TAX AGREEMENT
between
VALHI, INC.
and
NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
AGREEMENT dated as of January 1, 2001 by and among Valhi, Inc. ("VHI"),
a Delaware corporation having its principal executive offices at Three Lincoln
Centre, 5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700, Dallas, Texas 75240, Contran Corporation
("Contran"), a Delaware corporation having its principal executive offices at
Three Lincoln Centre, 5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700, Dallas, TX 75240 and NL
Industries, Inc. ("NL"), a New Jersey corporation having its principal executive
offices at 16825 Northchase Drive, Suite 1200, Houston, Texas 77060.
WHEREAS, VHI and NL are eligible to file consolidated returns of
federal income taxes and, subject to certain jurisdictional limitations, will be
subject to combined state and local tax reporting effective January 1, 2001;
WHEREAS, VHI and NL wish to provide for the allocation of liabilities,
and procedures to be followed, with respect to federal income taxes of NL and
any subsidiaries of NL and with respect to certain combined state and local
taxes on the terms of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and agreements herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the
meanings set forth below:
(a) Code: The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and
with respect to any section thereof any successor provisions under such
Code or any successor Code.
(b) Combined Foreign, State and Local Taxes: For a taxable
period, the amount of all foreign, state and local taxes, together with
all interest and penalties with respect thereto, for which liability is
computed (1) on the basis of a combined, unitary or consolidated return
(whether at the initiative of the tax authority or of the taxpayer) and
(2) by reference to one or more members of the NL Group and one or more
members of the VHI Group not included in the NL Group.
(c) Contran Corporation: A Delaware corporation that is the
common parent of a group of corporations electing to file a
consolidated federal income tax return.
(d) Federal Taxes: All federal income taxes, together with all
interest and penalties with respect thereto.
(e) VHI Group: VHI and those of its direct and indirect
subsidiaries which join in the filing of a consolidated federal income
tax return with its common parent, Contran (the "Contran Tax Group"),
as such Group is constituted from time to time. For purposes of this
Agreement (to the extent related to Combined Foreign, State and Local
Taxes), the term "VHI Group" shall include all direct and indirect
subsidiaries of VHI with reference to which Combined Foreign, State and
Local Taxes are determined.
(f) NL Group: NL Industries, Inc. and each direct or indirect
subsidiary of NL which would be a member of an affiliated group, within
the meaning of section 1504(a) of the Code, of which NL was the common
parent, as such Group is constituted from time to time. For purposes of
this Agreement (to the extent related to Combined Foreign, State and
Local Taxes) , the term "NL Group" shall include all direct and
indirect subsidiaries of NL with reference to which Combined, Foreign,
State and Local taxes are determined.
(g) NL Group Tax Liability: For a taxable period, the
liability for Federal Taxes and Combined Foreign, State and Local
taxes, as applicable, that the NL Group would have had if it were not a
member of the VHI Group during such taxable period (or during any
taxable period prior thereto), and instead filed a separate
consolidated return for such taxable period (and during all prior
taxable periods beginning after December 31, 2000); provided, however,
that for purposes of determining such liability for a taxable period
all tax elections shall be consistent with the tax elections made by
Contran for such period. In making such tax elections it is understood
the Contran Corporation will make those tax elections which are
beneficial to the Contran Tax Group on a consolidated basis.
Nevertheless, Contran will use its best efforts in the case of those
elections which affect the computation of the NL Group Tax Liability,
to make elections in a reasonable manner so as to minimize the NL Group
Tax Liability.
2. Contran as Agent. Contran shall be the sole agent for the NL Group
in all matters relating to the NL Group Tax Liability. The NL Group shall not
(a) terminate such agency or (b) without the consent of Contran, participate, or
attempt to participate, in any matters related to the NL Group Tax Liability,
including, but not limited to, preparation or filing of, or resolution of
disputes, protests or audits with the Internal Revenue Service, state or local
taxing authorities concerning, the Contran Group's consolidated returns of
Federal Taxes, returns of Combined Foreign, State and Local Taxes or the NL
Group Tax Liability with respect thereto for any taxable period beginning after
December 31, 2000. The NL Group shall cooperate fully in providing Contran with
all information and documents necessary or desirable to enable Contran to
perform its obligations under this Section, including completion of Internal
Revenue Service and state or local tax audits in connection with such NL Group
Tax Liability and determination of the proper liability for such NL Group Tax
Liability.
3. Liability for Taxes; Refunds.
(a) VHI, as the common parent of the NL Group, shall be
responsible for, and shall pay to Contran or a taxing authority, as
applicable, the consolidated tax liability for the VHI Group and has
the sole right to any refunds received from Contran or a taxing
authority, as applicable, subject to the provisions of Sections 5 and 6
of this Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, NL
and each subsidiary of NL which is a member of the NL Group shall be
severally liable to VHI for the NL Group Tax Liability.
(c) NL shall indemnify VHI and hold it and the VHI Group other
than the NL Group, harmless from and against any deficiency in the NL
Group Tax Liability that may be due to VHI.
(d) VHI shall indemnify NL and hold it and the NL Group
harmless from and against any Federal Taxes and Combined Foreign, State
and Local Taxes attributable to the VHI Group or any other member of
the Contran Tax Group, other than the NL Group, as such taxes are
determined under this and other tax sharing agreements.
4. Tax Returns. VHI shall file on behalf of the NL Group any and all
federal, foreign, state and local tax returns that are required as they pertain
to the NL Group Tax Liability. The NL Group, at VHI's request, shall join in any
applicable consolidated returns of Federal Taxes and any returns of Combined
Foreign, State and Local Taxes (for which returns have not been theretofore
filed) and execute its consent to each such filing on any form as may be
prescribed for such consent if such consent is required. The decision of VHI's
Senior Vice President (or any other officer so designated by VHI) with
responsibility for tax matters shall, subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, be binding in any dispute between VHI and the NL Group as to what tax
position should be taken with respect to any item or transaction of the NL
Group. The preceding sentence is limited to the tax positions that affect the NL
Group Tax Liability and the combined VHI Group and Contran Tax Group. In
addition, VHI and members of the VHI Group, including NL and members of the NL
Group, shall provide each other with such cooperation, assistance and
information as each of them may request of the other with respect to the filing
of any tax return, amended return, claim for refund or other document with any
taxing authority. NL shall be solely responsible for all taxes due for the NL
Group with respect to tax returns filed by NL or a member of the NL Group that
are required to be filed on a separate company basis, independent of VHI.
5. Payment of NL Group Tax Liability for Federal Taxes. On or before
each date, as determined under section 6655 of the Code, for payment of an
installment of estimated Federal Taxes, NL shall pay to VHI an amount equal to
the installment which the NL Group would have been required to pay as an
estimated payment of Federal Taxes to the Internal Revenue Service if it were
filing a separate consolidated return in respect of the NL Group Tax Liability.
Any balance owed with respect to the NL Group Tax Liability for such taxable
period shall be paid to VHI on or before the 15th day of the third month after
the close of such taxable period. If it is not possible to determine the amount
of such balance on or before such day, (a) a reasonable estimate thereof shall
be paid on or before such day, (b) the amount of such balance shall be finally
determined on or before the earlier of; (i) the 15th day of the ninth month
after the close of such taxable period and (ii) the date on which the
consolidated tax return containing the NL Group for such period is filed with
the Internal Revenue Service, and (c) any difference between the amount so
determined and the estimated amount paid shall; (i) in the case of an
underpayment, be promptly paid to VHI and (ii) in the case of an overpayment, be
promptly refunded or applied against the estimated NL Group Tax Liability for
the immediately following tax period, at the option of VHI. If the overpayment
is not applied to the immediately following tax period, such overpayment shall
be promptly refunded to the NL Group. As between the parties to this Agreement,
the NL Group shall be solely responsible for the NL Group Tax Liability and
shall have no responsibility for Federal Taxes of the VHI Group or the Contran
Group other than payment of the NL Group Tax Liability in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement.
6. Refunds for NL Group Losses and Credits for Federal Taxes. If the
calculation with respect to the NL Group Tax Liability for Federal Taxes results
in a net operating loss ("NOL") for the current tax period that, in the absence
of a Code Section 172(b)(3) election made by Contran, is carried back under Code
Sections 172 and 1502 to a prior taxable period or periods of the NL Group with
respect to which the NL Group previously made payments to VHI, then, in that
event, VHI shall pay (or credit) NL an amount equal to the tax refund to which
the NL Group would have been entitled had the NL Group filed a separate
consolidated federal income tax return for such year (but not in excess of the
net aggregate amount of the NL Group Tax Liability paid to VHI with respect to
the preceding two taxable periods). If the calculation with respect to the NL
Group Tax Liability results in an NOL for the current tax period, that subject
to the Code Section 172(b)(3) election made by Contran, is not carried back
under Code Sections 172 and 1502 to a prior taxable period or periods of the NL
Group with respect to which NL made payments to VHI or is not carried back
because the Contran Tax Group does not have a consolidated net operating loss
for the current tax period, then, in that event such NOL shall be an NOL
carryover to be used in computing the NL Group Tax Liability for future taxable
periods, under the law applicable to NOL carryovers in general, as such law
applies to the relevant taxable period. Furthermore, if the NL Group would have
been entitled to a refund of Federal Taxes for any year had the NL Group filed a
separate consolidated federal income tax return for the loss year and the
carryback year, VHI shall pay to NL the amount which NL would have received as a
refund from the Internal Revenue Service. Payments made pursuant to this Section
6 shall be made on the date that Contran (or any successor common parent of a
tax group to which the VHI Group is a member) files its consolidated federal
income tax return for the taxable period involved. Principles similar to those
discussed in this Section 6 shall apply in the case of the utilization of all NL
Group loss and credit carrybacks and carryovers.
7. Payment of NL Group Tax Liability for Foreign, State and Local
Taxes. The foregoing principles contained in Sections 5 and 6 shall apply in
similar fashion to any consolidated or combined foreign, state or other local
income tax returns, containing any member of the VHI Group and any member of the
NL Group that is not also a member of the VHI Group, which may be filed.
8. Subsequent Adjustments. If any settlement with the Internal Revenue
Service, foreign, state or local tax authority or court decision which has
become final results in any adjustment to any item of income, deduction, loss
or credit to the VHI Group in respect of any taxable period subject to this
Agreement, which, in any such case, affects or relates to any member of the NL
Group as constituted during such taxable period, the NL Tax Group Liability
shall be redetermined to give effect to such adjustment as if it had been made
as part of or reflected in the original computation of the NL Tax Group
Liability and proper adjustment of amounts paid or owing hereunder in respect
of such liability and allocation shall be promptly made in light thereof.
9. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded or
cancelled, and any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof may be waived,
only by a written instrument specifically referring to this Agreement and
executed by both parties (or, in the case of a waiver, by or on behalf of the
party waiving compliance). The failure of either party at any time or times to
require performance of any provision of this Agreement shall in no manner affect
the right at a later time to enforce the same. No waiver by either party of any
condition, or of any breach of any term or covenant, contained in this
Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a
further or continuing waiver of any such condition or breach, or a waiver of any
other condition or of any breach of any other term or covenant.
10. Retention of Records. VHI shall retain all tax returns, tax
reports, related workpapers and all schedules (along with all documents that
pertain to any such tax returns, reports or workpapers) that relate to a taxable
period in which the NL Group is included in a consolidated or combined tax
return with VHI. VHI shall make such documents available to NL at NL's request.
VHI shall not dispose of such documents without the permission of NL.
11. Headings. The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only, and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.
12. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts of
laws provisions.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which shall
constitute but one agreement.
14. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective subsidiaries, and their
respective successors and assigns.
15. Effective Date. This Agreement shall be effective as of January 1,
2001.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on
the date first above written.
VALHI, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
William J. Lindquist
Senior Vice President
[Seal]
ATTEST:
CONTRAN CORPORATION
By:
---------------------------------------
William J. Lindquist
Senior Vice President
[Seal]
ATTEST:
NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
By:
---------------------------------------
Robert D. Hardy
Vice President and Controller
ATTEST:
