compensation Committee between meetings | ||
CEO |
Provides a performance assessment of the other executive officers
Recommends compensation targets and actual awards for the other executive officers |
In addition to DuPont and individual performance, the DuPont Compensation Committee considers a broad number of facts and circumstances in finalizing executive officer pay decisions, including competitive analysis, pay equity multiples and tally sheets.
DuPont Conducts a Competitive Analysis
To ensure a complete and robust picture of the overall compensation environment and consistent comparisons for the CEO and other NEOs, compensation is assessed primarily against published compensation surveys. These surveys represent large companies with median revenue comparable to DuPonts market, including surveys by Towers Watson and Aon Hewitt.
We expect our Compensation Committee with the assistance of its independent Compensation Committee advisor will make reference to published compensation surveys and peer group practices in determining appropriate NEO compensation practices.
Peer Group Analysis
DuPont also uses a select group of peer companies (peer group) to:
| Benchmark pay design including mix and performance criteria |
| Measure financial performance for the PSU program |
| Test the link between pay and performance |
Because of the smaller number of companies, DuPont periodically finds volatility in peer group compensation levels year over year. Therefore, DuPont uses market survey information as the primary source of competitive data. Peer group compensation data is used only for the CEO and only as a secondary data point as described above.
The peer group reflects the diverse industries in which DuPont operates, represents the multiple markets in which DuPont competes including markets for executive talent, customers and capital and comprises large companies with a strong scientific focus and/or research intensity and a significant international presence.
To help guide the selection process in an objective manner, the DuPont Compensation Committee established the following criteria for peer group companies:
| Publicly traded U.S. companies and select European companies traded on the New York Stock Exchange to facilitate pay design and performance comparisons |
| Direct business competitors |
| Companies similar in revenue size to DuPont As there are limited potential peers within a typical one-half to double revenue-size criterion, DuPont established a broader one-third to triple range, which also ensures the inclusion of some direct competitors that would otherwise be excluded |
| Meaningful international presence At least one-third of revenues earned outside of the United States |
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| Scientific focus/research intensity The criterion of a minimum of two percent research and development expense as percent of revenue results in the inclusion of several pharmaceutical companies. DuPonts research and development expense tends to be higher than that of industry peers |
Peer Group
We expect the Chemours peer group will initially include the following companies (though the list of companies is subject to the approval of, and change by, our Compensation Committee after the distribution):
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. |
Ecolab, Inc. | Praxair, Inc. | ||
Ashland Inc. |
Huntsman Corporation | RPM International Inc. | ||
Axiall Corporation |
The Mosaic Company | The Sherwin-Williams Company | ||
Celanese Corporation |
Polyone Corporation | Valspar Corporation | ||
Eastman Chemical Company |
PPG Industries, Inc. | W. R. Grace & Company |
The following criteria were considered by the DuPont Compensation Committee in selecting our initial peer group:
| Publicly traded U.S. based companies |
| Companies similar in revenue size to Chemours within one-third to triple revenue size criterion |
| Companies in similar industry chemicals industry |
| Meaningful international presence at least one-third of revenues earned outside the United States |
Tally Sheets
For each NEO, the DuPont Compensation Committee annually reviews tally sheets that include all aspects of total compensation and the benefits associated with various termination scenarios. Tally sheets provide the DuPont Compensation Committee with information on all elements of actual and potential future compensation of the NEOs, as well as data on wealth accumulation. This helps the DuPont Compensation Committee confirm that there are no unintended consequences of its actions.
III. Components of DuPonts Executive Compensation Program
The following table summarizes the elements, objectives, risk mitigation factors and other key features of DuPonts total direct compensation program for officers. We expect similar features will initially apply to our NEO compensation program. Following the distribution, our Compensation Committee will review the compensation programs and may make certain changes to align them with our compensation philosophy and their view of our business needs and strategic priorities.
Direct Compensation Components
Pay Element |
Role in Program/Objectives |
How Amounts are Determined | ||
Base salary |
Provides regular source of income for NEOs
Provides foundation for other pay components |
Based on range of factors, including market pay surveys, business results, and individual performance
Targeted at approximately market median | ||
STIP awards |
Align executives with annual goals and objectives |
Actual payout is based on performance of DuPont, business units and individual |
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Pay Element |
Role in Program/Objectives |
How Amounts are Determined | ||
Create a direct link between executive pay and annual financial and operational performance |
Target award is approximately market median | |||
LTI awards |
Link pay and performance accelerate growth, profitability and stockholder return
Align the interests of executives with stockholders
Balance plan costs, such as accounting and dilution, with employee-perceived value, potential wealth creation opportunity and employee share ownership expectations |
Actual value realized is based on company performance over a three-year time frame or linked to stock price
Targeted to market median |
Target Compensation Pay Mix
To reinforce DuPonts pay-for-performance philosophy, at least 80% of targeted total direct compensation (TDC) is at risk and fluctuates with DuPonts financial results and share price. DuPont believes this approach motivates executives to consider the impact of their decisions on stockholder value.
To lessen the possible risk inherent in the greater focus on long-term incentives, executives receive a mix of different forms of stock compensation:
| PSUs (rewards key financial performance in relation to the peer group in revenue growth and total shareholder return (TSR)). Overlapping performance cycles in the PSU program assure sustainability of performance |
| Stock options (rewards for stock price appreciation and direct link to stockholder experience) |
| Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) (intended as retention tool and linked to stock price) |
Benefits, Retirement and Other Compensation Components
In addition to the annual and long-term direct compensation programs designed to align pay with performance, DuPont provides its executives with the benefits, retirement plans, and limited perquisites summarized below. We expect these additional compensation features generally will be made available to our NEOs upon the distribution, though again all such features are subject to change by our Compensation Committee once it is established.
Pay Element |
Role in Program/Objectives |
How Amounts Are Determined | ||
Standard benefits and retirement plans |
Same tax-qualified retirement, medical, dental, vacation benefit, life insurance, and disability plans provided to other employees
Nonqualified retirement plans that restore benefits above the Internal Revenue Code (Code) limits for tax-qualified retirement plans as provided to other employees |
Tax-qualified plans are targeted to peer group median
Nonqualified retirement plans are provided to restore benefits lost due to Code limits |
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Pay Element |
Role in Program/Objectives |
How Amounts Are Determined | ||
Nonqualified deferred compensation plan that allows for deferral of base salary, STIP and LTI awards |
||||
Change in Control Severance benefits |
Severance benefits upon a change in control and termination (double-trigger) to ensure continuity of management in a potential change in control environment
A change in control does not automatically entitle an executive to this severance benefit. An executive must lose his/her job within two years of a change in control (see Change in Control Severance Benefits below for more details) |
Cash payment of two times base salary and target annual incentive (three times for the CEO)
Pro-rated payment of the target annual incentive for the year of termination. Financial counseling and outplacement services for two years (three for the CEO) | ||
Limited perquisites |
Very limited perquisites or personal benefits
Personal financial counseling (excluding tax preparation) at a cost of generally less than $10,000 per NEO |
For individuals based outside the United States, they may be entitled to different benefits and perquisites based on local country customs and practices. For defined benefit pension plans and defined contribution plans, Mr. Vergnano participates in the DuPont Pension Plan and is eligible to participate in DuPonts defined contribution plans, such as the DuPont Retirement Savings Plan and DuPont Retirement Savings Restoration Plan. Neither Mr. Newman nor Mrs. Albright is eligible to participate in DuPonts Pension Plan, as eligibility is limited to employees hired or rehired on or before December 31, 2006, but is eligible to participate in DuPonts defined contribution plans. Mr. Vanlancker has accrued benefits under three distinct defined benefit pension plans, since he was based in multiple countries, but does not have any interest in any defined contribution plans. Mr. Chong does not participate in a defined benefit pension plan but participates in a defined contribution plan in Singapore. For additional information see the Narrative Discussion of Pension Benefits beginning on page 144. Individuals based outside the United States may also be covered under local country severance arrangements. Our executive officers are also provided perquisites consistent with local country customs and practices.
Because DuPont uses only compensation practices that support our guiding principles, DuPont does NOT offer our executives:
| Employment agreements except for newly hired executives when there is a demonstrated business need |
| Severance agreements except in the event of a change in control (double-trigger) or limited-duration agreements for newly hired executives when there is a demonstrated business need |
| Tax gross-ups on benefits and perquisites other than relocation benefits |
| Supplemental executive retirement benefits |
| Retirement plans that grant additional years of service or include long-term incentives in the benefit calculation |
| Repricing of stock options/repurchases of underwater stock options for cash |
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IV. Other Compensation and Tax Matters
Change in Control Severance Benefits
To ensure that executives remain focused on DuPont business during a period of uncertainty, in 2013, DuPont adopted change in control severance pay plans. For any benefits to be earned, a change in control must occur and the executives employment must be terminated within two years following the change in control, either by DuPont without cause or the executive for good reason (often called a double trigger). The plan does not provide tax gross-ups. Payments and benefits to the executive will be reduced to the extent necessary to result in the executives retaining a larger after-tax amount, taking into account the income, excise and other taxes imposed on the payments and benefits. For additional information, see Executive Compensation Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.
Benefits provided under the program include:
| Lump sum cash payment between one and one-half to two times (three times for the CEO) the sum of the executives base salary and target annual bonus; |
| A lump sum cash payment equal to the pro-rated portion of the executives target annual bonus for the year of termination; and |
| Continued health and dental benefits, financial counseling and outplacement services for one and one-half to two years (three years for the CEO) following the date of termination. |
The severance pay plans also include a 12-month non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disparagement and confidentiality provisions (18 months for the CEO).
We have not yet established any separate change in control benefits for our NEOs. If any such benefits are adopted, however, we expect it will be on a double trigger basis only and that no tax gross-ups will be provided.
Employment Offer Letters
As noted above, the terms and conditions of employment with us of Mr. Newman and Mrs. Albright are currently subject to offer letters of employment between them and DuPont.
Mark E. Newman. Under Mr. Newmans employment offer letter dated October 14, 2014, Mr. Newman is entitled to an annual base salary of $560,000, a signing bonus of $150,000 (repayable on a voluntary or for cause termination within one year), a first-year short-term incentive guarantee in lieu of participation in the 2014 DuPont STIP of $350,000 (repayable on a voluntary or for cause termination within one year), STIP participation beginning in 2015 at an 80% target level, LTI eligibility beginning February 2015 at a target level of $1,200,000 and a special restricted stock unit award of $1,500,000 upon commencement of employment generally vesting in three equal annual installments. Mr. Newman will receive severance benefits such that in the event of termination without cause within twenty-four months of the date of hire, an amount equivalent to one year of base salary and one year of target bonus becomes payable within 60 days of the termination date. Additionally, any unvested portion of the special stock award will become fully vested. Mr. Newman is also eligible for additional benefits which are customarily offered to regular employees.
Beth Albright. Under Mrs. Albrights employment offer letter dated September 25, 2014, Mrs. Albright is entitled to an annual base salary of $400,000, a signing bonus of $250,000 (repayable on a voluntary or for cause termination within one year), pro-rated participation in the 2014 DuPont STIP at a 65% target level, LTI eligibility beginning February 2015 and a special restricted stock unit award of $1,150,000 upon commencement of employment generally vesting in three equal annual installments. Mrs. Albright will receive severance benefits such that in the event of termination without cause within twenty-four months of the date of hire, an amount equivalent to one year of base salary and one year of target bonus becomes payable within 60 days of the
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termination date. Additionally, any unvested portion of the special stock award will become fully vested. Mrs. Albright is also eligible for additional benefits which are customarily offered to regular employees.
How DuPont Manages Compensation Risk
The DuPont Compensation Committee regularly monitors its compensation programs to assess whether those programs are motivating the desired behaviors while delivering on DuPonts performance objectives and encouraging appropriate levels of risk-taking. In 2014, the DuPont Compensation Committee asked Cook to test whether DuPonts compensation programs encourage the appropriate levels of risk-taking given DuPonts risk profile. Cooks review encompassed an assessment of risk pertaining to a broad range of design elements, such as mix of pay, performance metrics, goal-setting and payout curves, payment timing and adjustments, and the presence of maximum payments, as well as other mitigating program attributes. Cooks analysis determined, and the DuPont Compensation Committee concurred, that DuPonts compensation programs do not encourage behaviors that would create undue material risk for DuPont.
We expect to review risks relating to our compensation programs so that we have appropriate controls in place, such as payout limitations, stock ownership guidelines and a clawback policy, to ensure our compensation programs do not encourage behaviors that would create undue material risk for Chemours.
Payout Limitations or Caps
Payout limitations, or caps, play a vital role in risk mitigation, and all metrics in the DuPont STIP and PSU programs are capped at 200% payout to protect against excessive payouts. DuPonts performance/payout leverage is slightly less than competitive practice, reflecting DuPonts risk profile as a company, and DuPonts rigor in setting performance targets. Clawback provisions, stock ownership guidelines and insider trading policies that prohibit executives from entering into derivative transactions also protect against excessive risk in DuPonts incentive programs.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
DuPont requires that NEOs accumulate and hold shares of DuPont Common Stock with a value equal to a specified multiple of base pay.
Stock ownership guidelines include a retention ratio requirement. Under the policy, until the required ownership is reached, executives are required to retain 75% of net shares acquired upon any future vesting of stock units, after deducting shares used to pay applicable taxes.
The multiples for specific executive levels are shown below. Each DuPont NEO exceeds the ownership goal.
Multiple of Salary |
2014 Target | 2014 Actual | ||
CEO |
6x | 23x | ||
Other NEOs average |
4x | 16x |
For purposes of the stock ownership guidelines, DuPont includes direct ownership of shares and stock units held in employee plans. Stock options and PSUs are not included in determining whether an executive has achieved the ownership levels.
Compensation Recovery Policy (Clawback)
DuPont has a compensation recovery policy that covers each current and former employee of DuPont or an affiliated company who is, or was, the recipient of incentive-based compensation (Grantee). If a Grantee engages in misconduct, then:
| He/she forfeits any right to receive any future awards or other equity-based incentive compensation |
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| DuPont may demand repayment of any awards or cash payments already received by a Grantee |
| The Grantee will be required to provide repayment within ten (10) days following such demand |
Misconduct means any of the following:
| The Grantees employment or service is terminated for cause |
| There has been a breach of a noncompete or confidentiality covenant set out in the employee agreement |
| DuPont has been required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance, as a result of fraud or misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, and the DuPont Compensation Committee has determined, in its sole discretion, that the Grantee (a) had knowledge of the material noncompliance or the circumstances that gave rise to such noncompliance and failed to take reasonable steps to bring it to the attention of appropriate individuals within DuPont or (b) personally and knowingly engaged in practices which materially contributed to the circumstances that enabled a material noncompliance to occur |
Awards granted prior to March 2, 2011, are subject to the clawback provisions that were in effect at the time of the grant.
Deductibility of Performance-Based Compensation
Code Section 162(m) generally precludes a public corporation from taking a deduction for compensation in excess of $1,000,000 for its CEO or any of its three next-highest-paid executive officers (other than the Chief Financial Officer), unless certain specific and detailed criteria are satisfied. This limitation does not apply to qualified performance-based compensation.
DuPont reviews all compensation programs and payments to determine the tax impact on DuPont as well as on the executive officers. In addition, DuPont reviews the impact of its programs against other considerations, such as accounting impact, stockholder alignment, market competitiveness, effectiveness and perceived value to employees. Because many different factors influence a well-rounded, comprehensive executive compensation program, some compensation might not, on some occasions, be deductible under Code Section 162(m).
Following the distribution we will continue to monitor developments and assess alternatives for preserving the deductibility of compensation payments and benefits to the extent reasonably practicable consistent with our compensation policies and as determined to be in the best interests of Chemours and its stockholders.
New Equity and Incentive Plan
Information regarding our contemplated new equity and incentive plan will be provided by amendment to the registration statement on Form 10 of which this information statement is a part.
Treatment of Outstanding Equity Awards as of the Distribution Date
For DuPont equity incentive awards outstanding at the distribution date, we expect those awards will be adjusted using the following principles:
| For each award recipient, the intent is to maintain the economic value of those awards before and after the distribution date. |
| Other than PSUs, which are described in more detail below, the terms of the equity awards, such as vesting date, will generally continue unchanged. |
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| For Chemours employees at the time of distribution, those awards will be converted into Chemours equity awards and denominated in shares of Chemours common stock. |
| For DuPont employees, those awards will remain DuPont equity awards. |
The following table provides additional information regarding each type of DuPont equity award:
Chemours Employees |
DuPont Employees | |||
Stock Options |
DuPont stock options will be converted into Chemours stock options to purchase Chemours common stock. | Continue to hold DuPont stock options. | ||
Restricted Stock Units |
DuPont RSUs will be replaced with Chemours RSUs of equal value. | Continue to hold DuPont RSUs. | ||
Performance Stock Units |
DuPont PSUs will be replaced with Chemours equity awards of equal value as follows: DuPont PSUs will be converted, pro-rated through the distribution date, into Chemours RSUs and an additional make-whole Chemours RSU award, each with vesting corresponding to the original performance period. | Continue to hold DuPont PSUs. |
DuPont common stock units held by current or former directors of DuPont who become our directors upon the distribution will be replaced with Chemours units of equal value.
DuPont outstanding options and restricted stock unit awards held by Chemours employees will be converted to Chemours options and restricted stock unit awards as of the distribution date. As described in the Employee Matters Agreement, outstanding options restricted stock unit awards and deferred stock units will be converted into Chemours awards on substantially the same terms and vesting conditions as the original DuPont options, restricted stock unit awards and deferred stock units, except with regard to certain adjustments made in connection with the conversion designed such that the Chemours options, restricted stock unit awards and deferred stock units reflect the intrinsic value of the corresponding DuPont awards at the time of separation. As a result of the adjustment, the precise number of Chemours outstanding options, restricted stock unit awards and deferred stock units will not be known until the distribution date or shortly thereafter. For an estimate of the number of shares of Chemours common stock our named executive officers and directors will have a right to acquire within 60 days after the conversion of certain DuPont outstanding options, restricted stock unit awards and deferred stock units, see footnote 3 in Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management Security Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers.
2014 Compensation Decisions
Annual Compensation Program
Annual Base Salary
The table below shows the annual base salary rate of our NEOs as of December 31, 2014. This information may be different from the base salary provided in the 2014 Summary Compensation Table (SCT), which reflects the actual base pay received for the year.
Name |
2014 Base Salary |
Primary Rationale | ||||
Mark Vergnano |
$ | 720,000 | Standard merit increase over 2013 | |||
Mark Newman |
560,000 | New Hire starting salary | ||||
Beth Albright |
400,000 | New Hire starting salary | ||||
Thierry Vanlancker |
561,949 | (1) | Standard merit increase over 2013 | |||
B. C. Chong |
612,711 | (2) | Standard merit increase over 2013 |
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(1) | Mr. Vanlancker is paid in Swiss francs (CHF). Unless otherwise noted, compensation amounts have been converted to United States dollars using the foreign exchange rate in effect December 31, 2014: 1.0107. |
(2) | Mr. Chong is paid in Singapore dollars (SGD). Unless otherwise noted, compensation amounts have been converted to United States dollars using the foreign exchange rate in effect December 31, 2014: 0.7555. |
Annual Short Term Incentives
DuPonts annual incentive plan design ensures that its executives maintain a strong focus on those financial metrics (e.g., revenue growth and earnings growth) that have been shown to be closely linked to its stockholder value creation over time. For 2014, STIP awards were based on the following formula, measures and weightings. The DuPont Compensation Committee approves these factors at the beginning of each fiscal year. Each element is discussed in greater detail below.
1. Target STIP |
* | 2. STIP Payout Factor |
= | 3. Final STIP | ||||||
Target STIP |
Corporate Performance Payout Factor |
(20% weight) | Maximum payout capped at 200% of target STIP | |||||||
+ Total Business Unit Performance Payout Factor |
(60% weight) | |||||||||
+ Individual Performance Payout Factor |
(20% weight) |
1. Target Short-Term Incentive Program
DuPonts STIP targets are set as a percentage of base salary, consistent with market practice. The target STIP percentage for each level is reviewed regularly against market and approved annually. The actual calculation of the 2014 target STIP amount for Mr. Vergnano and the other NEOs is detailed in the table below.
Name |
2014 Base Salary |
2014 X Target STIP % |
2014 = Target STIP $ |
|||||||||
Mark Vergnano |
$ | 720,000 | 100 | % | $ | 720,000 | ||||||
Mark Newman |
81,667 | N/A | (1) | N/A | ||||||||
Beth Albright |
73,913 | (2) | 65 | % | 48,043 | |||||||
Thierry Vanlancker |
564,140 | (3) | 60 | % | 338,484 | |||||||
B. C. Chong |
546,272 | (3) | 30 | % | 163,882 |
(1) | In accordance with the terms of his employment offer, Mr. Newman is not eligible for a 2014 non-equity incentive plan award. |
(2) | The target and maximum non-equity incentive plan award amounts for Mrs. Albright are pro-rated based on her October 27, 2014 hire date. |
(3) | The Base Salary used to determine Target STIP $ for Mr. Vanlancker and Mr. Chong are reference salaries derived from the midpoint of the salary range to which they are assigned, converted to United States dollars using the foreign exchange rate in effect December 31, 2014: 1.0107 (CHF) and 0.7555 (SGD). |
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2. STIP Payout Factor:
The weighted average payout factor for the STIP is based on actual performance on each measure and the weighting of that performance measure.
STIP PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Metric |
Weighting | Rationale for Use | ||||||
Corporate performance | Operating EPS (Operating EPS compared to an internal target (Profit Objective)) |
20 | % | Is the most effective and common metric in measuring stockholder value
Closely aligns stockholder and executive interests
Provides insight with respect to ongoing operating results | ||||
Business unit performance |
1. After-tax operating income (ATOI)
(Business unit ATOI (excluding significant items) versus budget for the year) |
15 | % | Measures profitability at the business unit level leading to corporate EPS results | ||||
2. Revenue (Business unit revenue versus budget for the year) |
15 | % | Reflects top-line growth critical to company success | |||||
3. Cash flow from operations (CFFO) (Business unit CFFO versus budget for the year) | 20 | % | Measures ability to translate earnings into cash, indicating the health of DuPonts business and allowing it to invest for the future | |||||
4. Dynamic planning factor (Business units are assessed, both qualitatively and quantitatively, on a number of items, such as external factors, currency fluctuations, raw material fluctuations, and core values) |
10 | % | Assesses how well a business unit anticipates and responds to the business environment in a way that creates value for DuPont
Assures that plan payouts are relevant to the current business strategy and recognizes the external economic environment | |||||
Individual performance | Individual performance assessment (Based on the executives performance versus personal, predetermined critical operating tasks or objectives, e.g., attainment of key strategic growth goals, specific revenue and earnings goals, achievement of fixed cost reduction targets, successful acquisitions/divestitures and integration efforts, and fulfillment of core values) | 20 | % | Takes individual performance into consideration in finalizing STIP payout factors |
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2014 STIP PERFORMANCE AND PAYOUT FACTORS
2014 Results
Corporate and business unit performances are converted to a corresponding payout factor based on the concept of leverage, i.e., the relationship between performance for a given metric and its payout factor. The leverage in DuPonts plan is consistent with competitive practice. For example, Operating EPS, business unit ATOI, business unit revenue, and business unit CFFO leverage is 2:1 below target and 5:1 above target. So, participants have two percentage points in payout deducted for each one percent change in performance below target, and receive five percentage points in payout for each one percent change in performance above target. In addition to steeper slopes, performance ranges were narrowed, resulting in a threshold performance requirement of 70% (80% for revenue metric) and a maximum payout at 120% performance or above. All metrics are capped at 200% payout.
Total Company |
Payout Factor % (Unweighted) |
X Weight | Payout Factor % = (Weighted) |
|||||||||
Corporate performance (Operating EPS)* |
0 | % | 20 | % | 0 | % | ||||||
Business unit performance* |
0-66 | % | 60 | % | 0-40 | % | ||||||
Individual performance* |
0-100 | % | 20 | % | 0-20 | % | ||||||
Overall payout factor |
0-58 | % |
* | Actual Operating EPS, business unit and individual performance would have resulted in some payout. Consistent with DuPonts pay-for-performance philosophy and financial performance in 2014, the DuPont Compensation Committee chose to exercise negative discretion and reduced the payout factor to zero for corporate performance and, for individuals in Fluoroproducts and Chemical Solutions, for business unit and individual performance. |
3. Final STIP Payout
As illustrated in the table below, the final 2014 STIP payout is determined by multiplying the target STIP amount by the final total payout factor. Final payout factors were determined by Corporate performance, Business unit performance and each NEOs Individual performance. Mr. Vergnanos and Mrs. Albrights business unit portion of their final payout factor were aligned to a factor based on a roll-up of DuPonts twelve business units, while Messrs. Vanlancker and Chong were aligned with their business units, DuPont Chemicals and Fluoroproducts and Titanium Technologies. As noted above, Corporate performance and the DuPont Chemicals and Fluroproducts performance had a zero payout factor. Each NEOs total payout factor was also adjusted for Individual performance.
Name |
2014 Target STIP $ |
TOTAL Payout X Factor % |
2014 = Final STIP $ |
|||||||||
Mark Vergnano |
$ | 720,000 | 52 | % | $ | 376,000 | ||||||
Mark Newman |
N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
Beth Albright |
48,043 | 56 | % | 26,400 | ||||||||
Thierry Vanlancker |
338,484 | 0 | % | 0 | ||||||||
B. C. Chong |
163,882 | 57 | % | 105,543 |
Long-Term Incentive Program
In 2014, DuPonts LTI program for NEOs consisted of a mix of stock options, PSUs, and RSUs, all based on fair value on the grant date. For 2014, the DuPont Compensation Committee revised the mix to increase PSUs to 50%, and decreased stock options and RSUs to 25% each. This shift reinforces DuPonts emphasis on pay for performance.
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The following table summarizes the performance drivers, mix, and objectives for the various LTI components as they relate to NEOs:
PSUs |
Stock Options |
RSUs | ||||
2014 LTI mix | 50% |
25% |
25% | |||
Performance drivers | TSR (relative to peer group)
Revenue growth (intermediate-term) (relative to peer group) |
Stock price appreciation (longer-term) |
Stock price appreciation (intermediate-term) | |||
Objectives | Focus on business priorities such as revenue growth and TSR, which are obtained through balanced growth, profitability, and capital management over a three-year period
Stockholder alignment |
Stockholder alignment
Link to long-term business objectives
Stock ownership
Retention |
Stock ownership
Capital accumulation
Retention | |||
Program design | At the conclusion of the performance cycle, payouts can range from 0% to 200% of the target grant based on relative performance of revenue and TSR
PSUs are based on a three-year performance cycle compared to our peers and are awarded annually at the beginning of the cycle |
Options vest in one-third increments over three years
Seven-year term
Nonqualified stock option grants are made annually at the closing price on the date of grant
No repricing of stock options |
Vest in one-third increments over a three-year period
Typically granted annually
|
2014 Long-Term Incentive Awards
Annual awards to employees, including NEOs, are made at a pre-established DuPont Compensation Committee meeting in early February. This allows sufficient time for the market to absorb announcement of annual earnings, which is typically made during the fourth week of January. DuPont does not time equity awards in coordination with the release of material nonpublic information. The grant price is the closing price on the date of grant.
Each year the DuPont Compensation Committee establishes target LTI values based on a number of factors including market practices, internal equity, and cost. For 2014, the Committee increased LTI targets approximately 10% to be more in line with competitive market levels and will continue to move toward market median over time.
Name |
2014 LTI Grant Date Fair Value(1) |
|||
Mark Vergnano |
$ | 2,100,000 | ||
Mark Newman |
N/A | (2) | ||
Beth Albright |
N/A | (2) | ||
Thierry Vanlancker |
350,000 | |||
B. C. Chong |
250,000 |
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(1) | Reflects the grant date fair value and differs from the value of equity awards shown in the SCT and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table (GPBAT) because those tables reflect the probable outcome of the performance conditions for PSUs. The LTI amounts shown in this table value PSUs at the closing price of DuPont common stock on the date of grant, and reflect the value the DuPont Compensation Committee considered when making LTI awards for 2014. |
(2) | Mr. Newman and Mrs. Albright did not receive a 2014 LTI award because they were hired in November and October respectively. Both are eligible to receive LTI beginning February 2015. |
Performance Share Units Granted in 2014
The actual number of shares earned for the PSUs granted in 2014 will be based on DuPonts revenue growth and TSR relative to its peer group for the three-year performance period of 2014 through 2016, as shown in the table below. As described elsewhere, PSUs held by our employees at the time of the distribution will be subject to special treatment. See Treatment of Outstanding Equity Awards as of the Distribution Date on page 129.
PERFORMANCE TARGETS (2014-2016 PERFORMANCE PERIOD)
(REVENUE GROWTH PAYOUT % X TARGET AWARD X 50%)
+ (TSR PAYOUT % X TARGET AWARD X 50%)
= FINAL AWARD
DuPont Revenue Growth or TSR Relative to the Peer Group |
% of Target Shares Earned (Payout %) |
|||
Below 25th percentile* |
0 | % | ||
At 25th percentile* |
25 | % | ||
At 50th percentile* |
100 | % | ||
At or above 75th percentile* |
200 | % |
* | Interim points are interpolated |
2012 2014 PSU PROGRAM (PAYABLE IN 2015)
The three-year performance period for PSUs awarded in 2012 ended on December 31, 2014. The final number of shares earned was based on revenue growth and TSR in relation to DuPonts peer group over the three-year performance period. The final payout determination was made in March of 2015 after a review of DuPonts and its peer groups performance. Revenue growth was comparable to those of the twenty-fourth (24th) percentile of the peer group. TSR was comparable to those of the forty-first (41st) percentile of the peer group. This resulted in an overall payout of thirty-seven percent (37%).
2014 NEO TOTAL DIRECT COMPENSATION SUMMARY
This table is not intended to be a substitute for the SCT or GPBAT. Base salary is shown as of December 31, 2014. STIP awards and LTI awards for 2014 are reflected in the SCT and GPBAT. The value of LTI awards reflected in this table differs from the value of equity awards shown in the SCT and GPBAT because those tables reflect the probable outcome of the performance conditions for PSUs. The LTI amounts shown in this table value
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PSUs at the closing price of DuPont common stock on the date of grant, and reflect the value the DuPont Compensation Committee considered when making LTI awards for 2014.
Name |
2014 Base Salary |
2014 Final STIP |
2014 LTI |
TDC | ||||||||||||
Mark Vergnano |
$ | 720,000 | $ | 376,000 | $ | 2,100,000 | $ | 3,196,000 | ||||||||
Mark Newman |
560,000 | N/A | N/A | 560,000 | ||||||||||||
Beth Albright |
400,000 | 26,400 | N/A | 426,400 | ||||||||||||
Thierry Vanlancker |
561,949 | 0 | 350,000 | 911,949 | ||||||||||||
B. C. Chong |
612,711 | 105,543 | 250,000 | 968,254 |
Changes for 2015 STIP and LTI
Due to the contemplated separation, which is expected mid-2015, the 2015 STIP and LTI awards for our NEOs was modified from what was in effect generally for DuPont NEOs in 2014. As modified, performance under the STIP will be measured quarterly against three financial measures for Chemours: cash flow from operations (40%), operating earnings (40%) and revenue (20%) (the corporate performance and individual performance factors were eliminated). The portion of the annual LTI award that was historically granted in the form of PSU awards was not made; however, we expect to make a grant of comparable value upon or soon after the distribution in respect of that forgone award. Following the separation, we expect our Compensation Committee will review the STIP and LTI programs and may make certain changes to align them with our compensation philosophy and their view of our business needs and strategic priorities.
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The following tables provide information in regard to the compensation of our NEOs for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014. All of the compensation shown relates to the compensation paid by DuPont to the NEO for 2014. Chemours did not pay the NEOs any compensation for 2014.
Summary Compensation Table
Name and Principle Position |
Year | Salary ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Stock Awards ($)(1) |
Option Awards ($)(2) |
Nonequity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(3) |
Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)(4) |
All Other Compensation ($)(5) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Vergnano, President and Chief Executive Officer |
2014 | $ | 716,667 | N/A | $ | 1,727,967 | $ | 525,011 | $ | 376,000 | $ | 714,436 | $ | 112,200 | $ | 4,172,281 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Newman, |
2014 | 81,667 | $ | 500,000 | 1,500,039 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24,312 | 2,106,018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beth Albright, |
2014 | 73,913 | 250,000 | 1,150,023 | N/A | 26,400 | N/A | 3,551 | 1,503,887 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thierry Vanlancker, President |
2014 | 560,098 | N/A | 288,074 | 87,511 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 935,683 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. C. Chong, |
2014 | 611,732 | N/A | 205,767 | 62,504 | 105,543 | N/A | 44,187 | 1,029,733 |
(1) | Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of time-vested RSUs and PSUs computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Those values are detailed in the 2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table. For PSUs, the grant date fair value is based upon the probable outcome of the performance conditions. This amount is consistent with the estimate of aggregate compensation cost to be recognized over the service period determined as of the grant date under FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. The grant date fair values of the PSUs assuming that the highest level of performance conditions will be achieved are as follows: Mr. Vergnano ($2,405,862); Mr. Vanlancker ($401,095); Mr. Chong ($286,497). |
(2) | Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in determining values can be found under 2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards. |
(3) | Represents payouts under the cash-based award component (STIP) of the Equity and Incentive Plan (EIP) for services performed during 2014. This column includes compensation which may have been deferred at the NEOs election. Any such amounts will be included in the Executive Contributions column of our 2015 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table. |
(4) | This column reports the estimated positive change in the actuarial present value of an NEOs accumulated pension benefits and any above-market earnings on nonqualified deferred compensation balances. DuPont does not credit participants in the nonqualified plans with above-market earnings; therefore, no such amounts are reflected here. Fluctuations in exchange rates result in an aggregate net negative number for Mr. Vanlancker, and accordingly zero is reported per regulatory guidelines. The year-over-year change in pension values for Mr. Vanlancker is as follows: DISA $59,491; DUBEL ($60,105); TPG ($62,242). See the narrative discussion following the Pension Benefits table for a description of these plans. |
(5) | Amounts shown include company contributions to qualified defined contribution plans and company contributions to nonqualified defined contribution plans. The amounts also reflect perquisites and personal benefits. For a detailed discussion of the items and amounts reported in this column, refer to the All Other Compensation section of the narrative discussion following this footnote. |
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(6) | Mr. Newman received a $150,000 signing bonus upon hire on November 10, 2014, a $350,000 short-term incentive replacement award payable in February 2015 in lieu of participation in the 2014 DuPont Short-term Incentive Plan and a special stock award with a grant date value of $1,500,039 upon joining. |
(7) | Mrs. Albright received a signing bonus upon hire on October 27, 2014 and a special stock award with a grant date value of $1,150,023 upon joining. |
(8) | Mr. Vanlancker is paid in Swiss francs (CHF). Unless otherwise noted, compensation amounts have been converted to United States dollars using the foreign exchange rate in effect December 31, 2014: 1.0107. |
(9) | Mr. Chong is paid in Singapore dollars (SGD). Unless otherwise noted, compensation amounts have been converted to United States dollars using the foreign exchange rate in effect December 31, 2014: 0.7555. |
Narrative Discussion of Summary Compensation Table
Salary
Amounts shown in the Salary column of the table above represent base salary earned during 2014. Base salary rate changes for all NEOs were effective March 1, 2014 for named executive officers then employed by DuPont. Base salary represents approximately one-third of TDC (base salary, STIP awards and LTI awards) for the NEOs employed the entire year, which is consistent with the DuPont Human Resources and Compensation Committees goal of placing emphasis on at risk compensation.
Bonus
Amounts shown in the Bonus column of the table above represents signing bonuses awarded upon hire and/or short-term incentive replacement awards in lieu of participation in the DuPont Short-Term Incentive Plan payable in February 2015.
Stock Awards
Amounts shown in the Stock Awards column of the table above represent the aggregate grant date fair value of RSUs and PSUs computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For PSUs, the grant date fair value is based upon the probable outcome of the performance conditions. This amount is consistent with the estimate of aggregate compensation cost to be recognized over the service period determined as of the grant date under FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. Refer to 2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards for a detailed discussion of the grant date fair value of stock awards.
Option Awards
Amounts shown in the Option Awards column of the table above represent the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Refer to 2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards for a detailed discussion of the grant date fair value of option awards.
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation
Amounts shown in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the table above represent cash-based short-term incentive, or STIP, awards paid for 2014.
Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings
Amounts shown in the Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings column of the table above represent the estimated change in the actuarial present value of accumulated benefits for each of the NEOs at the earlier of either age 65 or the age at which the NEO is eligible for an unreduced pension. Key
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actuarial assumptions for the present value of accumulated benefit calculation can be found in Note 18 (Long-Term Employee Benefits) to the Consolidated Financial Statements in DuPonts Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. Assumptions are further described in the narrative discussion following the Pension Benefits table.
There were no above-market or preferential earnings during 2014 on nonqualified deferred compensation. Generally, earnings on nonqualified deferred compensation include returns on investments in seven core investment alternatives, interest accruals on cash balances, DuPont common stock returns and dividend reinvestments. Interest is accrued on cash balances based on a rate that is traditionally less than 120% of the applicable federal rate, and dividend equivalents are accrued at a non-preferential rate. In addition, the other core investment alternatives are a subset of the investment alternatives available to all employees under the qualified plan. Accordingly, these amounts are not considered above-market or preferential earnings for purposes of, and are not included in, the 2014 Summary Compensation Table.
Accordingly, all amounts shown in this column reflect the change in the pension value under the Pension Plan and Pension Restoration Plan. The change in pension value represents the change from 2013 to 2014 in the present value of the NEOs accumulated benefit as of the applicable pension measurement date.
All Other Compensation
Amounts shown in the All Other Compensation column of the table above include perquisites and personal benefits (if greater than or equal to $10,000); DuPont contributions to qualified defined contribution plans; and DuPont contributions to nonqualified defined contribution plans. The following table details those amounts.
Name |
Perquisites and Other
Personal |
DuPont Contributions to Qualified Defined Contribution Plans(1) |
DuPont Contributions to Nonqualified Defined Contribution Plans(2) |
|||||||||
Mark Vergnano |
$0 | $ | 23,400 | $ | 88,800 | |||||||
Mark Newman |
Relocation | 12,000 | 1,051 | N/A | ||||||||
Tax Gross-up on Relocation | 11,261 | |||||||||||
Beth Albright |
0 | 3,551 | N/A | |||||||||
Thierry Vanlancker |
0 | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
B. C. Chong |
Car allowance | 28,331 | 8,990 | (3) | N/A | |||||||
Income Tax Preparation | 5,400 | |||||||||||
Tax Equalization on income reportable for globally-mobile employees |
378 | |||||||||||
Club Subscription | 1,088 |
(1) | Amounts represent DuPonts match to the tax-qualified Retirement Savings Plan (RSP) on the same basis as provided to U.S. parent company employees. For 2014, the RSP provided a company match of 100% of the first 6% of the employees contribution. Amounts also include an additional company contribution of 3%. |
(2) | Amounts represent DuPonts match to the Retirement Savings Restoration Plan (RSRP) on the same basis as provided to U.S. parent company employees who fall above the applicable Internal Revenue Code (Code) limits. For 2014, the RSRP provided a company match of 100% of the first 6% of employees eligible contributions. Amounts also include an additional company contribution of 3% of eligible contributions. |
(3) | Amount represents DuPonts contribution to Singapores Central Provident Fund (CPF). The CPF is a comprehensive social security system that enables working Singapore citizens and permanent residents to set aside funds for retirement. |
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2014 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table provides information on STIP awards, stock options, RSUs and PSUs granted in 2014 to each NEO. For a complete understanding of the table, refer to the narrative discussion that follows.
Name |
Grant Date |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards |
All Other Stock Awards; Number of Stock or Units (#) |
All Other Option Awards; Number of Securities Underlying Options (#) |
Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/Share) |
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Threshold | Target | Maxi-mum | Threshold (#) | Target (#) | Maximum (#) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Vergnano |
2/5/14 | | 720,000 | 1,440,000 | | 16,963 | 33,926 | $ | 1,202,931 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/5/14 | 8,482 | $ | 525,036 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/5/14 | 38,378 | $ | 61.90 | $ | 525,011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Newman |
11/11/14 | N/A | (1) | 21,184 | $ | 1,500,039 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beth Albright |
10/27/14 | | 48,044 | (2) | 96,087 | (2) | 16,942 | $ | 1,150,023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thierry Vanlancker |
2/5/14 | | 338,484 | 676,968 | | 2,828 | 5,656 | $ | 200,548 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/5/14 | 1,414 | $ | 87,527 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/5/14 | 6,397 | $ | 61.90 | $ | 87,511 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. C. Chong |
2/5/14 | | 163,882 | 327,764 | | 2,020 | 4,040 | $ | 143,248 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/5/14 | 1,010 | $ | 62,519 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2/5/14 | 4,569 | $ | 61.90 | $ | 62,504 |
(1) | In accordance with the terms of his employment offer, Mr. Newman is not eligible for a 2014 non-equity incentive plan award. |
(2) | The target and maximum non-equity incentive plan award amounts for Mrs. Albright are pro-rated based on her October 27, 2014 hire date. |
Narrative Discussion of Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards
Amounts shown in this column of the table above represent STIP award opportunities for 2014 under the EIP. A target STIP award is established at the beginning of the relevant fiscal year (or upon hire as appropriate), based on a percentage of the NEOs base salary. As noted above, Mr. Newman received a first-year short-term incentive guarantee in lieu of participation in the 2014 DuPont STIP. The actual STIP payout for NEOs, which can range from 0% to 200% of target, is based on corporate and total business unit performance and individual performance. Refer to pages (131-133) for more details.
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards
Amounts shown in this column of the table above represent the potential payout range of PSUs granted in 2014. Vesting is based equally upon corporate revenue growth and TSR, both in relation to the predefined peer group. Performance and payouts are determined independently for each metric. At the conclusion of the three-year performance period, the actual award, delivered as DuPont common stock, can range from 0% to 200% of the original grant. Dividend equivalents are applied after the final performance determination.
For a discussion of the impact on PSUs of any termination, see Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control. As discussed elsewhere, PSUs held by our employees at the time of the distribution will be subject to special treatment. See Treatment of Outstanding Equity Awards as of the Distribution Date on page 129.
All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units
Amounts shown in this column of the table above represent RSUs granted in 2014 that are paid out in shares of DuPont common stock and vest ratably over a three-year period, one-third on each anniversary date. Dividend equivalents are applied and are subject to the same restrictions as the RSUs. For a discussion of the impact on RSUs of any termination, see Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.
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All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options
Amounts shown in this column of the table above represent nonqualified stock options granted in 2014 with a seven-year term and ratable vesting over a three-year period, one-third on each anniversary date. The exercise price of options granted, as shown in the table above, is based on the closing price of DuPont common stock on the date of grant. For a discussion of the impact on options of any termination, see Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards
Except with respect to PSUs, amounts shown in this column of the table above reflect the grant date fair value of the equity award computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For PSUs, the grant date fair value is based upon the probable outcome of the performance conditions. This amount is consistent with the estimate of aggregate compensation cost to be recognized over the service period determined as of the grant date under FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. The grant date fair value of the PSUs, to the extent subject to a total shareholder return metric, was $79.93, estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation. The grant date fair value of the PSUs, to the extent subject to a revenue metric, was based upon the closing price of the underlying DuPont common stock as of the grant date, which was $61.90.
The grant date fair value of RSUs reflected in this column is based on the closing price of DuPont common stock as of the grant date, which was $61.90.
For purposes of determining the fair value of stock option awards, DuPont used the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the assumptions set forth in the table below. The grant date fair value of options granted in 2014 was $13.68. DuPont determined the dividend yield by dividing the current annual dividend on the DuPont common stock by the option exercise price. A historical daily measurement of volatility is determined based on the expected life of the option granted. The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to the yield on an outstanding U.S. Treasury Note with a term equal to the expected life of the option granted. Expected life is determined by reference to DuPonts historical experience.
2014 | ||||
Dividend yield |
2.9 | % | ||
Volatility |
31.33 | % | ||
Risk-free interest rate |
1.675 | % | ||
Expected life (years) |
5.26 |
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Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2014
The following table shows the number of shares underlying exercisable and unexercisable options and unvested and, as applicable, unearned RSUs and PSUs (in each case denominated in shares of DuPont common stock) held by our NEOs at December 31, 2014. Market or payout values in the table below are based on the closing price of DuPont common stock as of December 31, 2014.
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable(1) |
Option Exercise Price ($) |
Option Expiration Date |
Grant Date |
Number of Shares or Units of Stock Held That Have Not Vested (#)(2) |
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock Held That Have Not Vested ($) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards; Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)(3) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards; Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)(4) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark |
33,384 | 16,693 | $ | 51.78 | 2/5/19 | 2/6/12 | 4,192 | $ | 309,976 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vergnano |
18,411 | 36,822 | $ | 47.44 | 2/5/20 | 2/6/13 | 8,500 | $ | 628,464 | 16,021 | $ | 1,184,593 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 38,378 | $ | 61.90 | 2/4/21 | 2/5/14 | 8,717 | $ | 644,575 | 16,963 | $ | 1,254,244 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Newman |
11/11/14 | 21,328 | $ | 1,576,960 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beth Albright |
10/27/14 | 17,057 | $ | 1,261,181 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thierry |
3,875 | | $ | 51.85 | 2/2/18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vanlancker |
3,861 | 1,931 | $ | 51.78 | 2/5/19 | 2/6/12 | 485 | $ | 35,869 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2,726 | 5,450 | $ | 47.44 | 2/5/20 | 2/6/13 | 1,258 | $ | 93,016 | 2,372 | $ | 175,386 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
8/6/13 | 31,304 | $ | 2,314,629 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6,397 | $ | 61.90 | 2/4/21 | 2/5/14 | 1,453 | $ | 107,454 | 2,828 | $ | 209,102 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. C. Chong |
27,526 | | $ | 23.28 | 2/3/16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12,125 | | $ | 33.49 | 2/2/17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6,339 | | $ | 51.85 | 2/2/18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4,187 | 2,094 | $ | 51.78 | 2/5/19 | 2/6/12 | 526 | $ | 38,909 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2,181 | 4,360 | $ | 47.44 | 2/5/20 | 2/6/13 | 1,006 | $ | 74,397 | 1,898 | $ | 140,338 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4,569 | $ | 61.90 | 2/4/21 | 2/5/14 | 1,038 | $ | 76,753 | 2,020 | $ | 149,359 |
(1) | The following table provides an overview of stock options with outstanding vesting dates as of December 31, 2014: |
Stock Option Expiration Date |
Outstanding Vesting Dates | |
2/5/2019 |
Balance vests on February 6, 2015 | |
2/5/2020 |
Vests equally on February 6, 2015 and 2016 | |
2/4/2021 |
Vests equally on February 5, 2015, 2016 and 2017 |
(2) | The following table provides an overview of RSUs, including dividend-equivalent units, with outstanding vesting dates as of December 31, 2014: |
Grant Date |
Outstanding Vesting Dates | |
2/6/2012 |
Balance vests on February 6, 2015 | |
2/6/2013 |
Vests equally on February 6, 2015 and 2016 | |
8/6/2013 |
Balance vests on August 6, 2017 | |
2/5/2014 |
Vests equally on February 5, 2015, 2016 and 2017 | |
10/27/2014 |
Vests equally on October 27, 2015, 2016 and 2017 | |
11/11/2014 |
Vests equally on November 11, 2015, 2016 and 2017 |
(3) | The following table provides an overview of PSUs with outstanding vesting dates as of December 31, 2014: |
Grant Date |
Outstanding Vesting Dates | |
2/6/2013 |
Performance period ends December 31, 2015 | |
2/5/2014 |
Performance period ends December 31, 2016 |
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Because cumulative performance to date as of December 31, 2014 exceeds threshold, the next higher level of performance (i.e. target) is reported. The treatment of outstanding (2013-2015 and 2014-2016) PSU cycles is described under Treatment of Outstanding Equity Awards as of the Distribution Date on page 129.
(4) | Equity incentive plan awards reported in last two columns are based on achievement of target performance. Refer to footnote (3) above. |
2014 Option Exercises and Stock Vested
The table below shows the number of shares of DuPont common stock acquired upon the exercise of stock options and the vesting of RSUs and PSUs during 2014.
Name |
Option Awards(1) | Stock Awards(2) | ||||||||||||||
Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) |
Value Realized Upon Exercise ($) |
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) |
Value Realized Upon Vesting ($) |
|||||||||||||
Mark Vergnano |
109,544 | $ | 2,858,937 | 16,665 | $ | 1,111,083 | ||||||||||
Mark Newman |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Beth Albright |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Thierry Vanlancker |
16,264 | 664,403 | 1,963 | 130,905 | ||||||||||||
B. C. Chong |
| | 2,143 | 142,559 |
(1) | Represents the number of stock options exercised in 2014. The value realized upon exercise is computed by determining the difference between the market price at exercise and the exercise price of the options. |
(2) | Represents the number of RSUs and PSUs vesting in 2014. The value realized upon vesting is computed by multiplying the number of units by the value of the underlying shares on the vesting date, with respect to RSUs, and on March 2, 2015, with respect to PSUs. Includes PSUs granted in 2012, which vested December 31, 2014, and were paid out in March 2015. This information was also disclosed in the 2014 DuPont proxy. |
The performance period for PSUs granted in 2012 ended on December 31, 2014. The final payout was not determinable as of December 31, 2014. The DuPont Human Resources and Compensation Committee made the final payout determination in March 2015 after a final review of DuPonts performance relative to the peer group. The final 2012 PSU shares are paid out and the value realized in March 2015.
Pension Benefits as of December 31, 2014
The table below shows the present value of accumulated benefits for the NEOs under the tax qualified and nonqualified pension plans of DuPont as of December 31, 2014.
Name |
Plan Name |
Number of Years of Credited Service (#) |
Present Value of Accumulated Benefits ($)(1) |
|||||||
Mark Vergnano |
Pension Plan | 34.00 | $ | 1,632,534 | ||||||
Pension Restoration Plan | 34.00 | $ | 6,347,702 | |||||||
Mark Newman |
N/A | |||||||||
Beth Albright |
N/A | |||||||||
Thierry Vanlancker |
DuPont Switzerland (DISA) Subsidiary Plan | 10.33 | (2) | $ | 891,670 | (3) | ||||
DuPont Belgium (DUBEL) Subsidiary Plan | 16.00 | (4) | $ | 454,451 | (5) | |||||
Transferee Pension Guide (TPG) Policy | 26.33 | $ | 1,115,221 | (3) | ||||||
B. C. Chong |
N/A |
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(1) | The value that an executive will actually receive under these benefit plans will differ to the extent facts or circumstances vary from what these calculations assume. |
(2) | Mr. Vanlancker is a participant in the DuPont Switzerland (DISA) Subsidiary Plan beginning September 1, 2004 to present (December 31, 2014). He is covered under the Transferee Pension Guide (TPG) Policy designed to protect transferees against a loss of acquired pension benefits due to transfers. |
(3) | Converted from Swiss francs to United States dollars using the foreign exchange rate in effect December 31, 2014: 1.0107. |
(4) | Mr. Vanlancker is a participant in the DuPont Belgium (DUBEL) Subsidiary Plan by way of service performed from September 1, 1988 through August 31, 2004. |
(5) | Converted from Euros to Swiss francs, then Swiss francs to United States dollars using foreign exchange rates in effect December 31, 2014: 1.20293 and 1.0107, respectively. |
Narrative Discussion of Pension Benefits
Mr. Vergnano participates in the DuPont Pension Plan and Pension Restoration Plan.
The Pension Plan is a tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan that covers a majority of the U.S. DuPont employees, except those hired or rehired after December 31, 2006. The Pension Plan provides employees with a lifetime retirement income based on years of service and the employees final average pay near retirement. The normal form of benefit for married individuals is a 50 percent qualified joint and survivor annuity. The normal form of benefit for unmarried individuals is a single life annuity, which is actuarially equivalent to the normal form for married individuals. Normal retirement age under the Pension Plan is generally age 65, and benefits are vested after five years of service. Under the provisions of the Pension Plan, employees are eligible for unreduced pensions when they meet one of the following conditions:
| Age 65 or older with at least five years of service |
| Age 58 with age plus service equal to or greater than 85 |
| Permanent incapacity to perform duties, with at least 15 years of service |
An employee who is not eligible for retirement with an unreduced pension is eligible for retirement with a reduced pension if he/she is age 50 with at least 15 years of service. His/her pension is reduced by the greater of five percent for every year that his/her age plus service is less than 85 or five percent for every year that his/her age is less than 58. In no event will the reduction exceed 50 percent. As of December 31, 2014 Mr. Vergnano is eligible for a reduced pension.
The primary pension formula that applies to participants in the Pension Plan and Pension Restoration Plan provides a monthly retirement benefit equal to:
Average monthly compensation is based on the employees three highest-paid years or, if greater, the 36 consecutive highest-paid months. Compensation for a given month includes regular compensation plus one-twelfth of an individuals STIP award for the relevant year. Other bonuses are not included in the calculation of average monthly compensation.
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If benefits provided under the Pension Plan exceed the applicable Code compensation or benefit limits, the excess benefit is paid under the Pension Restoration Plan, an unfunded nonqualified plan. Effective January 1, 2007, the form of benefit under the Pension Restoration Plan for participants not already in pay status is a lump sum. The mortality tables and interest rates used to determine lump sum payments are the Applicable Mortality Table and the Applicable Interest Rate prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury in Section 417(e)(3) of the Code.
DuPont does not grant any extra years of credited service.
Key actuarial assumptions for the present value of accumulated benefit calculation can be found in Note 18 (Long-Term Employee Benefits) to the Consolidated Financial Statements in DuPonts Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. All other assumptions are consistent with those used in the Long-Term Employee Benefits Note, except that the present value of accumulated benefit uses a retirement age at which the NEO may retire with an unreduced benefit under the Pension Plan. The valuation method used for determining the present value of the accumulated benefit is the traditional unit credit cost method.
Mr. Vanlancker is a participant in the DuPont Switzerland (DISA) Subsidiary Plan, the DuPont Belgium (DUBEL) Subsidiary Plan, and is covered under the Transferee Pension Guide (TPG) Policy.
DuPont Switzerland (DISA) Subsidiary Plan
In fulfilling its obligation to protect employees and their survivors against the economic consequences of old age, disability and death, DuPont Switzerland, in partnership with its employees, implemented The Pension Plan for the Personnel of DuPont de Nemours International Sarl, referred to as the DuPont Switzerland (DISA) Subsidiary Plan.
The valuation methodology used to determine benefits considers age and gender, with reference to the 2010 Swiss mortality table (LPP2010), using a technical interest rate of 3.5% per annum through December 31, 2014. The technical interest rate is 3.0% effective January 1, 2015.
The monthly normal retirement pension for each participant shall be:
Monthly pension = [1.8% x Sdf x S] / 12
Sdf = Final Three-Year Pension-Bearing Pay
S = Months of Participation Credit, at most 540, or 45 years.
Normal retirement date means the first day of the calendar month following the date at which the Participant attains age 65.
Final Three-Year Pension-Bearing Pay means average Pension-Bearing Pay during the final 36 months or actual number of months if less than 36, in which Monthly Pay was received.
Pension-Bearing Pay means that portion of Monthly Pay in excess of Social Security-Covered Pay.
Social Security-Covered Pay means that portion of Monthly Pay which equals 100% of the monthly minimum AVS pension.
Participation Credit means the sum of months in which Pension-Bearing Pay applies, increased by purchase of benefits in accordance with Section 4.3 and reduced by withdrawal to finance home ownership or withdrawal due to a divorce.
The monthly pension calculated shall be in addition to any pension payable by Social Security. Participants may require that a part, maximum 50%, of his pension be converted into a lump sum payment at the date of retirement.
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Active Participants shall contribute to this Plan an amount equal to 8% of Pension-Bearing Pay. The employers contribution shall be at least equal to the aggregate contributions paid by Participants.
The DISA Plan also provides for Disability Pension, Surviving Spouse Pension, and/or Orphan Pension as may be appropriate. Additionally, the DISA Plan provides for a Lump-sum Death Benefit to be payable to the Participants beneficiaries should the Participant die due to a cause other than accident.
If an active Participant separates from employment prior to an insured event (retirement, disability or death), he is entitled to a portable benefit. The portable benefit is equivalent to the actual value of the acquired vested rights (on the principle of defined benefits). Once DuPont has paid the portable benefit it is released from all benefit obligations.
An active Participant who is at least aged 58 shall become eligible for voluntary early retirement upon his request and provided he ceases to earn an income from the employer. The early retirement pension shall be determined by:
1. | Calculating a basic pension amount, and |
2. | Reducing this amount by 4% per year preceding the normal retirement date. For the Participants aged between 50 and 57 as of December 31, 2012, including Mr. Vanlancker, the pension amount is reduced by 2% per year preceding the normal retirement date. The reduction is pro-rated when the number of years is fractional. |
All active Participants may also buy in additional participation credit, by submitting, within 6 months joining the employer, a financial plan outlining such buying in, which must be scrupulously followed or any future participation credit that the Participant committed to buy could no longer be acquired. The total buying in of participation credits may not exceed the normal retirement pension, which would have been accumulated in participating to the present plan as from the age of 20. The number of years of participation credit cannot exceed 45. The Participant must transfer in all his vested benefits from previous Swiss pension funds and from any other recognized pension institutions in Switzerland before he can buy in benefits and/or make voluntary contributions. An active Participant who has been a participant for more than 6 months and who has already completed the payment schedule he committed to for buying benefits may make voluntary contributions in order to buy complementary pension benefits. The maximum value is equal to the amount required to allow a Participant to retire as early as from age 58 with the same pension he would have received at normal retirement age (based on the same pensionable salary at the retirement date).
The specific elements of compensation covered by the pension formula consist of Monthly Pay, meaning the Participants monthly gross base salary, before deductions, based on his regular working schedule, plus an increment equal to 1/12 of said monthly gross salary to reflect the payment of a thirteenth month, but excluding any overtime, annual lump sum awards, family allowances, or other awards or perquisites.
The salary exceeding 10 times the maximum LPP salary (LPP means the Swiss Federal Law on Retirement, Dependents and Disability Pensions of June 25, 1982) shall not be taken into account under this Pension Plan.
DuPont Belgium (DUBEL) Subsidiary Plan
Mr. Vanlancker earned an accrued benefit in the DUBEL plan by way of working in Belgium beginning September 1988 through August 2004.
The valuation methodology is based on the actuarial current unit credit method, where the actuarial liability (actual value of future pension obligation) is based on the current salary and the current service. As the actuarial liability is calculated using the expected return on assets, in line with the strategic asset allocation, a supplementary buffer of 20% is added on top of the actuarial liability to protect against negative deviations
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towards the expected return on assets. The technical provision (so-called Long Term Provision LTP) is therefore equal to the actuarial liability plus a buffer of 20% and at least equal to the sum of all individual transfer values according to Social and Labor Law (Short Term Provision STP).
Ongoing retirement contributions are calculated using the same methodology (reflecting the increase of the actuarial liability over one year) and contains two parts: the extra year of service and the revaluation of the past service due to one year of salary increase. The ongoing contribution is also increased with a buffer of 20% in line with the increase of the technical provision (LTP).
Risk benefits are fully insured by an insurer at no extra cost.
Benefits available under the DUBEL plan are determined by formula (i.e., the pension capital calculation). Pensionable earnings consist of base salary and shift premiums only. When performing this calculation, retirement is presumed to occur on the first of the month following the participants 65th birthday. The commencement date for benefits payable under the plan can be postponed. If so, the accrual continues following standard rules. Participants must be living as of the first of the month following their 65th birthday to be entitled to a defined benefit capital payout.
Participants may opt for early retirement as of age 60, provided a sufficient number of years have been worked to be legally entitled. Participants are entitled to accrued capital at early retirement age.
There are no death benefits payable to deferred vested participants in the plan.
There is no policy granting extra years of credited service under the plan.
Transferee Pension Guide (TPG) Policy
The purpose of the TPG Policy is to provide pension treatment for employees who have vested entitlements in two or more DuPont pension plans, equitable with pension treatment for employees who participated during their career in only one plan. The objective is to protect transferees against a loss of acquired pension benefits due to transfers.
The TPG Policy is based on the following principles:
1. | Total Retirement Income (TRI) will be guaranteed on the basis of all years of Pensionable Service and Final Average Pay Levels. |
2. | This guarantee should not exceed: final average pay or the highest pension that would have been payable if all the service had been in any one of the plans in which the employee participated; and should not be less: than the lowest pension that would have been payable if all the service had been in any one of the plans in which the employee participated. |
3. | Protection against loss of Social Security coverage directly attributable to a transfer within DuPont. |
4. | Preservation of all pension segments earned as a participant in DuPont pension plans. |
5. | Eligibility will be determined in accordance with the final subsidiarys pension plan. |
6. | All calculations will be made in the currency of the selected Administrative Country of Retirement (ACOR) using appropriate exchange rates. |
7. | The TRI Guarantee will be reviewed periodically in line with the pension adjustments in the ACOR. |
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Pension calculations are made according to two basic formulas. The same basic calculation principles apply in determining normal age, early and disability retirement pension, survivor pension and vested benefits. The basic formula for the Pension Guarantee is:
Final Average Pay
Times Pensionable Service
Times Weighted Average Benefit Factor
Equals Total Retirement Income Guarantee
The DuPont pension guarantee is the TRI Guarantee less the Applicable Social Security.
For each individual pension plan a transferee participated in a calculation is made according to the pension formula in force and the pension bearing pay earned for the period of participation. These segments are added up to give the actual DuPont pension segments. Together with the Applicable Social Security segments this forms the aggregate Sum-of-the-Parts pension benefit.
The Total Retirement Income is the higher of the calculations under the Pension Guarantee formula and the Sum-of-the-Parts formula. The elements of TRI can include individual DuPont pension plan segments, Applicable Social Security and a Supplemental Benefit when the TRI Guarantee formula is higher than Sum-of-the-Parts.
Final Average Pay is the highest average pay recognized for pension purposes in any consecutive 36 months in the last ten years of DuPont employment, annualized. The specific elements of compensation recognized for pension purposes may vary from one corporate unit to another.
Pensionable Service is all periods of service recognized as participation credit in a DuPont pension plan or equivalent at the time of pensionable event.
Weighted Average Benefit Factor is an average of the actual benefit factors at the time of pensionable event for each DuPont plan, weighted for the period during which the transferee has participated in that plan.
Applicable Social Security is the portion of all Social Security benefits attributable to employment with DuPont.
Pension benefits are calculated on the basis of the normal age retirement pension eligibility provisions of the final subsidiary pension plan. Early retirement pension benefits are calculated on the basis of the final subsidiary pension plan eligibility provisions for early retirement and method of benefits reduction. A reduction factor of 0.5% per month will be used for individual pension plans that do not have a specified actuarial reduction factor. Survivors pension benefits are calculated on the basis of the survivors pension eligibility provisions of the final subsidiary pension plan. Disability retirement pension benefits are calculated on the basis of the final subsidiary pension plan disability provisions.
The valuation methodology utilized may vary from one corporate unit to another.
Similarly, policies granting extra years of credited service may vary from one corporate unit to another.
Mr. Newman was hired after December 31, 2006. As such, he does not participate in the Pension Plan or Pension Restoration Plan.
Mrs. Albright was hired after December 31, 2006. As such, she does not participate in the Pension Plan or Pension Restoration Plan.
Mr. Chong does not participate in any tax-qualified or supplemental nonqualified defined benefit plans.
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Nonqualified Deferred Compensation As of December 31, 2014
The following table provides information on DuPonts defined contribution or other plans that during 2014 provided for deferrals of compensation on a basis that is not tax-qualified. Mr. Vergnano is the only NEO who participated in such a DuPont plan during 2014.
Name |
Executive Contributions in 2014(1) |
DuPont Contributions in 2014(2) |
Aggregate Earnings in 2014(3) |
Aggregate Balance as of 12/31/2014(4) |
||||||||||||
Mark Vergnano |
||||||||||||||||
RSRP |
59,200 | 88,800 | 61,022 | 1,340,635 | ||||||||||||
Deferred STIP |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Deferred LTI |
10,095 | 69,820 | ||||||||||||||
Management Deferred Compensation Plan |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Mark Newman |
||||||||||||||||
RSRP |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Deferred STIP |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Deferred LTI |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Management Deferred Compensation Plan |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Beth Albright |
||||||||||||||||
RSRP |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Deferred STIP |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Deferred LTI |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Management Deferred Compensation Plan |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Thierry Vanlancker |
| | | | ||||||||||||
| | | | |||||||||||||
| | | | |||||||||||||
| | | | |||||||||||||
B. C. Chong |
| | | | ||||||||||||
| | | | |||||||||||||
| | | | |||||||||||||
| | | |
(1) | The amount in this column represents base salary deferred under the RSRP; the amounts are also included in the 2014 Summary Compensation Table. |
(2) | The amount in this column represents matching contributions made under the RSRP; the amounts are also included in the 2014 Summary Compensation Table. |
(3) | Earnings represent returns on investments in seven core investment alternatives, interest accruals on cash balances, DuPont common stock returns, and dividend reinvestments. Interest is accrued on cash balances based on a rate that is traditionally less than 120% of the applicable federal rate, and dividend equivalents are accrued at a non-preferential rate. In addition, the other core investment alternatives are a subset of the investment alternatives available to all employees under the qualified plan. Accordingly, these amounts are not considered above-market or preferential earnings for purposes of, and are not included in, the 2014 Summary Compensation Table. |
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(4) | The table below reflects amounts reported in the aggregate balance at last fiscal year-end that were previously reported as compensation to the NEO in DuPonts Summary Compensation Table for previous year(s). |
Name |
RSRP | Deferred STIP | Deferred LTI | MDCP | Total | |||||||||||||||
Mark Vergnano |
300,965 | | | | 300,965 | |||||||||||||||
Mark Newman |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||
Beth Albright |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||
Thierry Vanlancker |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||
B. C. Chong |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Narrative Discussion of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table
DuPont offers several nonqualified deferred compensation programs under which participants voluntarily elect to defer some portion of base salary, STIP, or LTI awards until a future date. Deferrals are credited to an account and earnings are calculated thereon in accordance with the applicable investment option or interest rate. With the exception of the RSRP, there are no company contributions or matches. The RSRP was adopted to restore company contributions that would be lost due to Internal Revenue Code limits on compensation that can be taken into account under DuPonts tax-qualified savings plan. Amounts shown in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table as Deferred LTI represent deferrals of long-term awards prior to the adoption of the MDCP in May 2008. The following provides an overview of the various deferral options as of December 31, 2014. No NEO had deferrals under the MDCP for 2014.
Base Salary
Under the RSRP, an NEO can elect to defer eligible compensation (generally, base salary plus STIP) that exceeds the regulatory limits ($260,000 in 2014) in increments of 1% up to 6%. DuPont matches participant contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to 6% of eligible pay. DuPont also makes an additional contribution of 3% of eligible compensation. Participant investment options under the RSRP mirror the options available under the qualified plan. Distributions may be made in the form of a lump sum or annual installments after separation from service.
Under the MDCP, an NEO can elect to defer the receipt of up to 60% of his/her base salary. DuPont does not match base salary deferrals under the MDCP. Participants may select from among seven core investment options under the MDCP for base salary deferrals, including DuPont common stock units with dividend equivalents credited as additional stock units. In general, distributions may be made in the form of a lump sum at a specified future date prior to separation from service or a lump sum or annual installments after separation from service.
STIP
Under the RSRP, an NEO can elect to defer eligible compensation (generally, base salary plus STIP) that exceeds the regulatory limits ($260,000 in 2014) in increments of 1% up to 6%. DuPont matches participant contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to 6% of eligible pay. DuPont also makes an additional contribution of 3% percent of eligible compensation. Participant investment options under the RSRP mirror the options available under the qualified plan. Distributions may be made in the form of a lump sum or annual installments after separation from service.
Under the MDCP, an NEO can elect to defer the receipt of up to 60% of his/her STIP award. DuPont does not match STIP deferrals under the MDCP. Participants may select from among seven core investment options under the MDCP for STIP deferrals, including DuPont common stock units with dividend equivalents credited as additional stock units. In general, distributions may be made in the form of a lump sum at a specified future date prior to separation from service or a lump sum or annual installments after separation from service.
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LTI
Under the MDCP, an NEO can elect to defer the receipt of 100% of his/her LTI awards (RSUs and/or PSUs). DuPont does not match LTI deferrals under the MDCP. LTI deferrals under the MDCP are in the form of DuPont common stock units with dividend equivalents credited as additional stock units.
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change In Control
As described in the CD&A, DuPont adopted severance plans in 2013. For a description of the plans, see Components of Our Executive Compensation Program Change in Control Severance Benefits. Potential payments under the plan are reflected in the table that follows. The table also includes potential payments under the DuPont Equity and Incentive Plan (EIP). The treatment of benefits under each plan on termination or change in control is detailed in the footnotes to the table.
The following information does not quantify payments under plans that are generally available to all salaried employees, similarly situated to the NEOs in age, years of service, date of hire, etc., and that do not discriminate in scope, terms, or operation in favor of executive officers. For example, all participating employees who terminated on December 31, 2014, are entitled to receive any STIP awards under the EIP for 2014. See also the Pension Benefits and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation tables and accompanying narrative discussions for benefits or balances, as the case may be, under those plans as of December 31, 2014.
Due to the number of factors that affect the nature and amount of any benefits provided upon the events discussed below, any actual amounts paid or distributed may be different. Factors that could affect those amounts include the timing during the year of any such event, DuPonts stock price and the executives age.
If an individual engages in misconduct, DuPont may demand that he/she repay any long term or short term incentive award, or cash payments received as a result of such an award, within 10 days following written demand by DuPont. See the discussion How We Manage Compensation Risk Compensation Recovery Policy (Clawbacks).
For the CEO and other NEOs, the benefits that would become payable upon termination of employment, death, disability, or change in control as of December 31, 2014, are outlined below, based on DuPonts closing stock price of $73.94 (as reported on the New York Stock Exchange) on that date.
The amounts shown are not necessarily indicative of what we will pay under similar circumstances because we have not yet determined what change in control or termination plans, if any, we will adopt and because in any event a wide variety of factors can affect payment amounts, which as a result can be determined with certainty only when an actual change in control or termination event occurs. The table below shows the payments under
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the existing DuPont change in control severance plans and the severance obligations under the employment offer letters with Mr. Newman and Mrs. Albright.
Name |
Form of Compensation(1) |
Voluntary or For Cause(2) |
Termination Due to Lack of Work(3) |
Retirement(8) | Death(9) | Disability(3) | Change in Control(11) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Vergnano |
|
Base Salary and STIP |
|
| | | | | $ | 2,880,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options | | $ | 1,011,836 | $ | 1,807,771 | $ | 1,807,771 | $ | 1,011,836 | 1,807,771 | ||||||||||||||||||
RSUs | | 1,583,015 | 1,583,015 | 1,583,015 | 1,583,015 | 1,583,015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
PSUs | | 1,986,751 | 1,986,751 | 1,986,751 | 1,986,751 | 3,285,524 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Vergnano Total |
| 4,581,602 | 5,377,537 | 5,377,537 | 4,581,603 | 9,556,310 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Newman |
|
Base Salary and STIP |
|
| 1,008,000 | (4) | | | | 2,016,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
RSUs | | 1,576,960 | (5) | 0 | 1,576,960 | 1,576,960 | 1,576,960 | |||||||||||||||||||||
PSUs | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Newman Total |
| 2,584,960 | 0 | 1,576,960 | 1,576,960 | 3,592,960 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Beth Albright |
|
Base Salary and STIP |
|
| 660,000 | (4) | | | | 1,320,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
RSUs | | 1,261,181 | (5) | 0 | 1,261,181 | 1,261,181 | 1,261,181 | |||||||||||||||||||||
PSUs | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Beth Albright Total |
| 1,921,181 | 0 | 1,261,181 | 1,261,181 | 2,581,181 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Thierry Vanlancker |
|
Base Salary and STIP |
|
| 562,452 | (6) | | 404,280 | (10) | | 1,686,854 | |||||||||||||||||
Stock Options | | 140,677 | 264,236 | 264,236 | 140,677 | 264,236 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
RSUs | | 236,339 | 236,339 | 2,550,968 | 2,550,968 | 236,339 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
PSUs | | 273,915 | 273,915 | 273,915 | 273,915 | 482,459 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Thierry Vanlancker Total |
| 1,213,383 | 774,490 | 3,493,399 | 2,965,560 | 2,669,888 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. C. Chong |
|
Base Salary and STIP |
|
| | (7) | | | | 1,378,600 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options | | 122,510 | 216,954 | 216,954 | 122,510 | 216,954 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
RSUs | | 190,059 | 190,059 | 190,059 | 190,059 | 190,059 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
PSUs | | 241,550 | 241,550 | 241,550 | 241,550 | 395,949 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. C. Chong Total |
| 554,119 | 648,563 | 648,563 | 554,119 | 2,181,562 |
(1) | Since 2012, the award agreements for stock options, RSUs and PSUs contain restrictive covenants that may result in forfeiture of unvested stock options, RSUs and PSUs upon breach of confidentiality, nonsolicitation and noncompetition obligations during employment and after termination of employment (for a period of one year for nonsolicitation and noncompetition). |
(2) | Upon voluntary termination or termination for cause, the various DuPont plans and programs provide for forfeiture of all unvested stock options, RSUs and PSUs. To the extent that an NEO is retirement-eligible, unvested stock options, RSUs and/or PSUs are treated as if the NEO has retired. |
(3) | Upon termination for lack of work or disability: |
| Vested options may be exercised during the one-year period following termination. During the one-year period, options continue to become exercisable in accordance with the three-year vesting schedule, as if the employee had not separated from service. Amount shown represents the in-the-money value of those options that would vest within the one-year period following December 31, 2014. |
| RSUs that are awarded as part of the annual award to eligible employees are automatically vested and paid out. Special or one time awards are forfeited upon a termination for lack of work. Upon disability, special or one time RSU awards are automatically vested and paid out. Amount shown for disability represents the value of all RSUs as of December 31, 2014. |
| PSUs remain subject to original performance period, prorated for the number of months of service completed during the performance period. Amount shown represents the prorated target value of PSUs as of December 31, 2014. |
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| To the extent that an NEO is retirement-eligible, unvested stock options, RSUs and/or PSUs are treated as if the NEO has retired. |
(4) | In the event of termination without Cause, an amount equivalent to one year of base salary and one year of target bonus payable within 60 days of the termination date. |
(5) | In the event of termination without Cause, any unvested portion of the special RSU award will become fully vested. |
(6) | In case of separation due to restructuring, local practice is to have a lump sum paid to employees. Based on Mr. Vanlanckers attained age and years of service, this payment is capped at the maximum one year salary plus an amount for tax advice. |
(7) | In case of separation due to lack of work, local practice is to pay 1.25 months of base salary for every year of service up to a maximum of 24 months. A payment of this sort is generally available to all similarly situated employees and therefore the exact amount payable to the NEO is not disclosed herein. |
(8) | Upon retirement, NEOs are treated as if they had not separated from service and: |
| Options continue vesting in accordance with the three-year vesting schedule. Amount shown represents the in-the-money value of unvested options as of December 31, 2014. |
| Restrictions on the regular annual RSUs lapse on the original schedule. Special or one time RSU awards are forfeited. Amount shown represents the value of regular annual RSUs as of December 31, 2014. |
| PSUs are subject to the original performance period, prorated for the number of months of service completed during the performance period. Amount shown represents the prorated target value of PSUs as of December 31, 2014. |
| Regardless of the above, any retirement within six months of the grant date results in forfeiture of the award. |
(9) | Upon death: |
| Options are fully vested and exercisable and expire two years following death or at the end of the original term, whichever is shorter. Amount shown represents the in-the-money value of unvested options as of December 31, 2014. |
| All RSUs are automatically vested and paid out. Amount shown represents the value of all RSUs as of December 31, 2014. |
| PSUs remain subject to the original performance period, prorated for the number of months of service completed during the performance period. Amount shown represents the prorated target value as of December 31, 2014. |
(10) | In the event of death due to accident, one-year salary (maximum CHF 400,000) |
(11) | Upon change in control: |
| For awards granted between 2008 and 2011, treatment is as follows: |
| Stock options become fully vested and exercisable. Amount shown represents the in-the-money value of unvested options as of December 31, 2014. |
| Restrictions on all RSUs lapse. Amount shown represents the value of all RSUs as of December 31, 2014. |
| PSUs are paid at target, prorated for the number of months of service completed during the performance period. Amount shown represents the prorated target value as of December 31, 2014. |
| Treatment for awards made in 2012 and after varies depending on whether the company is the surviving entity and, if not, whether the awards are assumed by an acquiring entity. Values shown in the table above assume that DuPont is not the surviving entity and the acquiring entity does not assume or otherwise provide for continuation of the awards. |
| Options are immediately vested and cancelled in exchange for payment in an amount equal to (i) the excess of the fair market value per share of the stock subject to the award immediately prior to the change in control over the exercise or base price per share of stock subject to the award multiplied by (ii) the number of shares granted. Amount shown represents the in-the-money value of unvested options as of December 31, 2014. |
| RSUs are immediately vested and all restrictions lapse. Awards cancelled in exchange for a payment equal to the fair market value per share of the stock subject to the award immediately prior to the change in control multiplied by the number of shares granted. Amount shown represents the value of all RSUs as of December 31, 2014. |
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| PSUs are converted into time-vested RSUs at target, without proration and treated consistently with time-vested awards as described above. Amount shown represents the target value as of December 31, 2014. |
| In the event that DuPont is the surviving entity or the acquiring entity assumes or otherwise provides for continuation of the awards, all stock options and RSUs remain in place or substitute awards are issued. PSUs are converted into time-vested RSUs at target, without proration and treated consistently with time-vested awards. |
| Upon termination without cause or termination for good reason within two years after change in control, awards vest in full. Options remain exercisable for two years, or the original expiration date, whichever first occurs. |
| Regardless of the forgoing, any termination within six months of the grant date results in forfeiture of the award. |
| Under the DuPont change in control severance plans, a change in control must occur and the executives employment must be terminated within two years following the change in control, either by the employer without cause or the executive for good reason (often called a double trigger). Benefits provided under the plan include: (i) lump sum cash payment equal to one and one-half to two times (three times for the CEO) the sum of the executives base salary and target annual bonus; (ii) a lump sum cash payment equal to the pro-rated portion of the executives target annual bonus for the year of termination; and (iii) continued health and dental benefits, financial counseling, tax preparation services and outplacement services for one and one-half to two years (three years for the CEO) following the date of termination. NEOs working outside the U.S. who are eligible for local severance benefits as well as those provided under DuPont plans receive one or the other, whichever is more beneficial to the employee. |
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
Review and Approval of Transactions with Related Persons
Our board of directors is expected to adopt written policies and procedures relating to the approval or ratification of Related Person Transactions. Under the policies and procedures, the Nominating and Governance Committee (or its Chair, under some circumstances) will review the relevant facts of all proposed Related Person Transactions and either approve or disapprove of the entry into the Related Person Transaction, by taking into account, among other factors it deems appropriate: (i) the commercial reasonableness of the transaction; (ii) the materiality of the Related Persons direct or indirect interest in the transaction; (iii) whether the transaction may involve a conflict of interest, or the appearance of one; (iv) whether the transaction was in the ordinary course of business; and (v) the impact of the transaction on the Related Persons independence under the Corporate Governance Guidelines and applicable regulatory and listing standards.
No director will participate in any discussion or approval of a Related Person Transaction for which he/she or any of his/her immediate family members is the Related Person. Related Person Transactions will be approved or ratified only if they are determined to be in the best interests of us and our stockholders.
If a Related Person Transaction that has not been previously approved or previously ratified is discovered, the Related Person Transaction will be presented to the Nominating and Governance Committee for ratification. If the Nominating and Governance Committee does not ratify the Related Person Transaction, then we either ensure all appropriate disclosures regarding the transaction are made or, if appropriate, takes all reasonable actions to attempt to terminate our participation in the transaction.
It is expected that under our policies and procedures to be adopted, a Related Person Transaction will generally be include any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships in which: (i) we were, are or will be a participant; (ii) the aggregate amount involved exceeds $120,000 in any fiscal year; and (iii) any Related Person had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than solely as a result of being a director or trustee or a less than 10 percent beneficial owner of another entity).
It is expected that under our policies and procedures to be adopted, a Related Person will generally be any person who is, or at any time since the beginning of our last fiscal year was: (i) a director or an executive officer of us or a nominee to become a director of us; (ii) any person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of any class of our outstanding common stock; or (iii) any immediate family member of any of the persons mentioned above.
Our Nominating and Governance Committee will be charged with reviewing issues involving independence and all Related Person Transactions. It is expected that we and our subsidiaries may purchase products and services from and/or sell products and services to companies of which certain of our directors or executive officers, or their immediate family members, are employees. The Nominating and Governance Committee and our board of directors will have reviewed such transactions and relationships and make a determination as to the materiality of such transactions.
Restrictions on Certain Types of Transactions
We expect to adopt a policy that prohibits directors and officers from engaging in the following types of transactions with respect to our stock: short-term trading; short sales; hedging transactions; margin accounts and pledging securities. This policy will also strongly recommend that all other employees refrain from entering into these types of transactions.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Before the distribution, all of the outstanding shares of our common stock will be owned beneficially and of record by DuPont. The following table sets forth information with respect to the expected beneficial ownership of our common stock by: (1) each person who is known by us who will beneficially own more than five percent of our common stock, (2) each expected director, director nominee and named executive officers and (3) all of our expected directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group. Except as noted below, we based the share amounts on each persons beneficial ownership of DuPont common stock on April 1, 2015, giving effect to a distribution ratio of one share of our common stock for every five shares of common stock of DuPont. Immediately following the distribution, we estimate that [] million of our shares of common stock will be issued and outstanding based on DuPont common stock expected to be outstanding as of the record date. The actual number of our outstanding shares of our common stock following the distribution will be determined on [], 2015, the record date.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
Based solely on the information filed on Schedule 13G for the year ended December 31, 2014, reporting beneficial ownership of DuPont common stock, we anticipate the following stockholders will beneficially own more than five percent of our common stock immediately following the distribution.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Number of Shares of DuPont Common Stock |
Number of Share of Our Common Stock |
Percent of Shares Outstanding |
|||||||||
Blackrock, Inc. 40 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10022 |
57,240,194 | (1) | 11,448,038 | 6.30 | (1) | |||||||
The Vanguard Group 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355 |
50,112,269 | (2) | 10,022,453 | 5.53 | (2) |
(1) | Based solely on Schedule 13G/A regarding holdings in DuPont stock filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 9, 2015, Blackrock, Inc., reported that it has sole voting power with respect to 47,600,976 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to 57,240,194 shares as of December 31, 2014. |
(2) | Based solely on a Schedule 13G/A regarding holdings in DuPont stock filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11, 2015, The Vanguard Group reported it has sole voting power with the respect to 1,573,045 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 48,621,621 shares, and shared dispositive power with respect to 1,490,648 shares as of December 31, 2014. |
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Security Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers
The following table provides information regarding beneficial ownership of our named executive officers, our expected directors, direct nominees and all of our expected directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group.
Name of beneficial owner |
Amount and nature of beneficial ownership | Percent of class | ||||||||||||||||||
Direct(1) | Indirect(2) | Right to acquire(3) |
Total | |||||||||||||||||
Mark P. Vergnano |
22,686 | 0 | 20,128 | 42,814 | * | |||||||||||||||
Mark E. Newman |
0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | * | |||||||||||||||
Beth Albright |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | * | |||||||||||||||
Thierry Vanlancker |
2,953 | 0 | 1,516 | 4,469 | * | |||||||||||||||
B. C. Chong |
3,878 | 0 | 11,631 | 15,509 | * | |||||||||||||||
Curtis V. Anastasio |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | * | |||||||||||||||
Bradley J. Bell |
0 | 400 | 0 | 400 | * | |||||||||||||||
Richard H. Brown |
0 | 0 | 12,424 | 12,424 | * | |||||||||||||||
Mary B. Cranston |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | * | |||||||||||||||
Curtis J. Crawford |
30 | 47 | 10,641 | 10,718 | * | |||||||||||||||
Dawn L. Farrell |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | * | |||||||||||||||
Stephen D. Newlin |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | * | |||||||||||||||
Directors and executive officers as a group |
31,117 | 946 | 62,073 | 94,136 | * |
* | Less than one percent |
(1) | These shares are held individually or jointly with others, or in the name of a bank, broker or nominee for the individuals account. |
(2) | This column includes other shares over which directors and executive officers have or share voting or investment power, including shares directly owned by certain relatives with whom they are presumed to share voting and/or investment power, shares held in trusts and shares held under the RSP. |
(3) | This column includes shares which directors and executive officers had a right to acquire beneficial ownership of within 60 days from April 1, 2015, through the exercise of stock options or through the conversion of RSUs or deferred stock units granted or held under DuPonts equity-based compensation plans. The amounts set forth in this table, which include Chemours stock options, are estimates based on the distribution ratio, and the actual amounts will differ as a result of certain contemplated intrinsic value adjustments set forth in the Employee Matters Agreement, which will be based on the trading price of DuPont common stock pre and post distribution and Chemours common stock post distribution, and cannot be determined as of the date of filing. |
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OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH DUPONT FOLLOWING THE DISTRIBUTION
Following the separation, we and DuPont will operate separately, each as an independent public company. Prior to the separation, we and DuPont will enter into certain agreements that will effect the separation, provide a framework for our relationship with DuPont after the separation and provide for the allocation between us and DuPont of DuPonts assets, employees, liabilities and obligations (including its investments, property and employee benefits and tax-related assets and liabilities) attributable to periods prior to, at and after our separation from DuPont. The following is a summary of the terms of the material agreements that we intend to enter into with DuPont prior to the separation. When used in this section, distribution date refers to the date on which DuPont distributes our common stock to the holders of DuPont common stock.
The material agreements described below will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement on Form 10 of which this information statement is a part, and the summaries of each of these agreements set forth the terms of the agreements that we believe are material. These summaries are qualified in their entireties by reference to the full text of the applicable agreements, which are incorporated by reference into this information statement. The terms of the agreements described below that will be in effect following the separation have not yet been finalized; changes to these agreements, some of which may be material, may be made prior to our separation from DuPont.
Separation Agreement
We intend to enter into a Separation Agreement with DuPont prior to the distribution of our common stock to DuPont stockholders. The Separation Agreement will set forth our agreements with DuPont regarding the principal actions to be taken in connection with the separation. It will also set forth other agreements that govern certain aspects of our relationship with DuPont following the separation and distribution. This summary of the Separation Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the agreement, which is incorporated by reference into this information statement.
Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities. The Separation Agreement will identify assets to be transferred, liabilities to be assumed and contracts to be assigned to each of DuPont and us as part of the internal reorganization transaction described herein, and will describe when and how these transfers, assumptions and assignments will occur, though many of the transfers, assumptions and assignments will have already occurred prior to the parties entering into the Separation Agreement. The Separation Agreement will provide for those transfers of assets and assumptions of liabilities that are necessary in connection with the separation so that we and DuPont retain the assets necessary to operate our respective businesses and retain or assume the liabilities allocated in accordance with the separation. The Separation Agreement will also provide for the settlement or extinguishment of certain liabilities and other obligations between us and DuPont. In particular, the Separation Agreement will provide that, subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Separation Agreement:
| All of the assets, including the equity interests of our subsidiaries, assets reflected on our pro forma balance sheet and assets exclusively relating to our business will be retained by or transferred to us or one of our subsidiaries, except as set forth in one of the other agreements described below. |
| All of the liabilities (whether accrued, contingent or otherwise, and subject to certain exceptions) primarily related to, arising out of or resulting from our business will be retained by or transferred to us or one of our subsidiaries, except as set forth in one of the other agreements described below. |
| Liabilities (whether accrued, contingent or otherwise) related to, arising out of or resulting from certain businesses of DuPont that were previously terminated or divested will be generally allocated among the parties to the extent formerly owned or primarily managed or otherwise operated by such parties or their respective businesses. |
| Liabilities (whether accrued, contingent or otherwise) relating to environmental matters, including liabilities relating to remediation, hazardous substances and off-site liability arising from or related to |
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our business, property or assets or, with respect to shared sites, our operations, and certain other specified environmental liabilities (consisting generally of liabilities that relate to certain non-operating predecessor business lines of Chemours, and, in some instances, to certain currently identified or yet to be identified third-party sites where liabilities were allocated to Chemours based on current or predecessor Chemours activities), will be retained by or transferred to us or one of our subsidiaries. |
| Liabilities (whether accrued, contingent or otherwise) relating to legal proceedings, including actions primarily relating to or arising out our business and certain other specified actions, including with respect to PFOA, will be retained by or transferred to us or one of our subsidiaries. |
| Liabilities (whether accrued, contingent or otherwise) relating to, arising out of or resulting from infringement, misappropriation or other violations of any intellectual property relating to the conduct of our business will be retained by or transferred to us or one of our subsidiaries. |
| Liabilities (whether accrued, contingent or otherwise) relating to, arising out of or resulting from any form, registration statement, schedule or similar disclosure document filed or furnished with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, to the extent the liability arising therefrom related to matters related to our business will be retained by or transferred to us or one of our subsidiaries. |
| We will generally assume all other liability (whether accrued, contingent or otherwise) relating to, arising out of or resulting from disclosure documents filed or furnished with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that are related to the separation (including the Form 10 and this information statement). |
| Except as expressly set forth in the Separation Agreement or any other agreements, each party shall be responsible for its own internal fees, costs and expenses incurred following the distribution date, including any costs and expenses relating to such partys disclosure documents filed following the distribution date. |
| All assets and liabilities (whether accrued, contingent or otherwise) of DuPont will be retained by or transferred to DuPont or one of its subsidiaries (other than us or one of our subsidiaries), except as set forth in one of the other agreements described below and except for other limited exceptions that will result in us retaining or assuming certain other specified liabilities. |
The allocation of liabilities with respect to taxes, except for payroll taxes and reporting and other tax matters expressly covered by the employee matters agreement, are solely covered by the tax matters agreement.
Except as expressly set forth in the Separation Agreement or any ancillary agreement, all assets will be transferred on an as is, where is basis and the respective transferees will bear the economic and legal risks that any conveyance will prove to be insufficient to vest in the transferee good title, free and clear of any security interest, that any necessary consents or governmental approvals are not obtained and that any requirements of laws or judgments are not complied with. In general, neither we nor DuPont will make any representations or warranties regarding any assets or liabilities transferred or assumed, any consents or approvals that may be required in connection with such transfers or assumptions, or any other matters.
Information in this information statement with respect to the assets and liabilities of the parties following the separation is presented based on the allocation of such assets and liabilities pursuant to the Separation Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires. Certain of the liabilities and obligations to be assumed by one party or for which one party will have an indemnification obligation under the Separation Agreement and the other agreements relating to the separation are, and following the separation may continue to be, the legal or contractual liabilities or obligations of another party. Each such party that continues to be subject to such legal or contractual liability or obligation will rely on the applicable party that assumed the liability or obligation or the applicable party that undertook an indemnification obligation with respect to the liability or obligation, as applicable, under the Separation Agreement, to satisfy the performance and payment obligations or indemnification obligations with respect to such legal or contractual liability or obligation.
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Further Assurances; Separation of Guarantees. To the extent that any transfers of assets or assumptions of liabilities contemplated by the Separation Agreement have not been consummated on or prior to the date of the distribution, the parties will agree to cooperate with each other to effect such transfers or assumptions while holding such assets or liabilities for the benefit of the appropriate party so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such asset or liability inure to the party entitled to receive or assume such asset or liability. Each party will agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to take or to cause to be taken all actions, and to do, or to cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary under applicable law or contractual obligations to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by the Separation Agreement and other transaction agreements. Additionally, we and DuPont will use commercially reasonable efforts to remove us as a guarantor of liabilities (including surety bonds) retained by DuPont and its subsidiaries and to remove DuPont and its subsidiaries as a guarantor of liabilities (including surety bonds) to be assumed by us.
The Distribution. The Separation Agreement will govern the rights and obligations of the parties regarding the proposed distribution and certain actions that must occur prior to the proposed distribution. DuPont will cause its agent to distribute to its stockholders that hold shares of DuPonts common stock as of the applicable record date all the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock. DuPont will have the sole and absolute discretion to determine (and change) the terms of, and whether to proceed with, the distribution and, to the extent it determines to so proceed, to determine the date of the distribution.
Conditions. The Separation Agreement will provide that the distribution is subject to several conditions that must be satisfied or waived by DuPont in its sole discretion. For further information regarding these conditions, see The Distribution Conditions to the Distribution. DuPont may, in its sole discretion, determine the record date, the distribution date and the terms of the distribution and may at any time prior to the completion of the distribution decide to abandon or modify the distribution. DuPont has informed us that, to the extent the board of directors of DuPont determines to waive, or take any action to amend or modify, any condition in a manner that is material or abandon the distribution, DuPont will issue a press release publicly announcing any such decision.
Shared Contracts. Certain shared contracts are to be assigned or amended to facilitate the separation of our business from DuPont. If such contracts may not be assigned or amended, the parties are required to take reasonable actions to cause the appropriate party to receive the benefit of the contract after the separation is complete.
Release of Claims and Indemnification. Except as otherwise provided in the Separation Agreement or any ancillary agreement, each party will release and forever discharge the other party and its subsidiaries and affiliates from all liabilities existing or arising from any acts or events occurring or failing to occur or alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur or any conditions existing or alleged to have existed on or before the separation. The releases will not extend to obligations or liabilities under any agreements between the parties that remain in effect following the separation pursuant to the Separation Agreement or any ancillary agreement. These releases will be subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Separation Agreement.
The Separation Agreement will provide for cross-indemnities that, except as otherwise provided in the Separation Agreement, are principally designed to place financial responsibility for the obligations and liabilities allocated to us under the Separation Agreement with us and financial responsibility for the obligations and liabilities allocated to DuPont under the Separation Agreement with DuPont. Specifically, each party will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other party, its affiliates and subsidiaries and each of its officers, directors, employees and agents for any losses arising out of or due to:
| the liabilities or alleged liabilities each party assumed or retained pursuant to the Separation Agreement; |
| the operation of each such partys business, whether prior to, at, or after the distribution; and |
| any breach by us or DuPont of any provision of the Separation Agreement or any other agreement unless such other agreement expressly provides for separate indemnification therein. |
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Each partys aforementioned indemnification obligations will be uncapped; provided that the amount of each partys indemnification obligations will be subject to reduction by any insurance proceeds (net of premium increases) received by the party being indemnified. The Separation Agreement will also specify procedures with respect to claims subject to indemnification and related matters. Indemnification with respect to taxes will be governed by the Tax Matters Agreement.
Legal Matters. Except as otherwise set forth in the Separation Agreement or any ancillary agreement (or as otherwise described above), each party to the Separation Agreement will assume the liability for, and control of, all pending, threatened and future legal matters related to its own business or its assumed or retained liabilities and will indemnify the other party for any liability arising out of or resulting from such legal matters. Each party to a claim will agree to cooperate in defending any claims against the other party for events that took place prior to, on or after the date of distribution.
Distribution to DuPont. The Separation Agreement will provide that, as a condition to the consummation of the separation, the distribution by Chemours of approximately $3.9 billion to DuPont, funded primarily by third-party indebtedness, has been completed and not rescinded.
Cash True-up. The Separation Agreement will contain a cash adjustment provision, to be determined reasonably promptly after the distribution date, but in any event no later than December 31, 2015, that will assure that our aggregate cash balance at the time of the distribution is equal to a target level of cash in the amount of $200 million. This adjustment could result in a payment to us from DuPont or a payment by us to DuPont. The Separation Agreement will also provide for a secondary adjustment provision, to be determined reasonably promptly after the distribution date, but in any event no later than December 31, 2015, to cover variances from our target levels of receivables, payables, inventory, fixed costs expenditures and capital expenditures, in each case calculated as of the distribution date.
Insurance. Following the separation, we will be responsible for obtaining and maintaining at our own cost our own insurance coverage. Additionally, with respect to certain claims arising prior to the distribution, we may, at the sole discretion of DuPont, seek coverage under certain specified DuPont third-party insurance policies to the extent that coverage may be available thereunder.
Non-Compete. The Separation Agreement will include certain noncompetition obligations with respect to our not engaging in certain future business and activities that we currently do not engage in. Specifically, for a period of five years following the date of the distribution, we will not directly or indirectly engage in any activities related to, or hold any ownership interest in an entity that engages in, the following products, services and activities:
| Fluoropolymers and fluoropolymer containing films for backsheets for photovoltaic modules, for interior laminates or thermal insulation for aircraft fuselages or railcars and for holographic image recording films; |
| certain fluoro rubbers; |
| certain fluorinated ionomer products for use in organic light emitting diodes and displays; |
| certain vinyl fluoride-containing polymer products (other than certain permitted vinyl-fluoride activities for which we receive a license under the IP Cross-License Agreement); and |
| offer or engage in certain services and activities related to the services and activities of the DuPont Sustainable Solutions division of DuPont. |
The Separation Agreement contains certain obligations to, at our sole option, either cease operations and decommission or divest certain subject assets in the event that we were to acquire an entity engaged in activities otherwise prohibited by the noncompetition provisions. The noncompetition provisions further provide that, under certain circumstances, third parties acquiring assets of Chemours may become subject to the non-compete.
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Dispute Resolution. If a dispute arises between us and DuPont under the Separation Agreement, the general counsels of the parties and such other representatives as the parties may designate will negotiate to resolve any disputes for a reasonable period of time. If the parties are unable to resolve the dispute in this manner then, unless otherwise agreed by the parties and except as otherwise set forth in the Separation Agreement, the dispute will be resolved through binding arbitration.
Term/Termination. Prior to the distribution, DuPont has the unilateral right to terminate or modify the terms of the Separation Agreement. After the effective time of the distribution, the term of the Separation Agreement is indefinite and it may only be terminated with the prior written consent of both DuPont and us.
Other Matters Governed by the Separation Agreement. Other matters governed by the Separation Agreement include access to financial and other information, confidentiality, access to and provision of records and treatment of outstanding guarantees and similar credit support.
Site Services Agreements
We intend to enter into Site Services Agreements with DuPont for the provision of site services at shared sites either (a) by Chemours to DuPont at sites owned by Chemours and on which DuPont will maintain operations, or (b) by DuPont to Chemours at sites owned by DuPont on which Chemours will maintain operations. These services agreements will generally address provision of services relating to access to steam, waste water treatment, potable water supply, access to electricity, to the extent permitted by local law, and site security, to the extent permitted by, and in accordance with, Federal law.
All such services will be provided for an indefinite period of time and for specified fees, which are generally at cost.
Transition Services Agreement / IT Transition Services Agreement
We intend to enter into a Transition Services Agreement and an IT Transition Services Agreement pursuant to which DuPont will provide functional and information technology services, respectively, to Chemours. DuPont will provide such services for a limited time, generally for no longer than 24 months following the date of the distribution, for specified fees, which are at cost for services provided by third parties and at cost plus five percent for services provided by either Chemours or DuPont, as applicable.
Tax Matters Agreement
Allocation of Taxes. We intend to enter into a Tax Matters Agreement with DuPont immediately prior to the distribution that will govern the parties respective rights, responsibilities and obligations with respect to tax liabilities and benefits, tax attributes, the preparation and filing of tax returns, the control of audits and other tax proceedings and other matters regarding taxes. In general, under the agreement:
| DuPont will be responsible for any U.S. federal, state and local taxes (and any related interest, penalties or audit adjustments) reportable on a consolidated, combined or unitary return that includes DuPont or any of its subsidiaries (and us and/or any of our subsidiaries) for any periods or portions thereof ending on or prior to the date of the distribution. |
| Otherwise, we will be responsible for any U.S. federal, state, local and foreign taxes (and any related interest, penalties or audit adjustments) that are imposed on us and/or any of our subsidiaries for all tax periods, whether before or after the date of the distribution. |
Neither partys obligations under the agreement will be limited in amount or subject to any cap. The agreement will also assign responsibilities for administrative matters, such as the filing of returns, payment of taxes due, retention of records and conduct of audits, examinations or similar proceedings. In addition, the agreement provides for cooperation and information sharing with respect to tax matters.
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DuPont will generally be responsible for preparing and filing any tax return that includes DuPont or any of its subsidiaries (as determined immediately after the distribution), including those that also include us and/or any of our subsidiaries. We will generally be responsible for preparing and filing any tax returns that include only us and/or any of our subsidiaries.
The party responsible for preparing and filing a given tax return will generally have primary authority to control tax contests related to any such tax return. We will generally have exclusive authority to control tax contests with respect to tax returns that include only us and/or any of our subsidiaries.
Preservation of the Tax-free Status of Certain Aspects of the Separation. We and DuPont intend for the distribution and certain related transactions to qualify as a reorganization pursuant to which no gain or loss is recognized by DuPont or its stockholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Sections 355, 368(a)(1)(D) and related provisions of the Code. In addition, we and DuPont intend for certain other aspects of the separation to qualify for tax-free treatment under U.S. federal, state and local tax law and/or foreign tax law.
DuPont has received a private letter ruling from the IRS to the effect that, among other things, the distribution and certain related transactions qualify as a reorganization pursuant to which no gain or loss is recognized by DuPont or its stockholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Sections 355, 368(a)(1)(D) and related provisions of the Code. In addition, DuPont will receive opinions from its outside tax advisors regarding the tax-free status of these transactions and certain related transactions. In connection with the ruling and the opinions, we and DuPont have made and will make certain representations regarding the past and future conduct of our respective businesses and certain other matters.
We will also agree to certain covenants that contain restrictions intended to preserve the tax-free status of the distribution and certain related transactions. We may take certain actions prohibited by these covenants only if DuPont receives a private letter ruling from the IRS or we obtain and provide to DuPont an opinion from a U.S. tax counsel or accountant of recognized national standing, acceptable to DuPont in its sole and absolute discretion, to the effect that such action would not jeopardize the tax-free status of these transactions. We will be barred from taking any action, or failing to take any action, where such action or failure to act adversely affects the tax-free status of these transactions, for all time periods. In addition, during the time period ending two years after the date of the Distribution these covenants will include specific restrictions on our:
| issuance or sale of stock or other securities (including securities convertible into our stock but excluding certain compensatory arrangements); |
| sales of assets outside the ordinary course of business; and |
| entering into any other corporate transaction (apart from the Merger or LLC Merger) which would cause us to undergo a 50 percent or greater change in our stock ownership. |
We will generally agree to indemnify DuPont and its affiliates against any and all tax-related liabilities incurred by them relating to the distribution and certain other aspects of the separation to the extent caused by an acquisition of our stock or assets or by any other action undertaken by us. This indemnification provision will apply even if DuPont has permitted us to take an action that would otherwise have been prohibited under the tax-related covenants described above.
Employee Matters Agreement
We will enter into an Employee Matters Agreement with DuPont prior to the distribution that will govern the compensation and employee benefit obligations with respect to our current and former employees and those of DuPont. The Employee Matters Agreement will allocate liabilities and responsibilities relating to employee compensation and benefits plans and programs and other related matters in connection with the distribution including, without limitation, the treatment of outstanding DuPont equity awards, other outstanding incentive compensation awards, deferred compensation obligations and retirement and welfare benefit obligations.
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With certain exceptions, the Employee Matters Agreement will provide that as of the consummation of the distribution, our employees will cease to be active participants in, and we will cease to be a participating employer in, the benefit plans and programs maintained by DuPont. As of such time, our employees will generally become eligible to participate in all of our applicable plans. In general, we will credit each of our employees with his or her pre-distribution service for all purposes under the plans maintained by us to the extent the corresponding DuPont plans gave credit for such service and such crediting does not result in a duplication of benefits.
We will generally retain or assume responsibility for, and will pay and be liable for, all wages, salaries, welfare, incentive compensation and employment-related obligations and liabilities with respect to our current employees, whether arising before or after the distribution, and DuPont will generally retain or assume responsibility for, and will pay and be liable for, all such obligations and liabilities with respect to its own employees and our former employees. There will be no transfer of pension assets or liabilities in the United States, and DuPont will retain the obligation to provide any post-retirement welfare benefits that may have be made available to our employees in the United States. The treatment of benefit plans maintained outside of the United States is generally subject to the provisions of the applicable local transfer agreements.
We and DuPont will agree that for a period of three years following the effective date, subject to certain customary exceptions, neither we nor DuPont will (1) recruit, solicit, hire, or retain an employee of the other party or its subsidiaries or (2) induce or attempt to induce any such employee to cease his relationship with the other party.
IP Cross-License
We intend that certain of our subsidiaries will enter into an Intellectual Property Cross-License Agreement with DuPont, pursuant to which (i) DuPont will license to Chemours certain patents, know-how and technical information owned by DuPont or its affiliates and necessary or useful in Chemours business, and (ii) Chemours will license to DuPont certain patents owned by Chemours or its affiliates and necessary or useful in DuPonts business. All patents and technical information licensed pursuant to this agreement will be identified in schedules to the agreement.
In most circumstances, the licenses will be perpetual, irrevocable, sublicenseable (in connection with the partys business), assignable (in connection with a sale of the applicable portion of a partys business or assets, subject to certain exceptions) worldwide licenses in connection with the current operation of the businesses and, with respect to specified products and fields of use, future operation of such businesses, subject to certain limitations.
Tolling, Supply and other Commercial Agreements
We intend to enter into certain tolling, supply and other commercial agreements with DuPont, the terms and conditions and costs of which will be specified in each such agreement.
Other Agreements
Real Estate Matters
We intend to enter into one or more License to Use Agreements with DuPont, involving our and DuPonts subsidiaries, under which we and DuPont will allow each other to use certain shared manufacturing sites for an indefinite period of time for specified fees, and to certain lab space, office space, warehouse space, outside storage yard space, restrooms and conference rooms on a temporary basis for specified fees.
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Other Ancillary Agreements
We intend enter into additional ancillary agreements related to the separation, including a reciprocal sales arrangement, on arms-length terms, that would continue the compatibility of certain of our products into certain DuPont technology platforms or otherwise provide for the sale of goods or services, and an agreement regarding the manufacture and sale by DuPont to us of a limited number of products or intermediates currently manufactured at a facility housing Chemours equipment, as well as the ownership and transfer of the equipment and other property and the employment of the personnel related to the manufacturing of those products or intermediates.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISTRIBUTION
The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to DuPont and to the holders of shares of DuPont common stock in connection with the distribution. This summary is based on the Code, the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative interpretations thereof, all as in effect as of the date of this information statement and all of which are subject to differing interpretations and may change at any time, possibly with retroactive effect. Any such change could affect the tax consequences described below. This summary assumes that the separation will be consummated in accordance with the Separation Agreement and as described in this information statement.
Except as specifically described below, this summary is limited to holders of shares of DuPont common stock that are U.S. Holders, as defined immediately below. For purposes of this summary, a U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of DuPont common stock that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| an individual who is a citizen or a resident of the U.S.; |
| a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized under the laws of the U.S. or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
| an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
| a trust, if (1) a court within the U.S. is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions, or (2) in the case of a trust that was treated as a domestic trust under the law in effect before 1997, a valid election is in place under applicable Treasury Regulations. |
This summary also does not discuss all tax considerations that may be relevant to stockholders in light of their particular circumstances, nor does it address the consequences to stockholders subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as:
| dealers or traders in securities or currencies; |
| tax-exempt entities; |
| cooperatives; |
| banks, trusts, financial institutions, or insurance companies; |
| persons who acquired shares of DuPont common stock pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation; |
| stockholders who own, or are deemed to own, at least 10 percent or more, by voting power or value, of DuPonts equity; |
| holders owning DuPont common stock as part of a position in a straddle or as part of a hedging, conversion, constructive sale, synthetic security, integrated investment, or other risk reduction transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
| certain former citizens or former long-term residents of the U.S.; |
| holders who are subject to the alternative minimum tax; or |
| persons that own DuPont common stock through partnerships or other pass-through entities. |
This summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to stockholders who do not hold shares of DuPont common stock as a capital asset. Moreover, this summary does not address any state, local, or foreign tax consequences or any estate, gift or other non-income tax consequences.
If a partnership (or any other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds shares of DuPont common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in that partnership generally will depend on the status of the
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partner and the activities of the partnership. Such a partner or partnership should consult its own tax advisor as to the tax consequences of the distribution.
YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE SPECIFIC U.S. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL, AND NON-U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISTRIBUTION IN LIGHT OF YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE EFFECT OF POSSIBLE CHANGES IN LAW THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES DESCRIBED IN THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT.
Treatment of the Distribution
DuPont has received the IRS Ruling from the IRS substantially to the effect that, among other things, the distribution will qualify as a tax-free transaction under Section 355 and Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code. The distribution is conditioned on the continued validity of the IRS Ruling, as well as on receipt of the Tax Opinion, in form and substance acceptable to DuPont, substantially to the effect that, among other things, the distribution will qualify as a tax-free transaction under Section 355 and Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, and certain transactions related to the transfer of assets and liabilities to us in connection with the separation will not result in the recognition of any gain or loss to DuPont, us or our stockholders.
Assuming the distribution qualifies as tax-free under Section 368(a)(1)(D) and Section 355 of the Code, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| no gain or loss will be recognized by DuPont as a result of the distribution; |
| no gain or loss will be recognized by, or be includible in the income of, a holder of DuPont common stock solely as a result of the receipt of our common stock in the distribution; |
| the aggregate tax basis of the shares of DuPont common stock and shares of our common stock in the hands of each DuPont stockholder immediately after the distribution will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the shares of DuPont common stock held by such holder immediately before the distribution, allocated between the shares of DuPont common stock and shares of our common stock in proportion to their relative fair market values immediately following the distribution; |
| the holding period with respect to shares of our common stock received by DuPont stockholders will include the holding period of their shares of DuPont common stock, provided that such shares of DuPont common stock are held as a capital asset immediately following the distribution; and |
| DuPont stockholders that have acquired different blocks of DuPont common stock at different times or at different prices should consult their tax advisors regarding the allocation of their aggregate adjusted basis among, and their holding period of, our shares distributed with respect to blocks of DuPont common stock. |
Although the IRS Ruling is generally binding on the IRS, the IRS Ruling is based on certain facts and assumptions, and certain representations and undertakings, from DuPont and us that certain necessary conditions to obtain tax-free treatment under the Code have been satisfied. Furthermore, as a result of the IRSs general ruling policy with respect to distributions under Section 355 of the Code as in effect at the time the IRS Ruling was requested, the IRS did not rule on whether a distribution satisfies certain critical requirements necessary to obtain tax-free treatment under the Code. Specifically, the IRS did not rule that the distribution was effected for a valid business purpose, that the distribution does not constitute a device for the distribution of earnings and profits, or that the distribution is not part of a plan described in Section 355(e) of the Code (as discussed below). Instead, the IRS Ruling is based on representations made to the IRS by DuPont that these requirements have been established. DuPont expects to obtain the Tax Opinion, which is expected to include a conclusion that the distribution is being effected for a valid business purpose, that the distribution does not constitute a device for the distribution of earnings and profits, and that the distribution is not part of a plan described in Section 355(e) of the Code (as discussed below). The Tax Opinion will be expressed as of the date of the distribution and will not
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cover subsequent periods, and the Tax Opinion will rely on the IRS Ruling. As a result, the Tax Opinion is not expected to be issued until after the date of this information statement. An opinion of counsel represents counsels best legal judgment based on current law and is not binding on the IRS or any court. We cannot assure you that the IRS will agree with the conclusions expected to be set forth in the Tax Opinion, and it is possible that the IRS or another tax authority could adopt a position contrary to one or all of those conclusions and that a court could sustain that contrary position. If any of the facts, representations, assumptions, or undertakings described or made in connection with the IRS Ruling or the Tax Opinion are not correct, are incomplete or have been violated, the IRS Ruling could be revoked retroactively or modified by the IRS, and our ability to rely on the Tax Opinion could be jeopardized. We are not aware of any facts or circumstances, however, that would cause these facts, representations, or assumptions to be untrue or incomplete, or that would cause any of these undertakings to fail to be complied with, in any material respect.
If, notwithstanding the conclusions in the IRS Ruling and those that we expect to be included in the Tax Opinion, it is ultimately determined that the distribution does not qualify as tax-free under Section 355 of the Code for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then DuPont would generally recognize gain with respect to the transfer of our common stock and certain related transactions, as well as with respect to the receipt of certain Chemours debt securities and cash in connection with the separation. In addition, each DuPont stockholder that receives shares of our common stock in the distribution could be treated as receiving a distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of our common stock that was distributed to the stockholder, which generally would be taxed as a dividend to the extent of the stockholders pro rata share of DuPonts current and accumulated earnings and profits, including DuPonts taxable gain, if any, on the distribution, then treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of the stockholders basis in DuPont stock and thereafter treated as capital gain from the sale or exchange of DuPont stock.
Even if the distribution otherwise qualifies for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code, the distribution may result in corporate level taxable gain to DuPont under Section 355(e) of the Code if 50 percent or more, by vote or value, of our stock or DuPonts stock is treated as acquired or issued as part of a plan or series of related transactions that includes the distribution. If an acquisition or issuance of our stock or DuPonts stock triggers the application of Section 355(e) of the Code, DuPont would recognize taxable gain as described above, but the distribution would be tax-free to each DuPont stockholder.
A U.S. Holder that receives cash instead of fractional shares of our common stock should be treated as though the U.S. Holder first received a distribution of a fractional share of our common stock, and then sold it for the amount of cash. Such U.S. Holder should recognize capital gain or loss, provided that the fractional share is considered to be held as a capital asset, measured by the difference between the cash received for such fractional share and the U.S. Holders basis in the fractional share, as determined above. Such capital gain or loss should generally be a long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holders holding period for such U.S. Holders DuPont common stock exceeds one year on the date of the distribution.
U.S. Treasury regulations require certain stockholders that receive stock in a distribution to attach a detailed statement setting forth certain information relating to the distribution to their respective U.S. federal income tax returns for the year in which the distribution occurs. Within a reasonable period after the distribution, DuPont will provide stockholders who receive our common stock in the distribution with the information necessary to comply with such requirement. In addition, all stockholders are required to retain permanent records relating to the amount, basis, and fair market value of our common stock received in the distribution and to make those records available to the IRS upon request of the IRS.
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In connection with DuPonts internal reorganization and in recognition of the entities, assets and liabilities that DuPont contributed and will contribute to us, we distributed to DuPont approximately $3.9 billion received pursuant to certain financing arrangements, including the net proceeds of the Notes (defined below) sold by us, the in-kind distribution of $507.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Notes (defined below) and substantially all of the net proceeds of the Term Loan Facility (defined below).
Senior Notes Issuance
On May 12, 2015 we issued $1,350,000,0000 aggregate principal amount of 6.625% senior unsecured notes due 2023 (the 2023 Notes), $750,000,0000 aggregate principal amount of 7.000% senior unsecured notes due 2025 (the 2025 Notes) and 360,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.125% senior unsecured notes due 2023 (the Euro Notes and together with the 2023 Notes and 2025 Notes, the Notes). $507.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Notes were distributed in-kind to DuPont, which DuPont transferred to selling securityholders pursuant to a debt-for-debt exchange and which were offered for sale to investors by such selling securityholders. DuPont exchanged the 2025 Notes received by DuPont from Chemours with such selling securityholders for a similar amount of DuPont debt securities. We did not receive any proceeds from the sale of the 2025 Notes by the selling securityholders.
The Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture (the Base Indenture), as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture in respect of the 2023 Notes (the First Supplemental Indenture), second supplemental indenture in respect of the 2025 Notes (the Second Supplemental Indenture) and third supplemental indenture in respect of the Euro Notes (the Third Supplemental Indenture and, together with First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture and the Base Indenture, the Indenture) by and among Chemours, its subsidiaries that guarantee its Senior Secured Credit Facilities (as defined below) and U.S. Bank, National Association, as trustee, each dated as of May 12, 2015.
The 2023 notes mature on May 15, 2023 and bear interest at a rate of 6.625% per year. The 2025 notes mature on May 15, 2025 and bear interest at a rate of 7.000% per year. The Euro notes mature on May 15, 2023 and bear interest at a rate of 6.125% per year. Interest on the Notes is payable on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 2015.
The Notes are guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis, by each of Chemours existing and future subsidiaries that guarantee the Senior Secured Credit Facility and any additional subsidiary that guarantees indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount of indebtedness in excess of $75 million.
If the distribution has not been completed on or before November 30, 2015, or if prior to such date, DuPont has abandoned the distribution, then we will be required to redeem each series of notes at a redemption price equal to (a) 100% of the initial issue price of such series if the applicable redemption date is on or before August 15, 2015 and (b) 101% of the principal amount of such series of notes if the applicable redemption date is after August 15, 2015, in each case, plus accrued and unpaid interest but excluding, the redemption date.
The Indenture contains customary terms for high yield senior notes of this type, including covenants relating to debt incurrence, liens, restricted payments, assets sales, transactions with affiliates, and mergers or sales of all or substantially all of Chemours assets.
The Indenture provides for customary events of default (subject, in certain cases, to customary grace periods) which include nonpayment on the notes, breach of covenants in the Indenture, payment defaults or acceleration of other indebtedness over a specified threshold, failure to pay certain judgments over a specified threshold and certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency. Generally, if an event of default occurs, the trustee under the
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Indenture or holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of all then outstanding senior notes of the applicable series may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes of such series to be due and payable immediately.
Senior Secured Credit Facilities
On May 12, 2015, we entered into a credit agreement with a syndicate of banks providing for a seven-year $1.5 billion senior secured Term Loan B Facility (the Term Loan Facility) and a five-year $1.0 billion senior secured Revolving Credit Facility (the Revolving Credit Facility and together with the Term Loan Facility, the Senior Secured Credit Facilities).
We are permitted, subject to customary conditions, to incur incremental term loan borrowings and/or increase commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility in an aggregate amount not greater than (i) $700 million plus (ii) an additional amount, so long as, on a pro forma basis (including the full amount of such incremental term loan borrowings and/or increased commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility) after giving effect to any such increases, our senior secured net leverage ratio does not exceed 1.50 to 1.00. Incremental term loan borrowings and revolving commitments are uncommitted and the availability thereof will depend on market conditions at the time we seek to incur such borrowings and/or commitments.
The Senior Secured Credit Facilities bear interest, at our option, at a rate equal to an adjusted base rate or LIBOR, plus, in each case, an applicable margin. In the case of the Term Loan Facility, the adjusted base rate and LIBOR will not, in any event, be less than 1.75% and 0.75%, respectively. The applicable margin is equal to (i) in the case of the Term Loan Facility, 2.00% for base rate loans and 3.00% for LIBOR loans and (ii) in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility, a range based on our total net leverage ratio between (a) 0.50% and 1.25% for base rate loans and (b) 1.5% and 2.25% for LIBOR loans. During an event of default, overdue principal under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities will bear interest at a rate of 2.00% in excess of the otherwise applicable rate of interest. We are required to pay a commitment fee on the average daily unused amount of the Revolving Credit Facility at a rate based on our total net leverage ratio, between 0.20% and 0.35%. With respect to outstanding letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility, we are required to pay letter of credit fees equal to the product of (A) the applicable margin with respect to eurodollar borrowings and (B) the average amount available to be drawn under such letters of credit. Interest, commitment fees and letter of credit fees are generally payable quarterly in arrears (or in the case of borrowings with an interest period of less than 3 months, at the end of the applicable interest period).
The Term Loan Facility amortizes in equal quarterly installments equal to 1.00% per annum, with the balance due at maturity. We are permitted to voluntarily prepay loans and/or reduce the commitment under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, in whole or in part, without penalty or premium subject to certain minimum amounts and increments and the payment of customary breakage costs; provided, that any prepayment of the Term Loan Facility on or prior to twelve months after the credit facility effective date with proceeds from a repricing transaction will require a prepayment premium equal to 1.00% of such loans prepaid. Mandatory prepayments are not required under the Revolving Credit Facility. Mandatory prepayments are required under the Term Loan Facility using the net cash proceeds from certain asset sales, casualty and condemnation events, indebtedness and excess cash flow (each subject to customary thresholds and exclusions).
If the separation and distribution has not been completed on or before November 30, 2015, or if prior to such date, DuPont has abandoned the separation and distribution, then we will be required to repay all loans outstanding under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities together with all accrued and unpaid interest and commitment fees, and the commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility will be terminated.
Our obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities are guaranteed on a senior secured basis by all of our material domestic subsidiaries, subject to certain agreed upon exceptions. The obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities are also, subject to certain agreed upon exceptions, secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of our and our material wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries assets, including 100% of the stock of domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the stock of certain foreign subsidiaries.
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The Revolving Credit Facility contains financial covenants requiring us (i) not to exceed a maximum total net leverage ratio and, (ii) unless we have achieved an investment grade rating as specified in the credit agreement, to maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio. In addition, the Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain customary affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, limit or restrict our and our subsidiaries ability, subject to certain exceptions, to incur liens, merge, consolidate or sell, transfer or lease assets, make investments, pay dividends, transact with subsidiaries and incur indebtedness. The Senior Secured Credit Facilities also contain customary events of default.
The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Indenture and Credit Agreement, which are filed herewith as Exhibit 10.7 and Exhibit 10.14, respectively.
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DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws will be amended and restated prior to the separation. The following is a summary of the material terms of our capital stock that will be contained in the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to these documents. You should refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws, which are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this information statement is a part, along with the applicable provisions of Delaware law. Prior to the distribution date, DuPont, as our sole stockholder, will approve and adopt our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and our board of directors will approve and adopt our by-laws. For more information on how you can obtain our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our by-laws, see Where You Can Find More Information on page 178 of this information statement. We urge you to read our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our by-laws in their entirety.
Authorized Capital Stock
Immediately following the distribution, our authorized capital stock will consist of [] shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and [] shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.
Common Stock
Immediately following the distribution, Chemours expects that approximately [] shares of its common stock will be issued and outstanding based upon approximately [] shares of DuPont common stock outstanding as of [], 2015.
Voting Rights. The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to the exclusion of all other stockholders except as specifically stated in our certificate of incorporation. All corporate actions, other than the election of directors, are decided by a plurality vote by holders of our common stock.
Quorum. The holders of our common stock entitled to cast a majority of votes at a stockholders meeting constitute a quorum at such meeting.
Election of Directors. Directors are generally elected by a majority of the votes cast by holders of our common stock. However, directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by holders of our common stock in the case of elections held at a stockholders meeting for which our corporate secretary has received a notice or otherwise has become aware, prior to such meeting, that a holder of our common stock has nominated a person for election to our board of directors. A majority of the votes cast means that the number of votes cast for a directors election exceeds the number of votes cast against that directors election. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted as votes cast either for or against a directors election.
Dividends and Liquidation Rights. Holders of common stock are entitled to dividends as may be declared by our board of directors whenever full accumulated dividends for all past dividend periods and for the current dividend period have been paid, or declared and set apart for payment, on then outstanding preferred stock. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our company, whether voluntary or involuntary, our remaining assets and funds will be divided and paid to holders of our common stock according to their respective shares after payments have been made to holders of our preferred stock.
Miscellaneous. The shares of our common stock will be fully paid and non-assessable upon issuance and payment therefor. Holders of Common Stock do not have any preemptive rights to subscribe for any additional shares of capital stock or other obligations convertible into or exercisable for shares of capital stock that we may issue in the future. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our Common Stock.
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Preferred Stock
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize the Chemours board of directors, without further action by our stockholders, to issue shares of preferred stock and to fix by resolution the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and such qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including, without limitation, redemption rights, dividend rights, liquidation preferences and conversion or exchange rights of any class or series of preferred stock, and to fix the number of classes or series of preferred stock, the number of shares constituting any such class or series and the voting powers for each class or series.
The authority possessed by our board of directors to issue preferred stock could potentially be used to discourage attempts by third parties to obtain control of Chemours through a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise by making such attempts more difficult or more costly. Our board of directors may issue preferred stock with voting rights or conversion rights that, if exercised, could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of the common stock. There are no current agreements or understandings with respect to the issuance of preferred stock and our board of directors has no present intention to issue any shares of preferred stock.
Miscellaneous. The shares of our preferred stock will be fully paid and non-assessable upon issuance and payment therefor. Unless otherwise stated in the certificate of designations, holders of preferred stock do not have any preemptive rights to subscribe for any additional shares of preferred stock or other obligations convertible into or exercisable for shares of preferred stock that we may issue in the future. Unless otherwise stated in the certificate of designations, there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our preferred stock.
Anti-Takeover Considerations
The provisions of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our by-laws contain provisions that could serve to discourage or to make more difficult a change in control of us without the support of our board of directors or without meeting various other conditions. These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and takeover bids that our board of directors may consider inadequate and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of its ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure it outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging takeover or acquisition proposals because, among other things, negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
State Takeover Legislation
Upon the distribution, we will be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover statute. In general, Section 203 of the DGCL, subject to certain exceptions set forth therein, prohibits a business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder within three years of the time such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless (a) prior to such time, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, (b) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85 percent of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, exclusive of shares owned by directors who are also officers and by certain employee stock plans, or (c) at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized by the affirmative vote at a stockholders meeting of at least 66 2/3 percent of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
Except as otherwise set forth in Section 203, an interested stockholder is defined to include (i) any person that is the owner of 15 percent or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation, or is an affiliate or associate
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of the corporation and was the owner of 15 percent or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at any time within three years immediately prior to the date of determination; and (ii) the affiliates and associates of any such person.
The provisions of Section 203 may encourage persons interested in acquiring us to negotiate in advance with our board of directors, because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if a majority of the directors then in office approve either the business combination or the transaction which results in any such person becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions which our stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Classified Board of Directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws will provide that its board of directors will be divided into three classes. At the time of the separation, our board of directors will be divided into three approximately equal classes. The directors designated as Class I directors will have terms expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the distribution. The directors designated as Class II directors will have terms expiring at the second annual meeting of stockholders, and the directors designated as Class III directors will have terms expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders. Commencing with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the separation, directors for each class will be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the year in which the term for that class expires and thereafter will serve for a term of three years. Because of the classified board provisions, it would take at least two elections of directors for any individual or group to gain control of our board of directors. Accordingly, these provisions could discourage a third party from initiating a proxy contest, making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to gain control of Chemours. However, Chemours classified board structure will be submitted to a stockholder vote at Chemours first annual meeting in 2016. If the classified structure described herein is not approved by a majority of the shares voted by its stockholders at the meeting, Chemours would declassify its Board such that all directors would be up for annual election beginning with the 2017 annual meeting.
Stockholder Action by Written Consent
Delaware law provides that, unless otherwise stated in the certificate of incorporation, any action which may be taken at an annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing is signed by the holders of the outstanding stock having the minimum number of votes necessary to authorize the action at a meeting of stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will expressly eliminate the right of its stockholders to act by written consent and, as such, stockholder action must take place at the annual or a special meeting of Chemours stockholders.
Meetings of Stockholders
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide the ability for stockholders to call a special meeting on the terms and conditions, if any, as set forth from time to time in our by-laws and will further provide that the by-laws cannot be amended to extend such a right to holders of record owning less than 25 percent of the outstanding stock entitled to vote. At the time of the distribution, our by-laws will provide that special meetings of the stockholders may be called by a majority of our board of directors and will be called by our corporate secretary at the request in writing of the holders of record of at least 25 percent of the outstanding stock entitled to vote.
No Cumulative Voting
Delaware law permits stockholders to cumulate their votes and either cast them for one candidate or distribute them among two or more candidates in the election of directors only if expressly authorized in a corporations
174
certificate of incorporation. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not authorize cumulative voting.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals
Our by-laws will establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and nomination of candidates for election as directors other than nominations made by or at the direction of its board of directors or a committee of its board of directors. Generally, such proposal shall be made not later than the close of business on the 90th day, nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day in advance of the anniversary of the previous years annual meeting. For purposes of the first annual meeting, proposals shall be made not later than the close of business on [], nor earlier than the close of business on [].
These advance-notice provisions may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of our directors or the consideration of stockholder proposals if the proper procedures are not followed, and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or to approve its own proposal, without regard to whether consideration of those nominees or proposals might be harmful or beneficial to us and our stockholders.
Removal of Directors
Delaware law provides that, except in the case of a classified board of directors or where cumulative voting applies, a director, or the entire board of directors, of a corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors. Because of the classified board provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, stockholders may only remove a director for cause by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of voting common stock.
Size of Our Board of Directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws will provide that the number of directors on its board of directors will be not less than six, nor more than twelve, with the exact number of directors to be fixed exclusively by the board of directors.
Vacancies
Delaware law provides that vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from a resignation or any increase in the authorized number of directors elected by all of the stockholders having the right to vote as a single class may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, unless the governing documents of a corporation provide otherwise. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our by-laws provide that vacancies occurring in our board of directors for any cause may be filled by vote of a majority of our whole board of directors. The remaining directors may elect a successor to hold office for the unexpired term of the director whose place is vacant and until the election of his successor.
Amendments to Certificate of Incorporation
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the provisions of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended by the vote of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock, except that our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80 percent of its voting stock then outstanding is required to amend certain provisions relating to:
| no cumulative voting; |
| amendment of the by-laws; |
175
| the size, classification, election, removal, nomination and filling of vacancies with respect to the Chemours board of directors; |
| stockholder action by written consent and ability to call special meetings of stockholders; |
| director and officer indemnification; and |
| any provision relating to the amendment of any of these provisions. |
Amendments to By-laws
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws will provide that the by-laws may be amended by our board of directors or by the affirmative vote of at least 80 percent of our voting stock then outstanding.
Undesignated Preferred Stock
The authority that our board of directors will possess to issue preferred stock could potentially be used to discourage attempts by third parties to obtain control of Chemours through a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise by making such attempts more difficult or more costly. Our board of directors may be able to issue preferred stock with voting rights or conversion rights that, if exercised, could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock.
Limitations on Liability, Indemnification of Officers and Directors, and Insurance
The DGCL authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors fiduciary duties as directors, and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will include such an exculpation provision. Under the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws, each person who is or was one of our directors or officers shall be indemnified by us as of right to the full extent permitted by the DGCL.
Under the DGCL, to the extent that a person is successful on the merits in defense of a suit or proceeding brought against him because he is or was one of our directors or officers, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action. If unsuccessful in defense of a third-party civil suit or a criminal suit, or if such a suit is settled, that person shall be indemnified against both (i) expenses, including attorneys fees, and (ii) judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests and, with respect to any criminal action, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. If unsuccessful in defense of a suit brought by or in our right, or if such suit is settled, that person shall be indemnified only against expenses, including attorneys fees, incurred in the defense or settlement of the suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, except that if he is adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to us, he cannot be made whole even for expenses unless the court determines that he is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses.
Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws, the right to indemnification includes the right to be paid by us the expenses incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding in advance of its final disposition, subject to the receipt by us of undertakings as may be legally defined. In any action by an indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or by us to recover advances made, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified is placed on us.
We maintain liability insurance for our directors and officers to provide protection where we cannot legally indemnify a director or officer and where a claim arises under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 against a director or officer based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty or other wrongful act and directors and officers liability insurance for our directors and officers.
176
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions that will be in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit Chemours and our stockholders. However, these provisions will not limit or eliminate our rights, or those of any stockholder, to seek non-monetary relief such as injunction or rescission in the event of a breach of a directors duty of care. The provisions will not alter the liability of directors under the federal securities laws. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent that, in a class action or direct suit, we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. There is currently no pending material litigation or proceeding against any of our directors, officers or employees for which indemnification is sought.
Exclusive Forum
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that unless the board of directors otherwise determines, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of us, any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors or officers to us or our stockholders, creditors or other constituents, any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors or officers arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or by-laws, or any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors or officers governed by the internal affairs doctrine under Delaware state corporate law. However, if (and only if) the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, the action may be brought in another court sitting in the State of Delaware.
Sale of Unregistered Securities
On [], 2015, we issued [] shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, to DuPont pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. We did not register the issuance of the issued shares under the Securities Act because such issuance did not constitute a public offering.
Additionally, in connection with the financing arrangements, the terms of which are more fully described under Financing Arrangements and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Liquidity & Capital Resources, on May 12, 2015, we issued approximately $2,503 million aggregate principal of senior unsecured notes in a private placement pursuant to the exemptions from registration provided by Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933. The principal underwriters with regard to the senior unsecured notes were Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and J.P. Morgan Securities plc.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
After the distribution, the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock will be [].
Listing
We intend to list our common stock on the NYSE under the symbol CC.
177
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement on Form 10 with the SEC with respect to the shares of our common stock being distributed as contemplated by this information statement. This information statement is a part of, and does not contain all of the information set forth in, the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and our common stock, please refer to the registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules. Statements made in this information statement relating to any contract or other document are not necessarily complete, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract or document. You may review a copy of the registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules, at the SECs public reference room, located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 as well as on the Internet website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Information contained on any website referenced in this information statement is not incorporated by reference in this information statement.
As a result of the distribution, we will become subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance with the Exchange Act, we will file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC, which will be available on the Internet website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.
We intend to furnish holders of our common stock with annual reports containing consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and audited and reported on, with an opinion expressed, by an independent registered public accounting firm.
You should rely only on the information contained in this information statement or to which we have referred you. We have not authorized any person to provide you with different information or to make any representation not contained in this information statement.
178
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Table of Contents
F-2 | ||||
F-3 | ||||
F-4 | ||||
Combined Statements of Changes in DuPont Company Net Investment |
F-5 | |||
F-6 | ||||
F-7 |
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company:
In our opinion, the accompanying combined balance sheets and the related combined statements of income, changes in DuPont company net investment and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Chemours Company at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014 , in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
April 21, 2015
F-2
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
(Dollars in millions)
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 6,432 | $ | 6,859 | $ | 7,365 | ||||||
Cost of goods sold |
5,072 | 5,395 | 5,014 | |||||||||
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Gross profit |
1,360 | 1,464 | 2,351 | |||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expense |
685 | 768 | 747 | |||||||||
Research and development expense |
143 | 164 | 145 | |||||||||
Employee separation/asset related charges, net |
21 | 2 | 36 | |||||||||
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Total expenses |
849 | 934 | 928 | |||||||||
Equity in earnings of affiliates |
20 | 22 | 25 | |||||||||
Other income, net |
19 | 24 | 37 | |||||||||
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Income before income taxes |
550 | 576 | 1,485 | |||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
149 | 152 | 427 | |||||||||
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Net income |
401 | 424 | 1,058 | |||||||||
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Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
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Net income attributable to Chemours |
$ | 400 | $ | 423 | $ | 1,057 | ||||||
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See accompanying Notes to the Combined Financial Statements.
F-3
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
(Dollars in millions)
December 31, | ||||||||||||
2014 Unaudited Pro Forma (Note 1) |
2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
Assets |
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Current assets: |
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Accounts and notes receivable trade, net |
846 | 846 | 841 | |||||||||
Inventories |
1,052 | 1,052 | 1,055 | |||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other |
43 | 43 | 40 | |||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
21 | 21 | 44 | |||||||||
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Total current assets |
1,962 | 1,962 | 1,980 | |||||||||
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Property, plant and equipment |
9,282 | 9,282 | 8,821 | |||||||||
Less accumulated depreciation |
(5,974 | ) | (5,974 | ) | (5,849 | ) | ||||||
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Net property, plant and equipment |
3,308 | 3,308 | 2,972 | |||||||||
Goodwill |
198 | 198 | 198 | |||||||||
Other intangibles, net |
11 | 11 | 17 | |||||||||
Investments in affiliates |
124 | 124 | 123 | |||||||||
Other assets |
375 | 375 | 331 | |||||||||
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Total assets |
$ | 5,978 | $ | 5,978 | $ | 5,621 | ||||||
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Liabilities and DuPont Company Net Investment |
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Current liabilities: |
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Accounts payable |
$ | 1,046 | $ | 1,046 | $ | 1,057 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
9 | 9 | 9 | |||||||||
Other accrued liabilities |
352 | 352 | 405 | |||||||||
Dividend payable to DuPont |
3,923 | | | |||||||||
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Total current liabilities |
5,330 | 1,407 | 1,471 | |||||||||
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Other liabilities |
464 | 464 | 456 | |||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
434 | 434 | 477 | |||||||||
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Total liabilities |
6,228 | 2,305 | 2,404 | |||||||||
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Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 17) |
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DuPont Company Net Investment: |
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DuPont Company Net Investment |
(273 | ) | 3,650 | 3,195 | ||||||||
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Accumulated other comprehensive income |
19 | 19 | 19 | |||||||||
Total DuPont Company Net Investment |
(254 | ) | 3,669 | 3,214 | ||||||||
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Noncontrolling interests |
4 | 4 | 3 | |||||||||
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Total DuPont Company Net Investment and noncontrolling interests |
(250 | ) | 3,673 | 3,217 | ||||||||
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Total liabilities, DuPont Company Net |
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Investment and noncontrolling interests |
$ | 5,978 | $ | 5,978 | $ | 5,621 | ||||||
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See accompanying Notes to the Combined Financial Statements.
F-4
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Combined Statements of Changes in DuPont Company Net Investment
Years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012
(Dollars in millions)
DuPont Company Net Investment |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
Non- controlling interests |
Total | |||||||||||||
Balance at January 1, 2012 |
$ | 3,048 | $ | 19 | $ | 2 | $ | 3,069 | ||||||||
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Net income |
1,057 | | 1 | 1,058 | ||||||||||||
Net transfers to DuPont |
(959 | ) | | (1 | ) | (960 | ) | |||||||||
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Balance at December 31, 2012 |
$ | 3,146 | $ | 19 | $ | 2 | $ | 3,167 | ||||||||
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Net income |
423 | | 1 | 424 | ||||||||||||
Net transfers to DuPont |
(374 | ) | | | (374 | ) | ||||||||||
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Balance at December 31, 2013 |
$ | 3,195 | $ | 19 | $ | 3 | $ | 3,217 | ||||||||
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Net income |
400 | | 1 | 401 | ||||||||||||
Net transfers to DuPont |
55 | | | 55 | ||||||||||||
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Balance at December 31, 2014 |
$ | 3,650 | $ | 19 | $ | 4 | $ | 3,673 | ||||||||
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See accompanying Notes to the Combined Financial Statements.
F-5
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Combined Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in millions)
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
Operating activities: |
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Net income |
$ | 401 | $ | 424 | $ | 1,058 | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operations |
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Depreciation and amortization |
257 | 261 | 266 | |||||||||
Other operating charges and credits net |
18 | 13 | 47 | |||||||||
Gain on sales of assets and businesses |
(40 | ) | (7 | ) | | |||||||
Equity in losses (earnings) of affiliates, net of dividends received of $19, $19 and $31. |
1 | (1 | ) | 6 | ||||||||
Deferred tax (benefit) expense |
(22 | ) | (14 | ) | 15 | |||||||
(Increase) decrease in operating assets: |
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Accounts and notes receivable trade, net |
4 | (37 | ) | 137 | ||||||||
Inventories and other operating assets |
(29 | ) | (75 | ) | (94 | ) | ||||||
(Decrease) increase in operating liabilities: |
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Accounts payable and other operating liabilities |
(85 | ) | 234 | (45 | ) | |||||||
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Cash provided by operating activities |
505 | 798 | 1,390 | |||||||||
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Investing activities: |
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Purchases of property, plant and equipment |
(604 | ) | (438 | ) | (432 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from sales of assets and businesses net |
32 | 14 | 3 | |||||||||
Investment in affiliates |
(8 | ) | | | ||||||||
Other investing activites |
20 | | | |||||||||
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Cash used for investing activities |
(560 | ) | (424 | ) | (429 | ) | ||||||
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Financing activities: |
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Payments on long-term capital lease obligations |
| | (1 | ) | ||||||||
Net transfers from (to) DuPont |
55 | (374 | ) | (960 | ) | |||||||
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Cash provided by (used for) financing activities |
55 | (374 | ) | (961 | ) | |||||||
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Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
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Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
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Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||
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SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF SIGNIFICANT NON-CASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES: |
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Change in property, plant and equipment included in accounts payable |
$ | (11 | ) | $ | | $ | |
See accompanying Notes to the Combined Financial Statements.
F-6
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Note 1: Description of the Business
The accompanying Combined Financial Statements present, on a historical cost basis, the combined assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses related to The Chemours Company (Chemours) a wholly owned subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont). Chemours did not operate as a separate, stand-alone entity and comprises certain DuPont wholly owned legal entities for which Chemours is the sole business, components of legal entities in which Chemours operates in conjunction with other DuPont businesses, and a majority owned joint venture. Historically, Chemours operated as a part of DuPont, and Chemours results of operations have been reported in DuPonts consolidated financial statements.
Chemours delivers customized solutions with a wide range of industrial and specialty chemical products for markets including plastics and coatings, refrigeration and air conditioning, general industrial, mining and oil refining. Principal products include titanium dioxide, refrigerants, industrial fluoropolymer resins, sodium cyanide, sulfuric acid and aniline. Chemours consists of three reportable segments including Titanium Technologies, Fluoroproducts and Chemical Solutions.
Chemours is globally operated with manufacturing facilities, sales centers, administrative offices, and warehouses located throughout the world. Chemours operations are primarily located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the Netherlands, Belgium, China, Taiwan, Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, the United Kingdom, France and Sweden. As of December 31, 2014, Chemours consisted of 40 production facilities globally, six dedicated to Titanium Technologies, 20 dedicated to Fluoroproducts, 12 dedicated to Chemical Solutions and two that supported multiple Chemours segments. At three of these sites, currently shared with other DuPont businesses, DuPont will continue its own manufacturing operations after separation, as well as contract manufacture for Chemours for the products currently produced by the Fluoroproducts segment at these sites.
Note 2: Basis of Presentation
Throughout the period covered by the Combined Financial Statements, Chemours operated as a part of DuPont. Consequently, stand-alone financial statements have not been historically prepared for Chemours. The accompanying Combined Financial Statements have been prepared from DuPonts historical accounting records and are presented on a stand-alone basis as if the operations had been conducted independently from DuPont. The operations comprising Chemours are in various legal entities which have no direct ownership relationship. The entity conducting operations for Chemours in Japan is a dual resident for U.S. income tax purposes. Accordingly, DuPont and its subsidiaries net investment in these operations is shown in lieu of Stockholders Equity in the Combined Financial Statements. The Combined Financial Statements include the historical operations, assets, and liabilities of the legal entities that are considered to comprise the Chemours business, including certain environmental remediation and litigation obligations for which Chemours will indemnify DuPont.
Discrete financial information was not available for Chemours within certain legal entities that include the operations of Chemours and other DuPont businesses (shared entities), as DuPont does not record every transaction at the Chemours level, but rather at the legal entity level. Chemours also comprises certain stand-alone legal entities for which discrete financial information is available. For the shared entities for which discrete financial information was not available, allocation methodologies were applied to certain accounts to allocate amounts to Chemours as discussed further in Note 4.
F-7
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
The Combined Income Statements include all revenues and costs directly attributable to Chemours, including costs for facilities, functions, and services used by Chemours. Costs for certain functions and services performed by centralized DuPont organizations are directly charged to Chemours based on usage or other allocation methods. The results of operations also include allocations of (i) costs for administrative functions and services performed on behalf of Chemours by centralized staff groups within DuPont; (ii) DuPonts general corporate expenses; and (iii) certain pension and other retirement benefit costs (see Note 4 for a description of the allocation methodologies employed). As more fully described in Note 3 and Note 8, current and deferred income taxes and related tax expense have been determined based on the stand-alone results of Chemours by applying Accounting Standards Codification 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740), issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), to Chemours operations in each country as if it were a separate taxpayer (i.e. following the separate return methodology).
All charges and allocations of cost for facilities, functions, and services performed by DuPont organizations have been deemed paid by Chemours to DuPont in the period in which the cost was recorded in the Combined Income Statements. Chemours portion of current income taxes payable is deemed to have been remitted to DuPont in the period the related tax expense was recorded. Chemours portion of current income taxes receivable is deemed to have been remitted to Chemours by DuPont in the period to which the receivable applies only to the extent that a refund of such taxes could have been recognized by Chemours on a stand-alone basis under the law of the relevant taxing jurisdiction.
DuPont uses a centralized approach to cash management and financing its operations. Accordingly cash, cash equivalents, debt, or related interest expense have not been allocated to Chemours in the Combined Financial Statements. Transactions between DuPont and Chemours are accounted for through DuPont Company Net Investment (see Note 4 for additional information). Chemours purchased materials and services from, and sold materials and services to other businesses of DuPont. Transactions between DuPont and Chemours are deemed to have been settled immediately through DuPont Company Net Investment. DuPonts short and long-term debt has not been pushed down to the Chemours Combined Financial Statements because it is not specifically identifiable to Chemours.
All of the allocations and estimates in the Combined Financial Statements are based on assumptions that management of DuPont and Chemours believes are reasonable. However, the Combined Financial Statements included herein may not be indicative of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of Chemours in the future or if Chemours had been a separate, stand-alone entity during the periods presented.
Actual costs that would have been incurred if Chemours had been a stand-alone company would depend on multiple factors, including organizational structure and strategic decisions made in various areas, such as the division of shared services in human resources, corporate stewardship, legal, finance, sourcing, information systems and marketing, among others.
Note 3: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
These Combined Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP). The significant accounting policies described below, together with the other notes that follow, are an integral part of the Combined Financial Statements.
F-8
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Preparation of Financial Statements
The preparation of the Combined Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Combined Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses, including allocations of costs as discussed above, during the reporting period. Managements estimates are based on historical experience, facts and circumstances available at the time and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Basis of Combination
All significant intercompany accounts and transactions within Chemours have been eliminated in the preparation of the accompanying Combined Financial Statements. All significant intercompany transactions with DuPont are deemed to have been paid in the period the cost was incurred.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized when the earnings process is complete. Revenue for product sales is recognized when products are shipped to the customer in accordance with the terms of the agreement, when title and risk of loss have been transferred, collectability is reasonably assured and pricing is fixed or determinable. Accruals are made for sales returns and other allowances based on historical experience. Cash sales incentives are accounted for as a reduction in sales and noncash sales incentives are recorded as a charge to cost of goods sold at the time the revenue or selling expense, depending on the nature of the incentive, is recorded. Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling fees are included in net sales and costs incurred by Chemours for the delivery of goods are classified as cost of goods sold in the Combined Income Statements. Taxes on revenue-producing transactions are excluded from net sales. Licensing and royalty income is recognized in accordance with agreed upon terms, when performance obligations are satisfied, the amount is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Chemours participates in DuPonts centralized cash management and financing programs (see Note 4 for additional information).
Fair Value Measurements
Under the accounting for fair value measurements and disclosures, a fair value hierarchy was established that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). A financial instruments level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
Chemours uses the following valuation techniques to measure fair value for its assets and liabilities:
(a) | Level 1 Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; |
(b) | Level 2 Significant other observable inputs (e.g. quoted prices for similar items in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar items in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable, such as interest rate and yield curves, and market-corroborated inputs); and |
F-9
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
(c) | Level 3 Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are valued based on managements estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. |
Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Receivables are recognized net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts reflects the best estimate of losses inherent in Chemours accounts receivable portfolio determined on the basis of historical experience, specific allowances for known troubled accounts and other available evidence. Accounts receivable are written off when management determines that they are uncollectible.
Inventories
Chemours inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Inventories held at substantially all U.S. locations are valued using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. Inventories held outside the U.S. are determined by the average cost method. Elements of cost in inventories include raw materials, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead. Stores and supplies are valued at cost or market, whichever is lower; cost is generally determined by the average cost method. Approximately 52% and 53% of inventory is on a LIFO basis as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The remainder is accounted for using the average cost method.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment is carried at cost and is depreciated using the straight-line method. Property, plant and equipment placed in service prior to 1995 is depreciated under the sum-of-the-years digits method or other substantially similar methods. Substantially all equipment and buildings are depreciated over useful lives ranging from 15 to 25 years. Capitalizable costs associated with computer software for internal use are amortized on a straight-line basis over five to seven years. When assets are surrendered, retired, sold or otherwise disposed of, their gross carrying values and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the balance sheet and included in determining gain or loss on such disposals.
Repair and maintenance costs that materially add to the value of the asset or prolong its useful life are capitalized and depreciated based on the extension to the useful life. Capitalized repair and maintenance costs are recorded on the Combined Balance Sheets in other assets.
Direct Financing Type Leases
Certain of Chemours facilities are located on land owned by third parties. The plant and equipment built on this land is constructed by, owned, and operated by Chemours for the exclusive benefit of the third party landlord. The useful lives of the equipment are generally shorter than the lease term, or there exists a purchase option for the third party to acquire the equipment at the end of the lease term. Based on an analysis of the underlying agreements, management has determined that these agreements and property represent a direct financing type lease, whereby Chemours is the lessor of its equipment to the third party landlords. As such, the related plant and equipment are reported as leases receivable. The current portion is included in accounts and notes receivable trade, net (see Note 9) and the non-current portion is included in other assets (see Note 13). The equipment balances have zero net book value within property, plant and equipment.
F-10
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired, including identified intangibles, is recorded as goodwill. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually on October 1; however, these tests are performed more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset may be impaired. Impairment exists when carrying value exceeds fair value. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is the level of our operating segments.
Evaluating goodwill for impairment is a two-step process. In the first step, Chemours compares the carrying value of net assets to the fair value of the related operations. Chemours methodology for estimating the fair value of its reporting units is using the income approach based on the present value of future cash flows. The factors considered in determining the cash flows include: 1) macroeconomic conditions; 2) industry and market considerations; 3) costs of raw materials, labor or other costs having a negative effect on earnings and cash flows; 4) overall financial performance; and 5) other relevant entity-specific events. If the fair value is determined to be less than the carrying value, a second step is performed to compute the amount of the impairment.
Definite-lived intangible assets, such as purchased and licensed technology, patents, trademarks, and customer lists are amortized over their estimated useful lives, generally for periods ranging from five to 20 years. The reasonableness of the useful lives of these assets is continually evaluated.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Chemours evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets to be held and used when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. For purposes of recognition and measurement of an impairment loss, the assessment is performed at the lowest level for which independent cash flows can be identified, which varies, but can range from the reporting unit level to the individual plant level. To determine the level at which the assessment is performed, Chemours considers factors such as revenue dependency, shared costs and the extent of vertical integration.
The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the total projected undiscounted cash flows from the asset are separately identifiable and are less than its carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset. The fair value methodology used is an estimate of fair market value which is made based on prices of similar assets or other valuation methodologies including present value techniques. Long-lived assets to be disposed of other than by sale are classified as held for use until their disposal. Long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale are classified as held for sale and are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair market value less cost to sell. Depreciation is discontinued for long-lived assets classified as held for sale.
Research and Development
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses include costs (primarily consisting of employee costs, materials, contract services, research agreements, and other external spend) relating to the discovery and development of new products, enhancement of existing products and regulatory approval of new and existing products.
F-11
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures
Environmental liabilities and expenditures included in the Combined Financial Statements represent claims for matters that will be indemnified by Chemours after the separation. Accruals for environmental matters are recorded in cost of goods sold when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Accrued liabilities do not include claims against third parties and are not discounted.
Costs related to environmental remediation are charged to expense in the period incurred. Other environmental costs are also charged to expense in the period incurred, unless they increase the value of the property or reduce or prevent contamination from future operations, in which case they are capitalized and amortized.
Asset Retirement Obligations
Chemours records asset retirement obligations at fair value at the time the liability is incurred. Fair value is measured using expected future cash outflows discounted at Chemours credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate, which are considered level 3 inputs. Accretion expense is recognized as an operating expense classified within cost of goods sold on the Combined Income Statements using the credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate in effect when the liability was recognized. The associated asset retirement obligations are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset and depreciated over the estimated remaining useful life of the asset, generally for periods ranging from one to 25 years.
Litigation
Litigation liabilities and expenditures included in the Combined Financial Statements represent litigation matters for which Chemours will indemnify DuPont. Accruals for litigation are made when the information available indicates that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Legal costs such as outside counsel fees and expenses are charged to expense in the period services are received.
Insurance/Self-Insurance
Chemours incurred $10, $8 and $7 of cost related to DuPonts general insured risks for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Chemours is a participant in DuPonts self-insurance program where permitted by law or regulation, including workers compensation, vehicle liability and employee related benefits. Liabilities associated with these risks are estimated in part by considering historical claims experience, demographic factors, and other actuarial assumptions. For other risks, a combination of insurance and self-insurance is used, reflecting comprehensive reviews of relevant risks. The annual cost is allocated to all of the participating businesses using methodologies deemed reasonable by management. All obligations pursuant to these plans have historically been obligations of DuPont. As such, these obligations are not included in the Combined Balance Sheets, with the exception of self-insurance liabilities related to workers compensation, vehicle liability and employee related benefits.
Income Taxes
Income taxes as presented herein attribute current and deferred income taxes of DuPont to Chemours stand-alone financial statements in a manner that is systematic, rational, and consistent with the asset and liability
F-12
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
method prescribed by ASC 740. Accordingly, Chemours income tax provision was prepared following the separate return method. The separate return method applies ASC 740 to the stand-alone financial statements of each member of the consolidated group as if the group member were a separate taxpayer and a stand-alone enterprise. As a result, actual tax transactions included in the consolidated financial statements of DuPont may not be included in the separate Combined Financial Statements of Chemours. Similarly, the tax treatment of certain items reflected in the separate Combined Financial Statements of Chemours may not be reflected in the consolidated financial statements and tax returns of DuPont; therefore, such items as net operating losses, credit carryforwards, and valuation allowances may exist in the stand-alone financial statements that may or may not exist in DuPonts consolidated financial statements.
The breadth of Chemours operations and the global complexity of tax regulations require assessments of uncertainties and judgments in estimating the taxes that Chemours will ultimately pay. The final taxes paid are dependent upon many factors, including negotiations with taxing authorities in various jurisdictions, outcomes of tax litigation and resolution of disputes arising from federal, state and international tax audits in the normal course of business.
The provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes. Under this approach, deferred taxes represent the future tax consequences expected to occur when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid. The provision for income taxes represents income taxes paid or payable for the current year plus the change in deferred taxes during the year. Deferred taxes result from differences between the financial and tax basis of Chemours assets and liabilities and are adjusted for changes in tax rates and tax laws when changes are enacted. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. It is Chemours policy to include accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in miscellaneous income and expenses, net, under other income, net. It is Chemours policy to include income tax related penalties in the provision for income taxes.
In general, the taxable income (loss) of various Chemours entities was included in DuPonts consolidated tax returns, where applicable, in jurisdictions around the world. As such, separate income tax returns were not prepared for many Chemours entities. Consequently, income taxes currently payable are deemed to have been remitted to DuPont, in cash, in the period the liability arose and income taxes currently receivable are deemed to have been received from DuPont in the period that a refund could have been recognized by Chemours had Chemours been a separate taxpayer.
As stated above in Note 2, the operations comprising Chemours are in various legal entities which have no direct ownership relationship. Consequently, no provision has been made for income taxes on unremitted earnings of subsidiaries and affiliates.
Foreign Currency Translation
DuPont identifies its separate and distinct foreign entities and groups them into two categories: 1) extension of the parent (U.S. dollar (USD)) functional currency) and 2) self-contained (local functional currency). If a foreign entity does not align with either category, factors are evaluated and a judgment is made to determine the functional currency. DuPont changes the functional currency of its separate and distinct foreign entities only when significant changes in economic facts and circumstances indicate clearly that the functional currency has changed.
F-13
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
During the periods covered by these financial statements, the Chemours business operated within foreign entities. For foreign entities where USD is the functional currency, all foreign currency-denominated asset and liability amounts are remeasured into USD at end-of-period exchange rates, except for inventories, prepaid expenses, property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets, which are remeasured at historical rates. Foreign currency-denominated income and expenses are remeasured at average exchange rates in effect during the year, except for expenses related to balance sheet amounts remeasured at historical exchange rates. Exchange gains and losses arising from remeasurement of foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities are included in income in the period in which they occur.
For foreign entities where the local currency is the functional currency, assets and liabilities denominated in local currencies are translated into USD at end-of-period exchange rates and the resulting translation adjustments are reported, net of their related tax effects, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in equity. Assets and liabilities denominated in other than the functional currency are remeasured into the functional currency prior to translation into USD and the resultant exchange gains or losses are included in income in the period in which they occur. Income and expenses are translated into USD at average exchange rates in effect during the period.
Commencing in 2015, when the Performance Chemicals operations are legally and operationally separated within DuPont in anticipation of the spin, some of the resulting newly created Chemours foreign entities will have their local currency as the functional currency. The company changes the functional currency of its separate and distinct foreign entities only when significant changes in economic facts and circumstances indicate clearly that the functional currency has changed.
DuPont Company Net Investment
Chemours equity on the Combined Balance Sheets represents DuPonts net investment in the Chemours business and is presented as DuPont Company Net Investment in lieu of stockholders equity. The Statements of Changes in DuPont Company Net Investment include net cash transfers and other property transfers between DuPont and Chemours as well as intercompany receivables and payables between Chemours and other DuPont affiliates that were settled on a current basis.
DuPont performs cash management and other treasury-related functions on a centralized basis for nearly all of its legal entities, which includes Chemours. DuPont Company Net Investment account includes assets and liabilities incurred by DuPont on behalf of Chemours such as accrued liabilities related to corporate allocations including administrative expenses for legal, accounting, treasury, information technology, human resources and other services. Other assets and liabilities recorded by DuPont, whose related income and expenses have been pushed down to Chemours, are also included in DuPont Company Net Investment.
All transactions reflected in DuPont Company Net Investment in the accompanying Combined Balance Sheets have been considered cash receipts and payments for purposes of the Combined Statements of Cash Flows and are reflected in financing activities in the accompanying Combined Statements of Cash Flows.
Earnings per share data has not been presented in the accompanying Combined Financial Statements because Chemours does not operate as a separate legal entity with its own capital structure.
F-14
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Employee Benefits
Certain of Chemours employees participate in defined benefit pension and other post-employment benefit plans (the Plans) sponsored by DuPont and accounted for by DuPont in accordance with accounting guidance for defined benefit pension and other post-employment benefit plans. Significantly all expense was allocated in shared entities and reported within costs of goods sold, selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses in the Combined Income Statements. Chemours has considered the Plans to be part of a multiemployer plan with DuPont. The expense related to the current employees of Chemours as well as the expense related to retirees of Chemours are included in these Combined Financial Statements (see Note 18 for further information).
Derivatives
Chemours participates in DuPonts foreign currency hedging program to reduce earnings and cash flow volatility associated with foreign currency exchange rate changes.
DuPont formally documents the hedge relationships, including identification of the hedging instruments and the hedged items, the risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transactions, and the methodologies used to assess effectiveness and measure ineffectiveness. Realized gains and losses on derivative instruments of DuPont are allocated by DuPont to Chemours based on projected exposure. Chemours recognizes its allocable share of the gains and losses on DuPonts derivative financial instruments in earnings when the forecasted sales occur for foreign currency hedges. The foreign currency hedges qualify as cash flow hedges, and the realized gains recognized in earnings were $4, $0 and $6 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
DuPont does not hold any derivative instruments specifically for the benefit of Chemours operations during the periods presented and no derivative instruments of DuPont will be attributable to Chemours after the separation. Chemours does not hold or issue financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes.
Unaudited Pro Forma Balance Sheet
On May 12, 2015, Chemours distributed a dividend of $3,923 to DuPont. The dividend consists of $3,416 in cash and a distribution in kind of 2025 Notes (as defined on Page F-38) with an aggregate principal amount of $507. The accompanying Unaudited Pro Forma Balance Sheet gives effect to the $3,923 dividend.
New Accounting Guidance
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2015-03, Interest Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30), which requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the debt, consistent with debt discounts. The ASU is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. Chemours intends to adopt this guidance for the quarter ending June 30, 2015. The adoption of this standard will have no impact on Chemours results of operations or cash flows. Due to the accounting change described above, Chemours will record these costs as a reduction of the liability on the balance sheet.
F-15
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02 Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. The amendments under the new guidance modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (VIEs) or voting interest entities and eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership. The ASU is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. A reporting entity also may apply the amendments retrospectively. Chemours is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on its financial position and results of operations.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. Chemours is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on the Combined Financial Statements. Chemours has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.
In April 2014, the FASB issued authoritative guidance, ASU No. 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, amending existing requirements for reporting discontinued operations. Under the new guidance, discontinued operations reporting will be limited to disposal transactions that represent strategic shifts having a major effect on operations and financial results. The amended guidance also enhances disclosures and requires assets and liabilities of a discontinued operation to be classified as such for all periods presented in the financial statements. Public entities will apply the amended guidance prospectively to all disposals occurring within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014 and interim periods within those years. Chemours will adopt this standard on January 1, 2015. Due to the change in requirements for reporting discontinued operations described above, presentation and disclosures of future disposal transactions after adoption may be different than under current standards.
Note 4: Relationship with DuPont and Related Entities
Historically, Chemours has been managed and operated in the normal course of business with other affiliates of DuPont. Accordingly, certain shared costs have been allocated to Chemours and reflected as expenses in the stand-alone Combined Financial Statements. Management of DuPont and Chemours consider the allocation methodologies used to be reasonable and appropriate reflections of the historical DuPont expenses attributable to Chemours for purposes of the stand-alone financial statements. The expenses reflected in the Combined Financial Statements may not be indicative of expenses that will be incurred by Chemours in the future. All related party transactions approximate market prices.
(a) Related Party Purchases and Sales
Throughout the period covered by the Combined Financial Statements, Chemours sold finished goods to DuPont.
F-16
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Related party sales to other DuPont businesses include the following amounts:
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
Selling Segment |
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Titanium Technologies |
$ | | $ | 6 | $ | 68 | ||||||
Fluoroproducts |
45 | 37 | 31 | |||||||||
Chemical Solutions |
65 | 78 | 67 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
$ | 110 | $ | 121 | $ | 166 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales to DuPonts Performance Coatings business decreased significantly in 2013, as DuPont sold the business in February of 2013. Upon the date of the sale, transactions with DuPont Performance Coatings were no longer accounted for as related party transactions.
Chemours purchased byproducts from other DuPont businesses in the following amounts:
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
Purchasing Segment |
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
Titanium Technologies |
$ | 1 | $ | 1 | $ | 1 | ||||||
Chemical Solutions |
8 | 14 | 21 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
$ | 9 | $ | 15 | $ | 22 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(b) Leveraged Services and Corporate Costs
DuPont incurs significant corporate costs for services provided to Chemours as well as other DuPont businesses. These costs include expenses for information systems, accounting, other financial services such as treasury and audit, purchasing, human resources, legal, facilities, engineering, corporate research and development, corporate stewardship, marketing and business analysis support.
A portion of these costs benefit multiple or all DuPont businesses, including Chemours, and are allocated to Chemours and its reportable segments using methods based on proportionate formulas involving total costs or other various allocation methods that management believes are consistent and reasonable. Other Chemours corporate costs are not allocated to the reportable segments and are reported in Corporate and Other.
The allocated leveraged functional service expenses and general corporate expenses included in the Combined Income Statements were $492, $519 and $500 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Allocated leveraged functional service expenses and general corporate expenses were recorded in the Combined Income Statements within the following captions:
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expense |
$ | 411 | $ | 436 | $ | 412 | ||||||
Research and development expense |
49 | 50 | 50 | |||||||||
Cost of goods sold |
32 | 33 | 38 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total |
$ | 492 | $ | 519 | $ | 500 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-17
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
(c) Shared Sites
Chemours has manufacturing operations at 40 production facilities globally. Chemours shares 14 of these production facilities with DuPonts other non-Chemours manufacturing operations. Additionally, Chemours shares warehouse, sales centers, office space, and research and development facilities with other DuPont businesses. The property, plant and equipment primarily or exclusively used by Chemours for these shared locations are included in the Combined Balance Sheets.
The full historical cost, accumulated depreciation and depreciation expense for assets at shared manufacturing plant sites and other facilities where Chemours is the primary or exclusive user of the assets have been included in the Combined Balance Sheets and Combined Income Statements. Accordingly, when the use of a Chemours primary asset has been shared with another DuPont business (manufacturing or otherwise), the cost for the non-Chemours usage has been deemed to have been charged to DuPonts non-Chemours business. The amounts are credited primarily to cost of goods sold in the Combined Income Statements and were $17, $12 and $13 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
At shared manufacturing plant sites and other facilities where Chemours is not the primary or exclusive user of the assets; the shared assets have been excluded from the Combined Balance Sheets. Accordingly, where Chemours has used these shared assets, a charge to cost of goods sold has been recorded for its usage of these shared assets. The amounts are charged primarily to cost of goods sold in the Combined Income Statements and were $4, $3 and $3 the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
(d) Cash Management and Financing
Chemours participates in DuPonts centralized cash management and financing programs. Disbursements are made through centralized accounts payable systems which are operated by DuPont. Cash receipts are transferred to centralized accounts, also maintained by DuPont. As cash is disbursed and received by DuPont, it is accounted for by Chemours through DuPont Company Net Investment. All short and long-term debt is financed by DuPont and financing decisions for wholly and majority owned subsidiaries is determined by central DuPont treasury operations.
(e) Accounts Receivable and Payable
Receivables and payables between Chemours and DuPont and its non-Chemours businesses are settled on a current basis and have been accounted for through the DuPont Company Net Investment account in the Combined Financial Statements.
Note 5: Research and Development Expense
Research and development expense directly incurred by Chemours resources was $94, $114 and $95 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Research and development expense also includes $49, $50 and $50 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, representing an assignment of costs associated primarily with DuPonts Corporate Central Research and Development long-term research activities. This assignment was based on the cost of research projects for which Chemours was determined to be the sponsor or co-sponsor. All research services provided by DuPonts central research and development to Chemours are specifically requested by Chemours, covered by service-level agreements and billed based on usage.
F-18
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Note 6: Employee Separation/Asset Related Charges, Net
2014 Restructuring Program
During 2014, Chemours implemented a restructuring plan to increase productivity and recorded a pre-tax charge of $19 in employee separation / asset related charges, net in the Combined Statements of Income related to this initiative. The charge consisted of $16 related to employee separation costs and $3 for asset shut-down costs. The actions associated with this charge and all related payments are expected to be substantially complete by December 31, 2015.
The year-to-date 2014 charge impacted segment earnings as follows:
Titanium Technologies |
$ | 3 | ||
Fluoroproducts |
16 | |||
|
|
|||
$ | 19 | |||
|
|
Account balances and activity for the 2014 restructuring program are summarized below:
Employee Separation Costs |
Asset Shut Down Costs |
Total | ||||||||||
Charges to income for the year ending December 31, 2014 |
$ | 16 | $ | 3 | $ | 19 | ||||||
Charges to accounts: |
||||||||||||
Payments |
(2 | ) | | (2 | ) | |||||||
Net translation adjustment |
(2 | ) | | (2 | ) | |||||||
Asset write-offs and adjustments |
| (3 | ) | (3 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2014 |
$ | 12 | $ | | $ | 12 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asset Impairment
During 2012, as a result of strategic decisions related to deteriorating conditions within a specific industrial chemicals market, Chemours determined that an impairment triggering event had occurred and that an assessment of the asset group related to this industrial chemical was warranted. This assessment determined that the carrying value of the asset group exceeded its fair value. As a result of the impairment test, a $33 pre-tax impairment charge was recorded within employee separation/asset related charges, net by the Chemical Solutions segment. In calculating the impairment charge, fair value was determined by utilizing a discounted cash flow approach which included assumptions concerning future operating performance and economic conditions that may differ from actual cash flows. In connection with this matter, as of December 31, 2012, Chemours had long-lived assets with a remaining net book value of approximately $6, accounted for at fair value on a nonrecurring basis after initial recognition. These nonrecurring fair value measurements were determined using level 3 inputs within the fair value hierarchy, as described in Note 3 to the Combined Financial Statements.
F-19
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Note 7: Other Income, Net
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
Leasing, contract services and miscellaneous income1 |
$ | 17 | $ | 24 | $ | 18 | ||||||
Royalty income2 |
28 | 24 | 24 | |||||||||
Gain on purchase of equity investment3 |
| 7 | | |||||||||
Gain on sales of assets and businesses4 |
40 | | | |||||||||
Exchange losses5 |
(66 | ) | (31 | ) | (5 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
$ | 19 | $ | 24 | $ | 37 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 | Leasing, contract services and miscellaneous income includes accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits. Refer to Note 8 for further discussion of unrecognized tax benefits. |
2 | Royalty income is primarily for technology and trademark licensing. |
3 | Gain on purchase of equity investment consists of a gain on the remeasurement of Chemours equity investment and a gain on the bargain purchase of the remainder of the DESCO C.V. joint venture for $4 and $3, respectively, recognized in the third quarter of 2013. Prior to purchasing the remaining interest in DESCO C.V. in the third quarter of 2013, Chemours accounted for the joint venture as an equity method investment. |
4 | Gain on sale of assets and businesses comprises $30 and $4 relating to gain on sale of businesses in the Fluoroproducts and Titanium Technologies segments, respectively, and the remaining $6 relating to gain on sale of assets. |
5 | Exchange losses primarily driven by the strengthening of the U.S. Dollar versus the Swiss Franc and the Euro in 2014, a strengthening of the U.S. Dollar versus the Venezuelan Bolivar and the Brazilian Real in 2013 and a strengthening of the U.S. Dollar versus the Brazilian Real in 2012. |
Note 8: Income Taxes
As previously discussed in Note 3, although Chemours was historically included in consolidated income tax returns of DuPont, Chemours income taxes are computed and reported herein under the separate return method. Use of the separate return method may result in differences when the sum of the amounts allocated to stand-alone tax provisions are compared with amounts presented in consolidated financial statements. In that event, the related deferred tax assets and liabilities could be significantly different from those presented herein. Certain tax attributes, e.g. net operating loss carryforwards, which were actually reflected in DuPonts consolidated financial statements may or may not exist at the stand-alone Chemours level.
Chemours Combined Financial Statements do not reflect any amounts due to DuPont for income tax related matters as it is assumed that all such amounts due DuPont were settled on December 31st of each year.
Combined income before income taxes for U.S. and international operations was:
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
U.S. (including exports) |
$ | 244 | $ | 224 | $ | 898 | ||||||
International |
306 | 352 | 587 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total pre-tax income |
$ | 550 | $ | 576 | $ | 1,485 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-20
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Income before taxes, as shown above, is based on the location of the entity to which such earnings are attributable.
The components of the provision for income taxes were:
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
Current tax expense: |
||||||||||||
U.S. federal |
$ | 85 | $ | 67 | $ | 256 | ||||||
U.S. state and local |
13 | 11 | 44 | |||||||||
International |
73 | 88 | 112 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total current tax expense |
171 | 166 | 412 | |||||||||
Deferred tax (benefit) expense: |
||||||||||||
U.S. federal |
(20 | ) | (4 | ) | 15 | |||||||
U.S. state and local |
(3 | ) | (2 | ) | 2 | |||||||
International |
1 | (8 | ) | (2 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total deferred tax (benefit) expense |
(22 | ) | (14 | ) | 15 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total provision for income taxes |
$ | 149 | $ | 152 | $ | 427 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
An analysis of Chemours effective income tax rate follows:
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
Statutory U.S. federal income tax rate |
35.0 | % | 35.0 | % | 35.0 | % | ||||||
State income taxes, net of federal benefit |
1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | |||||||||
Lower effective tax rate on international operations net |
(9.6 | ) | (10.2 | ) | (6.6 | ) | ||||||
Valuation allowance |
2.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | |||||||||
Exchange (gains) losses |
2.7 | 2.3 | 0.2 | |||||||||
Section 199 deduction |
(0.7 | ) | (0.8 | ) | (1.6 | ) | ||||||
Other, net |
(3.3 | ) | (2.1 | ) | (0.6 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total effective tax rate |
27.1 | % | 26.4 | % | 28.8 | % | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange (gains) losses principally reflect the impact of non-taxable gains and losses resulting from remeasurement of foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities. The lower effective tax rate on international operations is primarily driven by the Titanium Technologies segment. Titanium Technologies has five manufacturing facilities with three in the U.S., one in Taiwan and one in Mexico. The lower benefit related to international operations in 2012 vs. 2013 and 2014 was primarily driven by lower capacity utilization in Taiwan resulting in a larger percentage of income attributable to the U.S. The valuation allowance was increased by $10, $7 and $7 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, relating to assets for which Chemours determined it was more likely than not the assets would not be realized. In addition, Chemours is entitled to a domestic manufacturing deduction relating to income from certain qualifying domestic production activities pursuant to section 199 of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as a one-time tax benefit recognized in 2014 relating to a tax accounting method change. Consistent with the discussion in Note 2, the effective tax rate stated herein may not be indicative of the future effective tax rate of Chemours as a result of the separation from DuPont.
F-21
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
The significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
December 31, | ||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Deferred tax assets current: |
||||||||
Accounts receivable and other assets |
$ | 4 | $ | 5 | ||||
Other accrued liabilities |
46 | 64 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total deferred tax assets current |
$ | 50 | $ | 69 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Deferred tax assets noncurrent: |
||||||||
Other accrued liabilities |
138 | 134 | ||||||
Tax loss carryforwards |
36 | 26 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total deferred tax assets noncurrent |
$ | 174 | $ | 160 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Valuation allowance |
(36 | ) | (26 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total deferred tax assets, net |
$ | 188 | $ | 203 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Deferred tax liabilities current: |
||||||||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities |
(5 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||
Inventories and other current assets |
(33 | ) | (29 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total deferred tax liabilities current |
$ | (38 | ) | $ | (33 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Deferred tax liabilities noncurrent: |
||||||||
Goodwill and other intangibles |
(2 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities |
(28 | ) | (53 | ) | ||||
Property, plant and equipment1 |
(533 | ) | (547 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total deferred tax liabilities noncurrent |
$ | (563 | ) | $ | (602 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total deferred tax liabilities |
$ | (601 | ) | $ | (635 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net deferred tax liability |
$ | (413 | ) | $ | (432 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
1 | Chemours property, plant and equipment deferred tax liabilities at December 31, 2013 have been revised to correct an error identified during the preparation of the 2014 financial statements. The revision resulted in an increase in deferred tax liabilities of $62 with a corresponding reduction in the DuPont Company Net Investment at December 31, 2013. The error was not considered material to Chemours previously reported financial statements. |
Under the tax laws of various jurisdictions in which Chemours operates, deductions or credits that cannot be fully utilized for tax purposes during the current year may be carried forward or back, subject to statutory limitations, to reduce taxable income or taxes payable in future or prior years. At December 31, 2014, the tax effect of carryforwards was $0, after taking into consideration the valuation allowance. If certain substantial changes in the entitys ownership occur, there may be a limitation on the amount of the carryforwards that can be utilized.
As described above in Note 2, the Combined Financial Statements, the operations comprising Chemours are in various legal entities which have no direct ownership relationship. Consequently, no provision has been made for income taxes on unremitted earnings of subsidiaries and affiliates.
F-22
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Upon audit, taxing authorities may challenge all or part of an uncertain income tax position. While Chemours has no history of tax audits on a stand-alone basis, DuPont is routinely audited by U.S. federal, state and local, and non-U.S. taxing authorities. Accordingly, DuPont (and Chemours) regularly assesses the outcome of potential examinations in each of the taxing jurisdictions when determining the adequacy of the amount of unrecognized tax benefit recorded. The reserves are adjusted, from time to time, based upon changing facts and circumstances, such as the progress of a tax audit. It is reasonably possible that changes to Chemours global unrecognized tax benefits could be significant, however, due to the uncertainty regarding the timing of completion of audits and possible outcomes, a current estimate of the range of increases or decreases that may occur within the next 12 months cannot be made. If recognized, $39 of liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits would affect the effective tax rate.
DuPont, and / or its subsidiaries, files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various states and non-U.S. jurisdictions. With few exceptions, Chemours is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2004. Chemours most significant tax jurisdiction is the U.S. federal tax jurisdiction. The Internal Revenue Service is currently examining DuPonts consolidated U.S. tax returns for 2004 through 2011. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the combined financial position, liquidity or results of operations of the business. See the reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits below excluding interest and penalties:
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
Total unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1 |
$ | 26 | $ | 24 | $ | 23 | ||||||
Gross amounts of decreases in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of adjustments to tax provisions taken during the prior period |
(1 | ) | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||
Gross amounts of increases in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of tax positions taken during the current period |
15 | 5 | 4 | |||||||||
Reduction to unrecognized tax benefits as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations |
(1 | ) | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31 |
$ | 39 | $ | 26 | $ | 24 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest and penalties have been accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits. The liabilities for interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits were $8, $6 and $4 as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Expense for interest and penalties was $2, $2 and $1 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
The following reflects a rollforward of the deferred tax asset valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period |
$ | 26 | $ | 19 | $ | 12 | ||||||
Net charges to income tax expense |
10 | 7 | 7 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Balance at end of period |
$ | 36 | $ | 26 | $ | 19 | ||||||
|
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|
|
|
|
F-23
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Note 9: Accounts and Notes Receivable Trade, Net
December 31, | ||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Accounts receivable, net1 |
$ | 746 | $ | 762 | ||||
VAT, GST, and other taxes2 |
62 | 53 | ||||||
Advances and deposits |
15 | 12 | ||||||
Leases receivable current |
12 | 12 | ||||||
Notes receivable trade3 |
11 | 2 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 846 | $ | 841 | |||||
|
|
|
|
1 | Accounts receivable, are net of allowances of $4 and $7 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Allowances are equal to the estimated uncollectible amounts. |
2 | VAT receivables are generally recorded at the legal entity level and allocated to Chemours within shared legal entities. |
3 | Notes receivable as of December 31, 2014 includes loan receivables with terms of one year or less primarily concentrated in China. As of December 31, 2014, there were no past due notes receivable, nor were there any impairments related to current loan agreements. |
Accounts and notes receivable are carried at amounts that approximate fair value. Chemours performs credit evaluations of its customers financial condition and limits the amount of credit extended when deemed necessary. Generally, no collateral from customers is required. Bad debt expense was $1, $2 and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Chemours primarily estimates reserves for losses on receivables by specific identification based on an assessment of the customers ability to make required payments.
Direct Financing Leases
At two of its facilities in the U.S. (Borderland and Morses Mill), Chemours has constructed fixed assets on land that it leases from third parties. Management has analyzed these arrangements and determined these assets represent a direct financing lease, whereby Chemours is the lessor of this equipment. Chemours has recorded leases receivable of $149 and $160 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which represent the balance of the minimum future lease payments receivable. The current portion of leases receivable is included in accounts and notes receivable, as shown above. The long term portion of leases receivable is included in other assets, as shown in Note 13. Management has evaluated the realizable value of these leased assets and determined no impairment existed at December 31, 2014 or 2013. There is no estimated future residual value of these leased assets. Future minimum lease receipts are $12 for each of the years ended December 31, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, and $77 for the years thereafter.
F-24
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Note 10: Inventories
December 31, | ||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Finished products |
$ | 611 | $ | 583 | ||||
Semi-finished products |
173 | 194 | ||||||
Raw materials and supplies |
521 | 568 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
1,305 | 1,345 | |||||||
Adjustment of inventories to a LIFO basis |
(253 | ) | (290 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 1,052 | $ | 1,055 | |||||
|
|
|
|
Inventory values, before LIFO adjustment, are generally determined by the average cost method, which approximates current cost. Inventories are valued under the LIFO method at substantially all of the U.S. locations which comprised $684 and $717 or 52% and 53% of inventories before the LIFO adjustments at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The remainder of inventory held in international locations and certain U.S. locations is valued under the average cost method.
Note 11: Property, Plant and Equipment
Chemours property, plant and equipment consisted of:
December 31, | ||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Equipment |
$ | 7,500 | $ | 7,365 | ||||
Buildings |
778 | 765 | ||||||
Construction in progress |
852 | 532 | ||||||
Land |
116 | 128 | ||||||
Mineral rights |
36 | 31 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
9,282 | 8,821 | ||||||
Accumulated depreciation |
(5,974 | ) | (5,849 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net property, plant and equipment |
$ | 3,308 | $ | 2,972 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Depreciation expense amounted to $254, $255 and $260 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. Property, plant and equipment include gross assets acquired under capital leases of $6 and $4 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
F-25
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Note 12: Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
(a) Goodwill
The following table summarizes changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
Balance as of December 31, 2013 |
Goodwill adjustments |
Balance as of December 31, 2014 |
||||||||||
Titanium Technologies |
$ | 13 | $ | | $ | 13 | ||||||
Fluoroproducts |
85 | | 85 | |||||||||
Chemical Solutions |
100 | | 100 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Goodwill, net |
$ | 198 | $ | | $ | 198 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chemours has three reportable segments, Titanium Technologies, Fluoroproducts and Chemical Solutions (see further discussion of reportable segments in Note 20). These reportable segments comprise four operating segments, Titanium Technologies, Fluorochemicals, Fluoropolymer Solutions and Chemical Solutions. Fluorochemicals and Fluoropolymer Solutions are aggregated into the Fluoroproducts reportable segment. Chemours defines its reporting units as its four operating segments, and has assigned its goodwill balance to these reporting units based primarily on specific identification of goodwill acquired by the reporting unit. In 2014 and 2013, Chemours performed impairment tests for goodwill and determined that no goodwill impairment existed and the fair value of each reporting unit substantially exceeded its carrying value.
(b) Other Intangible Assets
The following table summarizes the gross carrying amounts and accumulated amortization of other intangible assets by major class:
December 31, 2014 | ||||||||||||
Gross | Accumulated Amortization |
Net | ||||||||||
Customer agreements |
$ | 19 | $ | (16 | ) | $ | 3 | |||||
Patents |
20 | (16 | ) | 4 | ||||||||
Purchased trademarks |
18 | (14 | ) | 4 | ||||||||
Purchased and licensed technology |
17 | (17 | ) | | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total other intangible assets |
$ | 74 | $ | (63 | ) | $ | 11 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2013 | ||||||||||||
Gross | Accumulated Amortization |
Net | ||||||||||
Customer agreements |
$ | 23 | $ | (17 | ) | $ | 6 | |||||
Patents |
22 | (17 | ) | 5 | ||||||||
Purchased trademarks |
20 | (15 | ) | 5 | ||||||||
Purchased and licensed technology |
17 | (16 | ) | 1 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total other intangible assets |
$ | 82 | $ | (65 | ) | $ | 17 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-26
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
The aggregate pre-tax amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets was $3, $6 and $6 during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The estimated aggregate pre-tax amortization expense for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 is $3, $2, $1, $1 and $1 respectively. There are no indefinite-lived intangible assets.
Note 13: Other Assets
December 31, | ||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Leases receivable non-current1 |
$ | 137 | $ | 148 | ||||
Capitalized repair and maintenance costs |
185 | 134 | ||||||
Advances and deposits |
17 | 11 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes non-current |
9 | 9 | ||||||
Miscellaneous2 |
27 | 29 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 375 | $ | 331 | |||||
|
|
|
|
1 | Leases receivable includes direct financing type leases of property at two locations (see Note 9). |
2 | Miscellaneous includes prepaid expenses for royalty fees, vendor supply agreements, and taxes other than income taxes. Also included in miscellaneous other assets are cost method investments and capitalized expenses for the preparation of the future landfill cells at Titanium Technologies New Johnsonville plant site. |
Note 14: Accounts Payable
December 31, | ||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Trade payables |
$ | 1,004 | $ | 1,026 | ||||
VAT and other taxes1 |
42 | 31 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 1,046 | $ | 1,057 | |||||
|
|
|
|
1 | VAT payables are generally recorded at the legal entity level and allocated to Chemours within shared legal entities. |
Note 15: Other Accrued Liabilities
December 31, | ||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Compensation and other employee-related costs |
$ | 109 | $ | 132 | ||||
Accrued litigation1 |
7 | 86 | ||||||
Customer rebates |
59 | 62 | ||||||
Environmental remediation2 |
69 | 47 | ||||||
Property taxes |
25 | 27 | ||||||
Contract services |
10 | 18 | ||||||
Deferred revenue |
28 | 14 | ||||||
Miscellaneous3 |
45 | 19 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 352 | $ | 405 | |||||
|
|
|
|
F-27
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
1 | Accrued litigation at December 31, 2013 included a $72 charge relating to the Titanium Dioxide antitrust litigation, settlement of which was paid in January 2014. |
2 | See further discussion of environmental remediation in Note 17. |
3 | Miscellaneous primarily includes cylinder deposits, accrued utilities, and restructuring accruals. |
Note 16: Other Liabilities
December 31, | ||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Environmental remediation |
$ | 226 | $ | 227 | ||||
Employee-related benefits |
100 | 104 | ||||||
Accrued litigation |
52 | 49 | ||||||
Asset retirement obligations |
43 | 40 | ||||||
Deferred revenue |
13 | 11 | ||||||
Contract termination fee |
9 | 9 | ||||||
Miscellaneous |
21 | 16 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 464 | $ | 456 | |||||
|
|
|
|
See Note 17 for discussion of environmental remediation, asset retirement obligations and accrued litigation.
Note 17: Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
(a) Guarantees
Obligations for Equity Affiliates & Others
Chemours, through DuPont, has directly guaranteed various debt obligations under agreements with third parties related to equity affiliates, customers, suppliers and other affiliated companies. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, Chemours had directly guaranteed $41 and $46 of such obligations, respectively. This amount represents the maximum potential amount of future (undiscounted) payments that Chemours could be required to make under the guarantees. Chemours would be required to perform on these guarantees in the event of default by the guaranteed party. No amounts were accrued at December 31, 2014 and 2013.
Chemours assesses the payment/performance risk by assigning default rates based on the duration of the guarantees. These default rates are assigned based on the external credit rating of the counterparty or through internal credit analysis and historical default history for counterparties that do not have published credit ratings. For counterparties without an external rating or available credit history, a cumulative average default rate is used.
Operating Leases
Chemours uses various leased facilities and equipment in its operations. The terms for these leased assets vary depending on the lease agreement. Future minimum lease payments (including residual value guarantee amounts) under noncancelable operating leases are, $68, $55, $41, $36 and $26 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively, and $52 for the years thereafter. Net rental expense under operating leases was $75, $62 and $53 during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
F-28
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
(b) Asset Retirement Obligations
Chemours has recorded asset retirement obligations primarily associated with closure, reclamation and removal costs for mining operations related to the production of titanium dioxide in the Titanium Technologies segment. Chemours asset retirement obligation liabilities were $43 and $42 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. A summary of the changes in asset retirement obligations during 2014 and 2013 is as follows:
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
2014 | 2013 | |||||||
Beginning balance |
$ | 42 | $ | 43 | ||||
Accretion expense |
2 | 3 | ||||||
Additional liabilities incurred |
1 | | ||||||
Changes in estimated cash flows |
| | ||||||
Settlements/payments |
(2 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Ending balance |
$ | 43 | $ | 42 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Current portion |
$ | | $ | 2 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Noncurrent portion |
$ | 43 | $ | 40 | ||||
|
|
|
|
(c) Litigation
In addition to the matters discussed below, Chemours, by virtue of its status as a subsidiary of DuPont prior to the distribution, is subject to various pending legal proceedings arising out of the normal course of the Chemours business including product liability, intellectual property, commercial, environmental and antitrust lawsuits. It is not possible to predict the outcome of these various proceedings. While management believes it is reasonably possible that Chemours could incur losses in excess of the amounts accrued, if any, for the aforementioned proceedings, it does not believe any such loss would have a material impact on Chemours combined financial position, results of operations or liquidity. With respect to litigation matters discussed below, managements estimate of the probability of loss in excess of the amounts accrued, if any, is addressed individually for each matter.
Asbestos
At December 31, 2014, there were about 2,500 lawsuits pending against DuPont alleging personal injury from exposure to asbestos. These cases are pending in state and federal court in numerous jurisdictions in the United States and are individually set for trial. Most of the actions were brought by contractors who worked at sites at some point between 1950 and the 1990s. A small number of cases involve similar allegations by DuPont employees. A limited number of the cases were brought by household members of contractors and DuPont employees. Finally, certain lawsuits allege personal injury as a result of exposure to DuPont products. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, Chemours had an accrual of $38 and $40, respectively, related to this matter. Management believes it is remote that Chemours would incur losses in excess of the amounts accrued in connection with this matter.
Cogeneration Lawsuit
Chemours Chambers Works facility in New Jersey has an agreement to purchase electricity from the Chambers Cogeneration Limited Partnership, (CCLP). The contract requires periodic price adjustment by a formula that
F-29
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
uses the value from a specific line item on a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reporting form as a proxy for market price. CCLP filed a lawsuit against DuPont in 2008 claiming about $30 for recalculated past charges, adjustment to future billing and attorneys fees. In 2011, the court granted CCLPs motion for summary judgment on the issue of liability. In the second quarter 2012, the court assessed total damages of $26. At June 30, 2012, Chemours had recorded net charges of $17, reflecting total charges of $26 and a payment of $9 to CCLP within the second quarter 2012.
In the fourth quarter of 2012, the parties agreed to settle the matter for $15 exclusive of the $9 paid in 2012 thereby recognizing a gain of $2. In the first quarter 2013, DuPont paid on behalf of Chemours $10 to CCLP completing the settlement payment.
PFOA
Chemours used PFOA (collectively, perfluorooctanoic acids and its salts, including the ammonium salt), as a processing aid to manufacture some fluoropolymer resins at various sites around the world including its Washington Works plant in West Virginia. Chemours had accruals of $14 and $15 related to the PFOA matters discussed below at December 31, 2014 and 2013 respectively.
The accrual includes charges related to DuPonts obligations under agreements with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and voluntary commitments to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. These obligations and voluntary commitments include surveying, sampling and testing drinking water in and around certain company sites and offering treatment or an alternative supply of drinking water if tests indicate the presence of PFOA in drinking water at or greater than the national Provisional Health Advisory.
Drinking Water Actions
In August 2001, a class action, captioned Leach v. DuPont, was filed in West Virginia state court alleging that residents living near the Washington Works facility had suffered, or may suffer, deleterious health effects from exposure to PFOA in drinking water.
DuPont and attorneys for the class reached a settlement in 2004 that binds about 80,000 residents. In 2005, DuPont paid the plaintiffs attorneys fees and expenses of $23 and made a payment of $70, which class counsel designated to fund a community health project. Chemours, through DuPont, funded a series of health studies which were completed in October 2012 by an independent science panel of experts (the C8 Science Panel). The studies were conducted in communities exposed to PFOA to evaluate available scientific evidence on whether any probable link exists, as defined in the settlement agreement, between exposure to PFOA and human disease.
The C8 Science Panel found probable links, as defined in the settlement agreement, between exposure to PFOA and pregnancy-induced hypertension, including preeclampsia; kidney cancer; testicular cancer; thyroid disease; ulcerative colitis; and diagnosed high cholesterol.
In May 2013, a panel of three independent medical doctors released its initial recommendations for screening and diagnostic testing of eligible class members. In September 2014, the medical panel recommended follow-up screening and diagnostic testing three years after initial testing, based on individual results. The medical panel has not communicated its anticipated schedule for completion of its protocol. Through DuPont, Chemours is obligated to fund up to $235 for a medical monitoring program for eligible class members and, in addition, administrative cost associated with the program, including class counsel fees. In January 2012, Chemours,
F-30
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
through DuPont, put $1 in an escrow account to fund medical monitoring as required by the settlement agreement. The court appointed Director of Medical Monitoring has established the program to implement the medical panels recommendations and the registration process, as well as eligibility screening, is ongoing. Diagnostic screening and testing has begun and associated payments to service providers are being disbursed from the escrow account.
In addition, under the settlement agreement, DuPont must continue to provide water treatment designed to reduce the level of PFOA in water to six area water districts, including the Little Hocking Water Association (LHWA), and private well users.
Class members may pursue personal injury claims against DuPont only for those human diseases for which the C8 Science Panel determined a probable link exists. At December 31, 2014, there were approximately 2,900 lawsuits filed in various federal and state courts in Ohio and West Virginia, an increase of about 2,800 over year end 2013. In accordance with a stipulation reached in the third quarter 2014 and other court procedures, these lawsuits have been or will be served and consolidated in multi-district litigation in Ohio federal court (MDL). Based on information currently available to the company the majority of the lawsuits allege personal injury claims associated with high cholesterol and thyroid disease from exposure to PFOA in drinking water. At December 31, 2014, there were 27 lawsuits alleging wrongful death. In 2014, six plaintiffs from the MDL were selected for individual trial. The first trial is scheduled to begin in September 2015, and the second in November 2015. Chemours, through DuPont, denies the allegations in these lawsuits and is defending itself vigorously. No claims have been dismissed, settled, or resolved during the periods presented.
Additional Actions
An Ohio action brought by the LHWA is ongoing. In addition to general claims of PFOA contamination of drinking water, the action claims imminent and substantial endangerment to health and or the environment under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). In the second quarter 2014, DuPont filed a motion for summary judgment and LHWA moved for partial summary judgment. In the first quarter of 2015, the court granted in part and denied in part both parties motions. As a result, the litigation process will continue with respect to certain of the plaintiffs claims.
While it is probable that Chemours will incur costs related to the medical monitoring program discussed above, such costs cannot be reasonably estimated due to uncertainties surrounding the level of participation by eligible class members and the scope of testing.
Chemours believes that it is reasonably possible that it could incur losses that could be material in the period recognized with respect to the other PFOA matters discussed above. However, a range of such losses, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated at this time due to the uniqueness of the individual MDL plaintiffs claims and Chemours defenses to those claims both as to potential liability and damages on an individual claim basis, among other factors. Although considerable uncertainty exists, management does not currently believe that the ultimate disposition of these matters would have a material adverse effect on Chemours combined results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
Titanium Dioxide Antitrust Litigation
In February 2010, two suits were filed in Maryland federal district court alleging conspiracy among DuPont, of which Chemours, prior to the distribution, is a subsidiary, Huntsman International LLC (Huntsman), Kronos
F-31
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Worldwide Inc. (Kronos), Millennium Inorganics Chemicals Inc. (Millennium) and others to fix prices of titanium dioxide sold in the U.S. between March 2002 and the present. The cases were subsequently consolidated and in August 2012, the court certified a class consisting of U.S. customers that have directly purchased titanium dioxide since February 1, 2003.
During the third quarter 2013, DuPont and plaintiffs agreed to settle this matter, subject to court approval. In connection therewith, Chemours recorded charges of $72, within cost of goods sold, for the year ended December 31, 2013. The settlement explicitly acknowledges that DuPont denies all allegations and does not admit liability. The court entered the order granting final approval to the settlement on December 13, 2013. The settlement was paid in January 2014.
In November 2013, Valspar, which opted out of the class action settlement described above, filed suit in federal court in Minnesota against DuPont, Huntsman, Kronos and Millennium making substantially similar claims to those made in the class action. The lawsuit was moved to Delaware federal court on DuPonts motion.
In March 2013, a purported class action was filed against DuPont, Huntsman, Kronos and Millennium in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of indirect purchasers from more than 30 states that purchased products containing titanium dioxide. The settlement discussed above cannot be used to establish liability in the indirect purchaser case. In September 2014, the Court dismissed most of the claims in the original complaint. The plaintiffs have filed an Amended Complaint, limiting the purported class to indirect purchasers of architectural coating products containing titanium dioxide from 21 states. DuPont denies all allegations and will again seek dismissal of the Amended Complaint.
Chemours, through DuPont, denies these allegations and is defending itself vigorously against the Valspar and indirect purchaser claims. While management believes a loss related to either matter is reasonably possible, any such loss would be immaterial.
(d) Environmental
DuPont, of which Chemours, prior to the distribution, is a subsidiary, is also subject to contingencies pursuant to environmental laws and regulations that in the future may require further action to correct the effects on the environment of prior disposal practices or releases of chemical substances by Chemours or other parties. Chemours accrues for environmental remediation activities consistent with the policy set forth in Note 3. Much of this liability results from the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, often referred to as Superfund), RCRA and similar state and global laws. These laws require DuPont, of which Chemours, prior to the distribution, is a subsidiary, to undertake certain investigative, remediation and restoration activities at sites where Chemours conducts or once conducted operations or at sites where Chemours-generated waste was disposed. The accrual also includes estimated costs related to a number of sites identified for which it is probable that environmental remediation will be required, but which are not currently the subject of enforcement activities.
Remediation activities vary substantially in duration and cost from site to site. These activities, and their associated costs, depend on the mix of unique site characteristics, evolving remediation technologies, diverse regulatory agencies and enforcement policies, as well as the presence or absence of potentially responsible parties. At December 31, 2014, the Combined Balance Sheets included a liability of $295, relating to these matters and, in managements opinion, is appropriate based on existing facts and circumstances. The average time frame, over which the accrued or presently unrecognized amounts may be paid, based on past history, is
F-32
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
estimated to be 15 to 20 years. Therefore, considerable uncertainty exists with respect to environmental remediation costs and, under adverse changes in circumstances, the potential liability may range up to approximately $650 above the amount accrued at December 31, 2014. Except for Pompton Lakes, which is discussed further below, based on existing facts and circumstances, management does not believe that any loss, in excess of amounts accrued, related to remediation activities at any individual site will have a material impact on the financial position, liquidity or results of operations of Chemours.
Pompton Lakes
The environmental remediation accrual at December 31, 2014 includes $86 related to activities at Chemours site in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey. Management believes that is reasonably possible that potential liability for remediation activities at this site could range up to $116 including previously accrued amounts. This could have a material impact on the liquidity of Chemours in the period recognized. However, management does not believe that this would have a material adverse effect on Chemours combined financial position, liquidity and results of operations. During the twentieth century, DuPont manufactured blasting caps, fuses and related materials at Pompton Lakes. Operating activities at the site were ceased in the mid 1990s. Primary contaminants in the soil and sediments are lead and mercury. Ground water contaminants include volatile organic compounds.
Under the authority of the EPA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, remedial actions at the site are focused on investigating and cleaning up the area. Ground water monitoring at the site is ongoing and Chemours, through DuPont, has installed and continues to install vapor mitigation systems at residences within the ground water plume. In addition, Chemours, through DuPont, is further assessing ground water plume/vapor intrusion delineation. In November 2014, the EPA announced a proposed remediation plan that would require Chemours to dredge mercury contamination from a 36 acre area of the lake and remove sediment from 2 other areas of the lake near the shoreline. The plan is subject to notice and comment. Chemours expects to spend approximately $60 over the next three years, which is included in the remediation accrual at December 31, 2014, in connection with remediation activities at Pompton Lakes, including activities related to the EPAs proposed plan.
Note 18: Long-Term Employee Benefits
DuPont offers various long-term benefits to its employees. Where permitted by applicable law, DuPont reserves the right to change, modify or discontinue the Plans.
DuPont offers plans that are shared amongst its businesses, including Chemours. In these cases, the participation of employees in these plans is reflected in these financial statements as though Chemours participates in a multiemployer plan with DuPont. A proportionate share of the cost is reflected in these Combined Financial Statements. Assets and liabilities of such plans are retained by DuPont. Further information on the DuPont plan is discussed in DuPonts Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 (DuPonts Annual Report).
(a) Defined Benefit Pensions
DuPont Pension and Retirement Plan
DuPont has both funded and unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plans covering a majority of the U.S. employees, hired before January 1, 2007. The benefits under these plans are based primarily on years of
F-33
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
service and employees pay near retirement. DuPonts funding policy is consistent with the funding requirements of federal laws and regulations.
Non-U.S. Pension Plans
Pension coverage for employees of DuPonts non-U.S. subsidiaries, is provided, to the extent deemed appropriate, through separate plans. Obligations under such plans are funded by depositing funds with trustees, covered by insurance contracts, or remain unfunded.
(b) Other Long-Term Employee Benefits
DuPont provides medical, dental and life insurance benefits to pensioners and survivors, and disability and life insurance protection to employees. The associated plans for retiree benefits are unfunded and the cost of approved claims are paid from DuPont funds. Essentially all of the cost for these retiree benefit plans is attributable to DuPonts U.S. plans. The retiree medical plan is contributory with pensioners and survivors contributions adjusted annually to achieve a 50/50 target sharing of cost increases between DuPont and pensioners and survivors. In addition, limits are applied to DuPonts portion of the retiree medical cost coverage. U.S. employees hired on or after January 1, 2007 are not eligible to participate in the post-retirement medical, dental and life insurance plans. DuPont also provides disability benefits to employees. Employee disability benefit plans are insured in many countries. However, in the U.S., such plans are generally self-insured. Expenses for self-insured plans are reflected in the Combined Financial Statements.
(c) Defined Contribution Plan
DuPont sponsors several defined contribution plans, which cover substantially all U.S. employees. The most significant is DuPonts U.S. Retirement Savings Plan (the Plan), which reflects the 2009 merger of DuPonts Retirement Savings Plan and DuPonts Savings and Investment Plan. This Plan includes a non-leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Employees are not required to participate in the ESOP and those who do are free to diversify out of the ESOP. The purpose of the Plan is to provide retirement savings benefits for employees and to provide employees an opportunity to become stockholders of DuPont. The Plan is a tax qualified contributory profit sharing plan, with cash or deferred arrangement, and any eligible employee of DuPont may participate. DuPont contributes 100 percent of the first 6 percent of the employees contribution election and also contributes 3 percent of each eligible employees eligible compensation regardless of the employees contribution.
Participation in the Plans
Chemours participates in DuPonts U.S. and non-U.S. plans as though they are participants in a multiemployer plan with the other businesses of DuPont. More information on the financial status of DuPonts significant plans can be found in DuPonts Annual Report. The following table presents information for DuPonts significant plans in which Chemours participates.
Plan name |
EIN /Pension number | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
DuPont Pension and Retirement Plan (U.S.) |
51-0014090 / 001 | $ | 51 | $ | 126 | $ | 118 | |||||||
All Other U.S. and non-U.S. Plans |
17 | 38 | 51 |
F-34
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
For purposes of these financial statements, the figures in this table represent the allocation of cost to Chemours, which was allocated based on active employee headcount. These figures do not represent cash payments to DuPont, or DuPonts plans.
Cash Flow
Defined Benefit Plan
No contributions were made to the principal U.S. pension plan trust fund in 2014 or 2013. In 2012, DuPont made a contribution to the principal U.S. pension plan of which Chemours portion was approximately $110. In 2015, DuPonts contributions on behalf of Chemours to its principal U.S. pension plan are expected to be less than $12. DuPont contributed on behalf of Chemours $35, $34 and $34 to its pension plans other than the principal U.S. pension plan in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. DuPont contributed on behalf of Chemours $66, $58 and $66 to its other long-term employee benefit plans, respectively, in 2014, 2013 and 2012. DuPont expects to contribute on behalf of Chemours approximately the same amount as contributed in 2014 to its pension plans other than the principal U.S. pension plan and its other long-term employee benefit plans, respectively, in 2015.
Defined Contribution Plan
DuPonts contributions to the Plan on behalf of Chemours were allocated in the amounts of $52, $50 and $49 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Plans matching contributions vest immediately upon contribution. The three percent non-matching contribution vests for employees with at least three years of service. In addition, DuPont expects to contribute on behalf of Chemours about $53 to its defined contribution plans for the year ended December 31, 2015.
The contribution made by DuPont on behalf of Chemours is an allocation of the total contribution based on the headcount of the participants in the plan which are part of the Chemours business.
Note 19: Geographic Information
December 31, 2014 | December 31, 2013 | December 31, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Sales1 | Net Property, Plant and Equipment2 |
Net Sales1 | Net Property, Plant and Equipment2 |
Net Sales1 | Net Property, Plant and Equipment2 |
|||||||||||||||||||
North America3 |
$ | 2,759 | $ | 2,273 | $ | 3,138 | $ | 2,183 | $ | 3,284 | $ | 2,193 | ||||||||||||
Asia Pacific |
1,548 | 140 | 1,519 | 138 | 1,654 | 139 | ||||||||||||||||||
EMEA4 |
1,190 | 372 | 1,237 | 321 | 1,318 | 251 | ||||||||||||||||||
Latin America5 |
935 | 523 | 965 | 330 | 1,109 | 210 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 6,432 | $ | 3,308 | $ | 6,859 | $ | 2,972 | $ | 7,365 | $ | 2,793 | ||||||||||||
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1 | Net sales are attributed to countries based on the location of customer. |
2 | Includes property, plant and equipment less accumulated depreciation. |
3 | Includes net sales and net property in Canada of $147 and $14 in 2014, $145 and $13 in 2013, and $137 and $10 in 2012. |
4 | Europe, Middle East and Africa. |
5 | Latin America includes Mexico. |
F-35
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Note 20: Segment Information
Chemours operations are classified into three reportable segments based on similar economic characteristics, the nature of products and production processes, end-use markets, channels of distribution and regulatory environment. Chemours reportable segments are Titanium Technologies, Fluoroproducts and Chemical Solutions. Corporate costs and certain legal and environmental expenses that are not aligned with the reportable segments are reflected in Corporate and Other.
Major products by segment include: Titanium Technologies (titanium dioxide); Fluoroproducts (fluorochemicals and fluoropolymers); and Chemical Solutions (cyanides, sulfur products and performance chemicals and intermediates). Chemours operates globally in substantially all of its product lines. Segment sales include transfers to another reportable segment. As Chemours management continues to prepare for the separation from DuPont, the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM) reporting package has been updated to include segment adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (adjusted EBITDA). Adjusted EBITDA is the primary measure of segment profitability used by the CODM. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income (loss) before income taxes, depreciation and amortization excluding non-operating pension and other post-retirement employee benefit costs and exchange gains (losses). Adjusted EBITDA includes service cost component of net periodic benefit cost. All other components of net periodic benefit cost are considered non-operating and are excluded from adjusted EBITDA. Segment net assets include net working capital, net property, plant and equipment and other non-current operating assets and liabilities of the segment. This is the measure of segment assets reviewed by the CODM.
Non-operating pension and other post-retirement employee benefit costs include interest cost, expected return on plan assets, amortization of loss (gain), and amortization of prior service cost (benefit). These costs for both the pension benefits and other post-retirement benefits are excluded from segment adjusted EBITDA.
Titanium Technologies |
Fluoroproducts | Chemical Solutions |
Corporate and Other |
Total | ||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2014 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Sales |
$ | 2,944 | $ | 2,327 | $ | 1,168 | $ | | $ | 6,439 | ||||||||||
Less: transfers |
7 | | | | 7 | |||||||||||||||
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net sales |
2,937 | 2,327 | 1,168 | | 6,432 | |||||||||||||||
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
759 | 330 | 29 | (223 | ) | 895 | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
125 | 83 | 48 | 1 | 257 | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings from affiliates |
| 20 | | | 20 | |||||||||||||||
Segment net assets |
1,748 | 1,480 | 782 | (337 | ) | 3,673 | ||||||||||||||
Affiliate net assets |
| 124 | | | 124 | |||||||||||||||
Purchases of plant, property and equipment1 |
376 | 133 | 106 | | 615 |
F-36
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Titanium Technologies |
Fluoroproducts | Chemical Solutions |
Corporate and Other |
Total | ||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2013 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Sales |
$ | 3,026 | $ | 2,379 | $ | 1,462 | $ | | $ | 6,867 | ||||||||||
Less: transfers |
7 | | 1 | | 8 | |||||||||||||||
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|
|||||||||||
Net sales |
3,019 | 2,379 | 1,461 | | 6,859 | |||||||||||||||
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|||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
722 | 377 | 96 | (213 | ) | 982 | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
117 | 90 | 53 | 1 | 261 | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings from affiliates |
| 22 | | | 22 | |||||||||||||||
Segment net assets |
1,390 | 1,387 | 734 | (294 | ) | 3,217 | ||||||||||||||
Affiliate net assets |
| 123 | | | 123 | |||||||||||||||
Purchases of plant, property and equipment |
290 | 96 | 52 | | 438 | |||||||||||||||
December 31, 2012 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Sales |
$ | 3,295 | $ | 2,559 | $ | 1,515 | $ | | $ | 7,369 | ||||||||||
Less: transfers |
4 | | | | 4 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net sales |
3,291 | 2,559 | 1,515 | | 7,365 | |||||||||||||||
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
1,454 | 539 | 116 | (226 | ) | 1,883 | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
115 | 95 | 55 | 1 | 266 | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings from affiliates |
| 25 | | 25 | ||||||||||||||||
Segment net assets |
1,333 | 1,359 | 751 | (276 | ) | 3,167 | ||||||||||||||
Affiliate net assets |
| 130 | | | 130 | |||||||||||||||
Purchases of plant, property and equipment |
270 | 105 | 57 | | 432 |
1 | Purchases of property, plant and equipment includes $11 in accounts payable, which is excluded from the Combined Statements of Cash Flows. |
Total segment adjusted EBITDA reconciles to total combined income before income taxes on the Combined Statements of Income as follows:
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
Total segment adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 895 | $ | 982 | $ | 1,883 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
(257 | ) | (261 | ) | (266 | ) | ||||||
Non-operating pension and other postretirement employee benefit costs |
(22 | ) | (114 | ) | (127 | ) | ||||||
Exchange losses |
(66 | ) | (31 | ) | (5 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Income before income taxes |
$ | 550 | $ | 576 | $ | 1,485 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-37
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY
(A Consolidated Subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company)
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements
(Dollars in millions)
Net sales by product group were as follows:
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||
Titanium dioxide |
$ | 2,937 | $ | 3,019 | $ | 3,291 | ||||||
Fluoropolymers |
1,326 | 1,324 | 1,428 | |||||||||
Fluorochemicals |
1,001 | 1,055 | 1,131 | |||||||||
Performance chemicals and intermediates |
624 | 913 | 939 | |||||||||
Cyanides |
314 | 320 | 336 | |||||||||
Sulfur products |
230 | 228 | 240 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net Sales |
$ | 6,432 | $ | 6,859 | $ | 7,365 | ||||||
|
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Note 21: Subsequent Events (Unaudited)
These Annual Combined Financial Statements reflect managements evaluation of subsequent events through May 13, 2015.
Debt transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014
In conjunction with Chemours separation from DuPont, Chemours incurred $4,003 of debt on May 12, 2015, consisting of $1,500 in aggregate principal amount of borrowings under a senior secured term loan facility, $1,350 in aggregate principal amount of eight-year senior notes (the 2023 Notes), $750 in aggregate principal amount of ten-year senior notes (the 2025 Notes) and $403 in aggregate principal amount of eight-year Euro-denominated senior notes (the Euro Notes) with a notional amount of 360. In addition, Chemours has access to a $1,000 senior secured revolving credit facility that is expected to be undrawn at the time of separation. We used proceeds from the financing transactions to fund a distribution to DuPont of $3,923, net of $80 of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, consisting of a cash distribution of $3,416 and a distribution in-kind of 2025 Notes with an aggregate principal amount $507. We have not retained any cash as a result of these financing transactions. Total debt issuance costs incurred and capitalized are in the amount of $73, and original issue discount was in the amount of $7 on the senior secured term loan facility, both of which will be amortized over the respective financing terms. The debt issuance costs are shown as a reduction of the outstanding Long-term debt as of December 31, 2014, consistent with the treatment prescribed under Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2015-03, Interest Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30), which will be adopted by Chemours as discussed in Note 3 to the Annual Combined Financial Statements. Borrowings under the senior secured term loan facility have variable interest rates and a term of seven years, the 2023 Notes have a fixed interest rate of 6.625%, the 2025 Notes have a fixed interest rate of 7.0% and the Euro Notes have a fixed interest rate of 6.125%. The senior secured revolving credit facility has a term of five years, with variable interest rates on the drawn balance and a variable commitment fee range of 0.20% to 0.35% on the undrawn balance.
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