Contract
Exhibit
10.51
Execution
Copy
Master
Separation Agreement (this
“Agreement”),
dated as of November 28, 2005 (the “Effective
Date”),
among Xxxx-XxXxx Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Parent”),
Xxxx-XxXxx Worldwide Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Worldwide”),
and Tronox Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (“Tronox”).
INTRODUCTION
Parent
is engaged in two distinct businesses, an oil and gas exploration and production
business and a chemical business. Each business is owned by a separate chain
of
subsidiaries owned indirectly by Parent. Parent’s United States domestic
chemical business is held by a chain of subsidiaries, the parent entity of
which
is Tronox Worldwide LLC (formerly Xxxx-XxXxx Chemical Worldwide LLC and herein
referred to as “TWLLC”).
The non-domestic chemical business, the parents of which are Xxxx-XxXxx B.V.,
KM
Denmark International ApS, Xxxx-XxXxx Finance (Curacao) and KM (Luxembourg)
Holdings S.a.r.l., have been contributed into TWLLC prior to the Effective
Date.
TWLLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Worldwide. The parent entity of the oil
and gas exploration and production business is a separate corporation whose
parent entity is also Worldwide. The chemical business has no current ownership
interest in the companies that comprise the oil and gas exploration and
development business and the oil and gas exploration and development business
has no current ownership interest in the companies that comprise the chemical
business.
TWLLC,
through its predecessor, has been in business since 1929, and has operated
a
number of chemical and other businesses including the current chemical business.
TWLLC owns the chemical business and also certain contingent assets and
contingent liabilities.
The
Board of Directors of Parent (the “Board”)
has determined that it is in the best interests of Parent and its stockholders
to separate the chemical business and the oil and gas exploration and production
business from their common ownership by Parent, and has authorized the
separation through an initial public offering, a spin-off or a split-off of
the
chemical business, or a combination of some or all of these transactions
(collectively, the “Separation”).
To effect the Separation, Parent has formed Tronox as a new holding company
to
hold the limited liability company membership interests in TWLLC (the
“Membership
Interests”)
and to issue a limited number of its shares for its own account in the Initial
Public Offering (as defined below).
In
connection with the Separation, Parent has agreed to provide certain financial
support to Tronox in the form of reimbursement of certain environmental costs
(such reimbursement, together with the contribution of the Membership Interests,
the cancellation of inter-company indebtedness, and the other rights and
benefits provided to Tronox under the Ancillary Agreements, are herein referred
to as the “Contribution”).
Concurrently with the Initial Public Offering, Tronox expects to raise up to
$550,000,000 principal amount of debt through a bank financing (excluding the
Revolving Credit Facility) and issuance of bonds (the “Concurrent
Financings”).
Parent currently intends, after the Initial Public Offering, to distribute
(in
one or more transactions or offerings) to holders of shares of Parent Common
Stock, the shares of Tronox Class B Common Stock then owned directly or
indirectly by Parent (the “Distribution”)
or offer to exchange such shares of Tronox Class B Common Stock for shares
of
Parent Common Stock (the “Exchange”)
or a combination thereof. The Contribution is intended to qualify as a tax-free
reorganization under Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code (as defined below) and
the
Distribution or the Exchange (or combination thereof) are intended to qualify
as
a pro rata or non-pro rata tax-free distribution under Sections 355 and
368(a)(1)(D) of the Code (as defined below).
All
or a substantial portion of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering
and
Concurrent Financings will be distributed by Tronox to Worldwide and by
Worldwide to Parent in a distribution described in Section 361(b)(1)(A) of
the
Code (as defined below). Parent intends to use such proceeds to satisfy
third-party obligations of Parent.
Parent,
Worldwide and Tronox wish to set forth the principal corporate transactions
required to effect the Contribution, the Initial Public Offering and the
Distribution or Exchange and certain other matters relating to the
Separation.
Accordingly,
the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.1. Definitions. For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set
forth or as referenced below:
“Acquired
Business”
has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(b)(ii).
“Acquisition
Transaction”
has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(b)(iii).
“Action”
means any demand, action, suit, countersuit, arbitration, inquiry, proceeding
or
investigation by or before any federal, state, local, foreign or international
Governmental Authority or any arbitration or mediation tribunal.
“Affiliate”
of any Person means any Person that directly, or indirectly through one or
more
intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with
such
Person. For the purposes of this definition only, “control” refers to the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management or
policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or
other interests, by contract or otherwise.
“Agent”
means the distribution or exchange agent to be appointed by Parent to distribute
to Parent’s stockholders all of the shares of Tronox Class B Common Stock held
by Parent or a member of Parent’s Group pursuant to the Exchange or
Distribution.
“Agreement”
has the meaning given such term in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Ancillary
Agreements”
means, collectively, the Tax Sharing Agreement, the Employee Benefits Agreement,
the Transition Services Agreement, the Transitional License Agreement and the
Registration Rights Agreement.
“Annual
Financial Statements”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(e).
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“Assets”
means assets, properties and rights (including goodwill and rights arising
under
Contracts, including, without limitation, insurance policies), wherever located
(including in the possession of vendors, other Persons or elsewhere), whether
real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible or contingent, in each case
whether or not recorded or reflected or required to be recorded or reflected
on
the books and records or financial statements of any Person.
“Assignment,
Assumption and Indemnity Agreement”
means the Assignment, Assumption and Indemnity Agreement, dated as of December
31, 2002, between TWLLC and Xxxx-XxXxx Oil & Gas Corporation, a copy of
which is attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement.
“Board”has
the meaning set forth in the Introduction.
“Business
Day”
means a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions located in the City of New York are closed.
“Business
Guarantees”has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(a).
“Claim
Notice”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a).
“Claimed
Amount”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a).
“Closing
Date”
means the date on which any shares of Tronox Class A Common Stock are sold
to
the Underwriters pursuant to the Firm Offering in accordance with the terms
of
the Underwriting Agreement.
“Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Commission”
means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Competitive
Business”
has the meaning set forth in the Section 11.2(a).
“Concurrent
Financings”
has the meaning set forth in the Introduction.
“Consents”
means any consents, waivers or approvals from, or notification requirements
to,
any third parties.
“Contracts”
means any contract, agreement, lease, license, instrument or other commitment
that is binding on any Person or any part of its property under applicable
law.
“Contribution”
has the meaning set forth in the Introduction.
“Controlling
Party”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(e).
“Distribution”
has the meaning set forth in the Introduction.
“Effective
Date”
has the meaning given such term in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Employee
Benefits Agreement”
means the Employee Benefits Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between
Parent and Tronox.
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“Environmental
Law”
means all foreign, federal, state, provincial and local statutes, codes,
regulations, rules, orders, ordinances or other laws relating to the protection,
preservation or conservation of the environmental and natural resources, as
in
effect from time to time.
“Environmental
Remediation Costs”
means the actual costs, including, with respect to a site associated with any
Former Operation, the reasonable and documented internal allocated costs of
Tronox’s Safety and Environmental Affairs unit, provided that such internal
allocated costs are calculated in a manner consistent with past practice with
respect to such Former Operation and are of the type that has historically
been
charged against the reserve established for such Former Operation, incurred
and
paid after the Closing Date by any member of the Tronox Group in connection
with
(i) the investigation of the physical circumstances surrounding a site
associated with a Former Operation or (ii) the clean-up, governmental response,
removal or remediation required by any Environmental Laws at a site associated
with a Former Operation, in either case arising out of, or related to (x) the
presence, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Substance occurring
prior to the Closing Date, or (y) any circumstance occurring prior to the
Closing Date forming the basis of any violation or alleged violation of, or
any
liability under, any Environmental Law.
“Environmental
Studies”has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(f).
“Exchange”
has the meaning set forth in the Introduction.
“Exchange
Act”
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Existing
Stock”
means the 10,000 shares of stock of Tronox held, on the date hereof, by
Worldwide.
“Financial
Statements”
means, collectively, the Annual Financial Statements and the Quarterly Financial
Statements.
“Firm
Offering”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).
“Former
Operation”
means any business, commercial activity or operation previously conducted by
or
on behalf of the Tronox Group or their predecessors, but discontinued prior
to
the Effective Date and no longer so conducted, at a site currently or formerly
owned or operated by, or where any Release may have occurred as a result of
any
act or omission of, any member of the Tronox Group or any of their
predecessors.
“GAAP”
means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, consistently
applied.
“Governmental
Approvals”
means any notices, reports or other filings to be made, or any consents,
registrations, approvals, permits or authorizations to be obtained from, any
Governmental Authority.
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“Governmental
Authority”
means any federal, state, local, foreign or international court, governmental,
department, commission, board, bureau, agency, official or other regulatory,
administrative or governmental authority.
“Group”
means either the Tronox Group or the Parent Group, as the context
requires.
“Hazardous
Substance”
means any and all hazardous and toxic substances, wastes or materials, any
pollutants, contaminants, or dangerous materials or any other similar substances
or materials that are included under or regulated by any Environmental
Law.
“Indebtedness”
means the aggregate principal amount of total liabilities (whether long-term
or
short-term) for borrowed money (including capitalized leases) of any Group
collectively, as determined for purposes of its financial statements prepared
in
accordance with GAAP, but excluding, with respect to the Tronox Group, the
Concurrent Financings and the Revolving Credit Facility.
“Indemnified
Party”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a).
“Indemnitees”
means either the Tronox Indemnitees or the Parent Indemnitees, as the context
requires.
“Information”
means information, whether or not patentable or copyrightable, in written,
oral,
electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, stored in any medium,
including studies, reports, records, books, contracts, insurance policies,
instruments, surveys, discoveries, ideas, concepts, know-how, techniques,
designs, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models, prototypes,
samples, flow charts, data, computer data, disks, diskettes, tapes, computer
programs or other software, marketing plans, customer names, communications
by
or to attorneys (including attorney-client privileged communications), memos
and
other materials prepared by attorneys or under their direction (including
attorney work product), and other technical, financial, employee or business
information or data.
“Initial
Public Offering”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).
“IPO
Registration Statement”
means the registration statement on Form S-1 (Commission File No. 333-125574),
as filed by Tronox with the Commission on June 6, 2005, together with all
amendments and supplements thereto.
“KMIIL”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(c).
“Liabilities”
means any and all obligations, liabilities and commitments of any nature,
whether known or unknown, express or implied, absolute or contingent, due or
to
become due.
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“Lowest
Cost Response”
means a compliance activity or an investigation, cleanup, remediation, removal
action or response activity that (i) is the minimum level required by, and
complies with, applicable Environmental Laws (including, without limitation,
applicable voluntary clean-up and comparable programs of Governmental
Authorities where compliance activity is otherwise required); (ii) is acceptable
to Governmental Authorities to the extent approval is required; (iii) is
consistent with and would not violate any currently existing agreement binding
on Tronox or any member of the Tronox Group with any Governmental Entity or
other third party obligating Tronox or any member of the Tronox Group to
undertake or pay for remediation; (iv) is consistent with and does not
unreasonably interfere with the continued use of any property in a manner
consistent with the use of such property as of the Closing Date; and (v) is
intended to achieve the lowest financial cost as compared with other potential
response activities meeting the qualifications set forth herein.
“Membership
Interests”
has the meaning set forth in the Introduction.
“Net
Reimbursable Cost”
means any Environmental Remediation Cost net of any Third Party
Recovery.
“Non-controlling
Party”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(e).
“NYSE”
means the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
“Offering
Expenses”
has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.5(a).
“Parent”
has the meaning given such term in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Parent
Annual Statements”
has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(b).
“Parent
Common Stock”
means the common stock, $1.00 par value per share, of Parent.
“Parent
Group”
means Parent and each Person (other than any member of the Tronox Group) that
is
an Affiliate of Parent immediately after the Closing Date.
“Parent
Guarantees”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.
“Parent
Indemnitees”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.
“Parent
Insurance Policies”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(c).
“Parent
Obtained Contract”
means any Contract to which any member of the Parent Group is a party relating
to the businesses and operations currently conducted by members of the Tronox
Group.
“Parent
Public Filings”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6(a).
“Parent’s
Auditors”
has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(b).
“Person”
means an individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited partnership,
limited liability partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business
trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture,
or
other similar entity or organization and any Governmental
Authority.
“Prospectus”
means each preliminary, final or supplemental prospectus forming a part of
the
IPO Registration Statement.
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“Quarterly
Financial Statements”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(d).
“Quarterly
Meeting”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(e).
“Registration
Rights Agreement”
means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between
Tronox and Parent.
“Reimbursement
Request”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b).
“Release”
means any spill, emission, leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal,
discharge, dispersal, leaching, emanation or migration of any Hazardous
Substance in, into, onto or through the environment (including ambient air,
surface water, ground water, soils, land surface, subsurface strata, workplace
or structure).
“Representative”
means, with respect to any Person, any of such Person’s directors, officers,
employees, agents, consultants, advisors, accountants or attorneys.
“Reserve
Amount”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).
“Revolving
Credit Facility”
means the $250 million revolving credit facility to be entered into on the
Closing Date by Tronox, TWLLC, Xxxxxx Commercial Paper Inc., Credit Suisse
First
Boston and the lenders party thereto.
“Section
355 Transaction”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a)(iv).
“Securities
Act”
means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, together with the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Separation”has
the meaning set forth in the Introduction.
“Separation
Date”means
the date on which any transactions that constitute the Separation (including
the
Section 355 Transaction ) are completed.
“Subsidiary”
of any Person means any corporation or other organization whether incorporated
or unincorporated of which at least a majority of the securities or interests
having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect at least a majority
of the board of directors or others performing similar functions with respect
to
such corporation or other organization is directly or indirectly owned or
controlled by such Person; provided,
however
that
no Person that is not directly or indirectly wholly owned by any other Person
shall be a Subsidiary of such other Person unless such other Person controls,
or
has the right, power or ability to control, that Person.
“Substitute
Guarantees”has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(a).
“Tax”
has the meaning set forth in the Tax Sharing Agreement.
“Tax
Benefit”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(d).
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“Tax
Control”
means the definition of “control” set forth in Section 368(c) of the
Code.
“Tax
Sharing Agreement”
means the Tax Sharing Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between Parent
and
Tronox.
“Third
Party Claim”has
the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(d).
“Third
Party Recovery”
means, with respect to an Environmental Remediation Cost, the actual amount
recovered (or, if such amount has not yet been recovered, Tronox’s reasonable
and good faith estimate of the amount that will be recovered) by any member
of
the Tronox Group (i) from any Potentially Responsible Parties (as such term
is
defined in regulations and judicial decisions construing and applying the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act) or other
parties who may be obligated for indemnity or contribution under other
applicable law (in each case other than any member of the Parent Group), (ii)
from any Governmental Authority, and (iii) under any applicable insurance
policies maintained by any member of the Tronox Group or previously issued
to
such member’s predecessor in interest.
“Transition
Services Agreement”
means the Transition Services Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between
Parent and Tronox.
“Transitional
License Agreement”
means the Transitional License Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between
Worldwide and Tronox.
“Tronox”
has the meaning given such term in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Tronox
Affiliate”
means any Person other than Worldwide or Parent that directly, or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under
common control with Tronox and which is consolidated with Tronox for financial
reporting purposes. For the purposes of this definition only, “control”
refers to the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the
management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities or other interests, by contract or otherwise.
“Tronox
Class A Common Stock”
means the Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of
Tronox.
“Tronox
Class B Common Stock”
means the Class B Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of
Tronox.
“Tronox
Common Stock”
means the Tronox Class A Common Stock and the Tronox Class B Common Stock.
“Tronox
Group”
means Tronox, each Subsidiary of Tronox immediately after the Closing Date,
Tiwest Pty. Ltd., Tiwest Sales Pty. Ltd., and the Tiwest Joint Venture and
each
other Person that is controlled directly or indirectly by Tronox immediately
after the Closing Date.
“Tronox
Indemnitees”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2.
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“Tronox
Insured Loss”has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(c).
“Tronox
Public Documents”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(a).
“Tronox
Voting Stock”
has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
“Tronox’s
Auditors”
has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).
“TWLLC”has
the meaning set forth in the Introduction.
“Underwriters”
means the managing underwriters for the Initial Public Offering as identified
in
the IPO Registration Statement.
“Underwriting
Agreement”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).
ARTICLE
II
THE
CONTRIBUTION
Section
2.1. Transfer
of Membership Interests.
Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, on the Closing Date, Worldwide
will, and Parent will cause Worldwide to, assign, transfer and convey to Tronox
all of Worldwide’s right, title and interest in and to the Membership Interests,
and Tronox will receive and accept from Worldwide all of Worldwide’s right,
title and interest in and to such Membership Interests.
The transfer of the Membership Interests and the rest of the Contribution shall
be in exchange for (i) the conversion of the Existing Stock into 22,889,431
shares of Tronox Class B Common Stock, which will be the only shares of Tronox
Class B Common Stock outstanding, (ii) the payment of the net proceeds of the
Initial Public Offering and the Concurrent Financings pursuant to Section 3.5
and the payment, if any, of cash balances in excess of $40 million pursuant
to
Section 2.4(a), and (iii) the covenants and agreements of Tronox set forth
herein and in each of the Ancillary Agreements.
Section
2.2. Deliveries.
In furtherance of the assignment, transfer and conveyance of the Membership
Interests, unless otherwise provided in this Agreement or any other Ancillary
Agreement, on the Closing Date, the parties will execute and deliver, and they
will cause their respective Subsidiaries to execute and deliver: (a) each
Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party and (b) such instruments of transfer,
conveyance and assignment as, and to the extent necessary or convenient to
evidence the transfer, conveyance and assignment to Tronox of all of Worldwide’s
right, title and interest in and to the Membership Interests.
Section
2.3. Shared
Contracts. (a)
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement,
prior
to the Closing Date Parent shall, or shall cause other members of the Parent
Group to, use its commercially reasonable efforts to assign to Tronox (or one
or
more members of the Tronox Group, as appropriate) any rights or benefits
relating to the business and operations currently conducted by members of the
Tronox Group under any Parent Obtained Contract. In the event the foregoing
assignment is not made, at the written request of Tronox, Parent will, and
will
cause other members of the Parent Group to, to the extent permitted by the
applicable Parent Obtained Contract and applicable law, use its commercially
reasonable efforts to otherwise make such benefits and rights available to
Tronox or applicable members of the Tronox Group. The applicable members of
the
Tronox Group will assume and discharge (or promptly reimburse Parent for) the
obligations and liabilities under the relevant Parent Obtained Contracts
associated with the benefits and rights assigned to or otherwise made available
to them under this Section 2.3(a).
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(b) The
parties’ rights and obligations pursuant to this Section 2.3 will terminate upon
the earliest to occur of (i) the Separation Date, (ii) the termination of this
Agreement, and (iii) with respect to any Parent Obtained Contract in particular,
such time that the arrangement pursuant to this Section 2.3 is no longer
permitted thereunder.
Section
2.4. Cash
and Inter-Company Indebtedness. (a)
At the closing of the Firm Offering, any
cash balances of the Tronox Group in excess of $40 million will, at the election
of Parent, be paid to Worldwide in partial consideration for the transfer of
the
Membership Interests.
(b) On
the Closing Date, an amount equal to the aggregate amount of indebtedness owed
by members of the Tronox Group to members of the Parent Group, net of the
aggregate amount of indebtedness owed by members of the Parent Group to members
of the Tronox Group, shall be deemed equity in Tronox and shall thereafter
form
a part of the continuing equity of Tronox.
Section
2.5. Reimbursement
of Certain Environmental Remediation Costs.
(a)
Following the Closing Date, Parent shall, or shall cause one or more members
of
the Parent Group to, reimburse Tronox for 50% of Net Reimbursable Costs incurred
and paid after the Closing Date with
respect to any Former Operation; provided,
however
that Parent shall not be obligated to reimburse Tronox for any Net Reimbursable
Costs until the Environmental Remediation Costs with respect to an individual
site associated with any Former Operation exceed the Reserve Amount (as defined
below) by more than $200,000, after which the entire amount of such Net
Reimbursable Costs with respect to such individual Former Operation site in
excess of the Reserve Amount shall be subject to reimbursement under this
Section 2.5(a).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, Parent’s obligation
to reimburse Tronox under this Section 2.5 shall in no event exceed an aggregate
amount of $100,000,000. “Reserve Amount” means the amount listed under the
heading “Reserve Amount” opposite the name of any site associated with a Former
Operation on Schedule 2.5(a), it being understood and agreed that the Reserve
Amount for any site associated with any Former Operation not listed on Schedule
2.5(a) shall be deemed to be $0.
(b) Within
60 days following payment by a member of the Tronox Group of any Environmental
Remediation Cost that is subject to reimbursement under Section 2.5(a), Tronox
shall provide Parent with a written notice (a “Reimbursement
Request”)
of the Net Reimbursable Cost that identifies (i) the total amount and nature
of
the Environmental Remediation Cost, (ii) the site associated with a Former
Operation to which such cost relates, and (iii) the actual or estimated amount
of the related Third Party Recovery; provided,
however,
that no delay on the part of Tronox in providing a Reimbursement Request to
Parent shall relieve Parent of its obligations under Section 2.5 except to
the
extent Parent is materially prejudiced by such delay. Such Reimbursement Request
shall be delivered together with a certification by an officer of Tronox that
such cost constitutes an Environmental Remediation Cost subject to reimbursement
under Section 2.5(a) and that any estimated Third Party Recovery was prepared
in
good faith and is based on reasonable assumptions. Parent will have 60 days
from
receipt of any Reimbursement Request to either pay the amount of the Net
Reimbursable Cost reflected in the Reimbursement Request or give notice of
dispute pursuant to Article X. Any amounts owed by Parent and not paid within
such 60-day period (including any disputed amounts that are finally determined
to be owed to Tronox) shall bear interest from the date such payment was due
at
the published one-month LIBOR rate plus 2% per annum. To the extent that the
actual amount of any Third Party Recovery, once finally determined and collected
by Tronox is (A) greater than the estimated amount of such Third Party Recovery
included in any Reimbursement Request, then Tronox shall promptly pay to Parent
50% of the amount of such excess, or (B) less than the estimated amount of
such
Third Party Recovery included in any Reimbursement Request, then Parent shall
promptly pay to Tronox 50% of the amount of such shortfall. Parent shall have
the right to audit the financial records of Tronox (and members of the Tronox
Group) in connection with, and Tronox will reasonably cooperate and assist
Parent in, determining the validity of any costs or the amount of any actual
or
estimated Third Party Recovery reflected in a Reimbursement Request. If any
such
audit reveals any excess amounts paid by Parent, Tronox shall, promptly after
receipt of the results of such audit, (a) pay to Parent any such excess amounts,
with interest from the date of payment due at the published one-month LIBOR
rate
plus 2% per annum, and (b) if such excess amounts represent more than
$1,000,000, reimburse Parent for the reasonable out-of-pocket cost of such
audit.
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(c) At
Parent’s request, Tronox shall, and shall cause Tronox and members of the Tronox
Group to, use their commercially reasonable efforts to pursue in good faith
any
claim that would reasonably be expected to result in a Third Party
Recovery.
(d) Parent’s
reimbursement obligation under Section 2.5(a) shall not apply to any
Environmental Remediation Costs (i) that are incurred in connection with any
conditions resulting from events or occurrences occurring wholly or primarily
after the Closing Date, (ii) to the extent such costs are caused, contributed
to, or increased by activities or operations conducted by Tronox, any member
of
the Tronox Group, or any third party acting at the direction or under the
control of Tronox or any member of the Tronox Group, with respect to a Former
Operation after the Closing Date, (iii) that are incurred as a consequence
of a
change in use of a particular site associated with any Former Operation after
the Closing Date, (iv) that consist of third party tort claims (including costs
of litigation) or administrative or civil fines or penalties, or (v) that exceed
the Lowest Cost Response. Parent’s obligation under Section 2.5(a) shall only
apply to Environmental Remediation Costs that are incurred and paid by a member
of the Tronox Group within seven years of the Closing Date, and that are
presented to Parent pursuant to Section 2.5(b) within 60 days
thereafter.
(e) To
assist in determining Parent’s reimbursement obligation under Section 2.5(a), at
least once per calendar quarter following the Closing Date and until such time
as Parent’s obligations under Section 2.5(a) terminate, and in any event prior
to delivery of reserve estimates and changes in reserves for each Former
Operation required by Section 2.5(g)(i) for such quarter, representatives of
Tronox and Parent shall meet (either in person or via teleconference) to discuss
remediation activities with respect to Former Operations, reserve estimates
and
matters giving rise to changes in reserves (such meeting, the “Quarterly
Meeting”).
Such representatives of each party shall include at least three individuals
having expertise in law, accounting or environmental affairs. From time to
time
between each Quarterly Meeting, Tronox shall keep Parent reasonably informed
of
any material changes in any remediation activities with respect to Former
Operations, and shall otherwise, upon the written request of Parent, (i) provide
to Parent copies of any material documents relating to such activities
(including any response, remediation or corrective action proposals, reports,
notices of violations, claims, communications or other information), (ii) make
available from time to time during normal business hours, and in such a manner
as to not interfere with the business of the Tronox Group, any employees,
consultants, accountants and attorneys with knowledge of such activities and
(iii) provide Parent and its representatives reasonable access to any site
associated with any Former Operation that is owned or controlled by Tronox.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent shall not be required to reimburse any
member of the Tronox Group with respect to an individual site associated with
any Former Operation if any member of the Tronox Group, without the prior
written consent of Parent, makes, agrees to make, or proposes to make any
material change in the scope or conduct of any existing response, removal,
remediation or other corrective action plan or project that (i) is with respect
to a site associated with a Former Operation listed on Schedule 2.5(a), (ii)
results in an increase in any Reserve Amount by $2,500,000 or more, or (iii)
relates to any site associated with a Former Operation for which no reserve
has
been previously established and for which substantial planning, cooperation
and
consultation between Parent and Tronox would be reasonably expected.
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(f) Until
Parent’s reimbursement obligation under Section 2.5(a) terminates, Tronox shall
manage all remediation activities with respect to Former Operations in a manner
consistent with past practice. In furtherance and not in limitation of the
preceding sentence, Parent shall not be required to reimburse any member of
the
Tronox Group for any Environmental Remediation Costs with respect to an
individual site associated with any Former Operation if:
(i) Tronox
or any member of the Tronox Group takes any affirmative action to solicit from
any third party, including any Governmental Authority, any change in use of
such
site or any proceeding, order or other mandate to conduct any remedial action
at
such site unless Tronox or such member of the Tronox Group has an obligation
under applicable Environmental Laws to take such action, and Tronox so informs
Parent in advance in writing;
(ii) Tronox
shall not have obtained the written consent of Parent, which consent will not
be
unreasonably withheld or delayed more than 14 days following receipt of Tronox’s
written request, prior to any Phase II, Phase III or any other environmental
studies, surveys, or investigations that include testing and sampling
(collectively “Environmental
Studies”),
being conducted by or on behalf of any member of the Tronox Group with respect
to any site associated with any Former Operation, unless such action is required
by a Governmental Authority, in which case Tronox will give Parent prompt
advance written notice of all such Environmental Studies proposed to be
conducted. Parent or its representatives shall be provided the opportunity
to
review and monitor and be present at any such Environmental Studies and Tronox
shall provide to Parent, at Parent’s cost, copies of all such Environmental
Studies and all information obtained in connection with such Environmental
Studies;
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(iii) Tronox
or any member of the Tronox Group or their representatives or any third party
under its or their direction or control conducts any construction, demolition,
excavation, remodeling or other physical change that requires ground disruption
to the property at any site associated with any Former Operation, without
Parent’s prior written consent, which consent will not unreasonably be withheld
or delayed more than 14 days following receipt of Tronox’s written request,
unless such action is reasonably required to repair or maintain the structural
integrity or operational condition of the facilities located at such sites,
in
which case (A) Tronox will give Parent prompt advance written notice of such
action, (B) Parent or its representatives shall be provided the opportunity
to
review, monitor and be present at any such activities with respect to such
sites
(so long as such presence does not interfere with the normal conduct of Tronox’s
business), and (C) Tronox shall provide Parent, at Parent’s cost with copies of
any information obtained in connection with such actions which may relate to
Parent’s obligations under this Section 2.5; and
(iv) Tronox
does not use its commercially reasonable efforts to conduct any Environmental
Studies, construction, demolition, excavation, remodeling and management of
any
such Former Operation in a manner that will not materially increase any
Environmental Remediation Costs.
(g) Until
Parent’s reimbursement obligations under Section 2.5(a) terminate, Tronox shall:
(i) no
later than eight Business Days following the end of each fiscal quarter, provide
Parent with reserve estimates and changes in reserves for each Former Operation
(in substantially the same form as such information is generally reported to
Parent by members of the Tronox Group as of the date of this Agreement);
and
(ii) as
soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event no later than (x) the earlier
of (A) 10 Business Days prior to the date on which Tronox is required to file
a
Form 10-Q or other document containing Quarterly Financial Statements with
the
Commission for each of Tronox’s first three fiscal quarters in each fiscal year
and (B) 10 Business Days prior to the date on which Parent has notified Tronox
that Parent intends to file its Form 10-Q or other document containing quarterly
financial statements with the Commission or (y) the earlier of (A) 12 Business
Days prior to the date on which Tronox is required to file a Form 10-K or other
document containing its Annual Financial Statements with the Commission and
(B)
12 Business Days prior to the date on which Parent has notified Tronox that
Parent intends to file its Form 10-K or other document containing Annual
Financial Statements with the Commission, Tronox will deliver to Parent drafts
of any discussion or analysis of contingent obligations to pay Environmental
Remediation Costs contained in any consolidated financial statements of the
Tronox Group for such period.
(h) Other
than with respect to obligations of members of the Parent Group under this
Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement, or the Assignment, Assumption and Indemnity
Agreement, Tronox, on behalf of itself and each member of the Tronox Group,
hereby waives, releases and covenants not to bring or aid, and shall indemnify
and hold Parent and each member of the Parent Group harmless from and against,
any investigation, inquiry, action, demand, Liability, claim, lawsuit or any
other type of administrative or judicial action, whether known or unknown,
actual or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, against Parent or any member of
the
Parent Group that Tronox or member of the Tronox Group, or
any of their respective predecessors or successors,
may now or hereafter hold, which arises from or relates to the operation or
violation of any Environmental Law or regulation, whether now existing or later
enacted, in respect to the present or former assets, properties or operations
of
Tronox, the Tronox Group, or any of their respective predecessors or
successors.
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(i) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the parties hereto acknowledge
and
agree that the provisions of this Section 2.5 concerning Parent’s entitlement to
receive notice and information, to review, monitor and oversee, or to provide
consent operate solely for the purpose of determining whether Parent is
obligated to provide reimbursement for Net Reimbursable Costs pursuant to
Section 2.5(a). The members of the Tronox Group shall have the exclusive right
and responsibility (x) to direct, control, manage, and participate in
the
investigation of the physical circumstances surrounding any site associated
with
any Former Operation or the clean-up, governmental response, removal or
remediation required by any Environmental Laws at any such site and (y) to
ensure compliance with Environmental Laws at any site associated with any Former
Operation, affected by this Section 2.5 only insofar as determining whether
the
resulting Environmental Remediation Costs shall be subject to reimbursement
by
Parent.
Nothing in this Section 2.5 shall be construed as requiring or allowing Parent
to direct, control, manage, or participate in the investigation of any such
site
or to ensure compliance with Environmental Law at any such site.
(j) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the parties hereto acknowledge
and
agree that the provisions of this Sections 2.5 are solely for the benefit of
the
Parent Group on the one hand and the Tronox Group on the other hand, and are
not
intended, and shall not create, any third party beneficiary rights in or to
any
other Person.
Section
2.6. Insurance
Matters.
(a) Except
as expressly provided in this Section 2.6, the Parent Insurance Policies will
remain in full force and effect through either (at Parent’s option) (i) the
Separation Date or (ii) the renewal date of any such Parent Insurance Policy,
at
which time, future coverage thereunder will be discontinued with respect to
the
Tronox Group. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for so long as any personal
property of members of the Tronox Group is covered under Parent’s policy with
Oil Insurance Limited, in the event of an occurrence that involves physical
damage to property of both the Parent Group and the Tronox Group, the limit
of
insurance under such policy will be allocated based on the proportion that
the
value of each Group’s loss bears to the total.
(b) On
or prior to the Closing Date, Tronox shall have in effect, and for a period
of
six years following the Closing Date, Tronox will maintain in effect, directors’
and officers’ liability insurance policies (“D&O
Policies”)
as follows:
(i) D&O
Policies with coverage limits of not less than $50 million with respect to
wrongful acts occurring prior to the Closing Date. Tronox shall provide that
Parent is named on a codefendant basis under such D&O Policies.
(ii) D&O
Policies with coverage limits of not less than $50 million with respect to
wrongful acts occurring on or after the Closing Date. Until the Separation
Date,
Tronox shall provide that Parent is named on a codefendant basis under such
D&O Policies.
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The
D&O Policies shall contain terms and conditions that are not materially less
favorable, subject to commercial availability, to the officers and directors
covered by such policies than those D&O Policies maintained by Parent or
members of the Parent Group as of the date of this Agreement. For a period
of
six years following the Closing Date, Tronox shall, to the fullest extent
permitted under applicable law or under the Tronox’s Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws, indemnify and hold harmless, each present and former
director and officer of Tronox and of each member of the Tronox Group against
any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and amounts paid in settlement in connection with
any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, arbitral or investigative, arising out of or pertaining to
any
action or omission occurring prior to the Closing Date, or arising out of or
pertaining to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(c) Effective
as of the Separation Date, Parent shall, or shall cause its Affiliates to,
use
its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be transferred to Tronox or
a
member of the Tronox Group, to the extent permitted under the relevant Parent
Insurance Policies and applicable law and to the extent that such transfer
would
not impair in any material respect Parent’s rights under such policies, any
claim, chose in action or other right Parent has to insurance coverage or
insurance proceeds under any Parent Insurance Policy other than D&O Policies
with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of any member
of
the Tronox Group (including products and current and former employees and
directors thereof) of any of their respective predecessors and arising out
of
occurrences prior to the Separation Date (a “Tronox
Insured Loss”).
To the extent the transfer of such claim, chose in action or right referred
to
in the preceding sentence does not occur, upon the reasonable request of Tronox,
Parent shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, use its commercially reasonable
efforts to promptly assist Tronox in tendering claims for any Tronox Insured
Losses to the applicable insurers under the Parent Insurance Polices and to
provide Tronox with the proceeds of claims made by or with respect to such
Tronox Insured Losses subject to the self-insured limits and deductibles under
the applicable policy. Upon request of Tronox, Parent or its Affiliates shall
provide historical loss information with respect to any insurance policies
that
cover the assets, businesses, operations, employees, officers and directors
of
members of the Tronox Group or their predecessors. Parent shall cause KM
International Insurance Ltd (“KMIIL”)
to promptly make payments as received from and approved by reinsurers of KMIIL
(as appropriate) with respect to all reported claims made by or on behalf of
members of the Tronox Group. Subsequent to the Closing Date and to the extent
consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.6, Tronox assumes
responsibility for the administration and adjustment of all Tronox Insured
Losses. “Parent
Insurance Policies”
means any current or historic insurance policy covering the assets, businesses,
operations, employees, officers or directors of both (A) the Parent and (B)
any
member of the Tronox Group, or any of their predecessors.
(d) Tronox
does hereby, for itself and each other member of the Tronox Group, agree that
no
member of the Parent Group or any Parent Indemnitee shall have any Liability
whatsoever as a result of the insurance policies and practices of Parent and
its
Affiliates as in effect at any time prior to the Closing Date, including as
a
result of the level or scope of any such insurance, the creditworthiness of
any
insurance carrier, the terms and conditions of any policy, the adequacy or
timeliness of any notice to any insurance carrier with respect to any claim
or
potential claim or otherwise.
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(e)
Section
2.7. Guarantees
and Sureties.
(a)
Tronox acknowledges that Parent or its Affiliates have entered into various
arrangements in which Parent or its Affiliates issued or made available
guarantees, sureties, bonds, letters of credit or similar instruments or are
the
primary obligors on other agreements, in any such case to support or facilitate
the business transactions of members of the Tronox Group (the “Business
Guarantees”).
It is understood that none of such Business Guarantees shall continue after
the
Separation Date. On or as promptly as practicable following the Closing Date,
but in no event later than the Separation Date, Tronox shall obtain replacements
for such Business Guarantees or will either terminate the business transactions
or programs of the Tronox Group supported or facilitated by such Business
Guarantees or arrange for itself or one of its Subsidiaries to be substituted
as
the primary obligor thereto (collectively, the “Substitute
Guarantees”).
(b) On
or before the Closing Date, Parent shall cause Tronox and the other members
of
the Tronox Group to be unconditionally released from any guarantees, sureties,
bonds or other contractual obligations relating to the Liabilities of Parent
or
the Parent Group (collectively, “Parent
Guarantees”),
with no further obligations thereunder.
Section
2.8. Representations
or Warranties.
(a) Parent
represents and warrants to Tronox that Worldwide has good and valid title to
the
Membership Interests, free and clear of all security interests, mortgages,
liens, pledges, charges or other encumbrances of any kind.
(b) Tronox
(on behalf of itself and each member of the Tronox Group) acknowledges and
agrees that, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement, no member of the Parent Group is making any representations or
warranties to Tronox of any nature, either express or implied, including
regarding any Assets or business of the Tronox Group, the Parent Obtained
Contracts, or Parent Insurance Policies.
ARTICLE
III
THE
INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
Section
3.1. General. (a)
Subject to the conditions hereof, the parties shall use their commercially
reasonable efforts to consummate the Initial Public Offering. Tronox shall
file
such amendments or supplements to the IPO Registration Statement as may be
necessary in order to cause the same to become and remain effective as required
by applicable law or by the Underwriters, including filing such amendments
to
the IPO Registration Statement as may be required by the Underwriting Agreement,
the Commission or applicable securities laws. Parent and Tronox shall also
cooperate in preparing, filing with the Commission and causing to become
effective a registration statement registering the Tronox Class A Common Stock
under the Exchange Act, and any registration statements or amendments thereof
that are required to reflect the establishment of, or amendments to, any
employee benefit and other plans necessary or appropriate in connection with
the
Initial Public Offering, the Section 355 Transaction or the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
(b) Parent
and Tronox have entered into an underwriting agreement with the Underwriters
(the “Underwriting
Agreement”)
pursuant to which Tronox has (a) agreed to sell an aggregate of 17,480,000
shares of Tronox Class A Common Stock to the Underwriters (the “Firm
Offering”),
and (b) granted the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional
2,622,000 shares of Tronox Class A Common Stock (the “Over-Allotment
Option”
and, with the Firm Offering, the “Initial
Public Offering”).
Each party shall comply with its obligations under the Underwriting
Agreement.
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(c) Tronox
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all such action as may
be
necessary or appropriate under state securities and blue sky laws of the United
States (and any comparable laws under any foreign jurisdictions) in connection
with the Initial Public Offering.
(d) Tronox
shall prepare, file and use its commercially reasonable efforts to seek to
make
effective an application for listing of the Tronox Class A Common Stock issued
in the Initial Public Offering on the NYSE.
(e) Tronox
shall participate in the preparation of materials and presentations as Parent
and the Underwriters shall deem necessary or desirable in connection with the
Initial Public Offering.
(f) Tronox
will cooperate in all respects with Parent in connection with the pricing of
the
Tronox Class A Common Stock to be issued in the Initial Public Offering and
the
timing of the Initial Public Offering and will, at Parent’s request, promptly
take any and all actions necessary or desirable to consummate the Initial Public
Offering as contemplated by the IPO Registration Statement and the Underwriting
Agreement.
Section
3.2. Use
of Proceeds.
The net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering will be used by Tronox as
described in Section 3.5 hereof and the IPO Registration Statement in the
section entitled “Use of Proceeds.”
Section
3.3. Conditions
Precedent to Consummation of the Initial Public Offering. (a) The
closing of each of the Firm Offering and the sale of Tronox Class A Common
Stock
upon any exercise of the Over-Allotment Option shall be conditioned on the
satisfaction, or waiver by Parent in its sole and absolute discretion, of the
following conditions:
(i) The
IPO Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the Commission
and there shall be no stop-order in effect with respect thereto and no
proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted by the Commission.
(ii) The
actions and filings with regard to state securities and blue sky laws of the
United States (and any comparable laws under any foreign jurisdictions)
referenced in Section 3.1(c) shall have been taken and, where applicable, have
become effective or been accepted.
(iii) The
Tronox Class A Common Stock to be issued in the Firm Offering or in connection
with the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, as applicable, shall have been
accepted for listing on the NYSE, on official notice of issuance.
(iv) Parent
shall be satisfied in its sole and absolute discretion that the Distribution
or
Exchange or combination thereof (the “Section
355 Transaction”)
should qualify as a pro rata or non-pro rata tax-free distribution for federal
income tax purposes under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue
Code.
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(v) No
order, injunction or decree issued by any court or agency of competent
jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation
of the Contribution or the Initial Public Offering or any of the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall
be
in effect.
(vi) This
Agreement shall not have terminated.
(vii) The
Concurrent Financings will have occurred on terms and with lenders acceptable
to
Parent.
(viii) With
respect to the Firm Offering only, the aggregate cash balance of the Tronox
Group shall be at least $40 million.
(ix) Each
Ancillary Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by each of the
parties thereto.
(x) Such
other actions as Parent may, based upon the advice of counsel, reasonably
request to be taken prior to the closing of the Firm Offering or the sale of
Tronox Class A Common Stock upon any exercise of the Over-Allotment Option
in
order to assure the successful completion of the Initial Public Offering and
the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been
taken.
(b) The
foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Parent and shall not give
rise
to or create any duty on the part of Parent to waive or not waive such
conditions or in any way limit Parent’s right to terminate this Agreement as set
forth in Section 12.1 or alter the consequences of any such termination from
those specified in such Section. Any determination made by Parent prior to
the
closing of the Firm Offering or the sale of any Tronox Class A Common Stock
upon
the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option concerning the satisfaction or waiver
of any or all of the conditions set forth in this Section 3.3 shall be
conclusive.
Section
3.4. Tronox
Common Stock.
Prior to the Closing Date, Parent and Tronox shall each take all actions
(including, without limitation, such actions that are required to effect the
adoption by Tronox of an amended and restated certificate of incorporation)
that
Parent determines, in its sole discretion, may be required to provide for the
conversion of the Existing Stock into a number of shares of Tronox Class B
Common Stock such that Worldwide possesses Tax Control of Tronox at all times
before, at the time of, and immediately following the closing of each of the
Firm Offering and the sale of Tronox Class A Common Stock upon any exercise
of
the Over-Allotment Option.
Section
3.5. Proceeds
of Concurrent Financings and Initial Public Offering.
(a)
As partial consideration for the Contribution, unless otherwise agreed by
Parent, Tronox shall distribute to Worldwide all cash proceeds received by
Tronox and TWLLC from the Concurrent Financings, the Firm Offering
and the exercise, if any, of the Over-Allotment Option, net of attorneys’ fees,
investment banking fees, accountants’ fees, underwriting discounts and
commissions and other fees and expenses (“Offering
Expenses”)
actually incurred in connection therewith, as follows:
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(i) On
the Closing Date, Tronox shall distribute to Worldwide an amount equal to $762.9
million, which the parties agree is the amount of cash proceeds to be received
by Tronox and TWLLC on the Closing Date from the Concurrent Financings and
the
Firm Offering, net of estimated Offering Expenses related thereto (the
“Estimated
Closing Date Expenses”).
No later than 45 days following the Closing Date, the parties shall review
the
amount of Offering Expenses actually incurred in connection with the Concurrent
Financings and the Firm Offering. If the amount of Estimated Closing Date
Expenses exceeds the amount of Offering Expenses actually incurred, Tronox
shall
distribute to Worldwide an amount equal to such excess. If the amount of
Offering Expenses actually incurred exceeds the amount of Estimated Closing
Date
Expenses, Parent shall cause Worldwide to pay Tronox an amount equal to such
excess.
(ii) Upon
the closing of any sale of Tronox Class A Common Stock pursuant to the exercise
of the Over-Allotment Option, Tronox shall distribute to Worldwide the cash
proceeds received by Tronox from such sale, net of estimated Offering Expenses
related thereto, as reasonably determined by Tronox (the “Estimated
Over-Allotment Expenses”).
No later than 30 days following the closing of any such sale, the parties shall
review the amount of Offering Expenses actually incurred in connection with
the
exercise of the Over-Allotment Option. If the amount of Estimated Over-Allotment
Expenses exceeds the amount of Offering Expenses actually incurred, Tronox
shall
distribute to Worldwide an amount equal to such excess. If the amount of
Offering Expenses actually incurred exceeds the amount of Estimated
Over-Allotment Expenses, Parent shall cause Worldwide to pay Tronox an amount
equal to such excess.
(b) Worldwide
shall distribute all proceeds received from Tronox pursuant to this Section
3.5
to Parent as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt.
ARTICLE
IV
THE
SEPARATION
Section
4.1. The
Separation.
Parent will, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine all terms of the
Separation, including, without limitation, the form, structure and terms of
any
transactions or offerings to effect any Section 355 Transaction and the timing
of and conditions to such transactions. Parent may, at any time and from time
to
time until the completion of the Separation, modify or change the terms of
any
proposed Section 355 Transaction, including, without limitation, by accelerating
or delaying the timing of the consummation of all or part of either such
transactions. Tronox shall cooperate with Parent in all respects to accomplish
the Separation and shall, at Parent’s direction, promptly take any and all
actions necessary or desirable to effect the Separation, including, without
limitation, the registration under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
of
Tronox Class B Common Stock on an appropriate registration form or forms to
be
designated by Parent. Parent shall select any investment bank or manager engaged
in connection with any Section 355 Transaction, as well as any financial
printer, solicitation or exchange agent and financial, legal, accounting and
other advisors for Parent; provided,
however,
that nothing herein shall prohibit Tronox from engaging (at its own expense)
its
own financial, legal, accounting (to the extent permitted by Article VII) and
other advisors in connection with any Section 355 Transaction.
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Section
4.2. Actions
Prior to the Separation. (a)
Parent and Tronox shall prepare and mail, prior to the Separation Date, to
the
holders of Parent Common Stock, such information concerning Tronox, the
transactions constituting the Separation and such other matters as Parent shall
reasonably determine and as may be required by law. Parent and Tronox shall
prepare, and Tronox shall, to the extent required under applicable law, file
with the Commission, any such documentation that Parent determines is necessary
or desirable to effect the Exchange or Distribution and Parent and Tronox shall
each use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary approvals
from the Commission with respect thereto as soon as practicable.
(b) Tronox
shall take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate under the
securities or blue sky laws of the United States (and any comparable laws under
any foreign jurisdiction) in connection with the Section 355 Transaction or
otherwise in connection with the Separation.
(c) Tronox
shall prepare and file, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
have approved, an application for the listing of the Tronox Class B Common
Stock
on the NYSE.
(d) Tronox
shall take all reasonable steps necessary or desirable to cause the conditions
set forth in Section 4.3 to be satisfied and to effect any Section 355
Transaction.
Section
4.3. Conditions
to the Exchange or Distribution. (a)
The consummation of the Section 355 Transaction shall be conditioned on the
satisfaction, or waiver by Parent in its sole and absolute discretion, of the
following conditions:
(i) The
receipt by Parent, in form and substance satisfactory to it, of an opinion
of
tax counsel to the effect that, among other things, the Section 355 Transaction
should qualify as a tax-free distribution for federal income tax purposes under
Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code and such other
matters as it will determine to be necessary or advisable in its sole and
absolute discretion.
(ii) The
receipt of any Governmental Approvals and material Consents necessary to
consummate the Section 355 Transaction, which Governmental Approvals and
Consents will be in full force and effect.
(iii) No
order, injunction, decree or regulation issued by any court or agency of
competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the
consummation of the Section 355 Transaction will be in effect and no other
event
outside the control of Parent will have occurred or failed to occur that
prevents the consummation of the Section 355 Transaction.
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(iv) The
actions and filings necessary or appropriate under applicable securities laws
in
connection with the Section 355 Transaction will have been taken or made, and,
where applicable, will have become effective or been accepted.
(v) The
Tronox Class B Common Stock to be distributed in the Section 355 Transaction
will have been accepted for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice
of
issuance.
(b) The
foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Parent and shall not give
rise
to or create any duty on the part of Parent or the Board to waive or not waive
such conditions or in any way limit Parent’s right to terminate this Agreement
as set forth in Section 12.1 or alter the consequences of any such termination
from those specified in such Section. Any determination made by the Board prior
to the Section 355 Transaction concerning the satisfaction or waiver of any
or
all of the conditions set forth in this Section 4.3 shall be
conclusive.
Section
4.4. Certain
Stockholder Matters. (a)
Subject to Section 4.3, Tronox and Parent, as the case may be, will provide
to
the Agent all share certificates and any information required in order to
complete the Section 355 Transaction.
(b) From
and after the Section 355 Transaction and until the Tronox Class B Common Stock
is duly transferred in accordance with applicable law, Tronox shall regard
the
Persons entitled to receive such Tronox Class B Common Stock in such transaction
as record holders of Tronox Class B Common Stock in accordance with the terms
of
such transaction without requiring any action on the part of such Persons.
Tronox agrees that, subject to any transfers of such stock, (i) each such holder
will be entitled to receive all dividends payable on, and exercise all voting
rights, and all other rights and privileges with respect to, the shares of
Tronox Class B Common Stock then held by such holder, and (ii) each such holder
will be entitled to receive one or more certificates representing, or other
evidence of ownership of, the shares of Tronox Class B Common Stock then held
by
such holder. Parent will cooperate, and will instruct the Agent and Parent’s
transfer agent to cooperate, with Tronox and Tronox’s transfer agent, and Tronox
will cooperate, and will instruct its transfer agent to cooperate, with Parent
and the Agent, in connection with all aspects of the Section 355 Transaction
and
all other matters relating to the issuance and delivery of certificates
representing, or other evidence of ownership of, the shares of Tronox Class
B
Common Stock to be distributed to the holders of Parent Common Stock in
connection with such transaction. Following any Section 355 Transaction, Parent
shall promptly, but in no event later than two Business Days thereafter,
instruct the Agent or Parent’s transfer agent to deliver to Tronox’s transfer
agent true, correct and complete copies of the stock and transfer records
reflecting the holders of the Parent Common Stock entitled to receive shares
of
the Tronox Class B Common Stock.
ARTICLE
V
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
5.1. Indemnification
by Tronox.
Subject to the provisions hereof, Tronox shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless Parent, each member of the Parent Group and each of their respective
past and present directors, officers and employees, and each of the heirs,
executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the
“Parent
Indemnitees”),
from and against any and all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or
resulting from any of the following items (without duplication):
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(i) all
Retained Liabilities (as defined in the Assignment, Assumption and Indemnity
Agreement);
(ii) any
and all Liabilities (other than with respect to obligations of, or Liabilities
expressly and specifically assumed by, any member of the Parent Group pursuant
to this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or the Assignment, Assumption and
Indemnity Agreement) to the extent arising out of or relating to (A) any
businesses, operations or Assets currently or previously conducted or owned
by
any member of the Tronox Group or any of their predecessors, in each case,
whether such Liabilities arise or accrue prior to, on or after the Effective
Date; (B) any business
conducted by any member of the Tronox Group at any time after the Effective
Date; and (C) all obligations of the Tronox Group under or pursuant to this
Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any other instrument entered into in
connection herewith or therewith;
(iii) any
breach by Tronox or any member of the Tronox Group of any covenant in this
Agreement, the Employee Benefits Agreement, the Transitional License Agreement
or the Registration Rights Agreement;
(iv) any
Business Guarantees that are not replaced with Substitute Guarantees, or with
respect to which Parent or any member of the Parent Group has any liability
or
obligation after the Closing Date; and
(v) with
respect to the IPO Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any registration
statement or other document related to the Section 355 Transaction, any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact therein, or omission
or
alleged omission to state a material fact therein, which is necessary to make
the statements contained therein not misleading, in any case to the extent
relating to the Tronox Group.
Section
5.2. Indemnification
by Worldwide.
Subject to the provisions hereof, Worldwide shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless Tronox, each member of the Tronox Group and each of their respective
directors, officers and employees, and each of the heirs, executors, successors
and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Tronox
Indemnitees”),
from and against any and all Liabilities of the Tronox Indemnitees relating
to,
arising out of or resulting from any of the following items (without
duplication):
(i) all
Assumed Liabilities (as defined in the Assignment, Assumption and Indemnity
Agreement);
(ii) any
breach by Parent or any member of the Parent Group of any covenant in this
Agreement, the Employee Benefits Agreement, the Transitional License Agreement
or the Registration Rights Agreement; and
(iii) any
Parent Guarantees with respect to which Tronox or any member of the Tronox
Group
has any liability or obligation after the Closing Date.
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Section
5.3. Claim
Procedure. (a)
A
party that seeks indemnity under this Article V (an “Indemnified
Party”)
will promptly give written notice (a “Claim
Notice”)
to the party from whom indemnification is sought (an “Indemnifying
Party”),
whether the Liabilities sought arise from matters solely between the parties
or
from Third-Party Claims. The Claim Notice must contain (i) a description and,
if
known, estimated amount (the “Claimed
Amount”)
of any Liabilities incurred or reasonably expected to be incurred by the
Indemnified Party, (ii) a reasonable explanation of the basis for the Claim
Notice to the extent of facts then known by the Indemnified Party, and (iii)
a
demand for payment of those Liabilities. No delay or deficiency on the part
of
the Indemnified Party in so notifying the Indemnifying Party will relieve the
Indemnifying Party of any liability or obligation hereunder except to the extent
of any Liabilities caused by or arising out of such failure.
(b) Within
30 days after delivery of a Claim Notice, the Indemnifying Party will deliver
to
the Indemnified Party a written response in which the Indemnifying Party will
either: (i) agree that the Indemnified Party is entitled to receive all of
the
Claimed Amount and, in which case, the Indemnifying Party will pay the Claimed
Amount in accordance with a payment and distribution method reasonably
acceptable to the Indemnified Party; or (ii) dispute that the Indemnified Party
is entitled to receive all or any portion of the Claimed Amount.
(c) In
the event that the Indemnifying Party disputes all or any portion of the Claimed
Amount, as soon as practicable but in no event later than 10 days after the
receipt of the notice referenced in Section 5.3(b)(ii), the parties will begin
the process to resolve the matter in accordance with the dispute resolution
provisions of Article X hereof. Upon ultimate resolution thereof, the parties
will take such actions as are reasonably necessary to comply with such agreement
or instructions.
(d) In
the event that the Indemnified Party receives notice or otherwise learns of
the
assertion by a Person who is not a member of either Group of any claim or the
commencement of any Action (collectively, a “Third-Party
Claim”)
with respect to which the Indemnifying Party may be obligated to provide
indemnification under this Article V, the Indemnified Party will promptly give
written notification to the Indemnifying Party of the Third-Party Claim. Such
notification will be accompanied by reasonable supporting documentation
submitted by such third party (to the extent then in the possession of the
Indemnified Party) and will describe in reasonable detail (to the extent known
by the Indemnified Party) the facts constituting the basis for such Third-Party
Claim and the amount of the claimed Liabilities; provided,
however,
that no delay or deficiency on the part of the Indemnified Party in so notifying
the Indemnifying Party will relieve the Indemnifying Party of any Liability
or
obligation hereunder except to the extent of any Liabilities caused by or
arising out of such failure.
(e) Within
20 days after delivery of such notification, the Indemnifying Party may, upon
written notice thereof to the Indemnified Party, assume control of the defense
of such Third-Party Claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party. During any period in which the Indemnifying Party has not
so
assumed control of such defense, the Indemnified Party will control such
defense. The party not controlling such defense (the “Non-controlling
Party”)
may participate therein at its own expense; provided,
however,
that if the Indemnifying Party assumes control of such defense and the
Indemnified Party concludes, upon the written opinion of counsel, that the
Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party have conflicting interests or
different defenses available with respect to such Third-Party Claim, the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Indemnified Party will be
considered Liabilities for purposes of this Agreement. The party controlling
such defense (the “Controlling
Party”)
will keep the Non-controlling Party reasonably advised of the status of such
Third-Party Claim and the defense thereof and will consider in good faith
recommendations made by the Non-controlling Party with respect thereto. The
Non-controlling Party will furnish the Controlling Party with such Information
as it may have with respect to such Third-Party Claim (including copies of
any
summons, complaint or other pleading which may have been served on such party
and any written claim, demand, invoice, billing or other document evidencing
or
asserting the same) and will otherwise cooperate with and assist the Controlling
Party in the defense of such Third-Party Claim.
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(f) The
Indemnifying Party will not agree to any settlement of, or the entry of any
judgment arising from, any such Third-Party Claim without the prior written
consent of the Indemnified Party, which consent will not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed; provided,
however,
that the consent of the Indemnified Party will not be required if (A) the
Indemnifying Party agrees in writing to pay any amounts payable pursuant to
such
settlement or judgment, (B) such settlement or judgment includes a full,
complete and unconditional release of the Indemnified Party from further
Liability and (C) the Indemnifying Party reasonably determines that such
settlement or judgment will not subject the Indemnified Party to the risk of
an
enhanced penalty in any future Action similar to the applicable Third-Party
Claim. The Indemnified Party will not agree to any settlement of, or the entry
of any judgment arising from, any such Third-Party Claim without the prior
written consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent will not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed.
Section
5.4. Limitations. (a)
The amount of any Liabilities for which indemnification is provided under this
Agreement will be net of any Tax Benefit and any amounts actually recovered
by
the Indemnified Party from any third Person (including, without limitation,
amounts actually recovered under insurance policies) with respect to such
Liabilities. Any Indemnifying Party hereunder will be subrogated to the rights
of the Indemnified Party upon payment in full of the amount of the relevant
indemnifiable Liabilities. An insurer who would otherwise be obligated to pay
any claim will not be relieved of the responsibility with respect thereto or,
solely by virtue of the indemnification provision hereof, have any subrogation
rights with respect thereto. If any Indemnified Party recovers an amount from
a
third Person in respect of Liabilities for which indemnification is provided
in
this Agreement after the full amount of such indemnifiable Liabilities has
been
paid by an Indemnifying Party or after an Indemnifying Party has made a partial
payment of such indemnifiable Liabilities and the amount received from the
third
Person exceeds the remaining unpaid balance of such indemnifiable Liabilities,
then the Indemnified Party will promptly remit to the Indemnifying Party the
excess (if any) of (I) the sum of the amount theretofore paid by such
Indemnifying Party in respect of such indemnifiable Liabilities plus the amount
received from the third Person in respect thereof, less
(II)
the full amount of such indemnifiable Liabilities and any previously unpaid
or
unreimbursed expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) incurred by such
Indemnified Party in collecting such amount from such third Person.
(b) Any
indemnification payment made under this Agreement and any payment made by
Worldwide to Tronox pursuant to Section 3.5(a) will be characterized for Tax
purposes as a contribution or distribution made prior to the completion of
the
Firm Offering or payment of an assumed or retained liability, as
applicable.
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(c) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in Section 5.1 or Section 5.2, indemnification with
respect to Taxes shall be governed exclusively by the Tax Sharing
Agreement.
(d) Worldwide’s
and Tronox’s indemnity obligations under Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of this Agreement
shall be reduced to reflect any Tax Benefit (as defined below) realized, in
the
year in which the indemnity payment is required to be made or in any prior
year,
by the Indemnified Party or any of its Affiliates. To the extent that the claim
with respect to which an indemnity obligation arises has not given rise to
a Tax
Benefit in a prior year or in the year in which the indemnity payment is to
be
made, but gives rise to a Tax Benefit in a later year, the Indemnified Party
shall pay to the Indemnifying Party the amount of such Tax Benefit. For purposes
of this Agreement, “Tax
Benefit”
means any deduction, amortization, exclusion from income or other allowance
that
actually reduces in cash the amount of Tax Parent,
Tronox or their respective Affiliates (as applicable)
would have been required to pay (or actually increases in cash the amount of
Tax
refund to which Parent, Tronox or their respective Affiliates (as applicable)
would have been entitled) in the absence of the item giving rise to the
indemnity claim. For purposes of determining the amount of any payment due
to an
Indemnified Party pursuant to this Section 5.4(d), Parent, Tronox and their
respective Affiliates shall be deemed to use all other deductions,
amortizations, exclusions from income or other allowances (to the extent that
such deductions, amortizations, exclusions from income or other allowances
are
entitled to be used under applicable Tax law) prior to the use of any Tax
Benefits in respect of which the Indemnifying Party is obligated to pay the
Indemnified Party hereunder.
(e) NOTWITHSTANDING
ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT TO THE
CONTRARY, IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY OR ANY OF ITS GROUP MEMBERS BE LIABLE
FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, COLLATERAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE
DAMAGES OR LOST PROFITS SUFFERED BY AN INDEMNIFIED PARTY, HOWEVER CAUSED AND
ON
ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DAMAGES ARISING HEREUNDER OR
THEREUNDER; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,
THAT TO THE EXTENT AN INDEMNIFIED PARTY IS REQUIRED TO PAY ANY SPECIAL,
INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, COLLATERAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OR LOST
PROFITS TO A PERSON WHO IS NOT A MEMBER OF EITHER GROUP IN CONNECTION WITH
A
THIRD-PARTY CLAIM, SUCH DAMAGES WILL CONSTITUTE DIRECT DAMAGES AND NOT SUBJECT
TO THE LIMITATION SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 5.4(e).
Section
5.5. Production
of Witnesses and Documents.
If an Indemnifying Party chooses to defend or to seek to compromise or settle
any Third-Party Claim, the other party shall use its commercially reasonable
efforts to make available to such Indemnifying Party, upon written request,
the
former, current and future directors, officers, employees, other personnel
and
agents of the members of its respective Group as witnesses and any books,
records or other documents within its control or which it otherwise has the
ability to make available, to the extent that any such person (giving
consideration to business demands of such directors, officers, employees, other
personnel and agents) or books, records or other documents may reasonably be
required in connection with such defense, settlement or compromise, or such
prosecution, evaluation or pursuit, as the case may be, and shall otherwise
cooperate in such defense, settlement or compromise, or such prosecution,
evaluation or pursuit, as the case may be.
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ARTICLE
VI
FINANCIAL
PROCEDURES, CONTROLS AND REPORTING
Section
6.1. Financial
Information. (a)
(i) Tronox will, and will cause each other member of the Tronox Group to,
maintain, as of and after the Effective Date, disclosure controls and procedures
and internal control over financial reporting as defined in Exchange Act Rule
13a-15; (ii) Tronox will cause each of its principal executive and principal
financial officers to sign and deliver certifications to Tronox’s periodic
reports and will include the certifications in Tronox’s periodic reports, as and
when required pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14 and Item 601 of Regulation
S-K of the Commission; (iii) Tronox will cause its management to evaluate
Tronox’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial
reporting (including any change in internal control over financial reporting)
as
and when required pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15; (iv) Tronox will
disclose in its periodic reports filed with the Commission information
concerning Tronox management’s responsibilities for and evaluation of Tronox’s
disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting
(including, without limitation, the annual management report and attestation
report of Tronox’s independent auditors relating to internal control over
financial reporting) as and when required under Items 307 and 308 of Regulation
S-K and other applicable Commission rules; and (v) without limiting the general
application of the foregoing, Tronox will, and will cause each other member
of
the Tronox Group to, maintain as of and after the Effective Date internal
systems and procedures that will provide reasonable assurance that (A) the
Financial Statements are reliable and timely prepared in accordance with GAAP
and applicable law, (B) all transactions of members of the Tronox Group are
recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of the Financial Statements,
(C)
the receipts and expenditures of members of the Tronox Group are authorized
at
the appropriate level within Tronox, and (D) unauthorized use or disposition
of
the assets of any member of the Tronox Group that could have material effect
on
the Financial Statements is prevented or detected in a timely manner.
(b) Tronox
will, and will cause each member of the Tronox Group to, maintain a fiscal
year
that commences and ends on the same calendar days as Parent’s fiscal year
commences and ends, and to maintain monthly accounting periods that commence
and
end on the same calendar days as Parent’s monthly accounting periods commence
and end.
(c) No
later than eight Business Days after the end of each of Tronox’s monthly
accounting periods following the Effective Date, Tronox will deliver to Parent
a
consolidated income statement and balance sheet for Tronox for such period
in
such format and detail as Parent may request, and no later than 12 Business
Days
after the end of each of Tronox’s fiscal quarters following the Effective Date,
Tronox will deliver to Parent a consolidated statement of cash flows for Tronox
for such period in such format and detail as Parent may request.
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(d) As
soon as practicable, and in any event no later than the earlier of (x) 10
Business Days prior to the date on which Tronox is required to file a Form
10-Q
or other document containing Quarterly Financial Statements with the Commission
for each of Tronox’s first three fiscal quarters in each fiscal year and (y) 10
Business Days prior to the date on which Parent has notified Tronox that Parent
intends to file its Form 10-Q or other document containing quarterly financial
statements with the Commission, Tronox will deliver to Parent drafts of the
following:
(i) the
consolidated financial statements of the Tronox Group (and notes thereto) for
such periods and for the period from the beginning of the current fiscal year
to
the end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form for
each
such fiscal quarter of Tronox the consolidated figures (and notes thereto)
for
the corresponding quarter and periods of the previous fiscal year and all in
reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation
S-X
and GAAP, and
(ii) a
discussion and analysis by Tronox’s management of the Tronox Group’s financial
condition and results of operations for such fiscal period, including, without
limitation, an explanation of any material period-to-period change and any
off-balance sheet transactions, all in reasonable detail and prepared in
accordance with Item 303(b) and 305 of Regulation S-K;
provided,
however,
that Tronox will deliver such information at such earlier time upon Parent’s
written request with 30 days’ notice resulting from Parent’s determination to
accelerate the timing of the filing of its financial statements with the
Commission. The information set forth in (i) and (ii) above is referred to
in
this Agreement as the “Quarterly
Financial Statements.”
No later than the earlier of (x) three Business Days prior to the date Tronox
publicly files the Quarterly Financial Statements with the Commission or
otherwise makes such Quarterly Financial Statements publicly available or (y)
three Business Days prior to the date on which Parent has notified Tronox that
Parent intends to file Parent’s quarterly financial statements with the
Commission, Tronox will deliver to Parent the final form of its quarterly report
on Form 10-Q and certifications thereof by Tronox’s principal executive and
financial officers in substantially the forms required under Commission rules
for periodic reports and in form and substance satisfactory to Parent;
provided,
however,
that Tronox may continue to revise such quarterly report on Form 10-Q prior
to
the filing thereof in order to make corrections and non-substantive changes
which corrections and changes will be delivered by Tronox to Parent as soon
as
practicable, and in any event within eight hours thereafter; provided,
further,
that Parent’s and Tronox’s financial Representatives will actively consult with
each other regarding any changes (whether or not substantive) which Tronox
may
consider making to its quarterly report on Form 10-Q and related disclosures
during the three Business Days immediately prior to any anticipated filing
with
the Commission, with particular focus on any changes which would have an effect
upon Parent’s financial statements or related disclosures. In addition to the
foregoing, no quarterly report on Form 10-Q or any other document that refers,
or contains information not previously publicly disclosed with respect to the
ownership of Tronox by Parent, the separation of Tronox from Parent or the
Exchange or Distribution will be filed with the Commission or otherwise made
public by any Tronox Group member without the prior written consent of Parent.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.1(d), Tronox will
use
its commercially reasonable efforts to file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q
with the Commission on the same date that Parent files Parent’s quarterly
financial statements with the Commission unless otherwise required by applicable
law.
(e) As
soon as practicable, and in any event no later than
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(i) the
earlier of (x) 15 Business Days prior to the date on which Tronox is required
to
file a Form 10-K or other document containing its Annual Financial Statements
with the Commission and (y) 15 Business Days prior to the date on which Parent
has notified Tronox that Parent intends to file its Form 10-K or other document
containing annual financial statements with the Commission, Tronox will deliver
to Parent (A) any financial and other information and data with respect to
the
Tronox Group and their business, properties, financial position, results of
operations and prospects as is reasonably requested by Parent in connection
with
the preparation of Parent’s financial statements and annual report on Form 10-K
and (B) a discussion and analysis by Tronox’s management of the Tronox Group’s
financial condition and results of operations for such year, including, without
limitation, an explanation of any material period-to-period change and any
off-balance sheet transactions, all in reasonable detail and prepared in
accordance with Items 303(a) and 305 of Regulation S-K; and
(ii) the
earlier of (x) 7 Business Days prior to the date on which Tronox is required
to
file a Form 10-K or other document containing its Annual Financial Statements
with the Commission and (y) 7 Business Days prior to the date on which Parent
has notified Tronox that Parent intends to file its Form 10-K or other document
containing annual financial statements with the Commission, Tronox will deliver
to Parent, drafts of the consolidated financial statements of the Tronox Group
(and notes thereto) for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative
form the consolidated figures (and notes thereto) for the previous fiscal years
and all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X
and
GAAP.
The
information set forth in (i) and (ii) above is referred to in this Agreement
as
the “Annual
Financial Statements.”
Tronox will deliver to Parent all revisions to such drafts as soon as any such
revisions are prepared or made. No later than the earlier of (A) five Business
Days prior to the date Tronox publicly files the annual report on Form 10-K
with
the Commission or otherwise makes such annual report on Form 10-K publicly
available or (B) five Business Days prior to the date on which Parent has
notified Tronox that Parent intends to file the Parent Annual Statements (as
defined below) with the Commission, Tronox will deliver to Parent the final
form
of its annual report on Form 10-K and certifications thereof by Tronox’s
principal executive and financial officers in substantially the forms required
under Commission rules for periodic reports and in form and substance
satisfactory to Parent; provided,
however,
that Tronox may continue to revise such annual report on Form 10-K prior to
the
filing thereof in order to make corrections and non-substantive changes which
corrections and changes will be delivered by Tronox to Parent as soon as
practicable, and in any event within eight hours thereafter; provided,
further,
that Parent and Tronox financial Representatives will consult actively with
each
other regarding any changes (whether or not substantive) which Tronox may
consider making to its annual report on Form 10-K and related disclosures during
the three Business Days immediately prior to any anticipated filing with the
Commission, with particular focus on any changes which would have an effect
upon
Parent’s financial statements or related disclosures. In addition to the
foregoing, no annual report on Form 10-K or any other document that refers,
or
contains information not previously publicly disclosed with respect, to the
ownership of Tronox by Parent, the separation of Tronox from Parent or the
Exchange or Distribution will be filed with the Commission or otherwise made
public by any Tronox Group member without the prior written consent of Parent.
In any event, Tronox will deliver to Parent, no later than three days prior
to
the date on which Parent has notified Tronox that Parent intends to file the
Parent Annual Statements with the Commission, the final form of the annual
report on Form 10-K accompanied by an opinion on the annual financial statements
included therein by Tronox’s independent certified public accountants.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.1(e), Tronox will
use
its commercially reasonable efforts to file its Annual Financial Statements
with
the Commission on the same date that Parent files the Parent Annual Statements
with the Commission unless otherwise required by applicable law.
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(f) Tronox
will deliver to Parent all Quarterly and Annual Financial Statements of each
Tronox Affiliate that is itself required to file financial statements with
the
Commission or otherwise make such financial statements publicly available,
with
such financial statements to be provided in the same manner and detail and
on
the same time schedule as those financial statements of Tronox required to
be
delivered to Parent pursuant to this Section 6.1.
(g) With
reasonable promptness, Tronox will deliver to Parent such additional financial
and other information and data with respect to the Tronox Group and their
business, properties, financial positions, results of operations and prospects
as from time to time may be reasonably requested by Parent.
Section
6.2. Conformity
with Parent Financial Presentation.
All information provided by any Tronox Group member to Parent or filed with
the
Commission pursuant to Section 6.1(a) through (g) inclusive will be consistent
in terms of detail and otherwise with Parent’s policies with respect to the
application of GAAP and practices in effect on the Effective Date with respect
to the provision of such financial information by such Tronox Group member
to
Parent (and, where appropriate, as presently presented in financial reports
to
the Board), with such changes therein as may be requested by Parent from time
to
time consistent with changes in such accounting principles and practices.
Section
6.3. Tronox
Reports Generally.
Each Tronox Group member that files information with the Commission will deliver
to Parent the following:
(a) substantially
final drafts, as soon as the same are prepared, of (x) all reports, notices
and
proxy and information statements to be sent or made available by such Tronox
Group member to its respective security holders, (y) all regular, periodic
and
other reports to be filed or furnished under Sections 13, 14 and 15 of the
Exchange Act (including Reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and Annual Reports
to Stockholders), and (z) all registration statements and prospectuses to be
filed by such Tronox Group member with the Commission or any securities exchange
pursuant to the listed company manual (or similar requirements) of such exchange
(collectively, the documents identified in clauses (x), (y) and (z) are referred
to in this Agreement as “Tronox
Public Documents”),
and
(b) as
soon as practicable, but in no event later than four Business Days (other than
with respect to 8-Ks) prior to the earliest of the dates the same are printed,
sent or filed, current drafts of all such Tronox Public Documents and, with
respect to 8-Ks, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than two Business
Days prior to the earliest of the dates the same are printed, sent or
filed;
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provided,
however,
that, in each case, Tronox may continue to revise such Tronox Public Documents
prior to the filing thereof in order to make corrections and non-substantive
changes which corrections and changes will be delivered by Tronox to Parent
as
soon as practicable, and in any event within eight hours thereafter;
provided,
further,
that Parent and Tronox financial Representatives will consult actively with
each
other regarding any changes (whether or not substantive) which Tronox may
consider making to any of its Tronox Public Documents and related disclosures
prior to any anticipated filing with the Commission, with particular focus
on
any changes which would have an effect upon Parent’s financial statements or
related disclosures. In addition to the foregoing, no Tronox Public Document
or
any other document which refers, or contains information not previously publicly
disclosed with respect, to the ownership of Tronox by Parent, the separation
of
Tronox from Parent or the Exchange or Distribution will be filed with the
Commission or otherwise made public by any Tronox Group member without the
prior
written consent of Parent.
Section
6.4. Budgets
and Financial Projections.
Tronox will, as promptly as practicable, deliver to Parent copies of all annual
and other budgets and financial projections (consistent in terms of format
and
detail and otherwise required by Parent) relating to Tronox on a consolidated
basis and will provide Parent an opportunity to meet with management of Tronox
to discuss such budgets and projections.
Section
6.5. Press
Releases and Similar Information.
Tronox and Parent will consult with each other as to the timing of their annual
and quarterly earnings releases and any interim financial guidance for a current
or future period and will give each other the opportunity to review the
information therein relating to the Tronox Group and to comment thereon. Parent
and Tronox will make reasonable efforts to issue their respective annual and
quarterly earnings releases at approximately the same time on the same date.
No
later than eight hours prior to the time and date that a party intends to
publish its regular annual or quarterly earnings release or any financial
guidance for a current or future period, such party will deliver to the other
party copies of substantially final drafts of all press releases and other
statements to be made available by any member of that party’s Group to employees
of any member of that party’s Group or to the public concerning any matters that
could be reasonably likely to have a material financial impact on the earnings,
results of operations, financial condition or prospects of any Tronox Group
member. In addition, prior to the issuance of any such press release or public
statement that meets the criteria set forth in the preceding two sentences,
the
issuing party will consult with the other party regarding any changes (other
than typographical or other similar minor changes) to such substantially final
drafts. Immediately following the issuance thereof, the issuing party will
deliver to the other party copies of final drafts of all press releases and
other public statements.
Section
6.6. Cooperation
on Parent Filings. (a)
Tronox will cooperate fully, and cause Tronox’s Auditors to cooperate fully,
with Parent to the extent requested by Parent in the preparation of Parent’s
public earnings or other press releases, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Annual
Reports to Stockholders, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, any Current Reports on
Form 8-K and any other proxy, information and registration statements, reports,
notices, prospectuses and any other filings made by Parent with the Commission,
any national securities exchange or otherwise made publicly available
(collectively, the “Parent
Public Filings”).
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(b) Tronox
agrees to provide to Parent all information that Parent reasonably requests
in
connection with any Parent Public Filings or that, in the judgment of Parent’s
legal department, is required to be disclosed or incorporated by reference
therein under any law, rule or regulation. Tronox will provide such information
in a timely manner on the dates requested by Parent (which may be earlier than
the dates on which Tronox otherwise would be required hereunder to have such
information available) to enable Parent to prepare, print and release all Parent
Public Filings on such dates as Parent will determine but in no event later
than
as required by applicable law. Tronox will use its commercially reasonable
efforts to cause Tronox’s Auditors to consent to any reference to them as
experts in any Parent Public Filings required under any law, rule or regulation.
(c) If
and to the extent requested by Parent, Tronox diligently and promptly will
review all drafts of such Parent Public Filings and prepare in a diligent and
timely fashion any portion of such Parent Public Filing pertaining to Tronox.
(d) Prior
to any printing or public release of any Parent Public Filing, an appropriate
executive officer of Tronox will, if requested by Parent, certify that the
information relating to any Tronox Group member or the business conducted by
any
Tronox Group member in such Parent Public Filing is accurate, true, complete
and
correct in all material respects.
(e) Unless
required by law, rule or regulation, Tronox will not release publicly any
financial or other information which conflicts with the information with respect
to any Tronox Group member or the business conducted by any Tronox Group member
that is included in any Parent Public Filing without Parent’s prior written
consent. Prior to the release or filing thereof, Parent will provide Tronox
with
a draft of any portion of a Parent Public Filing containing information relating
to the Tronox Group and will give Tronox an opportunity to review such
information and comment thereon; provided,
that Parent will determine in its sole and absolute discretion the final form
and content of all Parent Public Filings.
Section
6.7. Termination
of Article VI.
The provisions of this Article VI shall apply for as long as Parent is required
to consolidate the results of operations and financial position of Tronox and
any other members of the Tronox Group or to account for its investment in Tronox
under the equity method of accounting (determined in accordance with GAAP and
consistent with Commission reporting requirements).
ARTICLE
VII
AUDITORS
AND ACCOUNTING
Section
7.1. Auditors
and Audits; Annual Statements and Accounting. (a) Unless
required by law, Tronox will not select a different accounting firm than Ernst
& Young LLP (or its affiliate accounting firms) (unless so directed by
Parent in accordance with a change by Parent in its accounting firm) to serve
as
its (and the Tronox Affiliates’) independent certified public accountants
(“Tronox’s
Auditors”)
without Parent’s prior written consent (which will not be unreasonably
withheld); provided,
however,
that, to the extent any such Tronox Affiliates are currently using a different
accounting firm to serve as their independent certified public accountants,
such
Tronox Affiliates may continue to use such accounting firm provided such
accounting firm is reasonably satisfactory to Parent.
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(b) Tronox
will use its commercially reasonable efforts to enable Tronox’s Auditors to
complete their audit such that they will date their opinion on the Annual
Financial Statements on the same date that Parent’s independent certified public
accountants (“Parent’s
Auditors”)
date their opinion on Parent’s audited annual financial statements (the
“Parent
Annual Statements”),
and to enable Parent to meet its timetable for the printing, filing and public
dissemination of the Parent Annual Statements, all in accordance with Article
VI
hereof and as required by applicable law.
(c) Tronox
will provide to Parent on a timely basis all information that Parent reasonably
requires to meet its schedule for the preparation, printing, filing, and public
dissemination of the Parent Annual Statements in accordance with Article VI
hereof and as required by applicable law. Without limiting the generality of
the
foregoing, Tronox will provide all required financial information with respect
to the Tronox Group to Tronox’s Auditors in a sufficient and reasonable time and
in sufficient detail to permit Tronox’s Auditors to take all steps and perform
all reviews necessary to provide sufficient assistance to Parent’s Auditors with
respect to information to be included or contained in the Parent Annual
Statements.
(d) Tronox
will authorize Tronox’s Auditors to make available to Parent’s Auditors both the
personnel who performed, or are performing, the annual audit of Tronox and
work
papers related to the annual audit of Tronox, in all cases within a reasonable
time prior to Tronox’s Auditors’ opinion date, so that Parent’s Auditors are
able to perform the procedures they consider necessary to take responsibility
for the work of Tronox’s Auditors as it relates to Parent’s Auditors’ report on
Parent’s statements, all within sufficient time to enable Parent to meet its
timetable for the printing, filing and public dissemination of the Parent Annual
Statements.
(e) If
Parent determines in good faith that there may be some inaccuracy in a Tronox
Group member’s financial statements or deficiency in a Tronox Group member’s
internal accounting controls or operations that could materially impact Parent’s
financial statements, at Parent’s request, Tronox will provide Parent’s internal
auditors with access to the Tronox Group’s books and records so that Parent may
conduct reasonable audits relating to the financial statements provided by
Tronox under this Agreement as well as to the internal accounting controls
and
operations of the Tronox Group.
Section
7.2. Notice
of Changes. Subject
to Section 7.1, Tronox will give Parent as much prior notice as reasonably
practicable of any proposed determination of, or any significant changes in,
Tronox’s accounting estimates or accounting principles from those in effect on
the Effective Date. Tronox will consult with Parent and, if requested by Parent,
Tronox will consult with Parent’s Auditors with respect thereto. Tronox will not
make any such determination or changes without Parent’s prior written consent if
such a determination or a change would be sufficiently material to be required
to be disclosed in Tronox’s or Parent’s financial statements as filed with the
Commission or otherwise publicly disclosed therein.
Section
7.3. Accounting
Changes Requested by Parent. Notwithstanding
Section 7.2 above, Tronox will make any changes in its accounting estimates
or
accounting principles that reasonably are requested by Parent in order for
Tronox’s accounting practices and principles to be consistent with those of
Parent.
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Section
7.4. Special
Reports of Deficiencies or Violations. Tronox
will report in reasonable detail to Parent the following events or circumstances
promptly after any executive officer of Tronox or any member of the Tronox
Board
of Directors becomes aware of such matter:
(a) all
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation
of
internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to
adversely affect Tronox’s ability to record, process, summarize and report
financial information;
(b) any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
who
have a significant role in Tronox’s internal control over financial reporting;
(c) any
illegal act within the meaning of Section 10A(b) and (f) of the Exchange Act;
and
(d) any
report of a material violation of law that an attorney representing any Tronox
Group member has formally made to any officers or directors of Tronox pursuant
to the Commission’s attorney conduct rules (17 C.F.R. Part 205).
Section
7.5. Termination
of Article VII.
The provisions of this Article VII shall apply for as long as Parent is required
to consolidate the results of operations and financial position of Tronox and
any other members of the Tronox Group or to account for its investment in Tronox
under the equity method of accounting (determined in accordance with GAAP and
consistent with Commission reporting requirements).
ARTICLE
VIII
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Section
8.1. Stockholder
Voting Rights.
For as long as the Parent Group owns beneficially shares representing at least
a
majority of the total voting power of all classes of the then outstanding shares
of capital stock of Tronox entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors (the “Tronox
Voting Stock”),
then the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of Tronox
shall provide that:
(i) any
director or the entire Tronox Board of Directors may be removed from office
at
any time with or without cause, but only by the affirmative vote of the holders
of at least a majority of the total voting power of the Tronox Voting
Stock;
(ii) any
vacancies on the Tronox Board of Directors caused by an action of the
stockholders shall be filled by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
a majority of the total voting power of the Tronox Voting Stock;
(iii) the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the total voting
power
of the Tronox Voting Stock shall be required to alter, amend or repeal any
provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (as each may be
amended from time to time) of Tronox;
(iv) any
action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of
Tronox stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and
without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken,
shall be signed by the holders of outstanding capital stock having not less
than
the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such
action at a meeting at which all shares of capital stock entitled to vote
thereon were present and voted; and
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(v) special
meetings of Tronox stockholders may be called by Parent.
Section
8.2. Corporate
Governance. (a)
Tronox will not, without the prior written consent of Parent (which Parent
may
withhold in its sole and absolute discretion), take, or cause to be taken,
directly or indirectly, any action, including making or failing to make any
election under the law of any state, which has the effect, directly or
indirectly, of restricting or limiting the ability of Parent freely to sell,
transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise dispose of shares of Tronox Class B Common
Stock or would restrict or limit the rights of any transferee of Parent as
a
holder of Tronox Class B Common Stock. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, Tronox will not, without the prior written consent of Parent (which
Parent may withhold in its sole and absolute discretion), take any action,
or
take any action to recommend to its stockholders any action, which would, among
other things, limit the legal rights of, or deny any benefit to, Parent as
a
Tronox stockholder either (i) solely as a result of the amount of Tronox Class
B
Common Stock owned by Parent or (ii) in a manner not applicable to Tronox
stockholders generally.
(b) Tronox
shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent (which it may withhold
in
its sole and absolute discretion), issue any shares of Tronox capital stock
or
any rights, warrants or options to acquire Tronox capital stock (including,
without limitation, securities convertible into or exchangeable for Tronox
capital stock), if after giving effect to such issuances and considering all
of
the shares of Tronox capital stock acquirable pursuant to such rights, warrants
and options to be outstanding on the date of such issuance (whether or not
then
exercisable), Parent would own directly or indirectly less than (i) a majority
of the outstanding shares of Tronox Common Stock (on a fully-diluted basis)
or
(ii) 80% of the total voting power of all classes of the then outstanding Tronox
Voting Stock; provided
that the restriction contained in Section 8.2(b)(i) shall not apply to any
shares of Tronox Common Stock or any options to acquire Tronox Common Stock
issued to directors, officers or employees of Tronox in connection with the
performance of services unless, after giving effect to such issuance, any such
director, officer or employee would own 5% or more of the outstanding shares
of
Tronox Common Stock (on a fully diluted basis). Tronox shall not, without the
prior written consent of Parent (which it may withhold in its sole discretion
and absolute discretion) issue any share of non-voting capital stock of
Tronox.
(c) To
the extent that Parent is a party to any agreements that provide that certain
actions or inactions of Parent Affiliates (which for purposes of such agreement
includes any member of the Tronox Group) may result in Parent being in breach
of
or in default under such agreements and Parent has advised Tronox of the
existence, and has furnished Tronox with copies, of such agreements (or the
relevant portions thereof), Tronox will not take or fail to take, as applicable,
and Tronox will cause the other members of the Tronox Group not to take or
fail
to take, as applicable, any actions that reasonably could result in Parent
being
in breach of or in default under any such agreement. The parties acknowledge
and
agree that from time to time Parent may in good faith (and not solely with
the
intention of imposing restrictions on Tronox pursuant to this covenant) enter
into additional agreements or amendments to existing agreements that provide
that certain actions or inactions of Parent Subsidiaries or Affiliates
(including, for purposes of this Section 8.2(c), members of the Tronox Group)
may result in Parent being in breach of or in default under such agreements.
In
such event, provided Parent has notified Tronox of such additional agreements
or
amendments to existing agreements, Tronox will not thereafter take or fail
to
take, as applicable, and Tronox will cause the other members of the Tronox
Group
not to take or fail to take, as applicable, any actions that reasonably could
result in Parent being in breach of or in default under any such additional
agreements or amendments to existing agreements. Parent acknowledges and agrees
that Tronox will not be deemed in breach of this Section 8.2(c) to the extent
that, prior to being notified by Parent of an additional agreement or an
amendment to an existing agreement pursuant to this Section 8.2(c), a Tronox
Group member already has taken or failed to take one or more actions that would
otherwise constitute a breach of this Section 8.2(c) had such action(s) or
inaction(s) occurred after such notification; provided,
that Tronox does not, after notification by Parent, take any further action
or
fail to take any action that contributes further to such breach or default.
Tronox agrees that any Information provided to it pursuant to this Section
8.2(c) will constitute Information that is subject to Tronox’s obligations under
Article IX of this Agreement.
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(d) The
provisions of this Section 8.2 shall apply for so long as the Parent Group
owns
beneficially shares representing at least a majority of total voting power
of
the Tronox Voting Stock; provided
that the provisions of Section 8.2(b) shall apply for so long as Parent or
Worldwide owns a majority of the Tronox Common Stock.
Section
8.3. Charter,
Bylaws and other Governance Documents.
At or prior to the Closing Date, Parent and Tronox each shall take all actions
that may be required to provide for the adoption by Tronox of the Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Tronox, substantially in the form
attached as Exhibit B, the Amended and Restated Bylaws of Tronox, substantially
in the form attached as Exhibit C and the Rights Agreement of Tronox,
substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D.
Section
8.4. Incurrence
of Indebtedness. (a)
Tronox covenants and agrees that after the consummation of the Initial Public
Offering and through the Separation Date, Tronox will not, and Tronox will
not
permit any other member of the Tronox Group to, without Parent’s prior written
consent (which Parent may withhold in its sole and absolute discretion),
directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness.
(b) Tronox
hereby covenants and agrees that, for so long as Tronox constitutes a
“subsidiary,” as such term is defined, any Contract pursuant to which any member
of the Parent Group is a party with respect to Indebtedness incurred by Parent
or any member of the Parent Group, Tronox will not, and Tronox will not permit
any other member of the Tronox Group to, without Parent’s prior written consent
(which Parent may withhold in its sole and absolute discretion), create, incur,
assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness if the incurrence of such
Indebtedness would cause Parent to be in breach of or in default under such
Contract the existence of which Parent has advised Tronox and of which Parent
has furnished Tronox a copy, or if the incurrence of such Tronox Indebtedness
would be reasonably likely to adversely impact the credit rating of any
Indebtedness of Parent.
(c) In
order to implement this Section 8.4, Tronox will notify Parent in writing at
least 45 days prior to the time it or any other member of the Tronox Group
contemplates incurring any Indebtedness and will either (i) demonstrate to
Parent’s satisfaction that this Section 8.4 will not be violated by such
proposed Indebtedness or (ii) obtain Parent’s prior written consent to the
incurrence of such proposed Indebtedness. Any such written notification from
Tronox to Parent will include documentation of any existing Indebtedness of
the
Tronox Group and estimated Indebtedness of the Tronox Group after giving effect
to such proposed incurrence of such Indebtedness. Parent will have the right
to
verify the accuracy of such information and Tronox will cooperate fully with
Parent in such effort (including, without limitation, by providing Parent with
access to the working papers and underlying documentation related to any
calculations used in determining such information).
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ARTICLE
IX
EXCHANGE
OF INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY; COOPERATION IN ACTIONS
Section
9.1. Agreement
for Exchange of Information; Archives. (a)
Each of Parent and Tronox, on behalf of its respective Group, agrees to provide,
or cause to be provided, to the other Group, at any time before or after the
Separation Date, as soon as reasonably practicable after written request
therefor, any Information in the possession or under the control of such
respective Group which the requesting party reasonably needs (i) to comply
with
reporting, disclosure, filing or other requirements imposed on the requesting
party (including under applicable securities or tax laws) by a Governmental
Authority having jurisdiction over the requesting party, (ii) for use in any
other judicial, regulatory, administrative, tax or other proceeding or in order
to satisfy audit, accounting, claims, regulatory, litigation, tax or other
similar requirements, in each case other than claims or allegations that one
party to this Agreement has against the other, or (iii) subject to the foregoing
clause (ii), to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement; provided,
however,
that in the event that any party determines that any such provision of
Information could be commercially detrimental, violate any law or agreement,
or
waive any attorney-client privilege, the parties shall take all reasonable
measures to permit the compliance with such obligations in a manner that avoids
any such harm or consequence.
(b) After
the Closing Date, each of the Parent Group on the one hand, and the Tronox
Group
on the other hand, shall provide to such other Group reasonable access during
regular business hours (as in effect from time to time) to Information that
relates to the business and operations of such Group that are located in
archives retained or maintained by such other Group. Each Group may, at their
own expense, obtain copies of, and shall have reasonable access to, such
Information for bona fide business purposes.
Section
9.2. Ownership
of Information.
Any Information owned by one Group that is provided to a requesting party
pursuant to Section 9.1 shall be deemed to remain the property of the providing
party. Unless specifically set forth herein or in any Ancillary Agreement,
nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as granting or conferring
rights of license or otherwise in any such Information.
Section
9.3. Compensation
for Providing Information.
The party requesting Information agrees to reimburse the other party for the
reasonable out-of-pocket costs paid to third parties, if any, of creating,
gathering and copying such Information, to the extent that such costs are
incurred for the benefit of the requesting party. Except as may be otherwise
specifically provided elsewhere in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement,
such costs shall be computed in accordance with the providing party’s standard
methodology and procedures.
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Section
9.4. Record
Retention.
To facilitate the possible exchange of Information pursuant to this Article
IX
and other provisions of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements after the
Separation Date, the parties agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts
to retain all Information in their respective possession or control on the
Separation Date in accordance with the policies of Parent as in effect on the
Closing Date or such other policies as may be reasonably adopted by the
appropriate party after the Closing Date. No party will destroy, or permit
any
members of its Group to destroy, any Information that the other party may have
the right to obtain pursuant to this Agreement prior to the third anniversary
of
the date hereof without first using its commercially reasonable efforts to
notify the other party of the proposed destruction and giving the other party
the opportunity to take possession of such information prior to such
destruction; provided,
however,
that in the case of any Information relating to Taxes, employee benefits or
any
Environmental Law, such period shall be extended to the expiration of the
applicable statute of limitations (giving effect to any extensions
thereof).
Section
9.5. Limitations
of Liability.
No party shall have any liability to any other party in the event that any
Information exchanged or provided pursuant to this Agreement that is an estimate
or forecast, or that is based on an estimate or forecast, is found to be
inaccurate in the absence of willful misconduct by the party providing such
Information. No party shall have any liability to any other party if any
Information is destroyed after commercially reasonable efforts have been taken
by such party to comply with the provisions of Section 9.4.
Section
9.6. Other
Agreements Providing for Exchange of Information.
The rights and obligations granted under this Article IX are subject to any
specific limitations, qualifications or additional provisions on the sharing,
exchange, retention or confidential treatment of Information set forth in any
Ancillary Agreement.
Section
9.7. Confidentiality. (a)
Subject to Section 9.8, each of Parent and Tronox, on behalf of itself and
each
member of its respective Group, agrees to hold, and to cause its respective
directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel and other advisors
and representatives to hold, in strict confidence, with at least the same degree
of care that applies to Parent's confidential and proprietary information
pursuant to policies in effect as of the Closing Date, all Information
concerning each such other Group that is either in its possession (including
Information in its possession prior to the date hereof, the Closing Date or
the
Separation Date) or furnished by any such other Group or its respective
directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel and other advisors
and representatives at any time pursuant to this Agreement, any Ancillary
Agreement or otherwise, and shall not use any such Information other than for
such purposes as shall be expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder, except,
in each case, to the extent that such Information has been (i) in the public
domain through no fault of such party or any member of such party’s Group or any
of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel
and other advisors and representatives, (ii) later lawfully acquired from other
sources by such party (or any member of such party's Group) which sources are
not themselves bound by a confidentiality obligation, or (iii) independently
generated without reference to any proprietary or confidential Information
of
the other party.
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(b) Each
party agrees not to release or disclose, or permit to be released or disclosed,
any such Information to any other Person, except its directors, officers,
employees, agents, accountants, counsel and other advisors and representatives
who need to know such Information (who shall be advised of their obligations
hereunder with respect to such Information), except in compliance with Section
9.8. Without limiting the foregoing, when any Information is no longer needed
for the purposes contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement,
each
party will promptly after request of the other party either return to the other
party all Information in a tangible form (including all copies thereof and
all
notes, extracts or summaries based thereon) or certify to the other party that
it has destroyed such Information (and such copies thereof and such notes,
extracts or summaries based thereon).
(c) In
furtherance and not in limitation of the obligations set forth in this Section
9.7, each of Parent and Tronox shall, and shall cause members of their
respective Group to, remove and destroy any hard drives or other electronic
data
storage devices from any computer or server that is reasonably likely to contain
Information that is protected by this Section 9.7 and that is transferred or
sold to a third party or otherwise disposed of following the Closing Date.
Section
9.8. Protective
Arrangements.
In the event that any party or any member of its Group either determines on
the
advice of its counsel that it is required to disclose any Information pursuant
to applicable law or receives any demand under lawful process or from any
Governmental Authority to disclose or provide Information of any other party
(or
any member of any other party's Group) that is subject to the confidentiality
provisions hereof, such party shall notify the other party prior to disclosing
or providing such Information and shall cooperate at the expense of the
requesting party in seeking any reasonable protective arrangements requested
by
such other party. Subject to the foregoing, the Person that received such
request may thereafter disclose or provide Information to the extent required
by
such law (as so advised by counsel) or by lawful process or such Governmental
Authority.
Section
9.9. Cooperation
with respect to Actions.
(a)
Without limiting the foregoing, the parties shall cooperate and consult to
the
extent reasonably necessary with respect to any Actions. Without limiting any
provision of this Section, each of the parties agrees to cooperate, and to
cause
each member of its respective Group to cooperate, with each other in the defense
of any infringement or similar claim with respect any intellectual property
and
shall not claim to acknowledge, or permit any member of its respective Group
to
claim to acknowledge, the validity or infringing use of any intellectual
property of a third Person in a manner that would hamper or undermine the
defense of such infringement or similar claim.
(b) In
connection with any matter contemplated by this Section 9.9, the parties will
enter into a mutually acceptable joint defense agreement so as to maintain,
to
the extent practicable, any applicable attorney-client privilege or work product
immunity of any member of any Group.
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(c) After
the Closing Date, except in the case of an adversarial Action by one party
against another party, each party hereto shall use its commercially reasonable
efforts to make available to each other party, upon written request, the former,
current and future directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents
of
the members of its respective Group as witnesses and any books, records or
other
documents within its control or which it otherwise has the ability to make
available, to the extent that any such person (giving consideration to business
demands of such directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents)
or
books, records or other documents may reasonably be required in connection
with
any Action in which the requesting party may from time to time be involved,
regardless of whether such Action is a matter with respect to which
indemnification may be sought hereunder. The requesting party shall bear all
costs and expenses in connection therewith.
ARTICLE
X
DISPUTE
RESOLUTION
Section
10.1. Disputes.
The parties shall attempt to finally resolve any claim, controversy, or dispute
arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the threatened, alleged or
actual breach or default thereof by either party, as hereinafter set forth.
The
resolution procedures shall be invoked when either party sends a written notice
to the other party of the occurrence of a claim, controversy or dispute, or
of
the threatened, alleged or actual breach of this Agreement. The notice shall
describe the nature of the dispute and the party’s position with respect to such
dispute. The parties shall expeditiously schedule consultations or a meeting
between knowledgeable representatives designated by each party in an effort
to
resolve the dispute informally. Such consultations or meetings shall in no
event
occur later than 10 days after delivery of the written notice by a party under
this Section 10.1. If the parties are unable to resolve the dispute within
15
days after consultations commence, the dispute shall be submitted in writing
to
an appropriate executive officer of each party. The executive officers shall
attempt to resolve any dispute submitted to them for resolution in accordance
with this Section 10.1 through consultation and negotiation, within 30 days
after such submittal (or such longer period as may be mutually agreed by the
parties). The executive officers may request the assistance of an independent
mediator if they believe that such a mediator would be of assistance to the
efficient resolution of the dispute.
ARTICLE
XI
OTHER
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES
Section
11.1. Further
Assurances. (a)
In addition to the actions specifically provided for elsewhere in this
Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall use its commercially reasonable
efforts, prior to, on and after the Closing Date, to take, or cause to be taken,
all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things, reasonably necessary,
proper or advisable under applicable laws, regulations and agreements to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and the Ancillary Agreements.
(b) Without
limiting the foregoing, prior to, on and after the Closing Date, each party
hereto shall cooperate with the other party, and without any further
consideration, but at the expense of the requesting party, to execute and
deliver, or use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be executed
and
delivered, all instruments, including instruments of conveyance, assignment
and
transfer, and to make all filings with, and to obtain all Consents of, any
Governmental Authority or any other Person under any permit, license, agreement,
indenture or other instrument (including any Consents or Governmental
Approvals), and to take all such other actions as such party may reasonably
be
requested to take by any other party hereto from time to time, consistent with
the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, in order to effectuate
the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements
and
the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
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39
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Section
11.2. Restrictions
on Business Activities.
(a)
For the period beginning on the Separation Date and ending on the fourth
anniversary of the Separation Date, Parent agrees that neither it nor any member
of the Parent Group will engage in, directly, by joint venture, or otherwise,
or
be the owner of a business entity that primarily engages in, the manufacture
and
sale of titanium dioxide pigment (such business, a “Competitive
Business”).
(b) The
restrictions contained in Section 11.2 shall not:
(i) prohibit
Parent or any member of the Parent Group from holding less than 5% of the
outstanding capital stock of any publicly traded corporation;
(ii) prohibit
or otherwise restrict Parent or any member of the Parent Group from acquiring
an
interest, by joint venture, merger or other business combination, in a business
(the “Acquired
Business”)
that includes a Competitive Business so long as the aggregate revenues derived
by the Competitive Business included in the Acquired Business during the four
most recently completed fiscal quarters for such Acquired Business prior to
the
date on which the definitive agreement for the acquisition of the Acquired
Business is entered into do not exceed 10% of the aggregate revenues derived
by
the Acquired Business during such four fiscal quarters;
(iii) be
deemed to apply to any Person that is not a member of the Parent Group at the
time of the entering into a transaction contemplated by clauses (A), (B) or
(C)
of this clause (iii) that (A) acquires the capital stock or other equity
securities of Parent or any member of the Parent Group, (B) acquires all or
substantially all of the assets of Parent or any member of the Parent Group,
or
(C) consummates any merger, consolidation, business combination, share exchange,
reorganization or similar transaction involving Parent or any member of the
Parent Group, in each case where
immediately after giving effect to such transaction such Person or Person’s
stockholders own more than 50% of the outstanding shares of common stock or
economic interests of the surviving, resulting, successor or purchasing entity
(each of clauses (A)-(C) being an “Acquisition
Transaction”);
or
(iv) be
deemed to apply to Parent if Parent is the subject of the Acquisition
Transaction or any member of the Parent Group if such member is the subject
of
the Acquisition Transaction.
ARTICLE
XII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
12.1. Termination.
This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement may be terminated at any time prior
to the Closing Date by and in the sole discretion of the Parent without the
approval of Tronox, in which case neither Parent or Worldwide on the one hand,
nor Tronox on the other hand, will have any liability to the other hereunder.
The obligations of the parties under Article IV (including the completion of
the
Separation and the Section 355 Transaction) may be terminated if, at any time
after the Effective Date, Parent determines, in its sole and absolute
discretion, that the Separation would not be in the best interests of Parent
or
its stockholders.
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Section
12.2. Counterparts;
Entire Agreement; Corporate Power. (a)
This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement,
and
shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each
of
the parties and delivered to the other party.
(b) This
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, and the exhibits, annexes and appendices
hereto and thereto, contain the entire agreement between the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof, supersede all previous agreements,
negotiations, discussions, writings, understandings, commitments and
conversations with respect to such subject matter and there are no agreements
or
understandings between the parties other than those set forth or referred to
herein or therein.
(c) Each
of the parties represents to the other that: (i) it has the requisite corporate
or other power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action
necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform each of this Agreement and
each other Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; and (ii) this Agreement and each
Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party has been duly executed and delivered
by it and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of it enforceable in
accordance with the terms thereof, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally and general equity principles.
Section
12.3. Governing
Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial Waiver. (a)
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
laws
of the State of New York without giving effect to principles of conflicts of
laws thereof.
(b) Each
of the parties hereto (i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction
of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York or
the
Supreme Court of The State of New York, New York County in the event any dispute
arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby,
(ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal
jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, and
(iii)
agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this agreement or any
of
the transactions contemplated hereby in any court other than the United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York or the Supreme Court of
the
State of New York, New York County.
(c) EACH
OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL
BY
JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR
THE
ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS OR BY THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR
THEREBY.
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Section
12.4. Assignment.
Except
as otherwise set forth herein or in any Ancillary Agreement, this Agreement
and
each Ancillary Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the
parties hereto and thereto, respectively, and their respective successors and
permitted assigns; provided,
however,
that no party hereto or thereto may assign its respective rights or delegate
its
respective obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (unless
expressly provided therein) without the express prior written consent of the
other party hereto or thereto (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld
or
delayed).
Section
12.5. Third
Party Beneficiaries.
Except for the indemnification rights under this Agreement of any Parent
Indemnitee or Tronox Indemnitee in their respective capacities as such, (a)
the
provisions of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement are solely for the
benefit of the parties hereto and are not intended to confer upon any other
any
rights or remedies hereunder and (b) there are no third party beneficiaries
of
this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement and neither this Agreement nor any
Ancillary Agreement shall provide any third person with any remedy, claim,
liability, reimbursement, claim of action or other right in excess of those
existing without reference to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
Section
12.6. Notices.
Except as otherwise set forth in any Ancillary Agreement, all notices or other
communications under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall be in
writing (including by telecopy) and shall be deemed to be duly given or made
when delivered, or, in the case of telecopy, when received, addressed as follows
or to such other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective
party:
To
Parent or Worldwide:
|
Xxxx-XxXxx
Corporation
Xxxx-XxXxx
Worldwide Corporation
Xxxx-XxXxx
Center
000
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: General
Counsel
|
with
a copy to:
|
Xxxxxxxxx
& Xxxxxxx
0000
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
|
To
Tronox:
|
Tronox
Incorporated
000
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Chief
Executive Officer
|
with
a copy to:
|
Tronox
Incorporated
000
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: General
Counsel
|
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Section
12.7. Severability.
If any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or the application
thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions
hereof or thereof, or the application of such provision to Persons or
circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has been
held
invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in
no
way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as the economic or
legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, as the
case
may be, is not affected in any manner adverse to any party. Upon such
determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree
upon such a suitable and equitable provision to effect the original intent
of
the parties.
Section
12.8. Force
Majeure.
No party shall be deemed in default of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement
to the extent that any delay or failure in the performance of its obligations
under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement results from any cause beyond
its reasonable control, such as acts of God, acts of civil or military
authority, embargoes, epidemics, war, terrorism, riots, insurrections, fires,
explosions, earthquakes, floods, unusually severe weather conditions, labor
problems or unavailability of parts, or, in the case of computer systems, any
failure in electrical or air conditioning equipment. In the event of any such
excused delay, the time for performance shall be extended for a period equal
to
the time lost by reason of the delay.
Section
12.9. Publicity.
Prior to the Exchange or Distribution, each of Parent and Tronox shall consult
with each other prior to issuing any press releases or otherwise making public
statements with respect to the Initial Public Offering, the Exchange or
Distribution or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby and prior
to
making any filings with any Governmental Authority with respect thereto.
Section
12.10. Expenses.
Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement,
all third party fees, costs and expenses paid or incurred (a) in connection
with
the Contribution or the Initial Public Offering will be paid by Tronox, and
(b)
in connection with the Section 355 Transaction will be paid by
Parent.
Section
12.11. Headings.
The article, section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement and
in
the Ancillary Agreements are for reference purposes only and shall not affect
in
any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement.
Section
12.12. Survival
of Covenants.
Except as expressly set forth in any Ancillary Agreement, the covenants,
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and each Ancillary
Agreement, and liability for the breach of any obligations contained herein,
shall survive the Separation Date and shall remain in full force and effect.
Section
12.13. Waivers
of Default.
Waiver by any party of any default by the other party of any provision of this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver by the waiving
party of any subsequent or other default, nor shall it prejudice the rights
of
the other party.
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43
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Section
12.14. Specific
Performance.
In the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the
terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement,
the party or parties who are or are to be thereby aggrieved shall have the
right
to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief of its rights
under this Agreement or such Ancillary Agreement, in addition to any and all
other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies
shall be cumulative. The parties agree that the remedies at law for any breach
or threatened breach, including monetary damages, are inadequate compensation
for any loss and that any defense in any action for specific performance that
a
remedy at law would be adequate is waived. Any requirements for the securing
or
posting of any bond with such remedy are waived.
Section
12.15. Amendments.
No provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall be deemed
waived, amended, supplemented or modified by any party, unless such waiver,
amendment, supplement or modification is in writing and signed by the authorized
representative of the party against whom it is sought to enforce such waiver,
amendment, supplement or modification.
Section
12.16. Interpretation.
Words in the singular shall be held to include the plural and vice versa and
words of one gender shall be held to include the other genders as the context
requires. The terms “hereof”, “herein”, and “herewith” and words of similar
import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement
(or the applicable Ancillary Agreement) as a whole (including all of the
Schedules, Exhibits and Appendices hereto and thereto) and not to any particular
provision of this Agreement (or such Ancillary Agreement). Article, Section,
Exhibit, Schedule, Annex, and Appendix references are to the Articles, Sections,
Exhibits, Schedules and Appendices to this Agreement (or the applicable
Ancillary Agreement) unless otherwise specified. The word “including” and words
of similar import when used in this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary
Agreement) shall mean “including, without limitation,” unless the context
otherwise requires or unless otherwise specified. The word “or” shall not be
exclusive.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be executed
by
its respective duly authorized officer as of the date first set forth
above.
XXXX-XxXXX
CORPORATION
|
|
By:/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
Senior Vice President and CFO
|
|
XXXX-XxXXX
WORLDWIDE CORPORATION
|
|
By:/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
Senior Vice President and CFO
|
|
TRONOX
INCORPORATED
|
|
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
|
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
|