THIS EXHIBIT IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. THE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN SO OMITTED AND FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. IN PLACE OF SUCH OMITTED CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, " ****** " HAS BEEN...
THIS
EXHIBIT
IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST. THE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
HAS BEEN SO OMITTED AND FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION. IN PLACE OF SUCH OMITTED CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, " ****** " HAS
BEEN INSERTED.
EXECUTION
COPY
August
9,
2006
FIRSTENERGY
CORP.
00
Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx,
XX
00000
Telephone:
000-000-0000
Ladies
and
Gentlemen:
The
purpose of this letter agreement (this “Confirmation”)
is to confirm the
terms and conditions of the Transaction entered into between X.X. Xxxxxx
Securities Inc., as agent for JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, London
Branch (the “Seller”),
and FirstEnergy
Corp., an Ohio corporation (the “Purchaser”),
on the Trade
Date specified below (the “Transaction”).
This
Confirmation constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the Agreement
specified below.
This
Confirmation
evidences a complete and binding agreement between the Seller and the Purchaser
as to the terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. This
Confirmation shall supplement, form a part of, and be subject to an agreement
in
the form of the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement (the “Agreement”)
as if the Seller
and the Purchaser had executed an agreement in such form (but without any
Schedule except for the election of the laws of the State of New York as the
governing law) on the Trade Date. In the event of any inconsistency between
provisions of that Agreement and this Confirmation, this Confirmation will
prevail for the purpose of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates.
The parties hereby agree that no Transaction other than the Transaction to
which
this Confirmation relates shall be governed by the Agreement.
ARTICLE
1
Definitions
Section
1.01 .
Definitions.
(a)
As used in this
Confirmation, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
“10b-18
VWAP”
means,
(A) for any
Trading Day described in clause (x) of the definition of Trading Day hereunder,
the volume-weighted average price at which the Common Stock trades as reported
in the composite transactions for the principal United States securities
exchange on which such Common Stock is then listed (or, if applicable, the
Successor Exchange on which the Common Stock has been listed in accordance
with
Section
7.01(c)),
on such Trading
Day, excluding (i) trades that do not settle regular way, (ii) opening (regular
way) reported trades in the consolidated system on such Trading Day, (iii)
trades that occur in the last ten minutes before the scheduled close of trading
on the Exchange on such Trading Day and ten minutes before the scheduled close
of the primary trading in the market where the trade is effected, and (iv)
trades on such Trading Day that do not satisfy the requirements of Rule
10b-18(b)(3), as determined by the Calculation Agent, or (B) for any Trading
Day
that is described in clause
(y) of the
definition of Trading Day hereunder, an amount determined by the Calculation
Agent as 10b-18 VWAP. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Seller may refer
to
the Bloomberg Page “FE.N <Equity> AQR SEC” (or any successor thereto), in
its judgment, for such Trading Day to determine the 10b-18 VWAP.
“Additional
Termination Event”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
7.01.
“Agreement”
has
the meaning
set forth in the second paragraph
of
this
Confirmation.
“Affected
Party”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section 14 of the Agreement.
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED
“Affected
Transaction”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section 14 of the Agreement.
“Affiliated
Purchaser”
means
any
“affiliated purchaser” (as such term is defined in Rule 10b-18) of the
Purchaser.
“Alternative
Termination Delivery Unit”
means
(i) in the
case of a Termination Event (other than a Merger Event or Nationalization)
or
Event of Default (as defined in the Agreement), one share of Common Stock and
(ii) in the case of a Merger Event or Nationalization, a unit consisting of
the
number or amount of each type of property received by a holder of one share
of
Common Stock in such Merger Event or Nationalization; provided
that if such Merger
Event involves a choice of consideration to be received by holders of the Common
Stock, an Alternative Termination Delivery Unit shall be deemed to include
the
amount of cash received by a holder who had elected to receive the maximum
possible amount of cash as consideration for his shares.
“Bankruptcy
Code”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
9.07.
“Blackout
Date”
means
each of
August 22, 2006, September 26, 2006, October 27, 2006,
November ******, 2006, December ******, 2006, January ******,
2007 and February ******, 2007.
“Business
Day”
means
any day on
which the Exchange is open for trading.
“Calculation
Agent”
means
JPMorgan
Chase Bank, National Association.
“Common
Stock”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
2.01.
“Communications
Procedures”
has
the meaning
set forth in Annex B hereto.
“Confirmation”
has
the meaning
set forth in the first paragraph
of
this
letter agreement.
“Contract
Period”
means
the period
commencing on and including the Trade Date and ending on and including the
date
all payments or deliveries of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section
3.01
or
Section
7.03
have been made.
“Default
Notice Day”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
7.02(a).
“De-Listing”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
7.01(c).
“Distribution
Termination Event”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
7.01(f).
“Early
Termination Date”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
14
of
the Agreement.
“Event
of
Default”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
14
of
the Agreement.
“Exchange”
means
the New York
Stock Exchange.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Expiration
Date”
means
the
******
Trading Day
following the Trade Date subject to postponement pursuant to Section
4.02(b).
“Extraordinary
Cash Dividend”
means
the per
share cash dividend or distribution, or a portion thereof, declared by the
Purchaser on shares of Common Stock that is classified by the board of directors
of the Purchaser as an “extraordinary” dividend.
2
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED
“Increase
Amount”
means
the sum of
the products of (i) the amounts listed below and (ii) the theoretical delta
number of shares required for the Seller to hedge its exposure to the
Transaction, as determined by the Calculation Agent, on the date corresponding
to such amounts.
Date
|
Amount
|
November
3,
2006
|
$
******
purchase of common stock
|
February
3,
2007
|
$
******
purchase of common stock
|
May
3,
2007
|
$
******
purchase of common stock
|
“Indemnified
Person”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
9.02.
“Indemnifying
Party”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
9.02.
“Initial
Purchase Price”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
2.01.
“Initial
Settlement Date”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
2.02.
“Maximum
Delivery Shares”
means,
for any
date, (i) 21,261,518 shares of Common Stock, minus
(ii) the net number
of shares of Common Stock delivered by the Purchaser to the Seller in respect
of
this Transaction on or prior to such date, plus
(iii) the net
number of shares of Common Stock delivered by the Seller to the Purchaser in
respect of this Transaction on or prior to such date, subject to appropriate
adjustments pursuant to Section
8.02.
“Merger
Event”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
7.01(d).
“Nationalization”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
7.01(e).
“Number
of
Shares”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
2.01.
“Obligations”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
9.02.
“Payment
Shares”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
3.01(b).
“Private
Placement Agreement”
has
the meaning
set forth in Annex A hereto.
“Private
Placement Price”
has
the meaning
set forth in Annex A hereto.
“Private
Placement Procedures”
has
the meaning
set forth in Annex A hereto.
“Private
Securities”
has
the meaning
set forth in Annex A hereto.
“Purchaser”
has
the meaning
set forth in the first paragraph
of
this
Confirmation.
“Regulation
M”
means
Regulation M
under the Exchange Act.
“Rule
10b-18”
means
Rule 10b-18
promulgated under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule thereto).
“SEC”
means
the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities
Act”
means
the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Seller”
has
the meaning
set forth in the first paragraph
hereto.
3
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED
“Seller
Payment Share Purchase Period”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
3.01(d).
“Seller
Termination Share Purchase Period”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
7.03.
“Settlement
Amount”
means
an amount
equal to (i) the Valuation Price minus
(ii) the Initial
Purchase Price, plus
(iii) the Increase
Amount.
“Settlement
Date”
means
the fourth
Business Day following the Valuation Completion Date; provided,
however,
that if the
Purchaser elects pursuant to Section
3.01(b)
to deliver Payment Shares, the Settlement Date shall be the Trading Day
immediately following the day on which the Seller informs the Purchaser,
pursuant to Annex A hereto, of the number of Payment Shares required to be
delivered pursuant to Section
3.01(b).
“Share
De-listing Event”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
7.01(c).
“Successor
Exchange”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
7.01(c).
“Termination
Amount”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
7.02(a).
“Termination
Event”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
14
of
the Agreement.
“Termination
Price”
means
the value of
an Alternative Termination Delivery Unit to the Seller (determined as provided
in Annex A hereto).
“Termination
Settlement Date”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
7.03(a).
“Trade
Date”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section
2.01.
“Trading
Day”
means
(x) any day
(i) other than a Saturday, a Sunday, a Blackout Date or a day on which the
Exchange is not open for business, (ii) during which trading of any securities
of the Purchaser on any national securities exchange has not been suspended,
(iii) during which there has not been, in the Seller’s judgment, a material
limitation in the trading of Common Stock or any options contract or futures
contract related to the Common Stock, and (iv) during which there has been
no
suspension pursuant to Section
4.02(a)
or (b) of this Confirmation, or (y) any day that, notwithstanding the occurrence
of events contemplated in clauses
(ii), (iii) and
(iv) of this definition, the Calculation Agent determines to be a Trading
Day.
“Transaction”
has
the meaning
set forth in the first paragraph
of
this
Confirmation.
“Valuation
Completion Date” means
the Trading
Day, during the period commencing on and including ******
Trading
Day
following the Trade Date and ending on and including the Expiration Date,
specified as such by the Seller, in its sole judgment, by delivering a notice
designating such Trading Day as a Valuation Completion Date by the close of
business on the Business Day immediately following such Business Day;
provided
that
if the Seller
fails to validly designate the Valuation Completion Date prior to the Expiration
Date, the Valuation Completion Date shall be the Expiration Date.
“Valuation
Period”
means
the period
of consecutive Trading Days commencing on and including the first Trading Day
following the Trade Date and ending on and including the Valuation Completion
Date.
“Valuation
Price”
means
the product
of (i) the Number of Shares and (ii) the arithmetic average of 10b-18 VWAP
for
each of the Trading Days in the Valuation Period ******
as determined by
the Calculation Agent.
4
ARTICLE
2
Purchase
of the
Stock
Section
2.01 .
Purchase of
the Stock. Subject
to the terms
and conditions of this Confirmation, the Purchaser agrees to purchase from
the
Seller, and the Seller agrees to sell to the Purchaser, on August 9, 2006 or
on
such other Business Day as the Purchaser and the Seller shall otherwise agree
(the “Trade
Date”),
10,630,759
shares (the “Number
of
Shares”)
of the
Purchaser’s common stock, par value $0.10 per share (“Common
Stock”),
for a purchase
price equal to the product of $56.44 and the Number of Shares (the “Initial
Purchase Price”);
provided
that if the Seller,
after reasonable and good faith efforts, is unable to borrow or otherwise
acquire a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Number of Shares for
delivery to the Purchaser on the Initial Settlement Date, the Number of Shares
shall be reduced to such number of shares of Common Stock as the Seller after
reasonable efforts is able to borrow or otherwise acquire. The Initial Purchase
Price shall be subject to adjustment and such adjusted amounts will be payable
as provided in Article
3
hereof.
Section
2.02 .
Delivery and
Payments. (a) On
the first
Business Day immediately following the Trade Date (such day, the “Initial
Settlement Date”),
the Seller shall
deliver the Number of Shares to the Purchaser, upon payment by the Purchaser
of
an amount equal to the Initial Purchase Price to the Seller. Such delivery
and
payment shall be effected in accordance with the Seller’s customary
procedures.
(b) Notwithstanding
Section
2.02(a),
the Seller may
deliver the Number of Shares to be delivered on the Initial Settlement Date
at
two or more times or on two or more dates, each time on delivery-versus-payment
basis; provided
that (i) the first
of such deliveries will be on the Initial Settlement Date, (ii) the last of
such
deliveries will be no later than on the tenth (10th) Trading Day following
the
Initial Settlement Date, and (iii) the aggregate number of shares of Common
Stock that the Seller shall deliver to the Purchaser hereunder in all such
deliveries shall equal the Number of Shares.
Section
2.03 .
Conditions to
Seller’s Obligations. The
Seller’s
obligation to deliver the Number of Shares to the Purchaser on the Initial
Settlement Date is subject to the condition that (a) the representations and
warranties made by the Purchaser in the Agreement shall be true and correct
as
of the date hereof and the Initial Settlement Date and (b) the Seller shall
have
received an opinion of the counsel for the Purchaser, substantially to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B (with appropriate assumptions and qualifications
reasonably acceptable to the Seller).
ARTICLE
3
Adjustment
of Initial Purchase
Price
Section
3.01 .
Purchase Price
Adjustment. (a)
As an adjustment to
the Initial Purchase Price,
(i) if
the Settlement
Amount is greater than zero, the Purchaser shall pay to the Seller such
Settlement Amount in the manner provided in clause
(c) or (e), as the
case may be, of this Section
3.01;
or
(ii) if
the Settlement
Amount is less than zero, the Seller shall pay to the Purchaser the absolute
value of such Settlement Amount in the manner provided in clause (d)
or (e),
as the case may
be, of this Section
3.01.
(b) Payment
of the
Settlement Amount shall be in cash or validly issued shares of Common Stock
(“Payment
Shares”),
as the Purchaser
shall elect, which binding election shall be made within three Business Days
from the Valuation Completion Date and communicated to the Seller in writing;
provided
that if the
Purchaser fails to make such an election in the manner contemplated hereunder,
the Purchaser shall be deemed to have elected settlement in cash; and
provided further
that the Purchaser
shall not have the right to elect payment of the Settlement Amount or receipt
of
the absolute value of the Settlement Amount in Payment Shares pursuant to this
Section
3.01
if:
(i) the
representations
and warranties made by the Purchaser to the Seller in Section
5.01
are not true and correct in all material respects as of the date the Purchaser
makes such election; or
5
(ii) in
the event the
Settlement Amount shall be payable by the Purchaser to the Seller, the Purchaser
has taken any action that would make unavailable either (A)
the exemption set
forth in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for the sale of any Payment Shares
by the Purchaser to the Seller or (B)
an exemption from
the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4 of
the
Securities Act for the private resale of Payment Shares by the
Seller.
For
the avoidance of doubt, upon the Purchaser’s making an election to receive or to
deliver Payment Shares pursuant to this Section
3.01(b),
the Purchaser
shall be deemed to make the representations and warranties in Section
5.01
hereof as if made on the date of the Purchaser’s election.
(c) Subject
to
Section
3.01(b),
if the Settlement
Amount shall be payable by the Purchaser to the Seller:
(i) Notwithstanding
any
election by the Purchaser to make payment in Payment Shares, at any time prior
to the time the Seller (or any affiliate of the Seller) has contracted to resell
such Payment Shares, the Purchaser may deliver in lieu of such Payment Shares
an
amount in cash equal to the Settlement Amount, in the manner set forth in
Section
3.01(e).
(ii) If
the Purchaser
elects to pay any Settlement Amount in Payment Shares, then on the Settlement
Date, the Purchaser shall deliver to the Seller a number of Payment Shares
equal
to the quotient of (A) such Settlement Amount divided
by
(B) the Private Placement Price (determined in accordance with the Private
Placement Procedures).
(d) Subject
to
Section
3.01(b),
if the absolute
value of the Settlement Amount shall be payable by the Seller to the Purchaser
and the Purchaser elects to receive the absolute value of the Settlement Amount
in Payment Shares, then (i) the Seller shall, beginning on the fourth Trading
Day following the Valuation Completion Date and ending when the Seller shall
have satisfied its obligations under this clause
(the “Seller
Payment Share Purchase Period”),
purchase
(subject to the provisions of Section
4.01
and Section
4.02
hereof) shares of Common Stock with an aggregate value (which such value shall
be determined by the prices at which the Seller purchases such shares plus
a
commission of $0.02 per share) equal to such Settlement Amount and (ii) the
Seller shall deliver such shares of Common Stock to the Purchaser on the
settlement dates relating to such purchases.
(e) If
the Purchaser
elects to receive the absolute value of the Settlement Amount or to pay the
Settlement Amount in cash, then payment of such Settlement Amount shall be
made
by wire transfer of immediately available U.S. dollar funds on the Settlement
Date.
Section
3.02 .
Private
Placement Procedures. If
the Purchaser
elects to deliver Payment Shares pursuant to Section
3.01(b)
or elects to deliver Alternative Termination Delivery Units pursuant to
Section
7.02(a),
the Private
Placement Procedures shall apply.
Section
3.03 .
Continuing
Obligation to Deliver Shares. (a)
If at any time, as
a result of provisions of Section
6.04
hereof limiting deliveries of shares of Common Stock to the number of Maximum
Delivery Shares, the Purchaser fails to deliver to the Seller any shares of
Common Stock, the Purchaser shall, to the extent that the Purchaser has at
such
time authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock not reserved for other
purposes, promptly notify the Seller thereof and deliver to the Seller a number
of shares of Common Stock not previously delivered as a result of such
provisions.
(b) The
Purchaser agrees
to use its best efforts to cause the number of authorized but unissued shares
of
Common Stock to be increased, if necessary, to an amount sufficient to permit
the Purchaser to fulfill its obligations under this Section
3.03.
ARTICLE 4
Market
Transactions
Section
4.01 .
Transactions
by the Seller. (a)
The parties agree
and acknowledge that:
6
(i) During
the Valuation
Period, any Seller Payment Share Purchase Period and any Seller Termination
Share Purchase Period, the Seller (or its agent or affiliate) may purchase
shares of Common Stock in connection with this Confirmation. The timing of
such
purchases by the Seller, the price paid per share of Common Stock pursuant
to
such purchases and the manner in which such purchases are made, including
without limitation whether such purchases are made on any securities exchange
or
privately, shall be within the sole judgment of the Seller; provided
that the Seller
shall use good faith efforts to (i) make all purchases of Common Stock in a
manner that would comply with the limitations set forth in clauses
(b)(2), (b)(3),
(b)(4) and (c) of Rule 10b-18 as if such rule were applicable to such purchases
and (ii) not make purchases on any Trading Day in an amount that would exceed
25
% of the daily trading volume for the Common Stock on the Exchange on such
Trading Day. For the avoidance of doubt, no purchases of shares of Common Stock
in connection with this Confirmation shall be made by the Seller (or its agent
or affiliate) on any Blackout Date.
(ii) The
Purchaser shall,
at least one day prior to the first day of the Valuation Period, any Seller
Payment Share Purchase Period and any Seller Termination Share Purchase Period,
notify the Seller of the total number of shares of Common Stock purchased in
Rule 10b-18 purchases of blocks pursuant to the once-a-week block exception
set
forth in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) by or for the Purchaser or any of its Affiliated
Purchasers during each of the four calendar weeks preceding such day and during
the calendar week in which such day occurs (“Rule
10b-18
purchase”
and
“blocks”
each
being used as
defined in Rule 10b-18), which notice shall be substantially in the form set
forth as Exhibit A hereto. In lieu of such notice, the Purchaser hereby notifies
the Seller that with respect to the Valuation Period such number is
zero.
(b) The
Purchaser
acknowledges and agrees that (i) all transactions effected pursuant to
Section
4.01
hereunder shall be made in the Seller’s sole judgment and for the Seller’s own
account and (ii) the Purchaser does not have, and shall not attempt to exercise,
any influence over how, when or whether to effect such transactions, including,
without limitation, the price paid or received per share of Common Stock
pursuant to such transactions whether such transactions are made on any
securities exchange or privately. It is the intent of the Seller and the
Purchaser that this Transaction comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)
of the Exchange Act and that this Confirmation shall be interpreted to comply
with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) and the Seller shall take
no
action that results in the Transaction not so complying with such
requirements.
(c) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Confirmation, the Purchaser acknowledges and
agrees that, on any day, the Seller shall not be obligated to deliver or receive
any shares of Common Stock to or from the Purchaser and the Purchaser shall
not
be entitled to receive any shares of Common Stock from the Seller on such day,
to the extent (but only to the extent) that after such transactions the Seller’s
ultimate parent entity would directly or indirectly beneficially own (as such
term is defined for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) at any time
on such day in excess of 8.0% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Any
purported receipt or delivery of shares of Common Stock shall be void and have
no effect to the extent (but only to the extent) that after any receipt or
delivery of such shares of Common Stock the Seller’s ultimate parent entity
would directly or indirectly so beneficially own in excess of 8.0% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock. If, on any day, any delivery or receipt
of
shares of Common Stock by the Seller is not effected, in whole or in part,
as a
result of this provision, the Seller’s and Purchaser’s respective obligations to
make or accept such receipt or delivery shall not be extinguished and such
receipt or delivery shall be effected over time as promptly as the
Seller
determines, in the reasonable determination of the Seller, that after such
receipt or delivery
its ultimate
parent entity would not directly or indirectly beneficially own in excess of
8.0% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
Section
4.02 .
Suspension of
Transactions in Common Stock. (a)
If the Seller, in
its judgment, reasonably determines that with regard to any legal, regulatory
or
self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures including,
without limitation, Rule 10b-18 (whether or not such requirements, policies
or
procedures are imposed by law or have been voluntarily adopted by the Seller),
it may be appropriate for the Seller to refrain from effecting transactions
in
Common Stock on any Business Day during the Contract Period or to effect such
transactions on such Business Day at a volume lower than that otherwise effected
by the Seller hereunder, the Seller (or its agent or affiliate) may elect not
to
effect transactions in shares of Common Stock with respect to this Transaction
on such day or to effect such transactions at a lower volume consistent with
such requirements, policies and procedures; provided
that if the Seller
decides to effect any transaction hereunder at such lower volume, the
Calculation Agent shall be entitled to make appropriate adjustments to the
term
of this Transaction under Section
8.02
to
reflect the effect of such diminished volume. The Seller shall notify the
Purchaser of the exercise of the Seller’s rights pursuant to this Section
4.02(a)
upon such exercise and shall subsequently notify the Purchaser on the day the
Seller believes that the Seller may resume purchasing or selling or purchasing
at the volume level anticipated at the outset of this Transaction, as
applicable, Common Stock. The Seller shall not be obligated to communicate
to
the Purchaser the reason for the Seller’s exercise of its rights pursuant to
this Section
4.02(a).
7
(b) The
Purchaser agrees
that during the Contract Period, neither the Purchaser nor any of its
“affiliated purchasers” (as defined in Regulation M) or agents shall take any
action that would cause a “restricted period” (as defined in Regulation M) to be
applicable to any purchases of Common Stock, or any security for which the
Common Stock is a “reference security” (as defined in Regulation M), by the
Purchaser or any of its “affiliated purchasers” or take any other action that
would, in the view of the Seller, preclude purchases by the Seller of the Common
Stock as a result of the application of federal or state securities laws. If
the
Purchaser decides to engage in a “distribution” (as defined in Regulation M)
that is subject to Regulation M of the Common Stock or any other security for
which the Common Stock is a “reference security”, the Purchaser will deliver a
written notice to the Seller prior to the commencement of the “restricted
period” (and in no event later than 8:30 am (NY time) on the day on which such
“restricted period” begins) directing the Seller not to purchase the Common
Stock during such “restricted period”; provided
that such notice
shall be made at a time at which none of the Purchaser or any officer, director,
manager or similar person of the Purchaser is aware of any material non-public
information regarding the Purchaser or the Common Stock; and provided
further
that the Purchaser
agrees not to engage in more than one such “distribution” during the Contract
Period and to limit the related “restricted period” to no more than five
Business Days. Following delivery of such notice, the Valuation Period shall
be
suspended from the first day to the last day of the “restricted period”
referenced in such notice, the Expiration Date shall be postponed by the number
of Business Days in such “restricted period” and none of the Business Days
during such “restricted period” shall be a Trading Day.
Section
4.03 .
Purchases of
Common Stock by the Purchaser. Without
the prior
written consent of the Seller, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, the
Purchaser shall not, and shall cause its affiliated purchasers (each as defined
in Rule 10b-18) not to, other than (i) in accordance with paragraph (a)(13)(ii)
of Rule 10b-18, (ii) purchases from employees not subject to Section 9(a) of
the
Exchange Act or (iii) on any Blackout Date, directly or indirectly (including,
without limitation, by means of a derivative instrument) purchase, offer to
purchase, place any bid or limit order that would effect a purchase of, or
commence any tender offer relating to, any shares of Common Stock (or equivalent
interest, including a unit of beneficial interest in a trust or limited
partnership or a depository share) or any security convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of Common Stock during the Contract Period; provided
that the
purchases by the
Purchaser (or any of its affiliates or affiliated purchasers) on any Blackout
Date shall be made in compliance with Rule 10b-18; and provided
further
that
the once-a-week
block exception set forth in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) shall not be available for the
purchases made by the Purchaser (or any of its affiliates or affiliated
purchasers) on any such Blackout Date.
ARTICLE
5
Representations,
Warranties
and
Agreements
Section
5.01 .
Repeated
Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Purchaser. The
Purchaser
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Seller, on the date hereof
and
on any date pursuant to which the Purchaser makes an election to receive or
deliver Payment Shares pursuant to Section
3.01
or
Alternative Termination Delivery Units pursuant to Section
7.03,
that:
(a) Disclosure;
Compliance with Laws.
The reports and
other documents filed by the Purchaser with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange
Act
when considered as a whole (with the more recent such reports and documents
deemed to amend inconsistent statements contained in any earlier such reports
and documents), do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or any
omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were
made, not misleading. The Purchaser is not in possession of any material
nonpublic information regarding the Purchaser or the Common Stock.
(b) Rule
10b5-1.
The Purchaser
acknowledges that (i) the Purchaser does not have, and shall not attempt to
exercise, any influence over how, when or whether to effect purchases of Common
Stock by the Seller (or its agent or affiliate) in connection with this
Confirmation and (ii) the Purchaser is entering into the Agreement and this
Confirmation in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade
compliance with federal securities laws including, without limitation, Rule
10b-5 promulgated under the Exchange Act. The Purchaser also acknowledges and
agrees that any amendment, modification, waiver or termination of this
Confirmation must be effected in accordance with the requirements for the
amendment or termination of a “plan” as defined in Rule 10b5-1(c) under the
Exchange Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any such
amendment, modification, waiver or termination shall be made in good faith
and
not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b-5 under
the Exchange Act, and no amendment, modification or waiver shall be made at
any
time at which the Purchaser or any officer or director of the Purchaser is
aware
of any material nonpublic information regarding the Purchaser or the Common
Stock.
8
(c) Nature
of
Shares Delivered. Any
shares of Common
Stock or Alternative Termination Delivery Units delivered to the Seller pursuant
to this Confirmation, when delivered, shall have been duly authorized and shall
be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive
or similar rights, and such delivery shall pass title thereto free and clear
of
any liens or encumbrances.
(d) No
Facilitation of Distribution.
The Purchaser is
not entering into this Confirmation to facilitate a distribution of the Common
Stock (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock) or
in
connection with a future issuance of securities, except insofar as a future
distribution or issuance is required by the Purchaser’s election to settle this
Transaction pursuant to Article
3
hereof.
(e) No
Manipulation. The
Purchaser is not
entering into this Confirmation to create actual or apparent trading activity
in
the Common Stock (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Common
Stock) or to manipulate the price of the Common Stock (or any security
convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock).
(f) Regulation
M.
The Purchaser is
not engaged in a distribution, as such term is used in Regulation M, that would
preclude purchases by the Purchaser or the Seller of the Common
Stock.
(g) Board
Authorization. The
Purchaser is
entering into this Transaction in connection with its share repurchase program,
which was approved by its board of directors and publicly disclosed, solely
for
the purposes stated in such board resolution and public disclosure. There is
no
internal policy of the Purchaser, whether written or oral, that would prohibit
the Purchaser from entering into any aspect of this Transaction, including,
but
not limited to, the purchases of shares of Common Stock to be made pursuant
hereto.
(h) Due
Authorization and Good Standing. The
Purchaser is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws
of the State of Ohio. This Confirmation has been duly authorized, executed
and
delivered by the Purchaser and (assuming due authorization, execution and
delivery thereof by the Seller) constitutes a valid and legally binding
obligation of the Purchaser. The Purchaser has all corporate power to enter
into
this Confirmation and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and
to
purchase the Common Stock and deliver any Payment Shares in accordance with
the
terms hereof.
(i) Certain
Transactions.
There has not been
any public announcement (as defined in Rule 165(f) under the Securities Act)
of
any merger, acquisition, or similar transaction involving a recapitalization
relating to the Purchaser that would fall within the scope of Rule
10b-18(a)(13)(iv).
Section
5.02 .
Initial
Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Purchaser. The
Purchaser
represents and warrants to, and agrees with the Seller, as of the date hereof,
that:
(a) Solvency.
The assets of the
Purchaser at their fair valuation exceed the liabilities of the Purchaser,
including contingent liabilities; the capital of the Purchaser is adequate
to
conduct the business of the Purchaser and the Purchaser has the ability to
pay
its debts and obligations as such debts mature and does not intend to, or does
not believe that it will, incur debt beyond its ability to pay as such debts
mature.
(b) Required
Filings.
The Purchaser has
made, and will use its best efforts to make, all filings required to be made
by
it with the SEC, any securities exchange or any other regulatory body with
respect to the Transaction contemplated hereby.
(c) No
Conflict.
The
execution and
delivery by the Purchaser of, and the performance by the Purchaser of its
obligations under, this Confirmation and the consummation of the transactions
herein contemplated do not conflict with or violate (i) any provision of the
certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other constitutive documents of the
Purchaser, (ii) any statute or order, rule, regulation or judgment of any court
or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Purchaser or any
of
its subsidiaries or any of their respective assets or (iii) any contractual
restriction binding on or affecting the Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries
or
any of its assets.
9
(d) Consents.
All governmental
and other consents that are required to have been obtained by the Purchaser
with
respect to performance, execution and delivery of this Confirmation have been
obtained and are in full force and effect and all conditions of any such
consents have been complied with.
(e) Investment
Company Act.
The Purchaser is
not and, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated in this
Confirmation, will not be required to register as an “investment company” as
such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
(f) Commodity
Exchange Act. The
Purchaser is an
“eligible contract participant”, as such term is defined in Section 1(a)(12) of
the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended.
Section
5.03 .
Additional
Representations, Warranties and Agreements. The
Purchaser and
the Seller represent and warrant to, and agree with, each other
that:
(a) Agency.
Each party
acknowledges that X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. has acted as agent on behalf
of
the Seller in effecting this Transaction. Each party acknowledges that X.X.
Xxxxxx Securities Inc. shall have no liability to either party under this
Confirmation. X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. is authorized to act as agent for
the
Seller.
(b) Non-Reliance.
Each
party has
entered into this Transaction solely in reliance on its own judgment. Neither
party has any fiduciary obligation to the other party relating to this
Transaction. In addition, neither party has held itself out as advising, or
has
held out any of its employees or agents as having the authority to advise,
the
other party as to whether or not the other party should enter into this
Transaction, any subsequent actions relating to this Transaction or any other
matters relating to this Transaction. Neither party shall have any
responsibility or liability whatsoever in respect of any advice of this nature
given, or views expressed, by it or any such persons to the other party relating
to this Transaction, whether or not such advice is given or such views are
expressed at the request of the other party. The Purchaser has conducted its
own
analysis of the legal, accounting, tax and other implications of this
Transaction and consulted such advisors, accountants and counsel as it has
deemed necessary.
Section
5.04 .
Representations and Warranties of the Seller. The
Seller
represents and warrants to the Purchaser that:
(a) Due
Authorization.
This Confirmation
has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Seller and (assuming
due
authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Purchaser) constitutes
a
valid and legally binding obligation of the Seller. The Seller has all corporate
power to enter into this Confirmation and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and to deliver the Common Stock in accordance with the
terms
hereof.
(b) Right
to
Transfer.
The Seller will, at
the Initial Settlement Date, have the free and unqualified right to transfer
the
Number of Shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Seller pursuant to
Section
2.01
hereof, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, charge,
claim, equity or encumbrance of any kind.
ARTICLE
6
Additional
Covenants
Section
6.01 .
Purchaser’s
Further Assurances. The
Purchaser hereby
agrees with the Seller that the Purchaser shall cooperate with the Seller,
and
execute and deliver, or use its best efforts to cause to be executed and
delivered, all such other instruments, and to obtain all consents, approvals
or
authorizations of any person, and take all such other actions as the Seller
may
reasonably request from time to time, consistent with the terms of this
Confirmation, in order to effectuate the purposes of this Confirmation and
the
Transaction contemplated hereby.
Section
6.02 .
Purchaser’s
Hedging Transactions. The
Purchaser hereby
agrees with the Seller that the Purchaser shall not, during the Contract Period,
enter into or alter any corresponding or hedging transaction or position with
respect to the Common Stock (including, without limitation, with respect to
any
securities convertible or exchangeable into the Common Stock) and agrees not
to
alter or deviate from the terms of this Confirmation.
10
Section
6.03 .
No
Communications. The
Purchaser hereby
agrees with the Seller that the Purchaser shall not, directly or indirectly,
communicate any information relating to the Purchaser, its Common Stock or
this
Transaction (including any notices required by Section
6.05)
to any employee of the Seller or X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc., other than as
set
forth in the Communications Procedures attached as Annex B hereto.
Section
6.04 .
Maximum
Deliverable Number of Shares of Common Stock. Notwithstanding
any
other provision of this Confirmation, the Purchaser shall not be required to
deliver Payment Shares, or shares of Common Stock or other securities comprising
the aggregate Alternative Termination Delivery Units, in excess of the number
of
Maximum Delivery Shares, in each case except to the extent that the Purchaser
has available at such time authorized but unissued shares of such Common Stock
or other securities not expressly reserved for any other uses (including,
without limitation, shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon the
exercise of options or convertible debt). The Purchaser shall not permit the
sum
of (i) the number of Maximum Delivery Shares plus (ii) the aggregate number
of
shares expressly reserved for any such other uses, in each case whether
expressed as caps or as numbers of shares reserved or otherwise, to exceed
at
any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common
Stock.
Section
6.05 .
Notice of
Certain Transactions. If
at any time
during the Contract Period, the Purchaser makes, or expects to be made, or
has
made, any public announcement (as defined in Rule 165(f) under the Securities
Act) of any merger, acquisition, or similar transaction involving a
recapitalization relating to the Purchaser (other than any such transaction
in
which the consideration consists solely of cash and there is no valuation
period, or as to which the completion of such transaction or the completion
of
the vote by target shareholders has occurred), then the Purchaser shall (i)
notify the Seller prior to the opening of trading in the Common Stock on any
day
on which the Purchaser makes, or expects to be made, or has made any such public
announcement, (ii) notify the Seller promptly following any such announcement
(or, if later, prior to the opening of trading in the Common Stock on the first
day of any Seller Payment Share Purchase Period or any Seller Termination Share
Payment Period) that such announcement has been made and (iii) promptly deliver
to the Seller following the making of any such announcement (or, if later,
prior
to the opening of trading in the Common Stock on the first day of any Seller
Payment Share Purchase Period or any Seller Termination Share Payment Period)
a
certificate indicating (A) the Purchaser’s average daily Rule 10b-18 purchases
(as defined in Rule 10b-18) during the three full calendar months preceding
the
date of such announcement and (B) the Purchaser’s block purchases (as defined in
Rule 10b-18) effected pursuant to paragraph
(b)(4)
of Rule 10b-18 during the three full calendar months preceding the date of
such
announcement. In addition, the Purchaser shall promptly notify the Seller of
the
earlier to occur of the completion of such transaction and the completion of
the
vote by target shareholders. The Purchaser acknowledges that its actions in
relation to any such announcement or transaction must comply with the standards
set forth in Section
6.03.
ARTICLE
7
Termination
Section
7.01 .
Additional
Termination Events. (a)
An Additional
Termination Event shall occur in respect of which the Purchaser is the sole
Affected Party and this Transaction is the sole Affected Transaction if, on
any
day, the Seller determines, in good faith, that it is unable to establish,
re-establish or maintain in an economically efficient manner any hedging
transactions reasonably necessary in the normal course of such party’s business
of hedging the price and market risk of entering into and performing under
this
Transaction, due to market illiquidity, illegality, lack of availability of
hedging transaction market participants or any other factor.
(b) An
Additional
Termination Event shall occur in respect of which the Purchaser is the sole
Affected Party and this Transaction is the sole Affected Transaction if (i)
a
Share De-listing Event occurs; (ii) a Merger Event occurs; (iii) a
Nationalization occurs, (iv) a Distribution Termination Event occurs, (v) any
event described in Section
8.02
occurs with respect to which, the Calculation Agent determines that it is
impracticable to effect any adjustment contemplated by Section
8.02
in
order to preserve the fair value of the Transaction to the Seller, or (vi)
an
event described in paragraph III of Annex B occurs.
11
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUESTED
(c) A
“Share
De-listing Event”
means
that at any
time during the Contract Period, the Common Stock ceases to be listed, traded
or
publicly quoted on the Exchange for any reason (other than a Merger Event,
a
“De-Listing”)
and is not
immediately re-listed, traded or quoted as of the date of such de-listing,
on
another U.S. national securities exchange or a U.S. automated interdealer
quotation system (a “Successor
Exchange”);
provided
that it shall not
constitute an Additional Termination Event if the Common Stock is immediately
re-listed on a Successor Exchange upon its De-Listing from the Exchange, and
the
Successor Exchange shall be deemed to be the Exchange for all purposes. In
addition, in such event, the Seller shall make any commercially reasonable
adjustments it deems necessary to the terms of the Transaction.
(d) A
“Merger
Event”
means
the public
announcement, including any public announcement as defined in Rule 165(f) of
the
Securities Act (by the Purchaser or otherwise) at any time during the Contract
Period of any (i) planned recapitalization, reclassification or change of the
Common Stock that will, if consummated, result in a transfer of more than 20%
of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (ii) planned consolidation,
amalgamation, merger or similar transaction of the Purchaser with or into
another entity (other than a consolidation, amalgamation or merger in which
the
Purchaser will be the continuing entity and which does not result in any such
recapitalization, reclassification or change of more than 20% of such shares
outstanding), (iii) other takeover offer for the shares of Common Stock that
is
aimed at resulting in a transfer of more than 20% of such shares of Common
Stock
(other than such shares owned or controlled by the offeror) or (iv) irrevocable
commitment to any of the foregoing.
(e) A
“Nationalization”
means
that all or
substantially all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or assets of the
Purchaser are nationalized, expropriated or are otherwise required to be
transferred to any governmental agency, authority or entity.
(f) A
“Distribution
Termination Event”
means
a
declaration by the Purchaser of any cash dividend or distribution on shares
of
Common Stock, other than an Extraordinary Cash Dividend, that has a record
date
during the Contract Period, the amount of which, together with all prior
declared cash dividends or distributions that have a record date during the
same
regular reference period of the Purchaser, exceeds the amount set forth in
this
Section
7.01(f)
for such regular reference period.
Cash
Distribution Amount
|
Reference
Period
|
$0.00
|
Trade
Date -
September 18, 2006
|
$
******
per share of
Common Stock
|
September
19,
2006 - December 19, 2006
|
$
******
per share of
Common Stock
|
December
20,
2006 - March 20, 2007
|
$
******
per share of
Common Stock
|
March
21, 2007
- June 19, 2007
|
$
******
per share of
Common Stock
|
Any
period
after June 20, 2007
|
Section
7.02 .
Consequences
of Additional Termination Events. (a)
In the event of the
occurrence or effective designation of an Early Termination Date under the
Agreement, cash settlement, as set forth in Section
7.02(b),
shall apply unless
(i) the Purchaser elects (which election shall be binding), in lieu of payment
of the amount payable in respect of this Transaction pursuant to Section
6(d)(ii) of the Agreement (the “Termination
Amount”),
to deliver or to
receive Alternative Termination Delivery Units pursuant to Section
7.03,
and (ii) notifies the Seller of such election by delivery of written notice
to
the Seller on the Business Day immediately following the Purchaser’s receipt of
a notice (as required by Section 6(d) of the Agreement following the designation
of an Early Termination Date in respect of this Transaction or in respect of
all
transactions under the Agreement) setting forth the amounts payable by the
Purchaser or by the Seller with respect to such Early Termination Date (the
date
of such delivery, the “Default
Notice Day”);
provided
that the Purchaser
shall not have the right to elect the delivery or receipt of the Alternative
Termination Delivery Units pursuant to Section
7.03
if:
12
(i) the
representations
and warranties made by the Purchaser to the Seller in Section
5.01
are not true and correct as of the date the Seller makes such election, as
if
made on such date, or
(ii) in
the event that
the Termination Amount is payable by the Purchaser to the Seller, (A) the
Purchaser has taken any action that would make unavailable (x) the exemption
set
forth in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, for the sale of any Alternative
Termination Delivery Units by the Purchaser to the Seller or (y) an exemption
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section
4
of the Securities Act for the resale of Alternative Termination Delivery Units
by the Seller, and (B) such Early Termination Date is in respect of an Event
of
Default which is within Purchaser’s control (including, without limitation,
failure to execute a Private Placement Agreement or otherwise comply with the
requirements applicable to Purchaser (determined in accordance with the Private
Placement Procedures)).
For
the avoidance of doubt, upon the Purchaser’s making an election to deliver
Alternative Termination Delivery Units pursuant to this Section
7.02(a),
the Purchaser
shall be deemed to make the representations and warranties in Section
5.01
hereof as if made on the date of the Purchaser’s election. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, at any time prior to the time the Seller (or any affiliate of the
Seller) has contracted to resell the property to be delivered upon alternative
termination settlement, the Purchaser may deliver in lieu of such property
an
amount in cash equal to the Termination Amount in the manner set forth in
Section 6(d) of the Agreement.
(b) If
cash settlement
applies in respect of an Early Termination Date, Section 6 of the Agreement
shall apply.
Section
7.03 .
Alternative
Termination Settlement. (a)
Subject to
Section
7.02(a),
if the Termination
Amount shall be payable by the Purchaser to the Seller and the Purchaser elects
to deliver the Alternative Termination Delivery Units to the Seller, the
Purchaser shall, as soon as directed by the Seller after the Default Notice
Day
(such date, the “Termination
Settlement Date”),
deliver to the
Seller a number of Alternative Termination Delivery Units equal to the quotient
of (A) the Termination Amount divided
by
(B) the Termination Price.
(b) Subject
to
Section
7.02(a),
if the Termination
Amount shall be payable by the Seller to the Purchaser and the Purchaser elects
to receive the Alternative Termination Delivery Units from the Seller, (i)
the
Seller shall, beginning on the first Trading Day following the Default Notice
Day and ending when the Seller shall have satisfied its obligations under this
clause
(the “Seller
Termination Share Purchase Period”),
purchase
(subject to the provisions of Section
4.01
and Section
4.02
hereof) a number of Alternative Termination Delivery Units equal to the quotient
of (A) the Termination Amount divided
by
(B) the Termination Price; and (ii) the Seller shall deliver such Alternative
Termination Delivery Units to the Purchaser on the settlement dates relating
to
such purchases.
Section
7.04 .
Notice of
Default. If
an Event of
Default occurs in respect of the Purchaser, the Purchaser will, promptly upon
becoming aware of it, notify the Seller specifying the nature of such Event
of
Default.
ARTICLE 8
Adjustments
Section
8.01 .
Extraordinary
Cash Dividends. If
the Purchaser
declares any Extraordinary Cash Dividend that has a record date during the
Contract Period, then prior to or on the date on which such Extraordinary Cash
Dividend is paid by the Purchaser to holders of record, the Purchaser shall
pay
to the Seller an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the amount of such
Extraordinary Cash Dividend and (ii) the theoretical short delta number of
shares, as determined by the Calculation Agent, required for the Seller to
hedge
its exposure to the Transaction.
Section
8.02 .
Other Dilution
Adjustments. If
(x) any corporate
event occurs involving the Purchaser or the Common Stock (other than any cash
dividend but including, without limitation, a spin-off, a stock split, stock
or
other dividend or distribution, reorganization, rights offering or
recapitalization or any other event having a dilutive or concentrative effect
on
the Common Stock), or (y) as a result of the definition of Trading Day (whether
because of a suspension of transactions pursuant to Section
4.02
or
otherwise), any day that would otherwise be a Trading Day during the Contract
Period is not a Trading Day or on such Trading Day, pursuant to Section
4.02,
the Seller effects transactions with respect to shares of Common Stock at a
volume lower than originally anticipated with respect to this Transaction,
then
in any such case, the Calculation Agent shall make corresponding adjustments
with respect to any variable relevant to the terms of the Transaction, as the
Calculation Agent determines appropriate to preserve the fair value of the
Transaction to the Seller, and shall determine the effective date of such
adjustment.
13
ARTICLE
9
Miscellaneous
Section
9.01 .
Successors and
Assigns. All
covenants and
agreements in this Confirmation made by or on behalf of either of the parties
hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and
assigns of the parties hereto whether so expressed or not.
Section
9.02 .
Purchaser
Indemnification. The
Purchaser (the
“Indemnifying
Party”)
agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Seller and its officers, directors, employees,
affiliates, advisors, agents and controlling persons (each, an “Indemnified
Person”)
from and against
any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, joint or several
(collectively, “Obligations”),
to which an
Indemnified Person may become subject arising out of or in connection with
this
Confirmation or any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating
thereto, regardless of whether any of such Indemnified Person is a party
thereto, and to reimburse, within 30 days, upon written request, each such
Indemnified Person for any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred in
connection with investigating, preparation for, providing evidence for or
defending any of the foregoing, provided, however, that the Indemnifying Party
shall not have any liability to any Indemnified Person to the extent that such
Obligations (i) are finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction
to
have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such
Indemnified Person (and in such case, such Indemnified Person shall promptly
return to the Indemnifying Party any amounts previously expended by the
Indemnifying Party hereunder) or (ii) are trading losses incurred by the Seller
as part of its purchases or sales of shares of Common Stock pursuant to this
Confirmation (unless the Purchaser has breached any agreement, term or covenant
herein).
Section
9.03 .
Assignment and
Transfer. Notwithstanding
the
Agreement, the Seller may assign any of its rights or duties hereunder to any
one or more of its affiliates without the prior written consent of the
Purchaser. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Confirmation to the
contrary requiring or allowing Seller to purchase, sell, receive or deliver
any
shares of Common Stock or other securities to or from the Purchaser, Seller
may
designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such
shares of Common Stock or other securities and otherwise to perform the Seller’s
obligations in respect of this Transaction and any such designee may assume
such
obligations. The Seller may assign the right to receive Payment Shares to any
third party who may legally receive Payment Shares. The Seller shall be
discharged of its obligations to the Purchaser to the extent of any such
performance.
Section
9.04 .
Calculation
Agent. Whenever
the
Calculation Agent is required to act or to exercise judgment in any way,
including, without limitation, the making of any determination, with respect
to
this Transaction, it will do so in good faith and in a commercially reasonable
manner.
Section
9.05 .
Non-confidentiality. The
Seller and the
Purchaser hereby acknowledge and agree that subject to Section
6.03
each is authorized to disclose every aspect of this Confirmation and the
transactions contemplated hereby to any and all persons, without limitation
of
any kind, and there are no express or implied agreements, arrangements or
understandings to the contrary.
Section
9.06 .
Unenforceability and Invalidity. To
the extent
permitted by law, the unenforceability or invalidity of any provision or
provisions of this Confirmation shall not render any other provision or
provisions herein contained unenforceable or invalid.
Section
9.07 .
Securities
Contract. The
parties hereto
agree and acknowledge as of the date hereof that (i) the Seller is a “financial
institution” within the meaning of Section 101(22) of Title 11 of the United
States Code (the “Bankruptcy
Code”)
and (ii) this
Confirmation is a “securities contract,” as such term is defined in Section
741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, entitled to the protection of Sections 362(b)(6)
and 555 of the Bankruptcy Code.
14
Section
9.08 .
No Collateral,
Netting or Setoff. Notwithstanding
any
provision of the Agreement, or any other agreement between the parties, to
the
contrary, the obligations of the Purchaser hereunder are not secured by any
collateral. Obligations under this Transaction shall not be netted, recouped
or
set off (including pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement) against any other
obligations of the parties, whether arising under the Agreement, this
Confirmation, under any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation
of law or otherwise, and no other obligations of the parties shall be netted,
recouped or set off (including pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement) against
obligations under this Transaction, whether arising under the Agreement, this
Confirmation, under any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation
of law or otherwise, and each party hereby waives any such right of setoff,
netting or recoupment.
Section
9.09 .
Notices.
Unless
otherwise
specified herein, any notice, the delivery of which is expressly provided for
in
this Confirmation, may be made by telephone, to be confirmed in writing to
the
address below. Changes to the information below must be made in
writing.
(a) If
to the
Purchaser:
FirstEnergy
Corp.
00
Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx,
XX
00000
Telephone:
000-000-0000
(b) If
to the
Seller:
JPMorgan
Chase Bank,
National Association
c/o
X.X. Xxxxxx
Securities Inc.
000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX
00000
Attn:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
Telephone:
000-000-0000
Facsimile:
000-000-0000
15
Please
confirm that
the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by executing
the
copy of this Confirmation enclosed for that purpose and returning it to
us.
Yours sincerely, | ||
X.X.
XXXXXX
SECURITIES INC., as agent for JPMorgan
Chase
Bank,
National Association, London Branch
|
||
|
|
|
By: | __________________________________________ | |
Name: | ||
Title |
Confirmed
as of the
date first
above
written:
FIRSTENERGY
CORP.
|
|
|
|
By: __________________________________________ | |
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
16
ANNEX
A
PRIVATE
PLACEMENT PROCEDURES
I.
Introduction
FirstEnergy
Corp.,
an Ohio corporation (the “Purchaser”)
and X.X. Xxxxxx
Securities Inc., as agent for JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, London
Branch (the “Seller”)
have agreed to
these procedures (the “Private
Placement Procedures”)
in connection
with entering into the Confirmation (the “Confirmation”)
dated as of
August 9, 2006 between JPMorgan and the Purchaser relating to the sale by
JPMorgan to the Purchaser of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, or
security entitlements in respect thereof (the “Common
Stock”)
of the
Counterparty. These Private Placement Procedures supplement, form part of,
and
are subject to the Confirmation and all terms used and not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the
Confirmation.
II. Procedures
If
the Purchaser elects to deliver Payment Shares pursuant to Section
3.01(b)
of the Confirmation or elects to deliver Alternative Termination Delivery Units
pursuant to Section
7.02(a)
of the Confirmation, the Purchaser shall effect such delivery in compliance
with
the private placement procedures provided herein.
(a)The
Purchaser shall
afford the Seller, and a limited number of potential buyers of the Payment
Shares (or, in the case of alternative termination settlement, Alternative
Termination Delivery Units) (collectively, the “Private Securities”)
reasonably
designated by the Seller a reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence
investigation with respect to the Purchaser customary in scope for private
offerings of such type of securities (including, without limitation, the
availability of executive officers to respond to questions regarding the
business and financial condition of the Purchaser and the right to have made
available to them for inspection all financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents and other pertinent information reasonably requested by
them), and the Seller (or any such potential buyer) shall be reasonably
satisfied in all material respects with such opportunity and with the resolution
of any disclosure issues arising from such due diligence investigation of the
Purchaser it being understood that such potential buyers shall only include
institutional “accredited investors” within the meaning of (1), (2), (3) and (7)
of paragraph (a) of Rule 501 under the Securities Act. The rights extended
to
the Seller and its designees under this paragraph are conditioned upon such
persons entering into an appropriate confidentiality agreement with the
Purchaser.
(b) Prior
to or
contemporaneously with the determination of the Private Placement Price (as
described below), the Purchaser shall enter into an agreement (a “Private
Placement Agreement”)
with the Seller
(or any affiliate of the Seller designated by the Seller, it being understood
that such affiliate of the Seller shall be an institutional “accredited
investor” as used in Rule 501(a)(1)-(3) and (7) under the Securities Act)
providing for the purchase and resale by the Seller (or such affiliate) in
a
private transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of the
Private Securities, which agreement shall be on commercially reasonable terms
and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Seller (or such
affiliate) and the Purchaser and (without limitation of the foregoing)
shall:
(i) contain
customary
conditions, and customary undertakings, representations and warranties (to
the
Seller or such affiliate, and if reasonably requested by the Seller or such
affiliate, to potential purchasers of the Private Securities and to the
Purchaser), including representations from the Seller (or its designated
affiliate) to the effect that it is either registered as a broker-dealer under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or is not required to so
register;
A-1
(ii) contain
customary
indemnification and contribution provisions in connection with the potential
liability of the Purchaser and the Seller and its affiliates relating to the
resale by the Seller (or such affiliate) of the Private Securities;
(iii) provide
for the
delivery of related certificates and representations, warranties and agreements
of the Purchaser, the Seller and potential buyers, including those necessary
or
advisable to establish and maintain the availability of an exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities
laws for sale to the Seller (or affiliate) and resales of the Private Securities
by the Seller (or such affiliate);
(iv) provide
that the
Private Securities shall constitute “restricted securities” as defined in Rule
144 under the Securities Act and shall be issued with appropriate legends;
and
(v) provide
for the
delivery to the Seller (or such affiliate) of customary opinions (including,
without limitation, opinions relating to the due authorization, valid issuance
and fully paid and non-assessable nature of the Private Securities, the
availability of an exemption from the Securities Act for the Seller and resales
of the Private Securities by the Seller (or such affiliate), and, in the case
of
a private placement effected pursuant to an offering document, the lack of
material misstatements and omissions in the Purchaser’s offering
document).
(c) The
Seller shall
determine the Private Placement Price (or, in the case of alternative
termination settlement, the Termination Price) in its judgment by commercially
reasonable means, which may include (without limitation):
(i) basing
such price on
indicative bids from investors;
(ii) taking
into account
any factors that are customary in pricing private sales and any and all risks
and costs in connection with the resale of the Private Securities by the Seller
(or any affiliate of the Seller designated by the Seller); and
(iii) providing
for the
payment by the Purchaser of all reasonable fees and expenses in connection
with
such sale and resale;
provided
that Seller shall
pay all of its own costs and expenses, including the fees of its counsel,
transfer taxes on resale of any of the Private Securities by it, and any
advertising expenses connected with any offer it may make (it being understood
that such costs and expenses will be built into the underwriting spread,
discount or placement fees).
(d) The
Seller shall
notify the Purchaser of the number of Private Securities required to be
delivered by the Purchaser and the Private Placement Price (or, in the case
of
alternative termination settlement, the Termination Price) by 6:00 p.m. on
the
day such price is determined.
(e) The
Purchaser agrees
not to take or cause to be taken any action that would make unavailable either
(i) the exemption set forth in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, for the
sale
of any Private Securities by the Purchaser to the Seller or (ii) an exemption
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section
4
of the Securities Act for the private resale of Private Securities by the
Seller.
(f) The
Purchaser
expressly agrees and acknowledges that the public disclosure of all material
information relating to the Purchaser is within the Purchaser’s control and that
the Purchaser shall promptly so disclose all such material information required
to be disclosed during the period from the Valuation Completion Date to and
including the Settlement Date.
The
Purchaser agrees to use its best efforts to make any filings required to be
made
by it with the SEC, any securities exchange or any other regulatory body with
respect to the Transaction contemplated hereby and the issuance of the Private
Securities.
A-2
ANNEX
B
COMMUNICATIONS
PROCEDURES
August
9,
2006
I. Introduction
FirstEnergy
Corp.,
an Ohio corporation (“Counterparty”)
and X.X. Xxxxxx
Securities Inc., as agent for JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, London
Branch (“JPMorgan”)
have adopted
these communications procedures (the “Communications Procedures”)
in connection
with entering into the Confirmation (the “Confirmation”)
dated as of
August 9, 2006 between JPMorgan and Counterparty relating to the sale by
JPMorgan to Counterparty of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, or security
entitlements in respect thereof (the “Common Stock”)
of the
Counterparty. These Communications Procedures supplement, form part of, and
are
subject to the Confirmation.
II. Communications
Rules
1. From
the date hereof
until the end of the Contract Period, neither Counterparty nor any Employee
or
Designee of Counterparty shall (a) engage in any Program-Related Communication
with any EDG Personnel, other than any of the Permitted Contacts, or (b)
disclose any Material Non-Public Information to any EDG Personnel, other than
any of the Permitted Contacts, and
2. Subject
to the
preceding provision, the Counterparty, any Employee of Counterparty and any
Designee of Counterparty may at any time engage in any Non-Program-Related
Communication with any affiliate or Employee of JPMorgan.
III. Termination
If,
in the sole judgment of any EDG Personnel or any affiliate or Employee of
JPMorgan participating in any Communication with Counterparty or any Designee
of
Counterparty, such Communication would not be permitted by these Communications
Procedures, such EDG Personnel or such affiliate or Employee of JPMorgan shall
immediately terminate such Communication. In such case, or if such EDG Personnel
or such affiliate or Employee of JPMorgan determines following completion of
any
Communication with Counterparty or any Employee or Designee of Counterparty
that
such Communication was not permitted by these Communications Procedures, such
EDG Personnel or such affiliate or Employee of JPMorgan shall promptly consult
with his or her supervisors and with counsel for JPMorgan regarding such
Communication. If, in the reasonable judgment of JPMorgan’s counsel following
such consultation, there is more than an insignificant risk that such
Communication could materially jeopardize the availability of the affirmative
defenses provided in Rule 10b5-1 under the 1934 Act with respect to any ongoing
or contemplated activities of JPMorgan or its affiliates in respect of the
Confirmation, it shall be an Additional Termination Event with respect to the
Confirmation.
IV. Definitions
Capitalized
terms
used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them
in the Confirmation. As used herein, the following words and phrases shall
have
the following meanings:
“Communication”
means
any contact
or communication (whether written, electronic, oral or otherwise) between
Counterparty, any Employee of Counterparty or one or more Designees of
Counterparty, on the one hand, and JPMorgan or any of its affiliates or
Employees, on the other hand.
“Designee”
means
a person
designated, in writing or orally, by Counterparty to communicate with JPMorgan
on behalf of Counterparty.
B-1
“EDG
Personnel”
means
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx and any other Employee of the public side of the Equity
Derivatives Group or the Special Equities Group of X.X. Xxxxxx Chase & Co.;
provided
that JPMorgan may
amend the list of EDG Personnel by delivering a revised list of EDG Personnel
to
Counterparty.
“Employee”
means,
with
respect to any entity, any owner, principal, officer, director, employee or
other agent or representative of such entity, and any affiliate of any of such
owner, principal, officer, director, employee, agent or
representative.
“Material
Non-Public Information”
means
information
relating to the Counterparty or the Common Stock that (a) has not been widely
disseminated by wire service, in one or more newspapers of general circulation,
by communication from the Counterparty to its shareholders or in a press
release, or contained in a public filing made by the Counterparty with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and (b) a reasonable investor might consider
to be of importance in making an investment decision to buy, sell or hold shares
of Common Stock. For the avoidance of doubt and solely by way of illustration,
information should be presumed “material” if it relates to such matters as
dividend increases or decreases, earnings estimates, changes in previously
released earnings estimates, significant expansion or curtailment of operations,
a significant increase or decline of orders, significant merger or acquisition
proposals or agreements, significant new products or discoveries, extraordinary
borrowing, major litigation, liquidity problems, extraordinary management
developments, purchase or sale of substantial assets and similar
matters.
“Non-Program-Related
Communication”
means
any
Communication other than a Program Related Communication.
“Permitted
Contact”
means
any of Xx.
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xx. Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xx. Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx,
Xx. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xx. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx and Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx or any
of
their designees; provided
that JPMorgan may
amend the list of Permitted Contacts with effect from the date of receipt by
Counterparty of such revised list by delivering a revised list of Permitted
Contacts to Counterparty.
“Program-Related
Communication”
means
any
Communication the subject matter of which relates to the Confirmation or any
Transaction under the Confirmation or any activities of JPMorgan (or any of
its
affiliates) in respect of the Confirmation or any Transaction under the
Confirmation.
B-2
EXHIBIT
A
[Letterhead
of
Purchaser]
JPMorgan
Chase Bank,
National Association
c/o
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx
00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Re: Accelerated
Purchase
of Equity Securities
Ladies
and
Gentlemen:
In
connection with our entry into the Confirmation dated as of August 9, 2006
(the
“Confirmation”),
we hereby
represent that set forth below is the total number of shares of our common
stock
purchased by or for us or any of our affiliated purchasers in Rule 10b-18
purchases of blocks (all defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934) pursuant to the once-a-week block exception set forth in Rule
10b-18(b)(4) during the four full calendar weeks immediately preceding the
first
day of the Valuation Period (as defined in the Confirmation) and the week during
which the first day of the Valuation Period occurs.
Number
of Shares:
__________________
We
understand that you will use this information in calculating trading volume
for
purposes of Rule 10b-18.
Very truly yours, | ||
FIRSTENERGY
CORP.
|
||
|
|
|
By: | __________________________________________ | |
Name: | ||
Title |
Exh-A-1
EXHIBIT
B
OPINION
OF
COUNSEL TO PURCHASER
1. The
Purchaser is
duly incorporated and validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation.
2. The
Purchaser has
all corporate power to enter into this Confirmation and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and to deliver the Common Stock in accordance
with the terms hereof. This Confirmation has been duly authorized and validly
executed and delivered by the Purchaser and constitutes a valid and legally
binding obligation of the Purchaser enforceable in accordance with its terms,
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and other
laws
affecting creditors’ generally from time to time in effect and to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered
in
a proceeding in equity or at law).
3. The
execution and
delivery by the Purchaser of, and the performance by the Purchaser of its
obligations, under this Confirmation and the consummation of the transactions
herein contemplated, and, do not conflict with or violate (x) any provision
of
the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Purchaser, (y) any order
or
judgment of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over
the Purchaser or any of the Purchaser’s assets or (z) any material contractual
restriction binding on or affecting the Purchaser or any of its
assets.
4. All
governmental and
other consents that are required to have been obtained by the Purchaser with
respect to performance, execution and delivery of this Confirmation have been
obtained and are in full force and effect and all conditions of any such
consents have been complied with, other than such consents which, if not
obtained, will not individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse
effect on the Purchaser or on the ability of the Purchaser to complete the
transactions contemplated by this Confirmation.
Exh-B-1