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8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 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 earliest event reported): May 15, 2018

 

 

Western Digital Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-08703   33-0956711

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

  

(Commission

File Number)

  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

5601 Great Oaks Parkway

San Jose, California

   95119
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(408) 717-6000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

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. below):

 

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On May 15, 2018, Western Digital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Western Digital”) entered into an amendment agreement (“Amendment No. 8”) among Western Digital, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Agent”), the lenders party thereto and the other loan parties party thereto.

Amendment No. 8 amends the Loan Agreement dated as of April 29, 2016, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of August 17, 2016, Amendment No. 2 dated as of September 22, 2016, Amendment No. 3 dated as of March 14, 2017, Amendment No. 4 dated as of March 23, 2017, Amendment No. 5 dated as of November 8, 2017, Amendment No. 6 dated as of November 29, 2017 and Amendment No. 7 dated as of February 27, 2018 (as amended, the “Loan Agreement”), among Western Digital, the lenders party thereto from time to time and the Agent to provide for, among other things, (i) a settlement of all outstanding U.S. dollar-denominated term B-3 loans (the “Existing USD Term B Loans”) with the proceeds of a new U.S.-dollar denominated term B-4 loans (the “Repriced USD Term B Loans”) in a principal amount of $2,455,205,968.75, (ii) a reduction of the interest rate margin applicable to such loans from 2.00% to 1.75%, with respect to LIBOR borrowings (and an unchanged 0.00% LIBOR floor), and from 1.00% to 0.75%, with respect to base rate borrowings and (iii) a prepayment premium of 1.00% in connection with any repricing transaction with respect to the Repriced USD Term B Loans within six months of the closing date.

The Repriced USD Term B Loans have scheduled amortization of equal quarterly installments of 0.25% of the original principal amount thereof (which payments shall be reduced in connection with prepayments), with the balance payable on April 29, 2023, and are otherwise the same as the Existing USD Term B Loans. The Repriced USD Term B Loans are unconditionally guaranteed by each of the guarantors under the Loan Agreement and are secured on a first-priority basis (subject to permitted liens) by a lien on the same collateral securing the other loans under the Loan Agreement.

The foregoing description of Amendment No. 8 is not intended to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to Amendment No. 8, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant

The information set forth under Item 1.01 above regarding Amendment No. 8 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

Incorporated by reference is a press release issued by Western Digital on May 15, 2018, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. The press release is furnished and not filed, pursuant to Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Western Digital has filed an agreement as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K. This agreement may contain representations and warranties by the parties. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other party or parties to such agreement and (i) may have been qualified by disclosure made to such other party or parties, (ii) were made only as of the date of such agreement or such other date(s) as may be specified in such agreement and are subject to more recent developments, which may not be fully reflected in Western Digital’s public disclosure, (iii) may reflect the allocation of risk among the parties to such agreement and (iv) may apply materiality standards different from what may be viewed as material to investors. Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe Western Digital’s actual state of affairs at the date hereof and should not be relied upon.

Exhibit No.

  

Description

10.1   Amendment No. 8 dated as of May 15, 2018 to the Loan Agreement dated as of April 29, 2016, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of August 17, 2016, Amendment No.  2 dated as of September 22, 2016, Amendment No. 3 dated as of March 14, 2017, Amendment No. 4 dated as of March 23, 2017, Amendment No. 5 dated as of November 8, 2017, Amendment No. 6 dated as of November  29, 2017 and Amendment No. 7 dated as of February  27, 2018 by and among Western Digital Corporation, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent and collateral agent, the lenders party thereto and the other loan parties party thereto.
99.1   Press Release of Western Digital, dated May 15, 2018.

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, thereunto duly authorized.

 

    Western Digital Corporation
Date: May 15, 2018     By:     /s/ Michael C. Ray
      Michael C. Ray
     

Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer

and Secretary

EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

AMENDMENT NO. 8

AMENDMENT NO. 8, dated as of May 15, 2018 (this “Amendment”), to the Loan Agreement dated as of April 29, 2016, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of August 17, 2016, Amendment No. 2, dated as of September 22, 2016, Amendment No. 3, dated as of March 14, 2017, Amendment No. 4, dated as of March 23, 2017, Amendment No. 5, dated as of November 8, 2017, Amendment No. 6, dated as of November 29, 2017 and Amendment No. 7, dated as of February 27, 2018 (as further amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time) (the “Loan Agreement”) among WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), each lender from time to time party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and Collateral Agent and the other parties thereto. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Loan Agreement.

WHEREAS, Section 2.16 of the Loan Agreement provides that the Borrower may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent, incur Refinancing Term Loans, the proceeds of which are used to refinance in whole or in part any Class of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.8(c)(i) of the Loan Agreement, by entering into Refinancing Amendments with Lenders willing to provide such Refinancing Term Loans;

WHEREAS, the Borrower desires, pursuant to Section 2.16(a) of the Loan Agreement, to create a new Class of U.S. Term B-4 Loans (as defined herein) under the Loan Agreement having identical terms with and having the same rights and obligations under the Loan Documents as, and in the same aggregate principal amount as, the U.S. Term B-3 Loans, as set forth in the Loan Agreement and Loan Documents, except as such terms are amended hereby;

WHEREAS, each U.S. Term B-3 Lender that executes and delivers a consent substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (a “Consent”) shall be deemed to have consented to this Amendment;

WHEREAS, each Person that executes and delivers a joinder to this Amendment substantially in the form of Exhibit B (a “Joinder”) as an Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lender will make U.S. Term B-4 Loans in the amount set forth on the signature page of such Person’s Joinder on the effective date of this Amendment to the Borrower, the proceeds of which will be used by the Borrower to repay in full the outstanding principal amount of Non-Exchanged U.S. Term B-3 Loans (as defined herein);

WHEREAS, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”), J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“J.P. Morgan”), Mizuho Bank, Ltd. (“Mizuho”), RBC Capital Markets (“RBCCM”) and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC will act as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan, Mizuho, RBCCM and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association will act as co-syndication agents, in each case, for the U.S. Term B-4 Facility (as defined below);

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:

Section 1. Amendments Relating to the U.S. Term B-4 Loans.

Effective as of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date (as defined below), the Loan Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

(a) The following defined terms shall be added to Section 1.1 of the Loan Agreement in alphabetical order:

“Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lender” means a Person with an Additional U.S. Term B-4 Commitment to make Additional U.S. Term B-4 Loans to the Borrower on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date.

“Additional U.S. Term B-4 Loan” means a Loan that is made pursuant to Section 2.1(d) of the Loan Agreement on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date.

“Additional U.S. Term B-4 Commitment” means, with respect to an Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lender, the commitment of such Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lender to make an Additional U.S. Term B-4 Loan hereunder on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, in the amount set forth on the signature page of such Additional Term B-4 Lender to the Amendment No. 8 Joinder. The aggregate amount of the Additional U.S. Term B-4 Commitments of all Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lenders shall equal the outstanding aggregate principal amount of Non-Exchanged U.S. Term B-3 Loans.

“Amendment No. 8” means Amendment No. 8 to the Loan Agreement dated as of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date.

“Amendment No. 8 Effective Date” means May 15, 2018, the date on which all conditions precedent set forth in Section 3 of Amendment No. 8 are satisfied.

“Amendment No. 8 Joinder” means the Joinder Agreement dated as of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lender.

“Exchanged U.S. Term B-3 Loans” means each U.S. Term B-3 Loan extended on the Amendment No. 5 Effective Date (or portion thereof) and held by a Rollover U.S. Term B-3 Lender on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date immediately prior to the extension of credit hereunder on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date and as to which the Rollover U.S. Term B-3 Lender thereof has consented to exchange into a U.S. Term B-4 Loan and the Administrative Agent has allocated into a U.S. Term B-4 Loan.

“Non-Exchanged U.S. Term B-3 Loan” means each U.S. Term B-3 Loan extended on the Amendment No. 5 Effective Date (or portion thereof) other than an Exchanged U.S. Term B-3 Loan.

 

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“Required U.S. Term B-4 Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having U.S. Term B-4 Loans representing more than 50% of the sum of the total outstanding U.S. Term B-4 Loans at such time; provided that U.S. Term B-4 Loans held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender (so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender) or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required U.S. Term B-4 Lenders.

“Rollover U.S. Term B-3 Lender” means each U.S. Term B-3 Lender with a U.S. Term B-3 Loan extended on the Amendment No. 5 Effective Date that has consented to exchange such U.S. Term B-3 Loan into a U.S. Term B-4 Loan, and that has been allocated such U.S. Term B-4 Loan by the Administrative Agent.

“U.S. Term B-4 Facility” means the credit facility for the U.S. Term B-4 Loans described in Section 2.1(k) hereof.

“U.S. Term B-4 Lender” means a Lender with an outstanding U.S. Term B-4 Commitment or an outstanding U.S. Term B-4 Loan.

“U.S. Term B-4 Loan” means an Additional U.S. Term B-4 Loan or a Loan that is deemed made pursuant to Section 2.1(k) hereof.

“U.S. Term B-4 Commitment” means, with respect to a Lender, the agreement of such Lender to exchange the entire principal amount of its U.S. Term B-3 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to it by the Administrative Agent) for an equal principal amount of U.S. Term B-4 Loans on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date.

“U.S. Term B-4 Loan Percentage” means, for any U.S. Term B-4 Lender, the percentage held by such U.S. Term B-4 Lender of the aggregate principal amount of all U.S. Term B-4 Loans then outstanding.

“U.S. Term B-4 Note” is defined in Section 2.12(d) hereof.

“U.S. Term B-4 Termination Date” is defined in Section 2.7(b) hereof.

(b) All references to “U.S. Term B-3 Facility,” “U.S. Term B-3 Lender,” “U.S. Term B-3 Loan,” “U.S. Term B-3 Loan Commitment,” “U.S. Term B-3 Loan Percentage,” “U.S. Term B-3 Note” and “U.S. Term B-3 Termination Date” in the Loan Agreement and the Loan Documents shall be deemed to be references to “U.S. Term B-4 Facility,” “U.S. Term B-4 Lender”, “U.S. Term B-4 Loan,” “U.S. Term B-4 Commitment,” “U.S. Term B-4 Loan Percentage,” “U.S. Term B-4 Note” and “U.S. Term B-4 Termination Date,” respectively (other than any such references contained in (i) the preliminary statements to the Loan Agreement, (ii) Amendment No. 8, (iii) Section 2.1(b) of the Loan Agreement, (iv) Section 2.10 of the Loan Agreement, (v) Section 2.17 of the Loan Agreement, (vi) Section 3.2 of the Loan Agreement, (vii) Section 3.3 of the Loan Agreement and (viii) Section 6.10 of the Loan Agreement).

 

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(c) Clause (a) of the definition of “Applicable Margin” in Section 1.1 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such clause and replacing it with the following:

“(a) with respect to any U.S. Term B-4 Loan, (i) 1.75% per annum, in the case of a Eurodollar Loan, and (ii) 0.75% per annum, in the case of a Base Rate Loan;”

(d) The definition of “Loan Documents” in Section 1.1 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the word “and” prior to “Amendment No. 7” with “,” and adding immediately prior to the period therein, “ and Amendment No. 8 and Amendment No. 8 Joinder”.

(e) Section 2.1 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by making clause (k) thereof clause (l) and adding the following new clause (k):

“(k) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in Amendment No. 8, each Rollover U.S. Term B-3 Lender severally agrees to exchange its Exchanged U.S. Term B-3 Loans for a like principal amount of U.S. Term B-4 Loans on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in Amendment No. 8, each Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lender severally agrees to make an Additional U.S. Term B-4 Loan to the Borrower on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date in the principal amount equal to its Additional U.S. Term B-4 Commitment on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date. The Borrower shall prepay the Non-Exchanged U.S. Term B-3 Loans with a like amount of the gross proceeds of the Additional U.S. Term B-4 Loans, concurrently with the receipt thereof. The Borrower shall pay to the U.S. Term B-3 Lenders immediately prior to the effectiveness of Amendment No. 8 all accrued and unpaid interest on the U.S. Term B-3 Loans to, but not including, the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date on such Amendment No. 8 Effective Date. The U.S. Term B-4 Loans shall have the same terms as the U.S. Term B-3 Loans as set forth in the Loan Agreement and Loan Documents before giving effect to Amendment No. 8, except as modified by Amendment No. 8; it being understood that the U.S. Term B-4 Loans (and all principal, interest and other amounts in respect thereof) will constitute “Obligations” under the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents and shall have the same rights and obligations under the Loan Agreement and Loan Documents as the U.S. Term B-3 Loans prior to the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date. As provided in Section 2.5(a) and subject to the terms hereof, the Borrower may elect that the U.S. Term B-4 Loans comprising the Borrowing hereunder of U.S. Term B-4 Loans be either Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans.”

(f) Section 2.7(b) of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by replacing it in its entirety with the following:

“(b) Scheduled Payments of U.S. Term B-4 Loans. Subject to Section 2.15, the Borrower shall make principal payments on the U.S. Term B-4 Loans in installments on each Fiscal Quarter End Date, commencing with the first fiscal

 

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quarter ended after the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, in an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of the U.S. Term B-4 Loans made on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, in each case per fiscal quarter (which payments in each case shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.8(a), Section 2.8(c) and Section 2.8(e), as applicable); it being further agreed that a final payment comprised of all principal and interest not sooner paid on the U.S. Term B-4 Loans, shall be due and payable on April 29, 2023, the final maturity thereof (the “U.S. Term B-4 Termination Date”).”

(g) Section 2.8(a)(iii) of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by replacing it in its entirety with the following:

“(v) In the event that, on or prior to the date that is six (6) months after the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, the Borrower (x) prepays, repays, refinances, substitutes or replaces any U.S. Term B-4 Loans in connection with a Repricing Transaction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.8(c)(i) that constitutes a Repricing Transaction), or (y) effects any amendment, waiver or other modification of, or consent under, this Agreement resulting in a Repricing Transaction, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each of the applicable U.S. Term B-4 Lenders, (A) in the case of clause (x), a premium of 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the U.S. Term B-4 Loans so prepaid, repaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced and (B) in the case of clause (y), a fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the U.S. Term B-4 Loans outstanding immediately prior to such amendment, waiver, modification or consent that are the subject of such Repricing Transaction. If, on or prior to the date that is six (6) months after the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, all or any portion of the U.S. Term B-4 Loans held by any U.S. Term B-4 Lender are prepaid, repaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced pursuant to Section 8.5 as a result of, or in connection with, such U.S. Term B-4 Lender being a Non-Consenting Lender with respect to any amendment, waiver, modification or consent referred to in clause (y) above (or otherwise in connection with a Repricing Transaction), such prepayment, repayment, refinancing, substitution or replacement will be made at 101% of the principal amount so prepaid, repaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced. All such amounts shall be due and payable on the date of effectiveness of such Repricing Transaction.”

(h) Section 2.10 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following sentence after the fourth sentence in such section:

“The U.S. Term B-4 Commitments and Additional U.S. Term B-4 Commitments shall automatically terminate upon the making, conversion or continuance, as applicable, of the U.S. Term B-4 Loans on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date.”

 

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(i) The first sentence in Section 2.12(d) of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by replacing it in its entirety with the following:

“Any Lender may request that its Loans be evidenced by a promissory note or notes in the forms of Exhibit D-1 (in the case of its Term A-1 Loan and referred to herein as a “Term A-1 Note”), Exhibit D-2 (in the case of its U.S. Term B-4 Loan and referred to herein as a “U.S. Term B-4 Note”), Exhibit D-4 (in the case of its Revolving Loans and referred to herein as a “Revolving Note”), as applicable (the Term A-1 Notes, U.S. Term B-4 Notes and Revolving Notes being hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Notes” and individually as a “Note”).”

(j) Section 8.3 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following as a new clause (c):

“(c) With respect to U.S. Term B-4 Loans, if at any time the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances set forth in clause (a)(i) have arisen and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary or (ii) the circumstances set forth in clause (a)(i) have not arisen but the supervisor for the administrator of LIBOR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the LIBOR Screen Rate shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans, then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall endeavor to establish an alternate rate of interest to Adjusted LIBOR that gives due consideration to the then prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest for syndicated loans in the United States at such time, and shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement to reflect such alternate rate of interest and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.11, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the date of the notice of such alternate rate of interest is provided to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required U.S. Term B-4 Lenders stating that such Required U.S. Term B-4 Lenders object to such amendment; provided that, to the extent such written notice is received from the Required U.S. Term B-4 Lenders within such time period, only the consent of the Required U.S. Term-4 B Lenders shall be necessary to amend this Agreement to reflect an alternate rate of interest to the LIBOR Screen Rate, and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable. Until an alternate rate of interest shall be determined in accordance with this clause (c) (but, in the case of the circumstances described in clause (ii) of the first sentence of this Section 8.3(c), only to the extent the LIBOR Screen Rate for such Interest Period is not available or published at such time on a current basis), (x) any notice of continuation/conversion that requests the conversion of any Loan to, or continuation of any Loan as, a Eurodollar Loan shall be ineffective and (y) if any notice of Borrowing requests a Eurodollar Loan, such Loan shall be made as a Base Rate Loan; provided that, if such alternate rate of interest shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.”

(k) Exhibit D-2 to the Loan Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety in the form of Annex A hereto.

 

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(l) Section 6.10 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following immediately after the fourth sentence thereof:

“The Borrower shall use the proceeds of the U.S. Term B-4 Loans on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date to refinance the U.S. Term B-3 Loans.”

(m) Each Lender delivering a Consent or a Joinder hereunder waives, any right to compensation for losses, expenses or liabilities incurred by such Lender to which it may otherwise be entitled pursuant to Section 8.1 of the Loan Agreement in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 2. Representations and Warranties.

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Lenders as of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date that:

(a) Immediately before and after giving effect to this Amendment, each of the representations and warranties set forth in the Loan Agreement and in the other Loan Documents shall be and remain true and correct in all material respects (or, if qualified as to “materiality,” “material adverse effect” or similar language, shall be true and correct in all respects (after giving effect to any such qualification therein)) as of said time, except to the extent the same expressly relate to an earlier date.

(b) At the time of and after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Section 3. Conditions to Effectiveness.

This Amendment shall become effective on the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (the “Amendment No. 8 Effective Date”):

(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or facsimiles or electronic copies (and, to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified:

(1) counterparts of this Amendment executed by each of the Loan Parties; and

(2) a U.S. Term B-4 Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each U.S. Term B-4 Lender requesting a U.S. Term B-4 Note at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, if any.

(b) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or facsimiles or electronic copies (and, to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified;

 

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(1) (A) a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, special counsel to the Loan Parties and (B) a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP, local counsel to the Borrower and the Guarantors in the state of Delaware;

(2) (i) copies of the certificate of formation, certificate of incorporation, certificate of organization, operating agreement, articles of incorporation, memorandum and articles of association and bylaws, as applicable (or comparable organizational documents) of the Borrower and the Guarantors and, to the extent applicable, certified as of a recent date by the appropriate governmental official (or a representation that such documents have not been amended since the Escrow Release Date); (ii) incumbency certificates of the officers of such Person executing the Loan Documents to which it is a party as of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date and prior to the funding of the U.S. Term B-4 Loans; (iii) resolutions of the board of directors or similar governing body of the Loan Parties approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party as of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date and prior to the funding of the U.S. Term B-4 Loans, certified as of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date by such Loan Party as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment; and (iv) copies of the certificates of good standing or the equivalent (if any) for each Loan Party from the office of the secretary of state or other appropriate governmental department or agency of the state of its formation, incorporation or organization, in each case dated a recent date prior to the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date; and

(3) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.16(a)(v) of the Loan Agreement with respect to the U.S. Term B-4 Loans and in paragraphs (g) and (h) of this Section 3 as of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date.

(c) the existing U.S. Term B-3 Loans shall be repaid with the proceeds of the U.S. Term B-4 Loans substantially simultaneously with effectiveness of this Amendment and the Borrower shall have delivered a prepayment notice with respect to such repayment as required by Section 2.8(a)(i) of the Loan Agreement; provided that the parties hereto agree that such prepayment notice may be delivered by 1:00 p.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed repayment.

(d) The aggregate principal amount of the Exchanged U.S. Term B-3 Loans plus the aggregate principal amount of the Additional U.S. Term B-4 Commitments shall equal the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding U.S. Term B-3 Loans immediately prior to the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date.

 

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(e) The Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of the U.S. Term B-3 Lenders immediately prior to the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, all accrued and unpaid interest on the U.S. Term B-3 Loans to, but not including, the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date.

(f) All reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses due to the Administrative Agent and Merrill Lynch required to be paid on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date (including pursuant to Section 9 hereof) shall have been paid (or the Borrower shall have made arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for such payment).

(g) At the time and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of the U.S. Term B-4 Loans, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(h) Each of the representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in the Loan Agreement, Section 2 of this Amendment and in the other Loan Documents shall be and remain true and correct in all material respects (or, if qualified as to “materiality,” “material adverse effect” or similar language, shall be true and correct in all respects (after giving effect to any such qualification therein)) as of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, except to the extent the same expressly relate to an earlier date.

(i) The Administrative Agent shall have received, no later than 3 Business Days in advance of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, all documentation and other information about the Loan Parties as shall have been reasonably requested in writing at least seven (7) Business Days prior to the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date by the U.S. Term B-4 Lenders through the Administrative Agent that is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the Patriot Act.

(j) The Administrative Agent shall have received the Notice of Borrowing required by Section 2.5 of the Loan Agreement; provided that the parties hereto agree that (i) any Notice of Borrowing in respect of the U.S. Term B-4 Loans requested under this Amendment may be delivered by 1:00 p.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing for such U.S. Term B-4 Loans and (ii) the Notice of Borrowing in respect of such U.S. Term B-4 Loans may be made conditional on the effectiveness of this Amendment.

(k) The Administrative Agent shall have received the executed counterparts of the Joinder executed by the Borrower and each Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lender.

(l) The Administrative Agent shall have received a completed “Life-of-Loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency standard flood hazard determination with respect to each Mortgaged Property (together with a notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by the Borrower and each other Loan Party relating thereto).

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amendments effected hereby shall not become effective, the obligations of the Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lenders to make Additional U.S. Term B-4 Loans will automatically terminate, if each of the conditions set forth or referred to in this Section 3 has not been satisfied at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 15, 2018.

 

9

Section 4. Formal Requests Deemed Made.

By its execution of this Amendment, the Borrower hereby delivers and the Administrative Agent hereby acknowledges receipt of this Amendment as the satisfaction of the requirements to give notice required to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.16(a) of the Loan Agreement.

Section 5. Acknowledgments.

Each Loan Party hereby expressly acknowledges the terms of this Amendment and reaffirms, as of the date hereof, (i) the covenants and agreements contained in each Loan Document to which it is a party, including, in each case, such covenants and agreements as in effect immediately after giving effect to this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) its guarantee of the Obligations (including, without limitation, the U.S. Term B-4 Loans) pursuant to the Collateral Documents and (iii) its grant of Liens on the Collateral to secure the Obligations (including, without limitation, the Obligations with respect to the U.S. Term B-4 Loans) pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

Section 6. Liens Unimpaired.

After giving effect to this Amendment, neither the modification of the Loan Agreement effected pursuant to this Amendment nor the execution, delivery, performance or effectiveness of this Amendment:

(a) impairs the validity, effectiveness or priority of the Liens granted pursuant to any Loan Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Cayman Islands law governed share mortgage granted by any Loan Party), and such Liens continue unimpaired with the same priority to secure repayment of all Obligations, whether heretofore or hereafter incurred; or

(b) requires that any new filings be made or other action taken to perfect or to maintain the perfection of such Liens.

Section 7. Entire Agreement.

This Amendment, the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and verbal, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment and the Loan Agreement shall not by implication or otherwise limit, impair, constitute a waiver of, or otherwise affect the rights and remedies of any party under, the Loan Agreement, nor alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Loan Agreement, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect. This Amendment shall not constitute a novation of the Loan Agreement or any of the Loan Documents. It is understood and agreed that each reference in each Loan Document to the “Loan Agreement,” whether direct or indirect, shall hereafter be deemed to be a reference to the Loan Agreement as amended by this Amendment and that this Amendment is a “Loan Document” and a “Refinancing Amendment.”

 

10

Section 8. Amendment, Modification and Waiver.

This Amendment may not be amended, modified or waived except pursuant to a writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

Section 9. Expenses.

The Borrower agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent for its reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with this Amendment, including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, counsel for the Administrative Agent.

Section 10. Counterparts.

This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by facsimile transmission or electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

Section 11. Governing Law and Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury.

THIS AMENDMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. SECTION 10.22 OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT IS HEREBY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS AMENDMENT AND SHALL APPLY HERETO.

Section 12. Headings.

The headings of this Amendment are for purposes of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

Section 13. Effect of Amendment.

Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment shall not by implication or otherwise limit, impair, constitute a waiver of or otherwise affect the rights and remedies of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, and shall not alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Loan Agreement or any other provision of the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect.

 

11

Section 14. Mortgage Amendments.

Within one hundred fifty (150) days after the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, unless waived or extended by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, with respect to each Mortgaged Property, the Administrative Agent shall have received either the items listed in paragraph (a) or the items listed in paragraph (b) as follows:

(a) a favorable opinion or email confirmation, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, from local counsel in the jurisdiction in which each Mortgaged Property is located substantially to the effect that:

(i) the recording of the existing Mortgage is the only filing or recording necessary to give constructive notice to third parties of the lien created by such Mortgage as security for the Obligations, including the Obligations evidenced by the Loan Agreement and the other documents executed in connection therewith, for the benefit of the Secured Parties; and

(ii) no other documents, instruments, filings, recordings, re-recordings, re-filings or other actions, including, without limitation, the payment of any mortgage recording taxes or similar taxes, are necessary or appropriate under applicable law in order to maintain the continued enforceability, validity or priority of the lien created by such Mortgage as security for the Obligations, including the Obligations evidenced by the Loan Agreement and the other documents executed in connection therewith, for the benefit of the Secured Parties; or

(b) with respect to the existing Mortgages, the following, in each case in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent:

(i) an amendment to the existing Mortgage (the “Mortgage Amendment”) to reflect the matters set forth in this Amendment, duly executed and acknowledged by the applicable Loan Party, and in form for recording in the recording office where such Mortgage was recorded, together with such certificates, affidavits, questionnaires or returns as shall be required in connection with the recording or filing thereof under applicable law;

(ii) a favorable opinion, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties covering, among other things, the due authorization, execution, delivery and enforceability of the applicable Mortgage as amended by the Mortgage Amendment (such opinion may take assumptions for any matters addressed in the local counsel opinion originally delivered in connection with the Mortgage);

(iii) a date down endorsement to the existing title policy, which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and reasonably assure the Administrative Agent as of the date of such endorsement that the real property subject to the lien of such Mortgage is free and clear of all defects and encumbrances except those Liens permitted under such Mortgage;

 

12

(iv) evidence of payment by the Borrower of all search and examination charges escrow charges and related charges, mortgage recording taxes, fees, charges, costs and expenses required for the recording of the Mortgage Amendment referred to above; and

(v) such affidavits, certificates, information and instruments of indemnification as shall be required to induce the title insurance company to issue the endorsement to the title policy contemplated in this Section 14 and evidence of payment of all applicable title insurance premiums, search and examination charges, mortgage recording taxes and related charges required for the issuance of the endorsement to the title policy contemplated in this Section 14.

 

13

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

 

WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Mark Long

  Name: Mark Long
 

Title:   President WD Capital, Chief Strategy

            Officer and Chief Financial Officer

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT NO. 8]

HGST, INC.
By:  

/s/ Michael C. Ray

  Name: Michael C. Ray
  Title:   President and Secretary
WD MEDIA, LLC
By:  

/s/ Michael C. Ray

  Name: Michael C. Ray
  Title:   Secretary
WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
By:  

/s/ Michael C. Ray

  Name: Michael C. Ray
  Title:   Vice President and Secretary
WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Michael C. Ray

  Name: Michael C. Ray
 

Title:   Executive Vice President, Chief

            Legal Officer and Secretary

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT NO. 8]

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as     Administrative Agent
By:  

/s/ Caitlin Stewart

  Name: Caitlin Stewart
  Title:   Executive Director

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT NO. 8]

EXHIBIT A

CONSENT TO AMENDMENT NO. 8

CONSENT (this “Consent”) to Amendment No. 8 (“Amendment”) to that certain Loan Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2016 (as extended, renewed, amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Loan Agreement”), by and among Western Digital Corporation (the “Borrower”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and the other parties thereto. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Loan Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Amendment.

Existing U.S. Term B-3 Lenders

☐ Consent and Cashless Settlement: The undersigned U.S. Term B-3 Lender hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consents to convert 100% of the outstanding principal amount of the U.S. Term B-3 Loan held by such U.S. Term B-3 Lender (or such lesser amount allocated to such Lender by the Administrative Agent) into a U.S. Term B-4 Loan in a like principal amount via a cashless roll.

☐ Consent and Reallocate: The undersigned U.S. Term B-3 Lender hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consents to have 100% of the outstanding principal amount of the U.S. Term B-3 Loans held by such U.S. Term B-3 Lender repaid on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date and subsequently purchase by way of assignment U.S. Term B-4 Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of its U.S. Term B-3 Loans (or such lesser amount allocated to such Lender by the Administrative Agent).

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Consent to be executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer.

 

Date:     , 2018
                                                                               ,
  as a Lender (type name of the legal entity)

 

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

If a second signature is necessary:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

EXHIBIT B

JOINDER AGREEMENT

JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of May 15, 2018 (this “Agreement”), by and among BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (the “U.S. Term B-4 Lender”), Western Digital Corporation (the “Borrower”), and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (the “Administrative Agent”).

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, reference is hereby made to the Loan Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2016, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of August 17, 2016, Amendment No. 2, dated as of September 22, 2016, Amendment No. 3, dated as of March 14, 2017, Amendment No. 4, dated as of March 23, 2017, Amendment No. 5, dated as of November 8, 2017, Amendment No. 6, dated as of November 29, 2017 and Amendment No. 7, dated as of February 27, 2018 (as further amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Loan Agreement”), among the Borrower, each lender from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and the other parties thereto (capitalized terms used but not defined herein having the meaning provided in the Loan Agreement (as amended by Amendment No. 8));

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement, the Borrower may establish the Additional U.S. Term B-4 Commitment with existing U.S. Term B-3 Lenders and/or Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lenders; and

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of Amendment No. 8, Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lenders shall become Lenders pursuant to one or more Joinders (as defined in Amendment No. 8);

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Each Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lender hereby agrees to provide the Additional U.S. Term B-4 Commitment set forth on its signature page hereto pursuant to and in accordance with Section 2.1(k) of the Loan Agreement. The Additional U.S. Term B-4 Commitment provided pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to all of the terms in the Loan Agreement and to the conditions set forth in the Loan Agreement, and shall be entitled to all the benefits afforded by the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall, without limiting the foregoing, benefit equally and ratably from the Guaranty and security interests created by the Collateral Documents.

Each Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lender, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent acknowledge and agree that the Additional U.S. Term B-4 Commitment provided pursuant to this Agreement shall constitute Additional U.S. Term B-4 Commitments for all purposes of the Loan Agreement and the other applicable Loan Documents. Each Additional U.S. Term

B-4 Lender hereby agrees to make an Additional U.S. Term B-4 Loan to the Borrower in an amount equal to its Additional U.S. Term B-4 Commitment on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date in accordance with Section 2.1(k) of the Loan Agreement.

Each Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lender (i) confirms that it has received a copy of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with copies of the financial statements referred to therein and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement; (ii) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers or any other Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Agreement; (iii) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (iv) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

Upon (i) the execution of a counterpart of this Agreement by each Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lender, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower and (ii) the delivery to the Administrative Agent of a fully executed counterpart (including by way of telecopy or other electronic transmission) hereof, each of the undersigned Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lenders shall become Lenders under the Loan Agreement and shall have the respective Additional U.S. Term B-4 Commitment set forth on its signature page hereto, effective as of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date.

For each Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lender, delivered herewith to the Administrative Agent are such forms, certificates or other evidence with respect to United States federal income tax withholding matters as such Additional U.S. Term B-4 Lender may be required to deliver to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.1 of the Loan Agreement.

This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived except by an instrument or instruments in writing signed and delivered on behalf of each of the parties hereto.

This Agreement, the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and verbal, among the parties or any of them with respect to the subject matter hereof.

THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

B-2

Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If any provision of this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as would be enforceable.

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

B-3

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused its duly authorized officer to execute and deliver this Joinder Agreement as of date first written above.

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Additional U.S. Term B-4 Commitments:

$171,463,443.41

WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

B-4

Accepted:

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

B-5

EXHIBIT D-2

EXHIBIT D-2

U.S. TERM B-4 NOTE

 

$                                        , 20    

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Western Digital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to                      or its registered assigns (the “Lender”) at the principal office of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, in New York, New York, in immediately available funds, the principal sum of                      Dollars ($            ) or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the U.S. Term B-4 Loan made or maintained by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Loan Agreement (as defined below), in installments in the amounts and on the dates called for by Section 2.7(b) of the Loan Agreement, together with interest on the principal amount of such U.S. Term B-4 Loan from time to time outstanding hereunder at the rates, and payable in the manner and on the dates, specified in the Loan Agreement.

This Note is one of the U.S. Term B-4 Notes referred to in the Loan Agreement dated as of April 29, 2016 among the Borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, the Lenders party thereto from time to time, and the other agents party thereto (as extended, renewed, amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Loan Agreement”), and this Note and the holder hereof are entitled to all the benefits and security provided for thereby or referred to therein, to which Loan Agreement reference is hereby made for a statement thereof. All defined terms used in this Note, except terms otherwise defined herein, shall have the same meaning as in the Loan Agreement. This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Voluntary prepayments may be made hereon, certain prepayments are required to be made hereon, and this Note may be declared due prior to the expressed maturity hereof, all on the terms and in the manner as provided for in the Loan Agreement.

The Borrower hereby waives demand, presentment, protest or notice of any kind hereunder.

 

WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WESTERN DIGITAL ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL REPRICING OF

$2.455 BILLION OF USD TERM B LOANS; PLANS STOCK BUYBACK UP TO $1.0 BILLION

SAN JOSE, Calif. — May 15, 2018 — Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ: WDC) (“Western Digital” or the “company”) today announced that it has successfully priced $2.455 billion of new U.S. dollar-denominated term B-4 loans at an interest rate of LIBOR + 1.75%, which priced 25 basis points lower than its previous term B-3 loans issued in November 2017. This new financing marks the company’s fourth successful repricing of U.S. dollar-denominated term B loans since issuing its original term B loans in connection with its acquisition of SanDisk Corporation in May 2016. In connection with this transaction, Western Digital settled the previous U.S. dollar-denominated term B-3 loans with the proceeds of this new loan. The new financing is expected to generate annual cash interest savings of approximately $6 million beginning on May 15, 2018. The new term loans have the same remaining tenor as the previous U.S. dollar-denominated term B loans and mature on April 29, 2023.

The company repurchased shares of its common stock in the amount of $155 million during its third fiscal quarter and intends to repurchase additional shares under its existing stock repurchase program for an amount of up to $1 billion. At least 50 percent of the repurchases are targeted for the remainder of the company’s current fiscal quarter. The company has already commenced repurchasing its common stock and the exact amount of repurchases will depend on market conditions.

About Western Digital

Western Digital creates environments for data to thrive. The company is driving the innovation needed to help customers capture, preserve, access and transform an ever-increasing diversity of data. Everywhere data lives, from advanced data centers to mobile sensors to personal devices, our industry-leading solutions deliver the possibilities of data. Western Digital® data-centric solutions are marketed under the G-Technology™, HGST, SanDisk®, Tegile™, Upthere™ and WD® brands. Financial and investor information is available on the company’s Investor Relations website at investor.wdc.com.

Western Digital Announces Successful Repricing of $2.455 Billion of USD Term B Loans

Page 2 of 2

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements concerning expected annual interest expense savings and potential repurchases in the future by the company of its common stock. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including: volatility in global economic conditions; business conditions and growth in the storage ecosystem; impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance and cost of commodity materials and specialized product components; actions by competitors; unexpected advances in competing technologies; the development and introduction of products based on new technologies and expansion into new data storage markets; risks associated with acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; impacts of new tax legislation; and other risks and uncertainties listed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the company’s Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 8, 2018, to which your attention is directed. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

###

Western Digital, the Western Digital logo, G-Technology, HGST, SanDisk, Tegile, Upthere and WD are registered trademarks or trademarks of Western Digital Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and/or other countries.

 

 

Company contacts:

Western Digital Corp.

Investor Contact:

Jay Iyer

408.801.2067

jay.iyer@wdc.com

investor@wdc.com

Media Contact:

Jim Pascoe

408.717.6999

jim.pascoe@wdc.com