Exhibit 10.23
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED
UNDER C.F.R. SECTIONS
200.80(b)(4), 200.83 and 230.406
*** INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT
IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUEST FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION
PELLET SUPPLY AGREEMENT
by and between
UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
and
REPUBLIC ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS ........................................................... 1
ARTICLE II - PELLET SALES ......................................................... 3
2.1 Quantities. ..................................................... 3
2.2 Forecasts. ...................................................... 4
2.3 Declarations: 2004 Shipping Season. ............................ 5
2.4 Prices. ......................................................... 5
2.5 Invoices and Payment. ........................................... 9
2.6 Delivery, Title and Risk of Loss: Bailment Period. ............. 11
2.7 Delivery, Title and Risk of Loss: 2004 Shipping Season. ........ 14
2.8 Terms and Conditions of Sale. ................................... 14
2.9 Warranty. ....................................................... 14
2.10 Most Favored Customer. .......................................... 14
2.11 Cross-Default; Setoff; Right to Substitute New Terms ............ 15
ARTICLE III - TERM AND TERMINATION ................................................ 16
3.1 Term. ........................................................... 16
3.2 Termination. .................................................... 16
ARTICLE IV - MISCELLANEOUS ........................................................ 17
4.1 Intent of Agreement. ............................................ 17
4.2 Payment Errors. ................................................. 17
4.3 Dispute Resolution. ............................................. 17
4.4 Records. ........................................................ 18
4.5 Confidentiality. ................................................ 18
4.6 Severability. ................................................... 19
4.7 Rights and Remedies; No Consequential Damages. .................. 19
4.8 Costs and Expenses. ............................................. 19
4.9 Notices. ........................................................ 20
4.10 Assignment. ..................................................... 20
4.11 Counterparts. ................................................... 21
4.12 Headings. ....................................................... 21
4.13 Governing Law. .................................................. 21
4.14 No Third Party Rights. .......................................... 21
4.15 Waiver and Amendments. .......................................... 21
4.16 Force Majeure. .................................................. 21
4.17 Entire Agreement. ............................................... 22
SCHEDULE A: 2002 Quality Specification for Minntac Acid Pellets
SCHEDULE B: 2002 Quality Specification for Minntac USS Fluxtac Pellets
SCHEDULE C: 2002 Quality Specification for Wabush 2.0% Mn Pellets
SCHEDULE D: [***]
SCHEDULE E: Bailment - Form 1
SCHEDULE F: Bailment - Form 2
PELLET SUPPLY AGREEMENT
THIS PELLET SUPPLY AGREEMENT, made effective as of August 16, 2002 (the
"Effective Date"), by and between REPUBLIC ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company ("Buyer" or "Republic") and UNITED STATES STEEL
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Seller" or "USS").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Buyer desires to obtain a reliable source for its requirements
for Pellets (as defined herein) for use at its Lorain Works steelmaking facility
located near Lorain, Ohio; and
WHEREAS, Seller desires to supply Buyer's requirements for Pellets; and
WHEREAS, Buyer and Seller wish to enter into this Pellet Supply
Agreement (this "Agreement") setting forth, inter alia, the terms and conditions
relating to Seller's agreement to sell to Buyer, and Buyer's agreement to
purchase from Seller, Pellets, all upon and subject to the terms and conditions
herein provided.
NOW, THEREFORE, Buyer and Seller hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS
As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth
below:
"Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned in the Recitals hereto.
"Alternate Acid Pellets" means acid pellets acquired by Seller from a
third party for resale to Buyer hereunder.
"Alternate Fluxed Pellets" means fluxed pellets acquired by Seller from
a third party for resale to Buyer hereunder.
"Bailment Period" means the period from the Effective Date through the
end of the 2003 Shipping Season.
"Business Plan" means Republic's five-year business plan as presented
to USS on August 14, 2002.
"Buyer" shall have the meaning assigned in the preamble hereto.
"Coke" shall have the meaning set forth in the Coke Supply Agreement.
"Coke Supply Agreement" means the Coke Supply Agreement of even date
herewith by and between Buyer and Seller.
"Consumption Adjustment Report" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto
in Section 2.6(g).
"Daily Consumption Report" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in
Section 2.6(g).
"Default" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 3.1.
"Effective Date" shall have the meaning assigned in the preamble
hereto.
"Eastern Canadian Price" means [***].
"Force Majeure" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 4.16.
"High Mn Pellets" means Canadian produced high manganese acid pellets
meeting the specifications set forth in Schedule C, as amended from time to time
by Seller, subject to the consent of Buyer, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld.
"Lorain Pipe Xxxxx" or "LPM" means USS Tubular Products Division's
pipe/tubemaking facility in Lorain, Ohio .
"Lorain Works" means Buyer's steelmaking facility in Lorain, Ohio.
"Late Payment Rate" means [***].
"Material Adverse Change" shall have the meaning assigned in Section
2.5(g).
"Minntac" means Seller's acid and fluxed taconite ore pellet producing
facility in Mt. Iron, Minnesota.
"Minntac Acid Pellets" means taconite pellets produced at Seller's
Minntac facility meeting the Specifications set forth in Schedule A, as amended
from time to time by Seller, subject to the consent of Buyer, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld.
"Minntac Fluxed Pellets" means taconite pellets produced at Seller's
Minntac facility meeting the Specifications set forth in Schedule B, as amended
from time to time by Seller, subject to the consent of Buyer, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld.
"Navigation Date" means the date of the official seasonal opening of
navigating routes required for lake transportation from Duluth, Minnesota to
Lorain Works, which event typically occurs on or about March 25.
"Payment Date" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 2.5(c).
"Pellets" means ore pellets, either acid or fluxed as specified by
Buyer, produced by Seller at its Minntac Plant or otherwise acquired by Seller,
which meet the Specifications.
"Person" means any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm,
corporation, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or
government or political subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality
thereof.
"Product Price" means [***].
"Proprietary Information" shall have the meaning assigned in Section
4.5(a).
"Republic" shall have the meaning assigned in the preamble hereto.
"Rounds" shall have the meaning assigned in the Rounds Supply
Agreement.
"Rounds Supply Agreement" means the Rounds Supply Agreement of even
date herewith by and
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among Buyers, Lorain Pipe Mill, an unincorporated unit of Seller's Tubular
Products Division and USS.
"Seller" shall have the meaning assigned in the preamble hereto.
"Services Agreement" means the Administrative and Utility Services
Agreement dated August 16, 2002 by and between Buyer and Lorain Pipe Mill, an
unincorporated unit of Seller's Tubular Products Division.
"Settlement Date" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 2.5(c).
"Settlement Period" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 2.5(c).
"Shipping Season" means: (a) for 2002, that period extending from
August 16, 2002 through the day immediately prior to the 2003 calendar year
Navigation Date; (b) for 2003, that period extending from the 2003 calendar year
Navigation Date through the day immediately prior to the 2004 calendar year
Navigation Date; and (c) for 2004, that period extending from the 2004 calendar
year Navigation Date through December 31, 2004.
"Specifications" means the qualities, sizes, conditions and other
specifications for Minntac Acid Pellets as set forth on Schedule A; for Minntac
Fluxed Pellets as set forth on Schedule B; and for High Mn Pellets as set forth
on Schedule C, as such Schedules are amended from time to time by Seller,
subject to the consent of Buyer, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
"Storage Piles" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 2.5(a).
"Ton," "net ton" and "NT" each means 2,000 pounds avoirdupois in
weight.
"Transportation Charge" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 2.4.
"USS" shall have the meaning assigned in the preamble hereto.
ARTICLE II - PELLET SALES
2.1 Quantities.
(a) Subject to the terms hereof, Seller agrees to sell and deliver to
Buyer, and Buyer agrees to purchase and accept delivery of, all of Buyer's
requirements for Pellets, including High Mn Pellets, for consumption in one
blast furnace at Lorain Works, it being understood that Buyer has the right to
change production practices at Lorain Works so as to use natural iron ore rather
than Pellets; provided, that Buyer may not substitute natural iron ore for
Pellets in excess of [***] of Buyer's normal annual requirements for Pellets
(including High Mn Pellets) in any Shipping Season. Seller shall also have a
right of first refusal (but not the obligation) to supply Buyer's requirements
for the second blast furnace at Lorain Works in the event Buyer operates both
blast furnaces simultaneously. In order to meet Buyer's requirements for Pellets
at Lorain Works, Seller may sell hereunder Minntac Acid Pellets, Minntac Fluxed
Pellets, Alternate Acid Pellets, Alternate Fluxed Pellets or High Mn Pellets;
provided, however, that Seller shall give Buyer prior written notice of any
delivery hereunder of any Alternate Acid Pellets or Alternate Fluxed Pellets,
and Buyer shall have the right to refuse delivery of such Alternate Acid Pellets
or Alternate Fluxed Pellets, if using such pellets would significantly increase
Lorain Works' operating costs, as determined in good faith by Buyer, subject to
review by Seller. Buyer may not resell or trade Pellets, except fines and/or
screenings, unless prior written consent is obtained from Seller. The total
quantity of High Mn Pellets purchased by Buyer
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hereunder during any Shipping Season shall not exceed [***] of Buyer's total
requirements for Pellets during such Shipping Season.
(b) In the event that Buyer changes production practices at Lorain
Works so as to use natural iron ore rather than Pellets (subject to the limit
set forth in Section 2.1(a) above), (i) Buyer will negotiate in good faith with
Seller with a view toward reaching an exclusive iron ore supply arrangement
based on market prices and conditions then prevailing, and (ii) before Buyer
enters any long-term natural iron ore supply arrangement with any third Person,
Seller shall have the right to enter an arrangement with Buyer matching such
third Person's offered prices and terms.
(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) above, from and after
September 1, 2004, Buyer may require that up to 600,000 Tons of its requirements
for Pellets be fulfilled with pellets purchased by Buyer from a third party
source; provided, that such pellets shall not be intended for consumption or
used by Buyer before January 1, 2005.
2.2 Forecasts.
(a) During the Bailment Period, Buyer shall provide to Seller, prior to
the end of each calendar month during the Bailment Period, a written forecast of
its consumption of Minntac Acid Pellets, Minntac Fluxed Pellets and High Mn
Pellets during the next three-month period (the "Consumption Forecast"), except
that the Consumption Forecasts to be issued during each of the months of
September, October and November of each of 2002 and 2003 shall forecast Buyer's
consumption of such pellets through the following March. Promptly upon execution
of this Agreement, Buyer shall provide Seller a Consumption Forecast for the
period from the date of execution of this Agreement by both parties to the next
Navigation Date. During the Bailment Period, Seller shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to schedule deliveries of Pellets to Buyer in amounts and at
intervals to allow Buyer to maintain in the Stock Piles on an ongoing basis an
approximate two-week supply of Pellets in accordance with Buyer's projected
requirements as reflected in Buyer's Consumption Forecast; provided, however,
that during the time period of mid-September through late December of each of
the 2002 and 2003 Shipping Seasons, consistent with Buyer's Consumption
Forecasts and in consultation with Buyer, Seller shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to schedule additional deliveries of Pellets to Buyer in
amounts and at intervals to allow Buyer to build the bailment Stock Piles to
such levels as to permit Buyer to continue operations using only the Stock Piles
during the time that the navigating routes required for lake transportation from
Duluth, Minnesota to Lorain Works are closed (from approximately mid-December
until the Navigation Date).
(b) With respect to the 2004 Shipping Season, no later than November
15, 2003 Buyer shall provide to Seller a written forecast of the quantity of
Minntac Acid Pellets, Minntac Fluxed Pellets and High Mn Pellets which it
anticipates consuming in its blast furnace(s) during the 2004 Shipping Season;
provided, however, that Buyer shall provide Seller with a supplement updating
its annual forecast if, at any time during the 2004 Shipping Season, such
forecast changes materially. It is understood that Buyer's 2004 Shipping Season
forecast provided in accordance with this Section 2.2(b) is for the purpose of
facilitating production, scheduling and delivery of Pellets during the 2004
Shipping Season and is not binding upon Buyer. Buyer shall purchase its
requirements for Pellets during the 2004 Shipping Season in accordance with the
declaration procedures set forth in Section 2.3 below.
(c) It is expressly understood and agreed that Seller shall not be
deemed in breach of this Agreement in connection with any failure to provide
adequate supplies of Pellets to satisfy Buyer's requirements caused by Buyer's
failure to submit any of the Consumption Forecasts as required by Section
2.2(a), the 2004 Shipping Season forecast as required by Section 2.2(b), or any
of the Quarterly Declarations, Monthly Delivery Schedules or Amended Monthly
Delivery Schedules as required by Section 2.3, in a timely and reasonably
accurate and detailed manner.
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2.3 Declarations: 2004 Shipping Season.
(a) On or before the first day of March, June and September of the 2004
Shipping Season, Buyer shall submit to Seller a written declaration (hereinafter
"Quarterly Declaration") setting forth the quantity and type and the requested
monthly delivery schedule (hereinafter "Monthly Delivery Schedule"), for
Pellets, if any, to be delivered during each month in the next succeeding
calendar quarter. Buyer agrees to use reasonable efforts to schedule Pellets for
delivery at as uniform a rate as practicable from month to month; provided,
however, that in no event will Buyer be obligated to disrupt its normal course
of business or incur any additional expense in exerting such efforts. No later
than 15 days prior to the beginning of each month during each such calendar
quarter, Buyer may, by written notice to Seller, amend the Monthly Delivery
Schedule for such month as set forth in Buyer's Quarterly Declaration, so that
the quantity of Pellets to be delivered during such month is up to 20% greater
or up to 20% lesser than the quantity in the Monthly Delivery Schedule as set
forth in Buyer's Quarterly Declaration (hereinafter "Amended Monthly Delivery
Schedule"); provided, however, that any such changes shall be proportionately
spread across all pellet types contained in Buyer's initial Monthly Delivery
Schedule and shall be compatible with full vessel quantity deliveries as
required hereunder, unless the parties agree, in writing, to a different
allocation of the change. The total quantity of Pellets in Buyer's Monthly
Delivery Schedules or Amended Monthly Delivery Schedules, if any, made pursuant
to this paragraph shall be the binding purchase and sale commitments of Buyer
and Seller, respectively, under this Agreement for the applicable month. It is
recognized by the parties that deliveries of Pellets hereunder shall be made
during the 2004 Shipping Season. All requests for changes in a Monthly Delivery
Schedule or Amended Monthly Delivery Schedule, that are received less than 15
days prior to the beginning of the month (i) shall be subject to acceptance or
rejection by Seller and (ii) shall not be binding on Seller until accepted.
(b) Within seven business days of Seller's receipt of any Quarterly
Declaration (including the Monthly Delivery Schedule) or any Amended Monthly
Delivery Schedule from Buyer, Seller shall send Buyer a written acknowledgement
of its receipt of the Quarterly Declaration or Amended Monthly Delivery
Schedule. Any proposed changes by Seller from Buyer's written Quarterly
Declaration or any Amended Monthly Delivery Schedule, shall be negotiated by the
parties before acknowledgement. If Seller has the right to reject all or any
portion of such Quarterly Declaration or Amended Monthly Delivery Schedule
pursuant to Section 2.3(a), Seller's written acknowledgement shall identify the
basis for any such rejection. Seller's notices of acknowledgement shall set
forth the quantity and type of Pellets Seller will deliver to Buyer and the
anticipated delivery schedule.
2.4 Prices.
(a) For Pellets delivered hereunder during the 2002 Shipping Season,
Buyer shall pay Seller per Ton of Pellets delivered at Lorain Works in
accordance with Section 2.6 or Section 2.7 hereof a price consisting of the sum
of the Product Price and the Transportation Charge, each determined as follows:
(i) Minntac Acid Pellets and Alternate Acid Pellets. For the
first [***] Tons of Minntac Acid Pellets and Alternate Acid
Pellets delivered on or after the Navigation Date for 2002
(when taking into account Minntac Acid Pellets and
Alternate Acid Pellets purchased by the prior owner of
Buyer's Lorain Works, Republic Technologies International,
LLC, during said time period), the Product Price for
Minntac Acid Pellets or Alternate Acid Pellets shall be
$[***] for each Ton unit of iron (natural basis analysis)
contained in the product (hereinafter, the "2002 Acid
Payback Price"); thereafter, and if said [***] Ton
threshold is achieved during the 2002 Shipping Season, for
the remainder of the 2002 Shipping Season the Product Price
shall be $[***] (hereinafter, the "2002 Acid Contract
Price", and the difference between the
5
2002 Acid Payback Price and the 2002 Acid Contract Price is
the "Acid Payback Premium").
(ii) Minntac Fluxed Pellets and Alternate Fluxed Pellets. For
the first [***] Tons of Minntac Fluxed Pellets and
Alternate Fluxed Pellets delivered on or after the
Navigation Date for 2002 (when taking into account Minntac
Fluxed Pellets and Alternate Fluxed Pellets purchased by
the prior owner of Buyer's Lorain Works, Republic
Technologies International, LLC, during said time period),
the Product Price for Minntac Fluxed Pellets or Alternate
Fluxed Pellets shall be $[***] for each Ton unit of iron
(natural basis analysis) contained in the product
(hereinafter, the "2002 Fluxed Payback Price"); thereafter,
and if said [***] Ton threshold is achieved during the 2002
Shipping Season, for the remainder of the 2002 Shipping
Season the Product Price shall be $[***] (hereinafter, the
"2002 Fluxed Contract Price", and the difference between
the 2002 Fluxed Payback Price and the 2002 Fluxed Contract
Price is the "Fluxed Payback Premium").
(iii) High Mn Pellets. The Product Price for High Mn Pellets
shall be $[***] for each Ton unit of iron (natural basis
analysis) contained in the product.
(iv) The Transportation Charge for Minntac Acid Pellets and
Minntac Fluxed Pellets shall be equal to the sum (A) the
amount per Ton paid by Seller for rail transportation [***]
and (B) the rate per Ton in effect between Seller and [***]
including any end-of-year adjustments (up or down, as the
case may be), as such amounts may be determined from time
to time in accordance with the Transportation Services
Agreement effective July 1, 1998, by and between United
States Steel Corporation as successor by merger to USX
Corporation, on the one hand, and [***], on the other hand,
as amended.
(v) The Transportation Charge for Alternate Acid Pellets and
Alternate Fluxed Pellets shall be an imputed amount which
is equal to the sum of (A) the rate per Ton in effect
between Seller and [***] and (B) the rate per Ton in effect
between Seller and [***] including any end-of-year
adjustments (up or down, as the case may be), as such
amounts may be determined from time to time in accordance
with the Transportation Services Agreement effective July
1, 1998, by and between United States Steel Corporation as
successor by merger to USX Corporation, on the one hand,
and [***], on the other hand, as amended.
(vi) The Transportation Charge for High Mn Pellets shall be
$[***] (U.S. Dollars) per Ton. Seller shall be importer of
record for any High Mn Pellets, Alternate Acid Pellets or
Alternate Fluxed Pellets which Seller acquires from a
Canadian producer for resale to Buyer hereunder.
(b) As close to the commencement of each of the 2003 and 2004 Shipping
Seasons as possible, as dictated by the formal publishing of the Eastern
Canadian Price, the parties hereto shall determine the revised Product Prices
and Transportation Charges for Pellets to be sold hereunder during the next
Shipping Season as follows:
(i) The Product Price for Minntac Acid Pellets and Alternate
Acid Pellets shall be the Product Price in effect for the
immediately prior Shipping Season (which is the 2002 Acid
Contract Price with respect to the 2002 Shipping Season,
and may be the 2003 Acid Contract Price with respect to the
2003 Shipping Season as provided below), as
6
adjusted by the percentage change, up or down as the case
may be, in the Eastern Canadian Price from the immediately
prior calendar year to the current calendar year (which
resulting price for the 2003 Shipping Season is deemed the
"2003 Acid Contract Price"). Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, in the event that Buyer does not achieve the
[***] Ton threshold during the 2002 Shipping Season (when
taking into account Minntac Acid Pellets and Alternate Acid
Pellets purchased by the prior owner of Lorain Works,
Republic Technologies International, LLC, on and after
March 31, 2002) as set forth in Section 2.4(a)(i), the
Product Price for Minntac Acid Pellets and Alternate Acid
Pellets for the 2003 Shipping Season shall be increased by
the Acid Payback Premium (and the resulting price for the
2003 Shipping Season is deemed the "2003 Acid Payback
Price") until such time that said threshold is achieved, at
which time the Product Price for the 2003 Shipping Season
shall revert to the 2003 Acid Contract Price.
(ii) The Product Price for Minntac Fluxed Pellets and Alternate
Fluxed Pellets shall be the Product Price in effect for the
immediately prior Shipping Season (which is the 2002 Fluxed
Contract Price with respect to the 2002 Shipping Season,
and may be the 2003 Fluxed Contract Price with respect to
the 2003 Shipping Season as provided below), as adjusted by
the percentage change, up or down as the case may be, in
the Eastern Canadian Price from the immediately prior
calendar year to the current calendar year (which resulting
price for the 2003 Shipping Season is deemed the "2003
Fluxed Contract Price"). Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, in the event that Buyer does not achieve the
[***] Ton threshold during the 2002 Shipping Season (when
taking into account Minntac Fluxed Pellets and Alternate
Fluxed Pellets purchased by the prior owner of Lorain
Works, Republic Technologies International, LLC, on and
after March 31, 2002) as set forth in Section 2.4(a)(i),
the Product Price for Minntac Fluxed Pellets and Alternate
Fluxed Pellets for the 2003 Shipping Season shall be
increased by the Fluxed Payback Premium (and the resulting
price for the 2003 Shipping Season is deemed the "2003
Fluxed Payback Price") until such time that said threshold
is achieved, at which time the Product Price for the 2003
Shipping Season shall revert to the 2003 Fluxed Contract
Price.
(iii) The Transportation Charge for Minntac Acid Pellets, Minntac
Fluxed Pellets, Alternate Acid Pellets and Alternate Fluxed
Pellets shall be calculated throughout the term of this
Agreement in the same manner as set for the 2002 Shipping
Season in Sections 2.4(a)(iv) and (v) above.
(iv) With respect to High Mn Pellets: (A) the Product Price
shall based upon the Product Price in effect for the
immediately prior Shipping Season, as adjusted by the
percentage change, up or down as the case may be, in the
Eastern Canadian Price from the immediately prior calendar
year to the current calendar year; (B) the Transportation
Charge shall be determined in a manner that ensures Seller
is reimbursed for all product, transportation,
transportation-related, dock storage and handling, and
other out-of-pocket costs actually incurred by Seller for
each vessel delivered to Lorain Works; and (C) Seller shall
be entitled to a reasonable percentage profit on the
combination of items (A) and (B).
(v) If the parties have not agreed upon or otherwise
established revised Product Prices for Minntac Acid
Pellets, Minntac Fluxed Pellets, Alternate Acid Pellets,
Alternate Fluxed Pellets and/or High Mn Pellets by the
start of the Shipping Season, the Product Price in effect
during the preceding Shipping Season, for the type of
Pellet as
7
to which there is no agreement, shall continue to be
charged subject to reconciliation (including application of
the Late Payment Rate to any adjustment) until after the
new Product Price is established.
(vi) If, during any Shipping Season, after Product Prices have
been agreed to by the parties or established through
dispute resolution procedures, (A) a significant change
(other than spot market or short term fluctuations) occurs
in the relationship between the number of operating blast
furnaces in the United States and Canada and the number of
operating pellet production plants in the United States and
Canada, or a similar change occurs causing a structural
change in the market, and (B) such change creates
significant opportunities for Seller to market Minntac
Pellets at higher prices or significant opportunities for
Buyer to purchase United States or Canadian pellets at
lower prices, then either party may provide written notice
to the other party specifying the changed circumstances and
requesting that negotiations concerning Product Prices
hereunder be reopened. Following receipt of any such notice
of changed circumstances, the parties shall negotiate in
good faith to establish revised Product Prices which are
reasonable under the changed circumstances. If the parties
are unable to agree upon any new Product Price, the matter
may be submitted by either party to the dispute resolution
procedure set forth in Section 4.3. During any such
negotiations or dispute resolution procedures, the
previously agreed to or established Product Prices shall
continue to be charged by Seller and paid by Buyer;
however, any new Product Prices agreed to by the parties or
established through dispute resolution procedures shall be
effective on, and, if necessary applied retroactively to,
the later of (X) the date of the notice of changed
circumstances, or (Y) July 1 of the calendar year in which
such notice of changed circumstances is provided (including
application of the Late Payment Rate to any adjustment).
Notwithstanding anything set forth herein, neither Seller
nor Buyer shall have any right to submit a notice of
changed circumstances pursuant to this Section 2.4(b)(iv)
more often than once during the term of this Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 2.4, Seller
shall comply with Section 2.10.
(d) The prevailing prices for Minntac Acid Pellets and Minntac Fluxed
Pellets at all times hereunder shall be subject to adjustment for variation in
quality as set forth in Schedule D, as the same may be revised from year to year
by the parties during the renegotiation of the Product Price, based upon
competitive market conditions prevailing at the time of such renegotiation for
long term sales of acid and fluxed pellets by domestic producers (including
Seller) to unaffiliated customers, and if the parties are unable to agree on
appropriate revised price adjustments prior to the start of the Shipping Season,
the matter in dispute may be submitted to the dispute resolution procedure set
forth in Section 4.3. Adjustments for variation in quality with respect to
Alternate Acid Pellets and Alternate Fluxed Pellets shall be governed by the
terms and conditions of Seller's purchase agreements with the third party
supplier thereof, which terms and conditions shall be subject to Buyer's
approval, which such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed.
(e) To the extent legally permissible, all present and future taxes
imposed by any federal, state, local or foreign authority which [***] may be
required to pay or collect, upon or with reference to the sale, purchase,
transportation, delivery, storage (including, inter alia, with respect to the
bailment Stock Piles described in Section 2.6 below), use or consumption of
Pellets, including taxes upon or measured by the receipts therefrom (except net
income and equity franchise taxes), shall be for the account of [***].
8
(f) The weights used for purposes of the xxxx of lading by the lake
carrier transporting Pellets to Lorain Works shall be the basis for determining
the amount of Pellets actually sold hereunder, and such weights shall be
conclusive as to the quantities of Pellets sold hereunder; provided, however,
that if Buyer should encounter material discrepancies in weights measured by the
lake carrier and weights measured by Buyer, Buyer and Seller shall meet to
discuss reasons for such discrepancies and whether remedial action is necessary.
2.5 Invoices and Payment.
(a) Buyer shall provide the Daily Consumption Reports and any
Consumption Adjustment Reports to Seller summarizing the number of tons of
Pellets removed during the prior day by Buyer from the bailment storage piles
referenced in Section 2.6 herein (hereinafter "Storage Piles"). Such reports
shall specify the type of Pellets removed and shall identify the Storage Pile
and/or piles from which they were removed.
(b)(i) Bailment Invoicing. On each Settlement Date of each
Settlement Period from the Effective Date through March 31,
2004, Seller shall invoice Buyer for all Tons removed from
the bailment Storage Piles hereunder during such Settlement
Period based upon Buyer's Daily Consumption Reports and
Consumption Adjustment Reports. Seller shall invoice Buyer,
and Buyer shall pay Seller via wire transfer, the net
amount of the Product Price due per such invoices in
accordance with the payment provisions set forth in
Sections 2.5(c) through (g) below. The Product Price for
such Pellets shall be the Product Price in effect hereunder
at the time the Pellets were first received by Buyer and
placed into bailment storage at Lorain Works; provided,
however, that if more than one vessel is stored in a
Storage Pile, then the number of iron units in each Ton
removed from such Storage Pile, together with the
Transportation Charge for each such Ton, shall be
determined, for billing purposes, on a "first-in-first-out"
basis. Buyer shall promptly notify Seller in writing when
each individual Storage Pile is completely removed
(depleted) by Buyer. Seller shall then reconcile Buyer's
cumulative Daily Consumption Reports and any Consumption
Adjustment Reports issued with respect to such Storage Pile
with the cumulative vessel xxxx of lading weights of
material placed onto the Storage Pile. Seller shall then
issue to Buyer (i) a corrected invoice for the number of
Tons by which the cumulative vessel xxxx of lading weights
placed in the pile exceeds the total amount removed from
such Storage Pile by Buyer per its Daily Consumption
Reports and any Consumption Adjustment Reports, or (ii) a
credit memo for the number of Tons by which the total
amount removed from such Storage Pile by Buyer per its
Daily Consumption Reports and any Consumption Adjustment
Reports exceeds the cumulative vessel xxxx of lading
weights placed in the Storage Pile. Buyer shall pay such
corrected invoices by wire transfer on the next Payment
Date or reflect any such credit on a payment to Seller
subsequent to receipt of a credit memo. Buyer shall pay
interest on all amounts not paid as specified herein at the
Late Payment Rate from and including the due date to but
excluding the date payment is actually made.
(ii) Bailment Settlement Invoicing. After the Bailment Period
ends on March 31, 2004, Seller shall reconcile Buyer's
cumulative Daily Consumption Reports and any Consumption
Adjustment Reports issued with respect to each Storage Pile
established during the Bailment Period and which has not
been previously reconciled in accordance with subsection
2.5 (b) (i) above with the cumulative vessel xxxx of lading
weights of material placed onto the Storage Pile. Any
quantities of Pellets physically remaining in a Stock Pile
on such date and which have not been reported
9
by Buyer in a Daily Consumption Report or Consumption
Adjustment Report as consumed shall be deemed for these
purposes as consumed by Buyer on the Bailment Period
termination date. Seller shall then issue to Buyer (i) a
corrected invoice for the number of Tons by which the
cumulative vessel xxxx of lading weights placed in the pile
exceeds the total amount removed from such Storage Pile by
Buyer per its Daily Consumption Reports and any Consumption
Adjustment Reports (and including any quantities deemed as
consumed under this paragraph), or (ii) a credit memo for
the number of Tons by which the total amount removed from
such Storage Pile by Buyer per its Daily Consumption
Reports and any Consumption Adjustment Reports (and
including any quantities deemed as consumed under this
paragraph) exceeds the cumulative vessel xxxx of lading
weights placed in the Storage Pile. Payment of the
corrected invoice shall be made by Buyer via wire transfer
on the next Payment Date, or reflect any such credit on a
payment to Seller subsequent to receipt of a credit memo.
Buyer shall pay interest on all amounts not paid as
specified herein at the Late Payment Rate from and
including the due date to but excluding the date payment is
actually made.
(iii) Post-Bailment Invoicing. For Pellets delivered on or after
April 1, 2004 pursuant to Section 2.7, invoices shall be
issued upon delivery of the Pellets in accordance with
Section 2.7(a) and the price shall the Product Price in
effect at the time of such delivery. Payment shall be made
by Buyer via wire transfer in accordance with the payment
provisions set forth in Sections 2.5(c) through (g) below.
(c) Subject to Section 2.11 below, payment shall be made for Pellets
invoiced during each Settlement Period (as hereinafter defined) on the Payment
Date (as hereinafter defined). A "Settlement Period" shall be the period falling
from [***] (the "First Settlement Period") and the period from [***] (the
"Second Settlement Period"). On the day following each Settlement Period (i.e.,
[***]) (the "Settlement Date"), Seller shall provide to Buyer a summary of all
payments to be made on the Payment Date consistent with the invoices issued in
accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 2.5(b). The Payment Date
for the First Settlement Period shall be on the immediately succeeding [***] and
the Payment date for the Second Settlement Period shall be on the immediately
succeeding [***]. In the event a Payment Date falls on a holiday, the Payment
Date shall be the day immediately following. Any deliveries of Pellets for which
an invoice is not available prior to the otherwise applicable Settlement Date
(e.g., due to delays in the normal invoice cycle) will be settled on the next
Settlement Date.
(d) Each partial delivery or installment of Pellets shall be deemed to
be sold under a separate agreement, and no Default by Seller of or with respect
to any partial delivery or installment shall entitle Buyer to treat this
Agreement as breached or repudiated in regard to any balance or installment with
respect to which there is no Default or breach.
(e) Buyer shall make payment in full of the amount due under each
invoice in strict compliance with the payment terms as set forth in this
Agreement without any deduction for any discount or credits, contra or setoffs
of any kind or amount whatsoever unless expressly authorized in writing by
Seller prior to the Settlement Date relating to such invoice(s). Any delinquent
invoice(s) not paid when due shall bear interest on the unpaid amount at the
Late Payment Rate specified in this Agreement.
(f) (i) Buyer agrees to furnish Seller's Treasury Department on an
ongoing basis (1) unaudited quarterly financial statements of its operations,
including income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements and borrowing
bases, all in substantially the form presented in its Business Plan, (2) audited
year-end financial statements and (3) such other financial data or information
as may be required to reasonably assure Seller of Buyer's continuing ability to
perform this Agreement and comply fully with its
10
payment obligations at all times as to both existing and future product
shipments hereunder. For purposes of this subsection (f), Seller confirms its
obligations under that certain Confidentiality Agreement dated as of August 16,
2002 by and between Seller and Buyer. Any failure of Buyer to timely provide any
of the documents or information required by this paragraph shall be deemed a
material breach of this Agreement that entitles Seller to invoke any of the
remedies available to Seller under this Agreement and/or at law or in equity.
(ii) Beginning on and continuing for each quarterly period after
January 1, 2003, Republic agrees to submit to Seller on a quarterly basis the
financial information noted in subsection (f) (i) above. Upon receipt of such
information, Seller agrees to make a comprehensive review of all such financial
information submitted to determine if, in Seller's sole judgment, there is a
basis to modify the [***] credit, payment and settlement terms as set forth in
subsection 2.5(c) above. Seller agrees to make this financial review in good
faith; provided, however, there is no assurance or obligation that such a review
will result in a modification of any such credit/payment/settlement terms. In
the event the parties agree to a modification to the credit/payment/settlement,
then the relevant, parallel provisions of the Coke Supply Agreement, this Pellet
Supply Agreement, and the Rounds Supply Agreement shall be amended accordingly
to reflect the agreed to modifications. The parties agree that this Section
2.5(f)(i) and (ii), or any dispute arising hereunder, shall be excluded from
Section 4.3 hereof.
(g) In the event, in Seller's sole judgment, of any material adverse
change in the financial condition of Buyer, or deterioration in its liquidity
and/or then current ability to discharge its existing or future payment
obligations hereunder (a "Material Adverse Change"), Seller shall have the right
to require Buyer to provide additional security for its obligations hereunder.
The form, nature and sufficiency of such additional security shall be in
Seller's sole and absolute discretion. If Buyer does not provide such additional
security within 10 days of written notice from Seller that a Material Adverse
Change has occurred and that additional security is required, Seller may (i)
suspend further shipments of Pellets until such additional security is provided,
(ii) require Buyer to pay for future deliveries of Pellets on a cash-on-delivery
basis, or (iii) immediately terminate this Agreement. Seller agrees that minor
deviations from the Business Plan will not be deemed to be a Material Adverse
Change hereunder unless such minor deviations continue for three or more
consecutive calendar months.
2.6 Delivery, Title and Risk of Loss: Bailment Period.
(a) During the Bailment Period, all Pellets covered hereunder shall be
tendered by Seller to Buyer F.O.B. end of boom of self unloading vessel in full
vessel quantity at the Lorain Works facility for storage in designated bailment
Storage Piles hereunder, unless otherwise agreed by the parties prior to the
shipment of the Pellets. Buyer shall be responsible for providing a safe berth
at Lorain Works for all vessels making deliveries hereunder. Vessels in excess
of 767 feet in length shall not be used to make deliveries hereunder, unless
agreed to in advance in writing by Buyer.
(b) Pellets tendered to Buyer hereunder shall be placed in designated
bailment storage consisting of individual Storage Piles and held by Buyer as a
bailee of Seller and shall remain the sole and exclusive property of Seller,
with legal and equitable title to all Pellets remaining in Seller, until Buyer
removes Pellets from a Storage Pile for use in a blast furnace. Buyer may only
remove Pellets from the bailment Storage Piles for consumption in its blast
furnaces. Until such removal by Buyer for use in its blast furnaces, Buyer shall
have no interest, legal or equitable, in the Pellets. Risk of loss, however,
shall pass to Buyer upon receipt by Buyer end of boom by the self-unloading
vessel at Lorain Works. The bailment storage area shall be kept separate and
reserved and shall be used by Buyer exclusively for its receipt and storage of
Pellets tendered by Seller for bailment storage hereunder.
(c) This Agreement is intended to create a true bailment. Buyer shall
execute UCC-1 forms and
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any other documents relating to Seller's ownership interest and shall take all
actions and extend full cooperation to Seller as necessary to create and perfect
Seller's ownership interest in the bailment Pellets.
(d) Buyer shall, at its sole expense, receive, handle, place, maintain
and store in bailment storage area in segregated Storage Piles all Pellets
supplied by Seller hereunder, in a manner designed to assure the safe storage
and protection of such Pellets from loss, damage or deterioration and to protect
and insulate the Pellets and value thereof from any security interest, claim or
adverse action of any creditor of Buyer or any other party. Buyer shall
prominently place signs adjacent to such segregated Storage Piles which identify
the Storage Piles as the property of Seller. Buyer shall provide the same level
of care for Pellets held in bailment storage hereunder that it has traditionally
provided for Pellets owned by Buyer and stored at Lorain Works.
(e) A cleared area shall be created by Buyer at Buyer's expense prior
to the construction of each Storage Pile held in bailment hereunder, and such
cleared space shall be confirmed in Form 1 (attached as Schedule E to this
Agreement) to be submitted by Buyer to Seller prior to the construction of a new
pile. Each Storage Pile of Pellets shall consist of the load delivered by not
less than one lake vessel. A vessel shall discharge its entire load into a
designated reserve Storage Pile, and thereafter the cumulative weight of each
newly constructed Storage Pile of Pellets shall equal the sum of the unloading
vessel's xxxx of lading weights. When a reserve Storage Pile is fully
constructed and complete, Buyer shall notify Seller immediately by fax
communication using Form 2 (attached as Schedule F to this Agreement).
(f) Buyer shall remove and use Pellets from each Storage Pile held in
bailment hereunder strictly in accordance with the procedures specified herein.
For each type of Pellets being tendered to Buyer for bailment storage hereunder,
Buyer shall maintain a `working' Storage Pile and one or more `reserve' Storage
Piles of Pellets. During the unloading of a vessel and placement of Pellets in a
reserve Storage Pile, there shall be no Pellets removed from that Storage Pile.
Restocking and consumption of Pellets shall be permissible only when a Storage
Pile is constructed fully and Buyer advises Seller by transmission of Form 2
that a particular Storage Pile is complete. Further, Buyer may remove Pellets of
each type only from a working Storage Pile until such working Storage Pile is
used fully and is depleted. Buyer shall use all reasonable efforts to utilize
Storage Piles of each type of Pellet on a first-in-first-out basis in order to
ensure that Pellets of each type received at Lorain Works during a Shipping
Season are consumed before Pellets received during a subsequent Shipping Season
are utilized. Upon depletion of any working Storage Pile of Pellets, Buyer shall
immediately submit to Seller a new Form 1.
(g) On a daily basis throughout the Bailment Period of this Agreement,
Buyer shall send by facsimile or electronic mail to Seller a written Pellet
consumption report for each Buyer furnace then operating (the "Daily Consumption
Report"). In addition to this Daily Consumption Report, Buyer shall provide to
Seller in writing any adjustments to blast furnace Pellet consumption and any
other information reasonably intended to inform and fully advise Seller of
Buyer's consumption of Pellets and the quantity of Pellets then remaining in the
working pile of Pellets (the "Consumption Adjustment Reports"). Buyer agrees to
maintain accounts and records satisfactory to Seller, including the Daily
Consumption Reports, the Consumption Adjustment Reports, and all related records
of Buyer's removal and use of Pellets, and a true, accurate and complete record
of all Pellets received and stored by Buyer as bailee from time to time.
Accurate inventory control of the Pellets in each of the Storage Piles shall be
maintained at all times by Buyer.
(h) Based upon the above-described reports and information timely
provided by Buyer, Seller shall invoice Buyer in accordance with Section 2.5(b).
Adjustments by Buyer to its Daily Consumption Report may be reflected by Seller
in the invoice for the following Settlement Period. Buyer's failure or refusal,
for any reason, to fax to Seller a blast furnace production and Daily
Consumption Report for each Buyer blast furnace then operating or to provide
other reasonable information requested by Seller concerning Pellet consumption
and/or Pellets held in bailment hereunder, when and as requested by Seller,
shall be
12
considered a Default hereunder.
(i) Upon 24-hour notice from Seller, Buyer shall afford representatives
of Seller full access to and opportunity to examine all reasonable information
and/or documents requested by Seller concerning Buyer's Pellet consumption
and/or Pellets held in bailment hereunder at any time during Buyer's regular
business hours during the term of this Agreement and for a period of one year
thereafter.
(j) Buyer shall permit Seller's representatives, at any time during
Buyer's regular business hours during the term of this Agreement, upon arrival
at Lorain Works without prior notice, to make a physical inspection and take an
inventory, at Seller's expense, of all bailed Pellets in the possession of
Buyer; provided, however, such representatives may be accompanied by Buyer's
representatives during such inspection and shall comply with all applicable
plant safety rules during such inspection.
(k) At all times while the Pellets are in its possession as bailee,
Buyer shall keep the same free of all taxes, liens, encumbrances and security
interests. Any sums of money, including attorneys' fees that are paid by Seller
to effect a release or discharge thereof, or to replevin or take possession of
the Pellets, shall be paid on demand by Buyer as an express obligation assumed
by Buyer hereunder.
(l) At any time that Buyer is in Default hereunder, and Seller has
provided notice of Default to Buyer pursuant to Section 3.1(iii), (iv) or (v)
hereunder, Seller may, until such Default is cured, require that Buyer pay cash
in advance before removing any Pellets from any Storage Pile held in bailment
hereunder. Seller shall have the right during any such period to station
representatives at Lorain Works to ensure that no Pellets held in bailment are
removed from storage without advance cash payment.
(m) If this Agreement is terminated for any reason, Seller may require
Buyer to continue to store any Pellets held in bailment at Lorain Works, without
charge to Seller, for a period not to exceed one year from the date of
termination.
(n) If this Agreement is terminated for any reason, in addition to its
other legal rights or remedies, Seller may demand that Buyer make all such
Pellets then stored in Buyer's ore yard available to Seller immediately and
unconditionally for return to Seller. Upon demand by Seller, Buyer shall cease
immediately any further removal, consumption or use of the Pellets held in
bailment in its furnaces or for any other purpose and shall permit Seller or any
sheriff or other officer of the law to take immediate possession of such Pellets
without demand or further notice to Buyer and without legal process. For this
purpose, Seller shall have the right, and Buyer does hereby authorize and
empower Seller, to enter upon the Buyer's Lorain Works or other premises
wherever the Pellets may be and, at Seller's expense, take possession of and
remove the Pellets without liability for trespass or other action.
2.7 Delivery, Title and Risk of Loss: 2004 Shipping Season.
At all times during the 2004 Shipping Season:
(a) delivery of Pellets to Buyer shall take place F.O.B. end of boom of
self unloading vessel in full vessel quantity at the Lorain Works facility, or
in such other manner or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the
parties in writing prior to the shipment of Pellets; and
(b) except as otherwise provided herein, title and risk of loss and
damage to the Pellets shall pass from Seller to Buyer when the Pellets are
delivered in accordance with this Section 2.7.
2.8 Terms and Conditions of Sale.
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(a) In the event that any shipment of Pellets does not conform to the
applicable Specifications, Buyer shall promptly notify Seller in writing of the
nonconformity (and in any event, no later than 14 days after removal from the
Storage Pile by Buyer in case of Pellets subject to the bailment and 14 days
after offloading from the vessel in the case of Pellets not subject to the
bailment), which notice shall include copies of all analyses and other
documentation describing and quantifying the nonconformity; and Seller shall
have fourteen (14) days to investigate and cure such nonconformity, which may
include an equitable price adjustment. In the event that the parties are unable
to agree to an appropriate disposition of the nonconforming material within said
fourteen (14) days after notice from Buyer, either party may submit such dispute
for resolution in accordance with Section 4.3 hereof.
(b) In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and the terms or conditions contained in any notice, shipment,
specifications, purchase order, sales order, acknowledgement or other document
which may be used in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall supersede and
govern, unless expressly waived in accordance with Section 4.15.
2.9 Warranty.
(a) All Pellets sold by Seller hereunder will conform to the
Specifications. OTHER THAN AS AFORESAID, SELLER MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR OTHERWISE ARE HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED BY SELLER AND
EXCLUDED HEREUNDER. Seller shall not be liable for any incidental or
consequential damages, losses or expenses based upon, resulting from, or arising
out of any use of, or the inability to use, the Pellets for any purpose
whatsoever.
(b) Without limiting the generality of Section 2.9(a), Seller makes no
warranty with respect to and shall have no liability to Buyer in any case where
Pellets satisfy the Specifications. If Pellets do not satisfy the Specifications
but reasonably can be used by Buyer, then price adjustments shall be made in
accordance with Schedule D. [***]
2.10 Most Favored Customer.
If, during the term of this Agreement, Seller sells and/or agrees to
sell taconite ore pellets of similar or better specifications in similar
quantities to any third party, under substantially similar circumstances and
conditions, at prices and/or upon terms and/or conditions which are more
favorable than those effective pursuant to this Agreement, then Seller shall
immediately notify Buyer, and offer to extend to Buyer under this Agreement such
more favorable prices, terms and/or conditions.
2.11 Cross-Default; Setoff; Right to Substitute New Terms
(a) Any Default by Republic under the Coke Supply Agreement, the Rounds
Agreement or the Services Agreement shall be deemed a Default of Republic under
this Agreement.
(b) Only in the event of a payment Default, which is defined as any
failure by Republic at any time to make a payment in full when due under Section
2.5 of this Agreement, Section 2.6 of the Coke Supply Agreement and/or Section
3.2 of the Services Agreement (for any reason other than exercising its rights
upon a payment Default by LPM or USS), LPM and/or USS may (i) defer payment of
any amounts due Republic under the Rounds Supply Agreement and/or the Services
Agreement until such time as any and all delinquent amounts due and owing USS
and/or LPM under this Agreement, the Coke Supply Agreement and/or the
14
Services Agreement (the "Delinquent Amount") are paid, and/or (ii) deliver to
Republic a `Notice of Intent to Effect Set-off. ` Provided that Republic has not
remitted to USS the Delinquent Amount within 5 days of Republic's receipt of the
Notice of Intent to Effect Set-off, LPM and/or USS may, on the 5th day following
the delivery of such Notice of Intent to Effect Set-off, set-off the Delinquent
Amount against the amounts owed by LPM and/or USS to Republic under the Rounds
Supply Agreement and/or the Services Agreement as of the date of such Notice. If
any Delinquent Amount (remaining due after LPM and/or USS's application of
set-off hereunder) is not paid in full within 10 days following the delivery of
such Notice of Intent to Effect Set-off, USS shall have the right to suspend
further shipments of Pellets to Buyer until the Delinquent Amount (including any
other delinquent amounts owed to USS and/or LPM under this Agreement, the Coke
Supply Agreement and/or the Services Agreement that accrue after issuance of the
Notice) are paid in full. Interest on the Delinquent Amount shall accrue at the
Late Payment Rate specified in this Agreement.
(c) In the event that the aggregate amounts due USS in connection with
Republic's purchases of Pellets hereunder and Republic's purchases of coke
(including without limitation Coke) under the Coke Supply Agreement at any time
exceed by $1,000,000 or more the amount due Republic in connection with USS's
purchases of Rounds under the Rounds Supply Agreement (the "Excess"), Republic
shall remit to USS an amount equal to the Excess within three days of the
Settlement Date immediately succeeding the date that such Excess occurs. If the
Excess is not paid in full by such date, USS shall have the right to withhold
and/or setoff against the Excess any amounts due from USS to Republic under the
Services Agreement. If the Excess is not paid in full within 10 days of such
Settlement Date, USS shall have the right to suspend further shipments of
Pellets to Buyer until the Excess is paid in full; provided, that Seller agrees
not to suspend such shipments during such time so long as payment on deliveries
of Pellets is made by Buyer on a cash-on-delivery basis. Interest on the Excess
shall accrue at the Late Payment Rate specified in this Agreement.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary (including
without limitation the provisions of Section 2.5 hereof), in the event that (i)
LPM ceases operations at the Pipemill either on a temporary or permanent basis,
(ii) USS sells or otherwise transfers (or enters into an agreement to sell or
transfer) ownership of the Pipemill assets or operations to a third party, or
(iii) USS's purchases of Rounds under the Rounds Supply Agreement and/or
utilities under the Services Agreement are reduced for any reason such that the
Excess exceeds $1,000,000 in three consecutive Settlement Periods, then USS
shall have the right to substitute new or revised payment terms and conditions
for the payment terms which are then in effect hereunder such that payments due
by Buyer to USS hereunder remain secured at all times.
(e) Republic hereby agrees to continue to perform fully its obligations
hereunder and under the Rounds Supply Agreement, the Coke Supply Agreement and
the Services Agreement notwithstanding the exercise by USS of any of its rights
hereunder or under Section 2.5.
ARTICLE III - TERM AND TERMINATION
3.1 Term.
This Agreement shall be effective as of the date set forth in the
preamble hereto and shall remain in full force and effect through the end of
the 2004 Shipping Season unless terminated as follows:
(i) By written mutual consent of the parties at any time;
(ii) By either party if USS permanently ceases production of
Pellets at its Minntac facility or Republic ceases to
operate the Lorain Works; provided, that Republic or USS,
as the case may be, will give the other immediate notice if
it intends to cease, or anticipates cessation of, such
production or operations;
15
(iii) By either party if the other party is in Default under any
of the provisions of this Agreement (except as otherwise
expressly provided in items (iv), (v) and (vi) below) and
fails to correct such Default within 60 days of written
notice of such Default;
(iv) By USS pursuant to Section 2.5(f) hereof in the case of a
Material Adverse Change;
(v) By USS if Republic, at any time, fails (A) to make any
payment when due under this Agreement, (B) to comply with
the applicable credit and/or payment terms (as established
or adjusted hereunder) or (C) to provide the financial
statements and information pursuant to Section 2.5(g)
hereof; or
(vi) By Republic, upon 90 days' prior written notice, if LPM
terminates the Rounds Supply Agreement for any reason other
than Default of the Buyer thereunder.
In addition to the rights of USS to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
subsection 3.1 (v) above, Seller shall have the right, upon the occurrence of
any of the events set forth therein, (X) to suspend production and/or refuse to
make further shipments or deliveries of Pellets or otherwise suspend its further
performance under this Agreement or (Y) to declare immediately due and payable
all then outstanding and unpaid invoices covering Pellets previously delivered
hereunder.
As used herein, "Default" means failure of either party to perform, keep or
observe any material obligation, provision, warranty or condition contained
herein, unless such performance is otherwise excused by the terms of this
Agreement.
3.2 Termination.
Seller and Buyer agree that upon and after termination of this
Agreement:
(i) All Monthly Delivery Schedules or Amended Monthly Delivery
Schedules previously given that are binding in accordance
with the terms hereof, and Buyer's obligation to pay for
such deliveries made pursuant to such schedules, shall
continue in full force and effect.
(ii) Buyer shall remain obligated to make any payment that
became due to Seller hereunder prior to termination.
(iii) Liabilities of any party arising from any act, Default or
occurrence prior to termination shall remain with such
party.
(iv) The parties' rights and obligations under Sections 2.5,
2.9, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.13, 4.16 and
this Article III shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE IV - MISCELLANEOUS
4.1 Intent of Agreement.
The parties hereto intend that they shall mutually benefit from the
terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement and that no party shall be
either unreasonably enriched or unreasonably harmed by any
16
implementation and/or interpretation of said terms, conditions and provisions.
This Agreement shall be administered and interpreted in order to fulfill the
intent stated in this Section 4.1. Any arbitrator(s) considering disputes
pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof shall attempt to render a decision which fulfills
the intent stated in this Section 4.1.
4.2 Payment Errors.
(a) If either Buyer or Seller believes that there has been an error in
an amount paid or the timing of any payment hereunder, then such party shall
notify the other party of such alleged error and shall provide such written
evidence of the error as is available at the time of such notice. Each party
shall provide the other with sufficient records relating to the matter so as to
permit the parties to attempt to resolve the inconsistency.
(b) Following the determination of whether an error occurred, any
overpayment or underpayment found shall be remedied by the party that benefited
from such error.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither party may question the
accuracy, correctness, timing or amount of any payment under this Agreement
unless it notifies the other party of its disagreement within the 12 months
immediately following the date such payment was due.
4.3 Dispute Resolution.
At any time and from time to time, if the parties are unable to resolve
a dispute concerning Buyer's or Seller's performance or nonperformance of their
obligations under this Agreement (excepting any disputes excluded herefrom),
Buyer or Seller, as the case may be, shall provide written notice to the other
of such dispute as provided in Section 4.9 hereof. It is mutually agreed that
any Default by Buyer in its payment obligations hereunder (or any dispute
relating thereto), and/or any dispute relating to USS's exercise of its rights
under Section 2.11 hereof shall not be subject to (and are excluded from) the
provisions of this Section 4.3; it being agreed that any such excluded disputes
(as aforesaid) shall be pursued and adjudicated by the parties in a court of
competent jurisdiction. Any dispute covered by this Section 4.3 shall be
resolved by using the procedures for Mediation and Arbitration set forth below:
(a) Mediation. At any time after a party has provided a written notice
of dispute to the other party, but prior to the time that either party commences
arbitration pursuant to Article 4.3(b) herein, the parties may agree to submit
the dispute to non-binding mediation under terms and conditions satisfactory to
both parties.
(b) Arbitration. At any time after a party has provided a written
notice of dispute to the other party, including at any time during any
non-binding mediation agreed to by the parties, either party may submit the
matter in dispute to a pre-designated arbitrator or, in the event such
arbitrator has not been selected or is unavailable, to a three member arbitral
panel to which each Party shall appoint one member and those two members shall
appoint a third member. Such arbitration shall be governed by the CPR Rules for
Non-Administered Arbitration of Business Disputes. Pending the issuance of an
arbitral decision, the Parties shall continue their full and normal operations
and obligations in accordance with this Agreement. All arbitral awards for the
payment of money and/or for any retroactive adjustment of any interim prices
paid hereunder shall accrue interest at the Late Payment Rate starting from the
date on which any amount is due or the date on which the interim payment was
due.
(c) Consent to Enforceability. Each of the parties consents and agrees
that any arbitral award rendered pursuant to Subsection 4.3(b) shall be final,
non-appealable and binding against the parties and their respective assets, and
may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction.
17
4.4 Records.
Seller shall maintain such detailed and accurate records relating to
the sales of Pellets hereunder as shall be necessary for the calculation of
amounts payable under Sections 2.5. At all times on or before the date that is
12 months after the date of termination of this Agreement, representatives of
Buyer and its auditors shall be entitled, at Buyer's expense, to inspect and
audit such records and accounts and to consult with Seller's personnel in a
reasonable, non-intrusive manner upon reasonable notice and during business
hours. Seller shall have the right to require that any audit be conducted by a
mutually agreeable independent auditor and that the details of the information
examined in such audit be kept confidential from Buyer, except to the extent
necessary to resolve any controversy that is pursued in good faith. Such audit
expense shall be borne by Buyer.
4.5 Confidentiality.
(a) Buyer and Seller acknowledge that all information about the
businesses, properties, finances, prospects, marketing, processes, products,
methods, computer programs, procedures, machinery, apparatus or trade secrets
owned, or held or used (including under license from or agreement with third
parties) by the other that is disclosed to Buyer or Seller, as the case may be,
during the course of performing its obligations under this Agreement is the
property of, and is proprietary and confidential to the disclosing party (the
"Proprietary Information").
(b) Buyer and Seller agree that they shall use reasonable efforts not
to make any disclosure of the other's Proprietary Information (including methods
or concepts utilized therein other than those commonly known to professionals in
the field) to any person other than officers, employees and agents of and
consultants to Buyer or Seller to whom such disclosure is necessary or
convenient for performance of its obligations hereunder and except as may be
required by applicable legal requirements or by a court of competent
jurisdiction. Buyer and Seller shall appropriately notify each officer,
employee, agent and consultant to whom any such disclosure of the other's
Proprietary Information is made that such disclosure is made in confidence and
shall be kept in confidence by such Person.
(c) Each of Buyer and Seller agrees to use diligent efforts in
accordance with customary and reasonable commercial practice and at least with
the same degree of skill and care that it would manifest in protection of its
own proprietary and confidential property to protect the other's Proprietary
Information.
(d) Each of Buyer and Seller agrees to notify the other immediately in
the event that it becomes aware of the unauthorized possession or use of the
other's Proprietary Information (or any part thereof) by any third Person,
including any of its officers, employees, agents or consultants. Each of Buyer
and Seller further agrees to cooperate with the other in connection with its
efforts to terminate or prevent such unauthorized possession or use of such
Proprietary Information. Seller or Buyer, as the case may be, shall pay the
nonproprietary party's reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in so cooperating,
unless the unauthorized possession or use of the Proprietary Information
resulted from the fault or negligence of such nonproprietary party.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
obligation of Buyer and Seller to maintain the confidentiality of the other's
Proprietary Information shall not apply to any portion of such Proprietary
Information that:
(i) was in the public domain at the time of Buyer's or Seller's
disclosure to the other;
(ii) enters the public domain through no fault of the
nonproprietary party;
18
(iii) was communicated to the nonproprietary party by a third
party free of any obligation of confidence known to the
nonproprietary party; or
(iv) was developed by officers, employees or agents of or
consultants to the nonproprietary party independently of
and without reference to the Proprietary Information;
provided, however, that Proprietary Information which is specific shall not be
considered to be within the exception provided by this Section 4.5(e) merely
because it is embraced by general information in the public domain; provided
further, that any combination of features within the Proprietary Information
shall not be deemed within such exception merely because individual features are
within the public domain, but only if the combination itself is within the
public domain.
4.6 Severability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement
is adjudged to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, except to the
extent necessary to avoid an unjust or inequitable result.
4.7 Rights and Remedies; No Consequential Damages.
The rights and remedies granted under this Agreement shall not be
exclusive but shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies available at
law or in equity, including, but not limited to, claims for breach of contract,
except that Buyer and Seller agree that in no event shall either party be liable
to the other for any indirect, special or consequential damages or lost profits
as a result of a breach of any provision of this Agreement.
4.8 Costs and Expenses.
Each of Buyer and Seller shall bear its own expenses incurred in
connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement.
4.9 Notices.
All notices or other communications pertaining to this Agreement shall
be deemed sufficient if made in writing and delivered (i) in person to an office
of the intended recipient, or (ii) by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested; or (iii) by overnight delivery service which provides proof
of delivery; or (iv) by telecopy, with a duplicate copy sent via first class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows or to such other address as either
party shall designate in writing:
If to Seller:
UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx - Xxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attn: Director - Raw Materials P. P. D. & S
Tel: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
19
If to Buyer:
REPUBLIC ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LLC
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000
Attn: Vice President of Purchasing
Tel: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000-000-0000)
4.10 Assignment.
(a) Except as provided in Section 4.10(c), neither party can without
the prior written consent of the other assign any of its rights or benefits or
delegate any of its duties or obligations under this Agreement, and any
attempted assignment or delegation which is not permitted under Section 4.10(c)
shall be null, void and without effect; provided however, Buyer may grant a
security interest in the rights, benefits, duties and obligations under this
Agreement, without the consent of Seller. Buyer shall provide Seller written
notice of the granting or revision of any such security interests.
(b) The rights, benefits, duties and obligations of each party hereto
shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, any successors, assigns or
delegates permitted under Section 4.10(c).
(c) Either party hereto may delegate any of its duties or obligations
under this Agreement to any person, but except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement such party shall remain liable for the full performance of such duties
and obligations. Either party hereto may assign or delegate any of its rights,
benefits, duties or obligations hereunder (i) to any person if it has received
the prior written consent of the other party, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, (ii) to its legal successor if it
merges (whether or not it is the surviving corporation) or consolidates with one
or more other corporations or (iii) to any person to whom either party has made
any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of
its assets; provided, however, that neither party may make an assignment or
delegation described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above unless there are delivered
to the other party such written assumptions, affirmations and/or legal opinions
as such other party may reasonably request to preserve its rights and remedies
under this Agreement.
4.11 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute a
single instrument.
4.12 Headings.
The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and do not modify or affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
4.13 Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and
governed by, the internal laws of the State of Ohio, excluding its conflict of
laws provisions.
4.14 No Third Party Rights.
This Agreement is intended to be solely for the benefit of the parties
hereto and is not intended to
20
confer any benefits upon, or create any rights in favor of, any Person other
than the parties hereto, except as expressly provided to the contrary elsewhere
in this Agreement.
4.15 Waiver and Amendments.
No waiver shall be deemed to have been made by either party of any of
its rights under this Agreement unless the same shall be in a writing that
expressly refers to this Section 4.15 and is signed on its behalf by its
authorized officer. Any such waiver shall constitute a waiver only with respect
to the specific matter described in such writing and shall in no way impair the
rights of the party granting such waiver in any other respect or at any other
time. This Agreement shall not be amended or modified except by an instrument in
writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought.
4.16 Force Majeure.
(a) Except for obligations to make payments hereunder, neither party
hereto shall be liable for any failure to perform the terms of the Agreement
when such failure is due to Force Majeure. "Force Majeure" means acts of God,
strikes, lockouts, or other labor disputes or disturbances, civil disturbances,
arrests and restraint from rulers or people, interruptions or terminations by or
as a result of government or court action or orders, or present and future valid
orders of any regulatory body having jurisdiction, acts of the public enemy,
wars, riots, blockades, insurrections, inability to secure or delay in securing
labor or materials by reason of allocations promulgated by authorized
governmental agencies, epidemics, landslides, lightning, earthquakes, fire,
storm, floods, washouts, explosions, breakdowns or accidents, inability to
obtain transportation services, or any other cause, whether of the kind
enumerated or otherwise, not reasonably within the control of the party claiming
Force Majeure. The Force Majeure shall, so far as possible, be remedied with all
reasonable dispatch. The settlement of strikes or lockouts or other labor
disputes or disturbances shall be entirely within the discretion of the party
having the difficulty, and the above requirement that any Force Majeure shall be
remedied with all reasonable dispatch shall not require the settlement of
strikes, lockouts, or labor disputes or disturbances by acceding to the demands
of any opposing party therein when such course is inadvisable in the discretion
of the party having the difficulty.
(b) The party whose performance is affected or who has reason to
believe such performance may be affected by reason of Force Majeure shall as
promptly as possible give notice thereof to the other party and shall confirm
such notice in writing if requested, giving the particulars of the event,
including supporting documentation if available. The party so affected shall
also take reasonable steps to resume performance hereunder with the least
possible delay.
4.17 Entire Agreement.
This Agreement (including the Schedules hereto) sets forth the entire
understanding and agreement between the parties as to the matters covered herein
and supersedes and replaces any prior understanding, agreement or statement of
intent, in each case written or oral.
[Signatures on following page]
21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed and delivered to
be effective on the date first above written.
UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
By: /s/ X.X. Xxxxxxx
Name: X. X. Xxxxxxx
---------------------------------------------
Title: Director, Raw Materials P.P.D.& S.
---------------------------------------------
REPUBLIC ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LLC
By: /s/ X.X. Xxxxx
Name: X. X. Xxxxx
---------------------------------------------
Title: V.P., Integrated Supply Chain Management
---------------------------------------------
22
SCHEDULE A
----------
2002
QUALITY SPECIFICATION FOR MINNTAC ACID PELLETS
Minntac
Percentage (Dry Basis)
--------------- -------------- ---------------- -----------------
Monthly Monthly Lower Upper
BELOW FROM R.R. CAR TOP SAMPLES: Mean Std. Dev. Spec Limit Spec Limit
-------------------------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- -----------------
CHEMISTRY
Controlled Variables
SiO2 % 5.40 0.12 5.04 5.76
H2O % (Summer) 2.5 0.7 -- 4.60
(Winter) 1.8 0.8 -- 4.20
Process Range
----------------------------------
Consequent Variables % Minimum Maximum
---------------------- ------- -------
Fe 65.50 0.12 65.14 65.86
Typical
Minor Elements %
Al2O3 0.20
CaO 0.40
MgO 0.35
K2O 0.021
Na2O 0.022
P 0.012
S 0.002
TiO2 0.021
Mn 0.07
ZnO 0.002
BELOW Based on 041 Conveyor Composite TRAINS:
--------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
PHYSICAL QUALITY TRAINS Lower Upper
Size % Mean Spec Limit Spec Limit
--------------- ---------------- -----------------
+1/2 inch 7.5 - - 10.0
+1/4 inch 98.5 - 97.5 -
Tumble Index (%)
----------------
+1/4 inch 97.0 - 96.0 -
-28 mesh 2.5 - - 3.0
Compression Strength
--------------------
Pounds 500 - 450
% less than 200 pounds 5.0 - - 6.0
Weekly
(ISO) Low Temp. Degradation Mean
--------------------- -------
Static %+1/4 92.0 90.0 -
w/2% H2 - -
(ISO) Reducibility, dR/dT40
---------------------
%/Minute 0.80 0.70 -
Republic Engineered Products, LLC United States Steel Corporation
Name: Name:
---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
Title: V.P., Integrated Supply Chain Management Title: Director, Raw Materials
Date: Date:
-------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Specification valid through December 31, 2002
SCHEDULE B
----------
2002 QUALITY SPECIFICATION FOR MINNTAC USS FLUXTAC PELLETS
060 GRADE
Percentage (Dry Basis)
--------------- -------------- ---------------- -----------------
Monthly Monthly Lower Upper
BELOW FROM R.R. CAR TOP SAMPLES: Mean Std. Dev. Spec Limit Spec Limit
------------------------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- -----------------
CHEMISTRY
---------
Controlled Variables
--------------------
SiO2 % 4.25 0.09 3.98 4.52
B/A (Ratio) 1.04 0.04 0.92 1.16
H2O % (Summer) 2.5 0.7 - 4.6
(Winter) 1.8 0.8 - 4.2
Process Range
----------------------------------
Consequent Variables % Minimum Maximum
---------------------- ------- -------
Fe 63.58 0.14 63.16 64.00
CaO 3.52 0.13 3.13 3.91
MgO 1.10 0.04 0.98 1.22
Minor Elements %
----------------
Al2O3 0.20
K2O 0.021
Na2O 0.022
P 0.012
S 0.002
TiO2 0.021
Mn 0.07
ZnO 0.002
BELOW Based on 041 Conveyor Composite TRAINS:
--------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
PHYSICAL QUALITY
---------------- TRAINS Lower Upper
Size % Mean Spec. Limit Spec Limit
------ --------------- ---------------- -----------------
+1/2 inch 10.0 - - 17.5
+1/4 inch 98.0 - 97.0 -
Tumble Index (%)
----------------
+1/4 inch 96.0 - 95.0 -
-28 mesh 3.0 - - 4.0
Compression Strength
--------------------
Pounds 445 - 400
% less than 200 pounds 5.0 - - 6.5
Weekly
(ISO) Low Temp. Degradation Mean
--------------------- --------------
Static %+1/4 87 84 -
w/2% H2
(ISO) Reducibility, dR/Dt40
---------------------
%/Minute 1.15 1.05 -
Republic Engineered Products, LLC United States Steel Corporation
Name: Name:
---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
Title: V.P., Integrated Supply Chain Management Title: Director, Raw Materials
Date: Date:
-------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Specification valid through December 31, 2002
SCHEDULE C
----------
2002
QUALITY SPECIFICATION FOR WABUSH 2.0% Mn Pellets
Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company
Percentage (Dry Basis)
-----------
Typical
-------
CHEMISTRY
---------
Controlled Variables
--------------------
SiO2 % 3.350
B/A (Ratio) 0.140
Consequent Variables %
----------------------
Fe 65.200
CaO 0.400
MgO 0.120
Typical
Minor Elements %
----------------
A12O3 0.400
K2O 0.030
Na2O 0.025
P 0.010
S 0.010
TiO2 0.030
Mn 2.000
PHYSICAL QUALITY
----------------
Size % Mean
------ ----
+1/2 inch 6.00
-1/2", +3/8" 83.00
+1/4 inch 99.00
Tumble Index (%)
----------------
+1/4 inch 95.50
-28 mesh 4.30
Compression Strength
--------------------
Pounds 600
% less than 200 pounds 1.00
(ISO) Low Temp. Degradation
Static %+1/4 90
w/2% H2
(ISO) Reducibility, dR/dT40
%/Minute 0.70
REP USS
--- ---
Name: Name:
Title: Vice President Title: Director, Raw Materials
Date: Date:
Specification Valid Through December 31, 2002
SCHEDULE D
----------
[***]
SCHEDULE E
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REP Consignment/Bailment Program
Form 1
Cleared Area for Reserve Pile Building
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Information
Date: _____________________
Pellet Type: Flux Acid High Mn
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pile Information
Pile Designation (Name and/or Coordinates):
Pile Exhaustion Date:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Approval / Authorization
REP Management Signature: ________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCHEDULE F
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REP Consignment/Bailment Program
Form 2
Completion of Reserve Pile Building
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Information
Date: ______________________________
Pile Type: Flux Acid High Mn
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pile Information
Pile Designation (Name and/or Coordinates): ____________________________
Pile Beginning Date: ___________________________
Pile Ending Date: _______________________________
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vessel and Weight Information
Vessel Name Date B/L # B/L Weight Cumulative
Unloaded (Net Tons) B/L Weight
__________________ ___________________ ___________________ __________________ __________________
__________________ ___________________ ___________________ __________________ __________________
__________________ ___________________ ___________________ __________________ __________________
__________________ ___________________ ___________________ __________________ __________________
__________________ ___________________ ___________________ __________________ __________________
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Approval / Authorization
REP Management Signature: ________________________________________
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
