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EXHIBIT 10.17    
    

 
 

SUPPLEMENTARY SAVINGS PLAN
  OF LAPORTE INC.
  
    (As Amended and Restated Effective December 30, 1997)    

  

 
 

Table of Contents    
    

	 
	 	 
	 	Page

	ARTICLE I Introduction	 	1
	

ARTICLE II Definitions	
 	

1
	2.1.	 	"Account"	 	1
	2.2.	 	"Affiliate"	 	1
	2.3.	 	"Beneficiary"	 	1
	2.4.	 	"Board"	 	1
	2.5.	 	"Code"	 	1
	2.6.	 	"Committee"	 	1
	2.7.	 	"Company"	 	1
	2.8.	 	"Compensation"	 	1
	2.9.	 	"Effective Date"	 	1
	2.10.	 	"Eligible Employees"	 	2
	2.11.	 	"Employer"	 	2
	2.12.	 	"Matching Account"	 	2
	2.13.	 	"Matching Credits"	 	2
	2.14.	 	"Participant"	 	2
	2.15.	 	"Plan"	 	2
	2.16.	 	"Plan Year"	 	2
	2.17.	 	"Profit Sharing Plan"	 	2
	2.18.	 	"Profit Sharing Plan Matching Contributions"	 	2
	2.19.	 	"Profit Sharing Plan Salary Deferral Contributions"	 	2
	2.20.	 	"Salary Deferral Account"	 	2
	2.21.	 	"Salary Deferral Agreement"	 	2
	2.22.	 	"Salary Deferral Credits"	 	2
	2.23.	 	"Seconded Employees"	 	2
	2.24.	 	"Statutory Limitations"	 	2
	2.25.	 	"Termination"	 	2
	2.26.	 	"Unforeseeable Emergency"	 	2
	

ARTICLE III Participation	
 	

3
	3.1.	 	Eligibility to Participate	 	3
	3.2.	 	Enrollment	 	3
	3.3.	 	Deferral of Compensation	 	3
	

ARTICLE IV Accounts	
 	

 
	4.1.	 	Maintenance of Accounts	 	3
	4.2.	 	Salary Deferral Credits	 	4
	4.3.	 	Matching Credits	 	4
	4.4.	 	Interest Credits	 	4
	4.5.	 	Vesting	 	4
	4.6.	 	Quarterly Statements	 	4
	

ARTICLE V Payments	
 	

4
	5.1.	 	Methods of Payment	 	4
	5.2.	 	Commencement of Benefits	 	5
	5.3.	 	Effect of Termination	 	5
	5.4.	 	Death Benefits	 	5
	5.5.	 	Hardship	 	5
	 	 	 	 	 

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	5.6.	 	Tax Increases	 	5
	5.7.	 	Tax Withholding	 	5
	

ARTICLE VI Determination of Benefits, Claims Procedure and Administration	
 	

5
	6.1.	 	Determinations	 	5
	6.2.	 	Interpretation	 	6
	6.3.	 	Reports	 	6
	6.4.	 	No Liability	 	6
	

ARTICLE VII General Provisions	
 	

6
	7.1.	 	Designation of Beneficiary	 	6
	7.2.	 	Amendment and Termination	 	6
	7.3.	 	No Contract of Employment	 	6
	7.4.	 	Nonalienation of Benefits	 	6
	7.5.	 	Corporate Successors	 	7
	7.6.	 	Unfunded Plan	 	7
	7.7.	 	Governing Law	 	7
	7.8.	 	Payments to Incompetents or Minors	 	7
	7.9.	 	Partial Invalidity	 	7

ii

 
 

SUPPLEMENTARY SAVINGS PLAN
  OF LAPORTE INC.
  
    (As Amended and Restated Effective December 30, 1997)    
    

 
 

ARTICLE I
  
    Introduction    
    

        Laporte Inc. (the "Company") adopted the Supplementary Savings Plan of Laporte Inc. (the "Plan"), effective July 1, 1990, in order to provide
supplemental retirement benefits to certain of its management and highly compensated employees whose benefits under the Profit-Sharing/401(k) Plan of Laporte Inc. (the "Profit Sharing Plan")
and/or the Laporte Inc. Money Purchase Pension Plan (the "Money Purchase Pension Plan") are restricted as a result of the limitations imposed by Sections 401(a)(17), 401(k)(3), 401(m)(2),
402(g)(1) and 415 of the Code, or who are otherwise ineligible to participate in the Profit Sharing Plan or the Money Purchase Pension Plan. The Plan was subsequently amended and restated in its
entirety effective December 15, 1993. The Plan was again amended and restated in its entirety effective January 1, 1996. The Plan is hereby further amended and restated in its entirety
effective as of the "Effective Date" (as defined herein). The benefits, if any, of an Eligible Employee who terminated employment prior to the Effective Date shall be determined in accordance with the
provisions of the Plan as in effect as of such termination date. 

 
 

ARTICLE II
  
    Definitions    
    

        Where the following terms appear in this Plan, they shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Article II, unless the context clearly indicates
to the contrary: 

        2.1.  "Account" means the Salary Deferral Account and Matching Account maintained by the Committee to reflect the accrued
benefit of a Participant under the Plan. 

        2.2.  "Affiliate" means any entity that is a member of a controlled group of corporations or a group of trades or businesses
under common control (as such terms are defined in Sections 414(b) and (c) of the Code), of which the Company is a member. 

        2.3.  "Beneficiary" means the person or persons entitled to receive benefits under the Plan after the death of a Participant
pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof. 

        2.4.  "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company. 

        2.5.  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any regulations issued thereunder. 

        2.6.  "Committee" means the committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan 

        2.7.  "Company" means Laporte Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors. 

        2.8.  "Compensation" means the amount of compensation that would be available for elective deferral under the Profit Sharing
Plan and/or the Money Purchase Pension Plan if the limitations of Section 401(a)(17) of the Code were not imposed. 

        2.9.  "Effective Date" means December 30, 1997. 

        2.10. "Eligible Employees" means a management or highly compensated employee of an Employer (i) who is eligible to
participate in the Profit Sharing Plan and/or the Money Purchase Pension Plan, but whose contributions are limited by the Statutory Limitations, or who is a Seconded Employee, and (ii) who is
selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan. 

 

        2.11. "Employer" means the Company and each Affiliate that is a participating employer under the Profit Sharing Plan and/or
the Money Purchase Pension Plan and that has elected, with the consent of the Company, to be a participating employer under this Plan. 

        2.12. "Matching Account" means the portion of a Participant's Account derived from Matching Credits. 

        2.13. "Matching Credits" means the amount credited to a Participant's Account pursuant to Section 4.3. 

        2.14. "Participant" means an Eligible Employee who has enrolled in the Plan in accordance with Section 3.2. 

        2.15. "Plan" means the Supplementary Savings Plan of Laporte Inc., as set forth herein and as amended and restated
from time to time. 

        2.16. "Plan Year" means the calendar year. 

        2.17. "Profit Sharing Plan" means the Profit-Sharing/401(k) Plan for Employees of Laporte Inc. 

        2.18. "Profit Sharing Plan Matching Contributions" means the matching contributions made by an Employer on behalf of a
Participant under the Profit Sharing Plan. 

        2.19. "Profit Sharing Plan Salary Deferral Contributions" means the pre-tax, salary deferral contributions made
by the Employer to the Profit Sharing Plan on behalf of a Participant pursuant to the Participant's election. 

        2.20. "Salary Deferral Account" means the portion of a Participant's Account derived from Salary Deferral Credits. 

        2.21. "Salary Deferral Agreement" means an agreement entered into between an Eligible Employee and an Employer whereby the
Eligible Employee agrees to become a Participant in the Plan and to defer a portion of his or her Compensation under this Plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.3. 

        2.22. "Salary Deferral Credits" means the amount credited to a Participant's Account pursuant to Section 4.2. 

        2.23. "Seconded Employees" means those employees of the Employer who are only eligible to make salary deferrals under the
Profit Sharing Plan and/or the Money Purchase Pension Plan because they participate in a non-United States pension plan sponsored by the Employer. 

        2.24. "Statutory Limitations" means the limitations imposed by Sections 401 (a) (17), 401 (k) (3), 401
(m) (2), 402 (g) (1) and 415 of the Code on the amount that may be contributed to the Profit Sharing Plan and/or the Money Purchase Pension Plan on behalf of an Eligible Employee. 

        2.25. "Termination" means the termination of a Participant's employment with his or her Employer for any reason. 

        2.26. "Unforeseeable Emergency" means a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from a sudden and unexpected
illness or accident of the Participant or of a dependent (as defined in Section 152(a) of the Code) of the Participant, loss of the Participant's property due to casualty, or similar
extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant. The circumstances that will constitute an Unforeseeable Emergency shall be determined
by the Committee depending upon the facts of each case. 

2

 
 
 

ARTICLE III
  Participation    
    

        3.1.    Eligibility to Participate.    The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall select
management or highly compensated employees of the Employer, including Seconded Employees, as eligible to participate in the Plan. The Committee shall notify such Eligible Employees of their
eligibility as soon as practicable after the Committee has made its selection. The Committee may revoke a Participant's eligibility prospectively; however, such revocation may not adversely affect
such Participant's rights hereunder with respect to amounts previously credited to his or her Account. 

        3.2.    Enrollment.    Each Eligible Employee may become a Participant in the Plan by filing
with his or her Employer a fully completed and executed Salary Deferral Agreement on which the Eligible Employee elects to participate in the Plan and to defer a portion of his or her Compensation. A
Salary Deferral Agreement must be filed with the Employer prior to the first day of the Plan Year to which it relates. If an Eligible Employee first becomes an Eligible Employee after the first day of
a Plan Year, his or her Salary Deferral Agreement must be filed with the Employer within thirty (30) days after the date on which he or she first becomes an Eligible Employee in order to
participate in the Plan for such Plan Year; however, such Salary Deferral Agreement shall only apply to Compensation earned after the date the Salary Deferral Agreement has been filed with the
Employer. 

        A
Salary Deferral Agreement shall be irrevocable and shall remain in full force and effect for subsequent Plan Years unless modified or terminated by the filing with the Employer of a
new Salary Deferral Agreement. A new Salary Deferral Agreement shall apply only to Compensation earned by the Participant after the end of the Plan Year in which it is filed with the Employer. If a
Participant receives a distribution on account of hardship from the Profit Sharing Plan and/or the Money Purchase Pension Plan under circumstances requiring that deferrals under this Plan be
suspended, deferrals under this Plan shall cease for such period as may be required in connection with such distribution. 

        3.3.    Deferral of Compensation.    Each Plan Year a Participant shall have the right to
elect on his or her Salary Deferral Agreement the percentage of the Participant's Compensation to defer for such Plan Year, and to make the designations provided for in Sections 5.1 and 5.2, all in
the manner permitted by the Company. 

        A
Participant shall be permitted to defer Compensation under this Section 3.3 for a Plan Year only if he or she has elected to contribute a percentage of his or her Compensation
to the Money Purchase Pension Plan and/or to the Profit Sharing Plan as a Profit Sharing Plan Salary Deferral Contribution for such Plan Year, and such contribution cannot be made in its entirety
because of the Statutory Limitations, provided that this restriction shall not apply to Seconded Employees or any other Participants prohibited from making contributions to the Profit Sharing Plan
and/or the Money Purchase Pension Plan. 

 
 

ARTICLE IV
  
    Accounts    
    

        4.1.    Maintenance of Accounts.    The Employer and the Committee shall maintain on the
Employer's books and records an Account for each Participant that shall be credited with any credits and earnings pursuant to this Article IV and charged with payments and forfeitures pursuant
to Article V. Each Participant's Account shall consist of a Salary Deferral Account and a Matching Account. The amount available for payments shall be limited to the portion of the Account that
is vested. The Employer or the Committee may from time to time assess reasonable service charges against all or any portion of the Accounts to defray costs associated with the implementation and
administration of the Plan. Payments under the Plan shall be charged against Accounts on the date on which the payments are made and forfeitures shall be charged on the date of Termination. 

3

 

        4.2.    Salary Deferral Credits.    The Salary Deferral Account of each Participant shall be
credited at the end of each calendar quarter with Salary Deferral Credits equal to the amount of Compensation deferred by the Participant during such payroll period pursuant to Section 3.3. 

        4.3.    Matching Credits.    The Matching Account of each Participant, other than a
Participant who is a Seconded Employee, shall be credited at the end of each calendar quarter during a Plan Year with a Matching Credit in an amount equal to: 

        (A)  the
amount of Profit Sharing Plan Matching Contributions or the Money Purchase Pension Plan contributions that would have been made by the Employer on behalf of the
Participant for the calendar quarter if (i) the Profit Sharing Plan Salary Deferral Contributions and Profit Sharing Plan Matching Contributions and the Money Purchase Pension Plan
contributions had not been restricted by the Statutory Limitations, and (ii) the Participant had elected to contribute as Profit Sharing Plan Salary Deferral Contributions and/or Money Purchase
Pension Plan contributions the amount actually elected plus the amount of Salary Deferral Credits elected under this Plan, minus 

        (B)  the
Profit Sharing Plan Matching Contributions and/or the Money Purchase Pension Plan contributions otherwise actually made by the Employer on behalf of the Participant
for such calendar quarter. 

        In
addition to the other matching contributions, the Employer shall make additional credits to the Participant's Matching Account based on the annual, variable profit sharing
contribution in regards to Compensation above the Statutory Limitations (this contribution has historically been approximately 2% to 4% of compensation). 

        Also,
the Employer may from time to time in its sole discretion make additional contributions to the Participant's Matching Account and correspondingly credit the Matching Account of the
Participant for
such additional contribution. The Employer may make different additional contributions for each Participant. 

        4.4.    Interest Credits.    As of the last day of each calendar quarter, each Participant's
Account shall be credited with an interest credit equal to (i) the Account balance on such date, multiplied by (ii) one-fourth of the prime rate being charged by Chase
Manhattan on the first day of the calendar quarter. 

        4.5.    Vesting.    A Participant shall at all times be fully vested in his or her Salary
Deferral Account. A Participant's vested percentage in his or her Matching Account shall be equal to the percentage that the Participant is vested in his or her Profit Sharing Plan Matching
Contributions and/or Money Purchase Pension Plan contributions. The portion of a Participant's Matching Account that is not vested shall be forfeited on Termination and shall not be restored in the
event the Participant is subsequently reemployed by the Employer. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may accelerate vesting of all or a portion of a Participant's Matching Account to such extent
and at such times as may be in the best interests of the Employer. 

        4.6.    Quarterly Statements.    Statements indicating the total amount credited to a
Participant's Account as of the last day of each calendar quarter shall be furnished by the Committee to the Participant not more than ninety (90) days after the end of each calendar quarter
and at such other time or times as the Committee may determine. 

 
 

ARTICLE V
  
    Payments    
    

        5.1.    Methods of Payment.    A Participant shall designate in his or her Salary Deferral
Agreement whether his or her Account balance shall be distributed in a single, lump sum payment or in 

4

 

approximately
equal quarterly installments for a period of three (3) years, five (5) years, ten (10) years, fifteen (15) years, or twenty (20) years, as permitted by
the Company. Payment of the lump sum or first quarterly installment shall be made on the date specified in Section 5.2. A Participant and the Employer may agree to change the method of payment
of his or her Account balance, if an additional service agreement ("Additional Service Agreement") is entered into by the Employer and the Participant and such Additional Service Agreement is a bona
fide written agreement with the Employer which requires the Participant to provide substantial services to the Employer for a reasonable period of time before benefit payments commence. 

        5.2.    Commencement of Benefits.    Payment of a Participant's Account shall be made or shall
commence on the last day of the month in which the Participant's employment terminates with the company (whether because of retirement or any other reason). 

        5.3.    Effect of Termination.    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5.2, in the
event of the Participant's termination prior to the first day of the Plan Year in which payment of the Participant's Account would otherwise be made or commenced in accordance with Section 5.2,
payment of the Participant's Account shall be made or commenced no later than the last day of the Plan Year of Termination. 

        5.4.    Death Benefits.    Upon the death of a Participant prior to the distribution of the
entire balance of his or her Account, the remaining balance in the Participant's Account shall be paid to the Participant's Beneficiary in the form designated by the Participant; provided, however,
that if the Participant elected quarterly installments and the Committee has determined that an Unforeseeable Emergency has occurred, the Committee may approve a Beneficiary's request for a single,
lump sum payment. 

        5.5.    Hardship.    A Participant's Account shall be distributed according to Sections 5.1
and 5.2, except that a Participant may apply for and receive a distribution of all or a portion of the vested balance in his or her Account prior to the date the Account is otherwise payable if the
Committee determines that an Unforeseeable Emergency has occurred. Payment may not be made to the extent that the need caused by the Unforeseeable Emergency is or may be relieved through reimbursement
by insurance or otherwise, by reasonable liquidation of the Participant's assets, to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship, or by cessation of
deferrals under this Plan or the Profit Sharing Plan and/or the Money Purchase Pension Plan. Amounts shall only be distributed because of an Unforeseeable Emergency to the extent necessary to address
the Unforeseeable Emergency. 

        5.6.    Tax Increases.    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5.1, in the event a
Participant's Accounts are being paid in installment payments, and during said payout period Federal personal income tax rates
for the highest marginal tax rate are scheduled to increase by fifteen (15) or more percentage points, any remaining installment payments shall be paid in a lump sum at a date determined by the
Committee which precedes the effective date of such tax rate increase. 

        5.7.    Tax Withholding.    The Committee may assign all or some of its duties hereunder to an
officer or other employee of the Company. The Company shall withhold from payments due under the Plan any and all taxes of any nature required by any government to be withheld. 

 
 

ARTICLE VI
  
    Determination of Benefits, Claims Procedure and Administration    
    

        6.1.    Determinations.    The Committee may assign all or some of its duties hereunder to an
officer or other employee of the Company. The Committee shall make all determinations as to rights to benefits under this Plan. Subject to and in compliance with the specific procedures contained in
the applicable regulations promulgated under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as 

5

 

amended:
(i) any decision by the Committee denying a claim for benefits under this Plan by the Participant or any other claimant shall be stated in writing by the Committee and delivered or
mailed to the claimant; (ii) each such notice shall set forth the specific reasons for the denial, written to the best of the Committee's ability in a manner that may be understood without
legal or actuarial counsel; and (iii) the Committee shall afford a reasonable opportunity to the claimant whose claim for benefits has been denied for a review of the decision denying such
claim. 

        6.2.    Interpretation.    Subject to the foregoing: (i) the Committee shall have full
power and authority to interpret, construe and administer this Plan; and (ii) the interpretation and construction of this Plan by the Committee, and any action taken hereunder, shall be binding
and conclusive upon all parties in interest. 

        6.3.    Reports.    The Company shall provide the Participant with a statement reflecting the
amount of the Participant's Account on a quarterly basis. 

        6.4.    No Liability.    No employee, agent, officer or director of the Company shall, in any
event, be liable to any person for any action taken or omitted to be taken in connection with the interpretation,
construction or administration of this Plan, so long as such action or omission to act be made in good faith. 

 
 

ARTICLE VII
  
    General Provisions    
    

        7.1.    Designation of Beneficiary.    A Participant may designate one or more Beneficiaries
to receive any payments due under the Plan upon the Participant's death. All Beneficiary designations must be on forms provided by the Committee and will be effective on the date filed with the
Committee. A Participant may change a Beneficiary designation at any time, without the consent of any prior Beneficiary, by filing with the Committee a new Beneficiary designation form. No Beneficiary
designation form shall be effective unless received by the Committee prior to the Participant's death. If a Participant dies without having filed a proper Beneficiary designation form with the
Committee, or to the extent no designated Beneficiary is living, any amounts payable under the Plan upon the Participant's death shall be paid to his or her beneficiaries as determined under the
provisions of the Profit Sharing Plan. 

        7.2.    Amendment and Termination.    The Company may, at any time and from time to time,
amend, in whole or in part, or terminate the Plan without the consent of any Participant or Beneficiary; provided, however, that no amendment or termination of the Plan shall reduce the amount then
credited to any Participant's Account. If the Plan is terminated, the Employer shall continue to be responsible for making payments attributable to existing Accounts; however, the Committee, in its
discretion, may direct that all Account balances be distributed in the form of a single, lump sum distribution. 

        7.3.    No Contract of Employment.    The establishment of the Plan, the creation of the
Accounts, and/or the making of any payments under the Plan, shall not give any employee the right to remain in the service of any Employer, and all Participants and other employees shall remain
subject to discharge to the-same extent as if the Plan had never been adopted. 

        7.4.    Nonalienation of Benefits.    None of the interests, benefits or rights of any
Participant or Beneficiary hereunder shall be subject to any claim of any creditor of such Participant or Beneficiary and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all such interests, benefits and
rights shall be free from attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable process available to any creditor of such Participant or Beneficiary. No Participant or Beneficiary shall have the
right to alienate, anticipate, pledge, encumber, sell, transfer or otherwise assign any of the benefits or payments that the Participant or Beneficiary may expect to receive under the Plan, and any
attempt to do so shall be void. 

6

 

        7.5.    Corporate Successors.    The Plan shall not be automatically terminated by a transfer
or sale of the assets of the Company or by the merger or consolidation of the Company into or with any other corporation or other entity, but the Plan shall be continued after such sale, merger or
consolidation only if and to the extent that the transferee, purchaser or successor entity agrees to continue the Plan. In the event that the Plan is not continued by the transferee, purchaser or
successor entity, then the Plan shall terminate in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.2. 

        7.6.    Unfunded Plan.    The Plan shall at all times be entirely unfunded and, except as
provided in the following paragraph, no provision shall at any time be made with respect to segregating any assets of the Company or any other Employer for payment of any benefits due hereunder. The
right of a Participant or Beneficiary to receive a distribution hereunder shall be all unsecured claim against the general assets of the Employers, and neither the Participant nor any Beneficiary
shall have any rights in or against any specific assets of the Employers. 

        The
preceding paragraph to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may establish a trust to which the Employers may transfer funds for the payment of benefits under the Plan. The terms
of such trust must require that its assets be used to satisfy the claims of the Employer's unsecured creditors in the event of the Employer's bankruptcy or insolvency, and the trust must contain such
terms and conditions as shall prevent taxation to Participants and Beneficiaries of any amounts held in the trust or credited to an Account prior to the time payments are made. No Participant or
Beneficiary shall have any ownership rights in or to the assets of any trust established pursuant to this paragraph. 

        7.7.    Governing Law.    This Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware, except to the extent preempted by federal law. 

        7.8.    Payments to Incompetents or Minors.    If a Participant or Beneficiary entitled to
receive benefits hereunder is deemed by the Committee or is adjudged to be legally incapable of caring for his or her affairs, such benefits shall be paid to the duly appointed and acting guardian, if
any, and if no such guardian is appointed and acting, to such person or persons as the Committee may designate. Any such payment shall, to the extent made, be deemed a complete discharge of the
obligation of the Plan or the Committee to make such payment. 

        7.9.    Partial Invalidity.    If any term or provision hereof or the application thereof to
any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the Plan, or the application of such term or provision to persons or
circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable, shall both be unaffected and each term or provision hereof shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent
permitted by law. 

        EXECUTED AND DATED as of the 30th day of December, 1997. 

	 	 	LAPORTE INC.
	 	 	By:	 	/s/ Thomas J. Riordan

	 	 	Print Name: Thomas J. Riordan

Print Title: Vice President & Secretary

7

 
 
 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE
  SUPPLEMENTARY SAVINGS PLAN OF LAPORTE INC.    
    

        WHEREAS, Laporte Inc., now known as Rockwood Specialties Inc. (the "Company") maintains the Supplementary Savings Plan of Laporte Inc. (as
amended and restated effective December 30, 1997) (the "Plan"). 

        WHEREAS,
Section 7.2 of the Plan reserves to the Company the authority to amend the Plan at any time; and 

        WHEREAS,
the Company now desires to amend the Plan by reflecting the new company name; 

        NOW
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective March l, 2001: 

	1.
	The
first sentence of Article I is amended to read as follows:

	

	Rockwood
Specialties Inc. (the "Company") adopted the Supplementary Savings Plan of Rockwood Specialtes Inc. (the "Plan"), effective July 1, 1990, in
order to provide supplemental retirement benefits to certain of its management and highly compensated employees whose benefits under the Profit-Sharing/401(k) Plan of Rockwood Specialties Inc.
(the "Profit Sharing Plan") and/or the Rockwood Specialties Inc. Money Purchase Pension Plan (the "Money Purchase Plan") are restricted as a result of the limitations imposed by Sections 401
(a) (17), 401 (k) (3), 401 (m) (2), 402(g) (1) and 415 of the code, or who are otherwise ineligible to participate in the Profit Sharing Plan or the Money Purchase Pension
Plan.

	2.
	Article 2.15
is amended to read as follows:

	

	"Plan" means the Supplementary Savings Plan of Rockwood Specialties Inc., as set forth herein and as amended and
restated from time to time. 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this first amendment to be executed this 1st day of March, 2001. 

	 	 	ROCKWOOD SPECIALTIES INC.

(FORMERLY LAPORTE INC.)
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/ Thomas J. Riordan
 Thomas J. Riordan

Vice President & Secretary

8

QuickLinks

EXHIBIT 10.17

SUPPLEMENTARY SAVINGS PLAN OF LAPORTE INC. (As Amended and Restated Effective December 30, 1997)

Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTARY SAVINGS PLAN OF LAPORTE INC. (As Amended and Restated Effective December 30, 1997)

ARTICLE I Introduction

ARTICLE II Definitions

ARTICLE III Participation

ARTICLE IV Accounts

ARTICLE V Payments

ARTICLE VI Determination of Benefits, Claims Procedure and Administration

ARTICLE VII General Provisions

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE SUPPLEMENTARY SAVINGS PLAN OF LAPORTE INC.QuickLinks
 -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

 
 

EXHIBIT 10.18    
    

 
 

Laporte, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan    
    

  

 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS    
    

	 
	 	Page

	ARTICLE I INTRODUCTION	 	1
	ARTICLE II DEFINITIONS	 	1
	ARTICLE III ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION	 	1
	ARTICLE IV DEFERRAL ELECTIONS	 	2
	ARTICLE V DEFERRAL ACCOUNTS	 	2
	ARTICLE VI DISTRIBUTIONS	 	3
	ARTICLE VII ADMINISTRATION	 	3
	ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS	 	4

i

 
 

Laporte, Inc.
  
    Deferred Compensation Plan    
    

 
 

ARTICLE I    
    

 
 

INTRODUCTION    
    

        The Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan") of Laporte, Inc. (the "Company") was adopted effective as of October 1, 1998, to permit eligible
employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to defer awards, if any, granted under eligible incentive plans maintained by the Company from time to time, on terms and subject to conditions set forth
herein. 

 
 

ARTICLE II    
    

 
 

DEFINITIONS    
    

        Unless otherwise required by the context, the following terms and phrases as used in the Plan shall have the meanings set forth in this Article II. 

        2.1   "Administrator"
means the administrator of the Plan, which is the Company. 

        2.2   "Board
of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company. 

        2.3   "Code"
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 

        2.4   "Committee"
means the Compensation Committee of the Board. 

        2.5   "Company"
means Laporte, Inc., with principal offices located at Princeton, New Jersey. 

        2.6   "Deferral
Account" means the account established for a Participant pursuant to Section 5.1. 

        2.7   "Eligible
Incentive Plan" means the Annual Bonus Plan, the Matching Share Plan, the Long Term Incentive Plan and any other incentive compensation plan of the Company
which is designated by the Board as eligible for deferral elections under this Plan. 

        2.8   "Employee"
means any person who performs services for the Company or its subsidiaries where any portion of his/her income is subject to withholding of income tax and/or
Social Security contributions are made by the Company or its subsidiaries. 

        2.9   "ERISA"
means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. 

        2.10 "Highly
Compensated Employee" means an Employee who is a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees of the Company, as defined for purposes
of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA. 

        2.11 "Participant"
means a Highly Compensated Employee who has met the participation requirements of Article III of this plan. 

        2.12 "Plan"
means the Deferred Compensation Plan of Laporte, Inc., as contained herein. 

 
 

ARTICLE III    
    

 
 

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION    
    

        3.1    Eligibility.    Each Highly Compensated Employee of the Company or its subsidiaries whose annual salary is at
least $90,000 and who is designated by the Committee for eligibility in this Plan will be eligible to become a Participant in this Plan. 

 

        3.2    Participation.    Each Highly Compensated Employee who is eligible to become a Participant under
Section 3.1 will become a Participant in this Plan when he/she makes a deferral election pursuant to Article IV of this Plan. 

        3.3    Termination of Participation.    A Participant's participation hereunder will terminate when all of his/her
benefits under this Plan have been paid in full. 

 
 

ARTICLE IV    
    

 
 

DEFERRAL ELECTIONS    
    

        4.1    Election to Defer.    A Participant may elect in advance to defer the payment of an award, if any, which may be
granted to him/her under an Eligible Incentive Plan. Such election shall be made by filing an election form at the time and in the manner specified by the Committee. Such election shall be required to
be made no later than: (i) in the case of 1998 bonus awards under the Annual Bonus Plan, October 15, 1998; (ii) in the case of 1999 and subsequent bonus awards under the Annual
Bonus Plan, the end of the calendar year preceding the calendar year for which the bonus award is payable; and (iii) in the case of awards under the Matching Share Plan and the Long Term
Incentive Plan, twelve months prior to the vesting date of the award. Such election shall specify: (1) the percentage of an award to be deferred, which percentage may be zero,
25 percent, 50 percent, 75 percent or 100 percent; (ii) the deferral term, which may be no later than the end of the first quarter of the year following the year of
termination of employment; (iii) the form of distribution, which may be a lump sum payment or annual installments over a period of up to 20 years; (iv) an initial designation of
one or any combination of available investment funds in which the amounts deferred shall be deemed to be invested and reinvested pursuant to Section 5.3; and (v) a beneficiary to whom
payments will be made in the event of the death of the Participant. The election shall be irrevocable with respect to the award to which it relates, except for changes in investment designation and
changes in beneficiary designation. In the case of a married Participant, the designation of a beneficiary other than his/her spouse requires the written consent of the spouse. 

        4.2    Deferred Amounts.    The deferred amount of an award shall be credited to the Participant's Deferral Account as
of (i) in the case of awards under the Annual Bonus Plan, the date on which the award would otherwise be payable and (ii) in the case of awards under the Matching Share Plan or the
Incentive Compensation Plan, the vesting date of the award or date of payment of the exercise price, if later. 

 
 

ARTICLE V    
    

 
 

DEFERRAL ACCOUNTS    
    

        5.1    Maintenance of Deferral Accounts.    The Company shall maintain a separate unfunded memorandum account
("Deferral Account") for each Participant electing to defer receipt of awards hereunder to which it shall credit the amounts deferred pursuant to Article IV. 

        5.2    Investment Funds.    Each Participant will have his Deferral Account deemed invested and reinvested in one or a
combination of the investment funds ("Investment Funds") specified by the Committee from time to time as available for the deemed investment of Deferral Accounts. 

        The
Company reserves the right at any time to eliminate or add additional Investment Funds available for deemed investment and reinvestment of Deferral Accounts. 

        5.3    Deemed Investment of Deferral Accounts.    Each Participant will have the right in his or her deferral election
to designate the Investment Funds(s) under which amounts credited to his or her 

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Deferral
Account pursuant to such election initially shall be deemed to be invested and reinvested. The election will specify the percentage in 10 percent increments deemed to be invested in
each Investment Fund, with the total of the percentages equal to 100 percent. In the case of the deferral of awards under the Matching Share Plan or the Incentive Compensation Plan, the amounts
credited to a Participant's Deferral Account initially shall be deemed to be invested in Laporte PLC Common Stock. 

        5.4    Deemed Investment Fund(s) Transfer.    Each Participant will have the right, at such times and in such manner
as specified by the Committee, to redesignate the Investment Fund(s) under which the current balance in his or her Deferral Account will be deemed invested and reinvested. The redesignation will
specify the percentage in 10 percent increments to be invested in each Investment Fund, with the total of the percentages equal to 100 percent. Notwithstanding the forgoing, in the case
of the deferral of awards under the Matching Share Plan and the Incentive Compensation Plan, the amounts credited to a Participant's Deferral Account must be deemed to remain invested in Laporte PLC
Common Stock until the expiration of the requisite holding period in the Matching Share Plan or incentive compensation Plan, as the case may be. 

        5.5    Adjustment of Deferral Accounts.    The Company periodically will adjust the Deferral Account of each
Participant to reflect deemed gains, losses and earnings, after applicable expenses, if any, as though the Deferral Account were in fact invested and reinvested in the designated Investment Funds. 

        5.6    Rights of the Company.    The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, invest funds directly or through a
trust in the Investment Funds designated by the Participants. To the extent that the Company, in its discretion, purchases or holds any of the Investment Funds directly or through a trust, the same
shall remain at all times subject to the claims of its general creditors. 

 
 

ARTICLE VI    
    

 
 

DISTRIBUTIONS    
    

        6.1    Payment of Deferral Accounts.    Payments shall commence as soon as practical following expiration of the
deferral term specified in the Participant's election form and shall be paid by the company in cash from its general funds, in the form specified in the Participant's election form. 

        6.2    Death of a Participant.    If a Participant dies prior to the receipt of all payments described above, the
remaining payments shall be paid in one lump sum to the Beneficiary designated by the Participant on his/her election form. In the event no Beneficiary has been designated, or the designated
Beneficiary has predeceased the Participant, the remaining payments shall be made to his/her estate in one lump sum. 

        6.3    Hardship Distributions.    In the event of an "unforseeable emergency" (as defined below), the committee may
approve an immediate distribution to a Participant (or beneficiary) of the balance of his/her Deferral Account up to the amount necessary to meet the emergency. An "unforeseeable emergency" means an
unanticipated emergency that is caused by an event beyond the control of the Participant or beneficiary and that would result in severe financial hardship to the individual if early withdrawal were
not permitted. 

 
 

ARTICLE VII    
    

 
 

ADMINISTRATION    
    

        7.1    Plan Administration.    The Plan is administered by the Committee, which is authorized: 

        (a)   To
make and enforce rules and regulations as necessary or proper for efficient Plan administration. 

3

 

        (b)   To
interpret the Plan in its discretion and to decide any and all matters arising under the Plan, including the right to remedy possible ambiguities, inconsistencies, or
omissions; provided, however, that all such interpretations and decisions are applied in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner to all Employees similarly situated. 

        (c)   To
compute the amount paid to any Participant, Spouse or Beneficiary according to Plan provisions. 

        7.2    Benefit Claims Procedure.    A claim is a request for a Plan benefit by a Participant or Beneficiary. A claim
is filed on a form provided by the Committee, specifying the form of benefit elected and the date benefit payments will begin. It must be signed by the claimant or the claimant's authorized
representative and delivered to the Committee. 

        If
a Participant's or Beneficiary's claim is denied, the Committee will provide adequate notice in writing, in nontechnical terms, to the claimant and will state the specific reasons for
denial. The Committee gives a Participant or Beneficiary whose claim for benefits has been denied 60 days from the date notice of denial is delivered or mailed in which to appeal the decision
in writing to the Committee. If the Participant or Beneficiary appeals the decision in writing within 60 days, the Committee will review the written comments and any submissions of the
Participant or Beneficiary and render its decision regarding the appeal—all within 60 days of such appeal. If the Committee requires additional time, it will so notify the
Participant or Beneficiary and will render its decision within 120 days of the appeal. 

 
 

ARTICLE VIII    
    

 
 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS    
    

        8.1    Nonalienation of Benefits.    Except as otherwise provided by law, no benefit, payment, or distribution under
this Plan will be subject either to the claim of any creditor of a Participant or Beneficiary, or to attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or other legal or equitable process by any creditor of
such person. Also, no such person will have any right to alienate, commute, anticipate, or assign (either at law or in equity) all or any portion of any benefit, payment or distribution under this
Plan. 

        The
Plan will not in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements, or torts of any persons entitled to benefits hereunder. 

        In
the event that any Participant's benefits are garnished or attached by order of any court, the Administrator may elect to bring an action for a declaratory judgment in a court of
competent jurisdiction to determine the proper recipient of the benefits to be paid by the Plan. During the pendency of said action, any benefits that become payable may be paid into the court as they
become payable, to be distributed by the court to the recipient as it deems proper at the close of said action. 

        8.2    Employment and Other Rights.    Nothing contained herein will require the Company to continue any Participant
or Highly Compensated Employee in its employ or require any Participant or Highly Compensated Employee to continue in the employ of the Company, nor does the Plan create any rights of any Participant,
Highly Compensated Employee, or Beneficiary or any obligations on the part of the Company other than those set forth herein. The benefits payable under this Plan will be independent of, and in
addition to, any other agreements that may exist from time to time concerning any other compensation or benefits payable by the Company. 

        8.3    Right to Benefits.    The sole interest of each Participant and each Beneficiary of a Participant under the
Plan will be to receive the benefit provided herein as and when the same becomes due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof, and neither any Participant nor any Beneficiary of any 

4

 

Participant
will have any right, title, or interest in or to any of the specific assets of the Company. All benefits hereunder will be paid solely from the general assets of the Company, and the
Company will not be required to maintain any separate fund or other segregated assets to provide any benefits hereunder. In no manner will any assets of the Company be deemed or construed through any
of the provisions of this Plan to be held in trust for the benefit of any Participant or designated Beneficiary(ies) or to be collateral security for the performance of the obligations imposed by this
Plan on the Company. The rights of any Participant hereunder and any Beneficiary of the Participant will be solely those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company. 

        8.4    Offset to Benefits.    Any other provision of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, if the
Administrator in its sole and absolute discretion shall determine, offset any amounts to be paid to a Participant under the Plan against any amounts which such Participant may owe to the Company. 

        8.5    Withholding and Deductions.    All Payments made by the Company under the Plan to any Participant or
Beneficiary will be subject to applicable tax withholdings and to such other deductions that may be required at the time of such payment under any income tax or other law, whether of the United States
or any other jurisdiction, and, in the case of payments to the Beneficiary of a Participant, the delivery to the Administrator of all necessary waivers, qualifications, and other documentation.
Determinations by the Administrator as to withholding, with respect thereto will be binding on the Participant and applicable Beneficiary(ies). 

        8.6    Amendment and Termination.    The Plan may be amended, suspended, or terminated at any time by the Board of
Directors. In the event it should at any time be determined for any reason by an applicable agency of the United States government or by any court of applicable jurisdiction that the Plan does not
qualify for the exclusions of ERISA Sections 202(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1), the affected portion of the Plan will be deemed terminated as of the date of such determination, unless alternative action
is taken by the Board of Directors. 

        8.7    ERISA Status.    This Plan constitutes a plan which is unfunded and which is maintained primarily for the
purpose of providing deferred compensation benefits for a select group of management or highly compensated employees within the meaning of ERISA Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(l). 

        8.8    Construction.    In the construction of the Plan, the masculine includes the feminine and the singular the
plural in all cases where such meanings would be appropriate. 

        8.9    Controlling Law.    The law of the State of [New York] will be the controlling state
law in all matters relating to the Plan and will apply to the extent that it is not preempted by the laws of the United States of America. 

        8.10    Effect of Invalidity of Provision.    If any provision of this Plan is held invalid or unenforceable, such
invalidity or unenforceability will not affect any other provisions hereof, and this Plan will be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included. 

        8.11    Inurement.    This Plan will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and
assigns and the Participant, his/her Spouse, and any Beneficiary, their successors, heirs, executors, administrators and beneficiaries. 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Plan to be signed by its duly authorized officer this 1st day of October, 1998. 

	 	 	LAPORTE, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  THOMAS J. RIORDAN      

	

 	
 	

Title:	

Vice President

5

 
 
 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE
  DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN OF LAPORTE INC.    
    

        WHEREAS,
Laporte Inc., now known as Rockwood Specialties Inc. (the "Company") maintains the Deferred Compensation Plan of Laporte Inc. (the "Plan"). 

        WHEREAS,
Article 8.6 of the Plan reserves to the Company the authority to amend the Plan at any time; and 

        WHEREAS,
the Company now desires to amend the Plan by reflecting the new company name; 

        NOW
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective March 1, 2001: 

	1.
	The
first paragraph is amended to read as follows: 

The
Deferred Compensation (the "Plan") of Rockwood Specialties Inc. (the "Company") was adopted effective as of October 1, 1998, to permit eligible employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries to
defer awards, if any, granted under eligible incentive plans maintained by the Company from time to time, on terms and subject to conditions set forth herein. 

        Article 2.13
is amended to read as follows: 

"Plan"
means the Deferred Compensation Plan of Rockwood Specialties Inc., as contained herein. 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this first amendment to be executed this 1st day of March, 2001. 

	 	 	ROCKWOOD SPECIALTIES INC.

(FORMERLY LAPORTE INC.)
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  THOMAS J. RIORDAN      
       Thomas J. Riordan

       Vice President & Secretary

6

QuickLinks

EXHIBIT 10.18

Laporte, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Laporte, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan

ARTICLE I

INTRODUCTION

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

ARTICLE III

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

ARTICLE IV

DEFERRAL ELECTIONS

ARTICLE V

DEFERRAL ACCOUNTS

ARTICLE VI

DISTRIBUTIONS

ARTICLE VII

ADMINISTRATION

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN OF LAPORTE INC.

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