UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of
Report (Date of the earliest event reported)
October
29, 2008
Kronos
Worldwide, Inc.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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1-31763
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76-0294959
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(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
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(Commission
File
Number)
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(IRS
Employer
Identification
No.)
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5430
LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700, Dallas, Texas
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75240-2697
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(Address
of principal executive offices)
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(Zip
Code)
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Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code
(972)
233-1700
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(Former
name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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Check the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions (see General Instruction A.2):
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o
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Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
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¨
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Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
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¨
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
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¨
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
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Item
1.01
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Entry
into a Material Definitive
Agreement
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Item
2.01
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Creation
of Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under and Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangement of the Registrant
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From time
to time, the registrant and companies related to the registrant may have loans
or advances outstanding between them pursuant to term or demand notes.
These loans or advances are generally entered into for cash management purposes,
in which the lender is generally able to earn a higher rate of return on the
loan than would have been earned if the lender invested the funds in other
investments, and the borrower is able to pay a lower rate of interest than would
be paid if the borrower had incurred third-party indebtedness. While
certain of these loans may be of a lesser credit quality than cash equivalent
instruments otherwise available to the lender, the lender will evaluate the
credit risks involved and appropriately reflect the credit risks in the terms of
the applicable loan.
In this
regard, on October 29, 2008, the independent members of the board of directors
of NL Industries, Inc. (“NL”), the holder of 36% of
the registrant’s outstanding common stock and which has a common parent with the
registrant, approved the terms of a loan from NL to the registrant in amounts up
to $40 million. The independent members of the registrant’s board of
directors previously approved the terms of such loan by
NL. Borrowings from NL under the revolving note will be unsecured,
generally bear interest at the prime rate minus 1.5% with interest payable
quarterly and all principal and interest due on demand (and no later than
December 31, 2009). NL’s obligation to loan money to the registrant under
the revolving note is solely at the discretion of NL. The registrant
currently intends to use any borrowings from NL under the revolving note to
reduce the outstanding balance under its U.S. revolving bank credit
facility.
This
description of the revolving note is qualified in its entirety by the complete
terms of the revolving note that is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this current report
and incorporated herein by reference.
Item
9.01 Financial
Statements and Exhibits.
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(d)
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Exhibits
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Item
No.
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Description
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10.1*
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Unsecured
Revolving Demand Promissory Note dated October 29, 2008 in the original
principal amount of $40.0 million executed by Kronos Worldwide, Inc. and
payable to the order of NL Industries,
Inc.
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*
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Filed
herewith
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized.
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Kronos
Worldwide, Inc.
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(Registrant)
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By: /s/ Gregory M. Swalwell
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Date: October
29, 2008
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Gregory
M. Swalwell, Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial
Officer
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INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
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Item
No.
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Description
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10.1*
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Unsecured
Revolving Demand Promissory Note dated October 29, 2008 in the original
principal amount of $40.0 million executed by Kronos Worldwide, Inc. and
payable to the order of NL Industries,
Inc.
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*
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Filed
herewith
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UNSECURED
REVOLVING
DEMAND
PROMISSORY NOTE
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$40,000,000.00
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October
29, 2008
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Section 1. Promise to
Pay. For and in
consideration of value received, the undersigned, Kronos Worldwide, Inc., a
corporation duly organized under the laws of the state of Delaware ("Borrower"), promises to pay
to the order of NL Industries, Inc., a corporation duly organized under the laws
of the state of New Jersey ("NL"), or the holder hereof
(as applicable, NL or such holder shall be referred to as the “Noteholder”), the principal
sum of FORTY MILLION and NO/100ths United States Dollars ($40,000,000.00) or
such lesser amount as shall equal the unpaid principal amount of the loan made
by the Noteholder to Borrower together with interest on the unpaid principal
balance from time to time pursuant to the terms of this Unsecured Revolving
Demand Promissory Note, as it may be amended from time to time (this “Note”). This Note
shall be unsecured and will bear interest on the terms set forth in Section 6 below. Capitalized
terms not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to such terms in Section 16 of this
Note
Section 2. Place of
Payment. All payments will be made at Noteholder’s address at
Three Lincoln Centre, 5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700, Dallas,
Texas 75240-2697, Attention: Treasurer, or such
other place as the Noteholder may from time to time appoint in
writing.
Section 3. Payments. The
unpaid principal balance of this Note and any unpaid and accrued interest
thereon shall be due and payable on the Final Payment Date. Prior to
the Final Payment Date, any unpaid and accrued interest on an unpaid principal
balance shall be paid in arrears quarterly on the last day of each March, June,
September and December, commencing December 31, 2008. All payments on
this Note shall be applied first to accrued and unpaid interest, next to accrued
interest not yet payable and then to principal. If any payment of
principal or interest on this Note shall become due on a day that is not a
Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and
the payment shall be the amount owed on the original payment date.
Section 4. Prepayments. This
Note may be prepaid in part or in full at any time without penalty.
Section 5. Borrowings. Prior
to the Final Payment Date, Noteholder expressly authorizes Borrower to borrow,
repay and re-borrow principal under this Note in increments of $100,000 on a
daily basis so long as:
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·
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the
aggregate outstanding principal balance does not exceed
$40,000,000.00;
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·
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no
written demand for payment has been made by the Noteholder;
and
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·
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no
Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing.
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Notwithstanding
anything else in this Note, in no event will Noteholder be required to lend
money to Borrower under this Note and loans under this Note shall be at the sole
and absolute discretion of Noteholder.
Section 6. Interest. The
unpaid principal balance of this Note (exclusive of any past due principal)
shall bear interest at the rate per annum of the Prime Rate less one and one
half percent (1.50%). In the event that principal or interest is not
paid within five Business Days after such payment was due or declared due, all
past due principal and past due interest owed under this Note will bear interest
at rate per annum of the Prime Rate plus four percent
(4.00%). Accrued interest on the unpaid principal of this Note shall
be computed on the basis of a 365- or 366-day year for actual days (including
the first, but excluding the last day) elapsed, but in no event shall such
computation result in an amount of accrued interest that would exceed accrued
interest on the unpaid principal balance during the same period at the Maximum
Rate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, this Note is expressly limited
so that in no contingency or event whatsoever shall the amount paid or agreed to
be paid to the Noteholder exceed the Maximum Rate. If, from any
circumstances whatsoever, the Noteholder shall ever receive as interest an
amount that would exceed the Maximum Rate, such amount that would be excessive
interest shall be applied to the reduction of the unpaid principal balance and
not to the payment of interest, and if the principal amount of this Note is paid
in full, any remaining excess shall be paid to Borrower, and in such event, the
Noteholder shall not be subject to any penalties provided by any laws for
contracting for, charging, taking, reserving or receiving interest in excess of
the highest lawful rate permissible under applicable law. All sums
paid or agreed to be paid to Noteholder for the use, forbearance or detention of
the indebtedness of the Borrower to Noteholder shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the full
term of such indebtedness until payment in full of the principal (including the
period of any renewal or extension thereof) so that the interest on account of
such indebtedness shall not exceed the Maximum Rate. If at any time
the Contract Rate is limited to the Maximum Rate, any subsequent reductions in
the Contract Rate shall not reduce the rate of interest on this Note below the
Maximum Rate until the total amount of interest accrued equals the amount of
interest that would have accrued if the Contract Rate had at all times been in
effect. In the event that, upon demand or acceleration of this Note
or at final payment of this Note, the total amount of interest paid or accrued
on this Note is less than the amount of interest that would have accrued if the
Contract Rate had at all times been in effect with respect thereto, then at such
time, to the extent permitted by law, in addition to the principal and any other
amounts Borrower owes to the Noteholder, the Borrower shall pay to the
Noteholder an amount equal to the difference between: (i) the lesser
of the amount of interest that would have accrued if the Contract Rate had at
all times been in effect or the amount of interest that would have accrued if
the Maximum Rate had at all times been in effect; and (ii) the amount of
interest actually paid on this Note.
Section 7. Remedy. Upon
the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the
Noteholder shall have all of the rights and remedies provided in the applicable
Uniform Commercial Code, this Note or any other agreement among Borrower and in
favor of the Noteholder, as well as those rights and remedies provided by any
other applicable law, rule or regulation. In conjunction with and in
addition to the foregoing rights and remedies of the Noteholder, the Noteholder
may declare all indebtedness due under this Note, although otherwise unmatured,
to be due and payable immediately without notice or demand
whatsoever. All rights and remedies of the Noteholder are cumulative
and may be exercised singly or concurrently. The failure to exercise
any right or remedy will not be a waiver of such right or remedy.
Section 8. Right of
Offset. The Noteholder shall have the right of offset against
amounts that may be due by the Noteholder now or in the future to Borrower
against amounts due under this Note.
Section 9. Record of
Outstanding Indebtedness. The date and amount of each
repayment of principal outstanding under this Note or interest thereon shall be
recorded by Noteholder in its records. The principal balance
outstanding and all accrued or accruing interest owed under this Note as
recorded by Noteholder in its records shall be the best evidence of the
principal balance outstanding and all accrued or accruing interest owed under
this Note; provided
that the failure of Noteholder to so record or any error in so recording or
computing any such amount owed shall not limit or otherwise affect the
obligations of the Borrower under this Note to repay the principal balance
outstanding and all accrued or accruing interest.
Section 10. Waiver. Borrower
and each surety, endorser, guarantor, and other party now or subsequently liable
for payment of this Note, severally waive demand, presentment for payment,
notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, protest, notice of protest, notice of
the intention to accelerate, notice of acceleration, diligence in collecting or
bringing suit against any party liable on this Note, and further agree to any
and all extensions, renewals, modifications, partial payments, substitutions of
evidence of indebtedness, and the taking or release of any collateral with or
without notice before or after demand by the Noteholder for payment under this
Note.
Section 11. Costs and
Attorneys’ Fees. In the event the Noteholder incurs costs in
collecting on this Note, this Note is placed in the hands of any attorney for
collection, suit is filed on this Note or if proceedings are had in bankruptcy,
receivership, reorganization, or other legal or judicial proceedings for the
collection of this Note, Borrower and any guarantor jointly and severally agree
to pay on demand to the Noteholder all expenses and costs of collection,
including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in connection
with any such collection, suit, or proceeding, in addition to the principal and
interest then due.
Section 12. Time of
Essence. Time is of the essence with respect to all of
Borrower’s obligations and agreements under this Note.
Section 13. Jurisdiction and
Venue. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
TEXAS, AND BORROWER CONSENTS TO JURISDICTION IN THE COURTS LOCATED IN DALLAS,
TEXAS.
Section 14. Notice. Any
notice or demand required by this Note shall be deemed to have been given and
received on the earlier of (i) when the notice or demand
is actually received by the recipient or (ii) 72 hours after the notice
is deposited in the United States mail, certified or registered, with postage
prepaid, and addressed to the recipient. The address for giving
notice or demand under this Note (i) to the Noteholder shall be
the place of payment specified in Section 2 or such other
place as the Noteholder may specify in writing to the Borrower and (ii) to Borrower shall be the
address below the Borrower’s signature or such other place as the Borrower may
specify in writing to the Noteholder.
Section 15. Successors and
Assigns. All of the covenants, obligations, promises and
agreements contained in this Note made by Borrower shall be binding upon its
successors and permitted assigns, as applicable. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Borrower shall not assign this Note or its performance under this
Note without the prior written consent of the Noteholder.
Section 16. Definitions. For
purposes of this Note, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
(a) “Business
Day” shall mean any day banks are open in the state of
Texas.
(b) “Contract
Rate” means the amount of any interest (including fees, charges or
expenses or any other amounts that, under applicable law, are deemed interest)
contracted for, charged or received by or for the account of
Noteholder.
(c) “Final
Payment
Date” shall mean the earlier of.
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·
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written
demand by the Noteholder for payment of all or part of the principal and
interest accrued and unpaid
thereon;
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December
31, 2009; or
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·
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acceleration
as provided herein.
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(d) “Event of
Default” wherever used herein, means any one of the following
events:
(i) the
Borrower fails to pay any amount due on this Note and/or any fees or sums due
under or in connection with this Note after any such payment otherwise becomes
due and payable and three Business Days after demand for such
payment;
(ii) the
Borrower otherwise fails to perform or observe any other provision contained in
this Note and such breach or failure to perform shall continue for a period of
thirty days after notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the
Noteholder;
(iii) a
case shall be commenced against Borrower, or Borrower shall file a petition
commencing a case, under any provision of the Federal Bankruptcy Code of 1978,
as amended, or shall seek relief under any provision of any other bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or
liquidation law of any jurisdiction, whether now or hereafter in effect, or
shall consent to the filing of any petition against it under such law, or
Borrower shall make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or shall
admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or
shall consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee or liquidator of
Borrower, or all or any part of its property; or
(iv) an
event occurs that, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would become any of
the foregoing Events of Default.
(e) “Maximum
Rate” shall mean the highest lawful rate permissible under applicable law
for the use, forbearance or detention of money.
(f) “Prime
Rate” shall mean the fluctuating interest rate per annum in effect from
time to time equal to the base rate on corporate loans as reported as the Prime
Rate in the Money Rates column of The Wall Street Journal or
other reliable source.
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BORROWER:
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Kronos
Worldwide, Inc.
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By:
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/s/Gregory M. Swalwell |
Gregory M. Swalwell, Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial
Officer
Address:
5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700
Dallas, Texas 75240-2697