Exhibit 4.4
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 1, 1997
Among
SHEFFIELD STEEL CORPORATION
as Issuer
and
BT ALEX. XXXXX INCORPORATED
as Initial Purchaser
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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1. Definitions....................................................... 1
2. Exchange Offer.................................................... 5
3. Shelf Registration................................................ 9
4. Additional Interest............................................... 10
5. Registration Procedures........................................... 12
6. Registration Expenses............................................. 22
7. Indemnification................................................... 23
8. Rules 144 and 144A................................................ 27
9. Underwritten Registrations........................................ 28
10. Miscellaneous..................................................... 28
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements.............................. 28
(b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes................. 28
(c) Amendments and Waivers.................................. 29
(d) Notices................................................. 29
(e) Successors and Assigns.................................. 31
(f) Counterparts............................................ 31
(g) Headings................................................ 31
(h) GOVERNING LAW........................................... 31
(i) Severability............................................ 31
(j) Securities Held by the Company or Its Affiliates........ 33
(k) Third Party Beneficiaries............................... 33
(l) Entire Agreement........................................ 00
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XXXXXXXXXXXX RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") is dated as of
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December 1, 1997, between SHEFFIELD STEEL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and BT ALEX. XXXXX INCORPORATED (the "Initial Purchaser").
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This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Purchase
Agreement, dated as of November 26, 1997, between the Company and the Initial
Purchaser (the "Purchase Agreement") which provides for the sale by the Company
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to the Initial Purchaser of $110,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the
Company's 11 1/2% First Mortgage Notes due 2005 (the "First Mortgage Notes").
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In order to induce the Initial Purchaser to enter into the Purchase Agreement,
the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this
Agreement for the benefit of the Initial Purchaser and its direct and indirect
transferees and assigns. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a
condition to the Initial Purchaser's obligation to purchase the First Mortgage
Notes under the Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
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As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
Additional Interest: See Section 4 hereof.
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Advice: See Section 5 hereof.
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Agreement: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
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Applicable Period: See Section 2 hereof.
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Closing Date: The Closing Date as defined in the Purchase Agreement.
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Company: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
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Effectiveness Date: The 150th day after the Issue Date.
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Effectiveness Period: See Section 3 hereof.
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Event Date: See Section 4 hereof.
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Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
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the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Notes: See Section 2 hereof.
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Exchange Offer: See Section 2 hereof.
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Exchange Registration Statement: See Section 2 hereof.
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Filing Date: Within 45 days after the Issue Date.
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First Mortgage Notes: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
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Holder: Any holder of a Registrable Note or Registrable Notes.
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Indemnified Person: See Section 7(c) hereof.
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Indemnifying Person: See Section 7(c) hereof.
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Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1997 between the
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Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee, pursuant to which
the First Mortgage Notes are being issued, as amended or supplemented from time
to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Initial Purchaser: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
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Initial Shelf Registration: See Section 3(a) hereof.
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Inspectors: See Section 5(o) hereof.
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Issue Date: The date on which the original First Mortgage Notes were
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sold to the Initial Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
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NASD: See Section 5(t) hereof.
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Participant: See Section 7(a) hereof.
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Participating Broker-Dealer: See Section 2 hereof.
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Person: An individual, trustee, corporation, partnership, joint stock
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company, trust, unincorporated association, union, business association, firm or
other legal entity.
Private Exchange: See Section 2 hereof.
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Private Exchange Notes: See Section 2 hereof.
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Prospectus: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement
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(including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion and a
prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus
filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A
promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any
prospectus supplement, and all other amendments and supplements to the
Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated
by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
Purchase Agreement: See the introductory paragraphs hereto.
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Records: See Section 5(o) hereof.
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Registrable Notes: Each First Mortgage Note upon original issuance of
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the First Mortgage Notes and at all times subsequent thereto, each Exchange Note
as to which Section 2(c)(v) hereof is applicable upon original issuance and at
all times subsequent thereto and each Private Exchange Note upon original
issuance thereof and at all times subsequent thereto, until in the case of any
such First Mortgage Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case
may be, the earliest to occur of (i) a Registration Statement (other than, with
respect to any Exchange Note as to which Section 2(c)(v) hereof is applicable,
the Exchange Registration Statement) covering such First Mortgage Note, Exchange
Note or such Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, has been declared
effective by the SEC and such First Mortgage Note, Exchange Note or Private
Exchange Note, as the case may be, has been disposed of in accordance with such
effective
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Registration Statement, (ii) such First Mortgage Note, Exchange Note or Private
Exchange Note, as the case may be, is sold in compliance with Rule 144 or could
be sold in compliance with paragraph (k) of such Rule 144, (iii) such First
Mortgage Note has been exchanged for an Exchange Note or Exchange Notes pursuant
to an Exchange Offer which may be resold without restriction under state and
federal securities laws, or (iv) such First Mortgage Note, Exchange Note or
Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, ceases to be outstanding for purposes
of the Indenture.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company,
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including, but not limited to, the Exchange Registration Statement, filed with
the SEC pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus,
amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-
effective amendments, all exhibits, and all material incorporated by reference
or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule
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may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144A) or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC providing for offers and sales of
securities made in compliance therewith resulting in offers and sales by
subsequent holders that are not affiliates of an issuer of such securities being
free of the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act.
Rule 144A: Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as such
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Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144)
or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.
Rule 415: Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule
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may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the SEC.
SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
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and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Shelf Notice: See Section 2 hereof.
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Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b) hereof.
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Subsequent Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b) hereof.
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TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
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Trustee: The trustee under the Indenture and, if existent, the
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trustee under any indenture governing the Exchange Notes and Private Exchange
Notes (if any).
Underwritten registration or underwritten offering: A registration in
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which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for re-offering to
the public.
2. Exchange Offer
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(a) The Company shall file with the SEC no later than the Filing
Date, an offer to exchange (the "Exchange Offer") any and all of the Registrable
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Notes (other than Private Exchange Notes, if any) for a like aggregate principal
amount of debt securities of the Company which are identical in all material
respects to the First Mortgage Notes (the "Exchange Notes") secured by the
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Collateral (as defined in the Indenture) (and which are entitled to the benefits
of the Indenture or a trust indenture which is identical in all material
respects to the Indenture (other than such changes to the Indenture or any such
identical trust indenture as are necessary to comply with any requirements of
the SEC to effect or maintain the qualification thereof under the TIA) and
which, in either case, has been qualified under the TIA), except that the
Exchange Notes shall have been registered pursuant to an effective Registration
Statement under the Securities Act and shall contain no restrictive legend
thereon. The Exchange Offer shall be registered under the Securities Act on the
appropriate form (the "Exchange Registration Statement") and shall comply with
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all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act. The
Company agrees to use its best efforts to (x) cause the Exchange Registration
Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or before the
Effectiveness Date; (y) keep the Exchange Offer open for not less than 30 days
(or longer if required by applicable law) after the date that notice of the
Exchange Offer is mailed to Holders; and (z) consummate the Exchange Offer on or
prior to the 180th day following the Issue Date. If after such Exchange
Registration Statement is initially declared effective by the SEC, the Exchange
Offer or the issuance of the Exchange Notes thereunder is interfered with by any
stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other
governmental
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agency or court, such Exchange Registration Statement shall be deemed not to
have become effective for purposes of this Agreement. Each Holder who
participates in the Exchange Offer will be required to represent that any
Exchange Notes received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its
business, that at the time of the consummation of the Exchange Offer such Holder
will have no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the
distribution of the Exchange Notes in violation of the provisions of the
Securities Act, and that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within
the meaning of the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in
accordance with this Section 2, the provisions of this Agreement shall continue
to apply, mutatis mutandis, solely with respect to Registrable Notes that are
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Private Exchange Notes and Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers,
and the Company shall have no further obligation to register Registrable Notes
(other than Private Exchange Notes and other than in respect of any Exchange
Notes as to which clause 2(c)(v) hereof applies) pursuant to Section 3 hereof.
No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included in the Exchange
Registration Statement.
The Company shall include within the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of Distribution,"
reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchaser, which shall contain a summary
statement of the positions taken or policies made by the Staff of the SEC with
respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any broker-dealer that is the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange
Notes received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer (a "Participating
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Broker-Dealer"), whether such positions or policies have been publicly
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disseminated by the Staff of the SEC or such positions or policies, in the
judgment of the Initial Purchaser, represent the prevailing views of the Staff
of the SEC. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also expressly permit the
use of the Prospectus by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act, including all Participating Broker-Dealers,
and include a statement describing the means by which Participating Broker-
Dealers may resell the Exchange Notes.
The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange
Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the Prospectus
contained therein, in order to permit such Prospectus to be lawfully delivered
by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act for such period of time as is necessary to comply with applicable law in
connection with any resale of the Exchange Notes; provided, however, that such
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period shall not exceed 180 days after the Exchange
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Registration Statement is declared effective (or such longer period if extended
pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof) (the "Applicable Period").
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If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Initial Purchaser
holds any First Mortgage Notes acquired by it and having, or which are
reasonably likely to be determined to have, the status of an unsold allotment in
the initial distribution, the Company upon the request of the Initial Purchaser
simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer,
issue and deliver to the Initial Purchaser in exchange (the "Private Exchange")
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for such First Mortgage Notes held by the Initial Purchaser a like principal
amount of debt securities of the Company that are identical in all material
respects to the Exchange Notes (the "Private Exchange Notes") (and which are
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issued pursuant to the same indenture as the Exchange Notes). The Private
Exchange Notes shall bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes.
Interest on the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes will
accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the
First Mortgage Notes surrendered in exchange therefor or if no interest has been
paid on the First Mortgage Notes, from the date of the original issuance of the
First Mortgage Notes.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(1) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the
Exchange Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of
transmittal and related documents;
(2) utilize the services of a depositary for the Exchange Offer with
an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York;
(3) permit Holders to withdraw tendered First Mortgage Notes at any
time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last business
day on which the Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(4) otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable
laws, rules and regulations.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer or the
Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
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(1) accept for exchange all First Mortgage Notes tendered and not
validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange;
(2) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all First Mortgage Notes
so accepted for exchange; and
(3) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each
Holder of First Mortgage Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes,
as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the First Mortgage Notes
of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
The Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes may be issued under
(i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical in all material respects to the
Indenture, which in either event shall provide that the Exchange Notes shall not
be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture. The
Indenture or such indenture shall provide that the Exchange Notes, the Private
Exchange Notes and the First Mortgage Notes shall vote and consent together on
all matters as one class and that neither the Exchange Notes, the Private
Exchange Notes or the First Mortgage Notes will have the right to vote or
consent as a separate class on any matter.
If, (i) because of any change in law or in currently prevailing
interpretations of the Staff of the SEC, the Company is not permitted to effect
an Exchange Offer, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not consummated within 180 days of
the date of original issuance of the First Mortgage Notes, (iii) any holder of
Private Exchange Notes so requests at any time after the consummation of the
Private Exchange, (iv) the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Registrable Notes determine that the interests of the
Holders would be adversely affected by consummation of the Exchange Offer, or
(v) in the case of any Holder that participates in the Exchange Offer, such
Holder does not receive Exchange Notes on the date of the exchange that may be
sold without restriction under state and federal securities laws (other than due
solely to the status of such Holder as an affiliate of the Company within the
meaning of the Securities Act), in the case of each of clauses (i) to and
including (v) of this sentence, then the Company shall promptly deliver to the
Holders and the Trustee written notice thereof (the "Shelf Notice") and shall
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file a Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 3 hereof.
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3. Shelf Registration
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If a Shelf Notice is delivered as contemplated by Section 2(c) hereof,
then:
(a) Shelf Registration. The Company shall as promptly as reasonably
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practicable file with the SEC a Registration Statement for an offering to be
made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable
Notes (the "Initial Shelf Registration"). If the Company shall not have yet
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filed an Exchange Registration Statement, the Company shall use its best efforts
to file with the SEC the Initial Shelf Registration on or prior to the Filing
Date. Otherwise, the Company shall use its best efforts to file with the SEC
the Initial Shelf Registration within 30 days of the delivery of the Shelf
Notice. The Initial Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-1 or another
appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable Notes for resale by
Holders in the manner or manners designated by them (including, without
limitation, one or more underwritten offerings). The Company shall not permit
any securities other than the Registrable Notes to be included in the Initial
Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration (as defined below).
The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Initial Shelf
Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior to
the Effectiveness Date and to keep the Initial Shelf Registration continuously
effective under the Securities Act until the date which is 24 months from the
Effectiveness Date, subject to extension pursuant to the last paragraph of
Section 5 hereof (the "Effectiveness Period"), or such shorter period ending
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when (i) all Registrable Notes covered by the Initial Shelf Registration have
been sold in the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Initial Shelf
Registration or (ii) a Subsequent Shelf Registration covering all of the
Registrable Notes has been declared effective under the Securities Act.
(b) Subsequent Shelf Registrations. If the Initial Shelf
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Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration ceases to be effective for any
reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than because of the
sale of all of the securities registered thereunder), the Company shall use its
best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the
effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within 45 days of such cessation
of effectiveness amend the Initial Shelf Registration in a manner to obtain the
withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness thereof, or file an
additional "shelf" Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of
the Registrable Notes (a
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"Subsequent Shelf Registration"). If a Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed,
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the Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf
Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as
practicable after such filing and to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective for a period equal to the number of days in the
Effectiveness Period less the aggregate number of days during which the Initial
Shelf Registration or any Subsequent Shelf Registration was previously
continuously effective. As used herein the term "Shelf Registration" means the
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Initial Shelf Registration and any Subsequent Shelf Registration.
(c) Supplements and Amendments. The Company shall promptly
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supplement and amend the Shelf Registration if required by the rules,
regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used for such
Shelf Registration, if required by the Securities Act, or if reasonably
requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or by any underwriter
of such Registrable Notes.
4. Additional Interest
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(a) The Company and the Initial Purchaser agree that the Holders of
First Mortgage Notes will suffer damages if the Company fails to fulfill its
obligations under Section 2 or Section 3 hereof and that it would not be
feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision. Accordingly,
the Company agrees to pay, as liquidated damages, additional interest on the
First Mortgage Notes ("Additional Interest") under the circumstances and to the
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extent set forth below (each of which shall be given independent effect):
(i) if (A) neither the Exchange Registration Statement nor a Shelf
Registration Statement is filed with the SEC on or prior to the Filing Date
or (B) notwithstanding that the Company has consummated or will consummate
an Exchange Offer, the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration
Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to
the 30 days after the delivery of a Shelf Notice, then commencing on the
day after either such required filing date, Additional Interest shall
accrue on the principal amount of the First Mortgage Notes at a rate of
0.50% per annum for the first 90 days immediately following each such
filing date, such Additional Interest rate increasing by an additional
0.50% per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period;
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(ii) if (A) neither the Exchange Registration Statement nor a Shelf
Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission on or prior
to 150 days after the Issue Date or (B) notwithstanding that the Company
has consummated or will consummate an Exchange Offer, the Company is
required to file a Shelf Registration Statement and such Shelf Registration
Statement is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the
180th day following the date such Shelf Registration Statement was filed,
then, commencing on the day after either such required date of
effectiveness, Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of
the First Mortgage Notes at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the first 90 days
immediately following such date, such Additional Interest rate increasing
by an additional 0.50% per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day
period; and
(iii) if (A) the Company has not exchanged Exchange Notes for all
First Mortgage Notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the
Exchange Offer on or prior to the 180th day after the Issue Date or (B) if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective
and such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective at any time
prior to the second anniversary of its effective date (other than after
such time as all First Mortgage Notes have been disposed of thereunder),
then Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the First
Mortgage Notes at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the first 90 days
commencing on (x) the 180th day after the Issue Date, in the case of (A)
above, or (y) the day such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be
effective in the case of (B) above, such Additional Interest rate
increasing by an additional 0.50% per annum at the beginning of each
subsequent 90-day period;
provided, however, that the Additional Interest rate on the First Mortgage Notes
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may not exceed at any one time in the aggregate 1.0% per annum; and provided,
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further, that (1) upon the filing of the Exchange Registration Statement or a
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Shelf Registration as required hereunder (in the case of clause (i) of this
Section 4), (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Registration Statement or
the Shelf Registration as required hereunder (in the case of clause (ii) of this
Section 4), or (3) upon the exchange of Exchange Notes for all First Mortgage
Notes tendered (in the case of clause (iii)(A) of this Section 4), or upon the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement which had ceased to remain
effective (in the case of (iii)(B) of this Section 4), Additional Interest on
the First Mortgage Notes as a
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result of such clause (or the relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be,
shall cease to accrue.
The Company shall notify the Trustee within one business day after
each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Additional
Interest is required to be paid (an "Event Date"). Any amounts of Additional
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Interest due pursuant to (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) of this Section 4 will be
payable in cash semiannually on each June 1 and December 1 (to the holders of
record on May 15 and November 15), commencing with the first such date occurring
after any such Additional Interest commences to accrue. The amount of
Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional
Interest rate by the principal amount of the Registrable Notes, multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest
rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day
year comprised of twelve 30-day months and, in the case of a partial month, the
actual number of days elapsed), and the denominator of which is 360.
5. Registration Procedures
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In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant
to Sections 2 or 3 hereof, the Company shall effect such registrations to permit
the sale of the securities covered thereby in accordance with the intended
method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto and in connection
with any Registration Statement filed by the Company hereunder the Company
shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC prior to the Filing Date, a
Registration Statement or Registration Statements as prescribed by Sections 2 or
3 hereof, and use its best efforts to cause each such Registration Statement to
become effective and remain effective as provided herein; provided, however,
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that, if (1) such filing is pursuant to Section 3 hereof, or (2) a Prospectus
contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2
hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating
Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period,
before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to and afford the Holders of the
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or each such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel and the managing
underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to review copies of all such
documents (including copies of any
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documents to be incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits thereto)
proposed to be filed (in each case at least five business days prior to such
filing). The Company shall not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or
any amendments or supplements thereto if the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration
Statement, or any such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their
counsel, or the managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Shelf Registration or Exchange Registration Statement, as the
case may be, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective for the Effectiveness Period or the Applicable Period, as
the case may be; cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any
Prospectus supplement required by applicable law, and as so supplemented to be
filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated
under the Securities Act; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all
securities covered by such Registration Statement as so amended or in such
Prospectus as so supplemented and with respect to the subsequent resale of any
securities being sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer covered by any such
Prospectus. The Company shall be deemed not to have used its best efforts to
keep a Registration Statement effective during the Applicable Period if it
voluntarily takes any action that would result in selling Holders of the
Registrable Notes covered thereby or Participating Broker-Dealers seeking to
sell Exchange Notes not being able to sell such Registrable Notes or such
Exchange Notes during that period unless such action is required by applicable
law or unless the Company complies with this Agreement, including without
limitation, the provisions of paragraph 5(k) hereof and the last paragraph of
this Section 5.
(c) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities
Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during
the Applicable Period, notify the selling Holders of Registrable Notes, or each
such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel and the
managing underwriters, if any, promptly (but in any event within two business
days), and confirm such notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with
respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the
same has become effective under the Securities Act (including in such notice a
written statement that any
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Holder may, upon request, obtain, at the sole expense of the Company, one
conformed copy of such Registration Statement or post-effective amendment
including financial statements and schedules, documents incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated by reference and exhibits), (ii) of the issuance by the SEC
of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of
any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if at any time when a
prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with
sales of the Registrable Notes or resales of Exchange Notes by Participating
Broker-Dealers the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
any agreement (including any underwriting agreement), contemplated by Section
5(n) hereof cease to be true and correct, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of
any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or
exemption from qualification of a Registration Statement or any of the
Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating Broker-
Dealer for offer or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening
of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event, the
existence of any condition or any information becoming known that makes any
statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue
in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in or
amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or
documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (vi) of the
Company's determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration
Statement would be appropriate.
(d) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities
Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during
the Applicable Period, use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order
preventing or suspending the use of a Prospectus or suspending the qualification
(or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Notes or the
-15-
Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer, for sale in any
jurisdiction, and, if any such order is issued, to use its best efforts to
obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible moment.
(e) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 and if
requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters (if any), or the Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes being sold
in connection with an underwritten offering or any Participating Broker-Dealer,
(i) promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
such information as the managing underwriter or underwriters (if any), such
Holders, any Participating Broker-Dealer or counsel for any of them determine is
reasonably necessary to be included therein, (ii) make all required filings of
such prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as
practicable after the Company has received notification of the matters to be
incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, and
(iii) supplement or make amendments to such Registration Statement.
(f) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities
Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during
the Applicable Period, furnish to each selling Holder of Registrable Notes and
to each such Participating Broker-Dealer who so requests and to counsel and each
managing underwriter, if any, at the sole expense of the Company, one conformed
copy of the Registration Statement or Registration Statements and each post-
effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and,
if requested, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference and all exhibits.
(g) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities
Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during
the Applicable Period, deliver to each selling Holder of Registrable Notes, or
each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their respective
counsel, and the underwriters, if any, at the sole expense of the Company, as
many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of
preliminary prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto and any
documents incorporated by reference therein as such Persons may reasonably
request; and, subject to
-16-
the last paragraph of this Section 5, the Company hereby consents to the use of
such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders of Registrable Notes or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the
case may be, and the underwriters or agents, if any, and dealers (if any), in
connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Notes covered by, or
the sale by Participating Broker-Dealers of the Exchange Notes pursuant to, such
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Notes or any delivery
of a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Registration Statement by any
Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
Applicable Period, to use its best efforts to register or qualify, and to
cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes or each such
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the
registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or
qualification) of such Registrable Notes for offer and sale under the securities
or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any selling
Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, or the managing underwriter or underwriters
reasonably request; provided, however, that where Exchange Notes held by
-------- -------
Participating Broker-Dealers or Registrable Notes are offered other than through
an underwritten offering, the Company agrees to cause the Company's counsel to
perform Blue Sky investigations and file registrations and qualifications
required to be filed pursuant to this Section 5(h); keep each such registration
or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such
Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and do any and all other
acts or things reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in
such jurisdictions of the Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers or
the Registrable Notes covered by the applicable Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify
-------- -------
generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified,
(B) take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any
such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or (C) subject itself to
taxation in excess of a nominal dollar amount in any such jurisdiction where it
is not then so subject.
(i) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and the managing
underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Notes to be sold, which
certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends and shall be in a form
eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company;
-17-
and enable such Registrable Notes to be in such denominations and registered in
such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or Holders may
reasonably request.
(j) Use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes covered by the
Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or
sellers thereof or the underwriter or underwriters, if any, to consummate the
disposition of such Registrable Notes, except as may be required solely as a
consequence of the nature of such selling Holder's business, in which case the
Company will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the filing of such
Registration Statement and the granting of such approvals.
(k) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities
Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during
the Applicable Period, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
paragraph 5(c)(v) or 5(c)(vi) hereof, as promptly as practicable prepare and
(subject to Section 5(a) hereof) file with the SEC, at the sole expense of the
Company, a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement
or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Notes being
sold thereunder or to the purchasers of the Exchange Notes to whom such
Prospectus will be delivered by a Participating Broker-Dealer, any such
Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
(l) Use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes covered by a
Registration Statement or the Exchange Notes, as the case may be, to be rated
with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable Notes covered by such
Registration Statement or the Exchange Notes, as the case may be, or the
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any.
-18-
(m) Prior to the effective date of the first Registration Statement
relating to the Registrable Notes, (i) provide the Trustee with certificates for
the Registrable Notes in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust
Company and (ii) provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Notes.
(n) In connection with any underwritten offering of Registrable Notes
pursuant to a Shelf Registration, enter into an underwriting agreement as is
customary in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the First
Mortgage Notes and take all such other actions as are reasonably requested by
the managing underwriter or underwriters in order to expedite or facilitate the
registration or the disposition of such Registrable Notes and, in such
connection, (i) make such representations and warranties to, and covenants with,
the underwriters with respect to the business of the Company and its
subsidiaries (including any acquired business, properties or entity, if
applicable) and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any,
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, as
are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings of
debt securities similar to the First Mortgage Notes, and confirm the same in
writing if and when requested; (ii) obtain the written opinion of counsel to the
Company and written updates thereof in form, scope and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the managing underwriter or underwriters, addressed to the
underwriters covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in
underwritten offerings of debt similar to the First Mortgage Notes and such
other matters as may be reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or
underwriters; (iii) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof in form,
scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or
underwriters from the independent certified public accountants of the Company
(and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any
subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which
financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement), addressed to each of
the underwriters, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of
the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with
underwritten offerings of debt similar to the First Mortgage Notes and such
other matters as reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or
underwriters; and (iv) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same
shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable than
those set forth in Section 7 hereof (or such other provisions and procedures
acceptable to Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable
Notes covered by
-19-
such Registration Statement and the managing underwriter or underwriters or
agents) with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section.
The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting agreement, or as
and to the extent required thereunder.
(o) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof,
or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities
Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during
the Applicable Period, make available for inspection by any selling Holder of
such Registrable Notes being sold, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as
the case may be, any underwriter participating in any such disposition of
Registrable Notes, if any, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained
by any such selling Holder or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case
may be, or underwriter (collectively, the "Inspectors"), at the offices where
----------
normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and instruments of the Company and its
subsidiaries (collectively, the "Records") as shall be reasonably necessary to
-------
enable them to exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause
the officers, directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to
supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection
with such Registration Statement. Records which the Company determines, in good
faith, to be confidential and any Records which it notifies the Inspectors are
confidential shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i) the disclosure
of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in
such Registration Statement, (ii) the release of such Records is ordered
pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction,
(iii) disclosure of such information is, in the opinion of counsel for any
Inspector, necessary or advisable in connection with any action, claim, suit or
proceeding, directly or indirectly, involving or potentially involving such
Inspector and arising out of, based upon, relating to, or involving this
Agreement, or any transactions contemplated hereby or arising hereunder, or (iv)
the information in such Records has been made generally available to the public.
Each selling Holder of such Registrable Notes and each such Participating
Broker-Dealer will be required to agree that information obtained by it as a
result of such inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by
it as the basis for any market transactions in the securities of the Company
unless and until such information is generally available to the public. Each
selling Holder of such Registrable Notes and each such Participating Broker-
Dealer will be
-20-
required to further agree that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such
Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the
Company and allow the Company to undertake appropriate action to prevent
disclosure of the Records deemed confidential at the Company's sole expense.
(p) Provide an indenture trustee for the Registrable Notes or the
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and cause the Indenture or the trust
indenture provided for in Section 2(a) hereof, as the case may be, to be
qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the Exchange Offer
or the first Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Notes; and in
connection therewith, cooperate with the trustee under any such indenture and
the Holders of the Registrable Notes, to effect such changes to such indenture
as may be required for such indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the
terms of the TIA; and execute, and use its best efforts to cause such trustee
to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes, and all
other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable such
indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.
(q) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and
make generally available to its securityholders earnings statements satisfying
the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder
(or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45 days
after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month
period if such period is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal
quarter in which Registrable Notes are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment
or best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in
such an offering, commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the
Company after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements
shall cover said 12-month periods.
(r) Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange,
obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company, in a form customary for
underwritten transactions, addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all
Holders of Registrable Notes participating in the Exchange Offer or the Private
Exchange, as the case may be, that the Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes,
as the case may be, and the related indenture constitute legal, valid and
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its respective terms.
-21-
(s) If an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated,
upon delivery of the Registrable Notes by Holders to the Company (or to such
other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the Exchange Notes or
the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, the Company shall xxxx, or cause
to be marked, on such Registrable Notes that such Registrable Notes are being
cancelled in exchange for the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as
the case may be; in no event shall such Registrable Notes be marked as paid or
otherwise satisfied.
(t) Cooperate with each seller of Registrable Notes covered by any
Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in the
disposition of such Registrable Notes and their respective counsel in connection
with any filings required to be made with the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD").
----
(u) Use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary or
advisable to effect the registration of the Exchange Notes and/or Registrable
Notes covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
The Company may require each seller of Registrable Notes as to which
any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such information
regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable Notes as the
Company may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Company may exclude
from such registration the Registrable Notes of any seller who unreasonably
fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such
request. Each seller as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected
agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be
disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company
by such seller not materially misleading.
Each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer
agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by
such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, that, upon actual receipt
of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind
described in Section 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), or 5(c)(vi) hereof, such
Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Notes covered
by such Registration Statement or Prospectus or Exchange Notes to be sold by
such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, until such
Holder's or Participating Broker-Dealer's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof, or until
it is advised in writing
-22-
(the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be
------
resumed, and has received copies of any amendments or supplements thereto. In
the event the Company shall give any such notice, each of the Effectiveness
Period and the Applicable Period shall be extended by the number of days during
such periods from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and
including the date when each seller of Registrable Notes covered by such
Registration Statement or Exchange Notes to be sold by such Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, shall have received (x) the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof or (y)
the Advice.
6. Registration Expenses
---------------------
(a) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance
with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not
the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration is filed or becomes effective,
including, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including,
without limitation, (A) fees with respect to filings required to be made with
the NASD in connection with an underwritten offering and (B) fees and expenses
of compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without
limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with Blue
Sky qualifications of the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes and determination
of the eligibility of the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes for investment
under the laws of such jurisdictions (x) where the holders of Registrable Notes
are located, in the case of the Exchange Notes, or (y) as provided in Section
5(h) hereof, in the case of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by a
Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period)), (ii) printing
expenses, including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes in a form eligible for deposit with The
Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses if the printing of
prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any,
by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Notes included in any Registration Statement or sold by any Participating
Broker-Dealer as the case may be, (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery
expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and fees and
disbursements of special counsel for the sellers of Registrable Notes (subject
to the provisions of Section 6(b) hereof), (v) fees and disbursements of all
independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 5(n)(iii) hereof
(including, without limitation, the expenses of any special audit and "cold
comfort"
-23-
letters required by or incident to such performance), (vi) rating agency fees,
(vii) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company desires such insurance,
(viii) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company, (ix)
internal expenses of the Company (including, without limitation, all salaries
and expenses of officers and employees of the Company performing legal or
accounting duties), (x) the expense of any annual audit, (xi) the fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be
registered on any securities exchange, if applicable, and (xii) the expenses
relating to printing, word processing and distributing all Registration
Statements, underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements, indentures and
any other documents necessary in order to comply with this Agreement.
(b) The Company shall reimburse the Holders of the Registrable Notes
being registered in a Shelf Registration for the reasonable fees and
disbursements, not to exceed $25,000, of not more than one counsel (in addition
to appropriate local counsel) chosen by the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Registrable Notes to be included in such Registration
Statement and other out-of-pocket expenses of such Holders of Registrable Notes
incurred in connection with the registration and sale of the Registrable Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
7. Indemnification
---------------
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of
Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer selling Exchange Notes
during the Applicable Period, the officers and directors of each such Person,
and each Person, if any, who controls any such Person within the meaning of
either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each,
a "Participant"), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and
-----------
liabilities (including, without limitation, the reasonable legal fees and other
expenses actually incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or
any claim asserted) caused by, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto) or Prospectus (as amended or supplemented
if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or
any preliminary prospectus, or caused by, arising out of or based upon any
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any untrue statement or
omission
-24-
or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information relating to any Participant furnished to the Company in writing
by such Participant expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the
-------- -------
Company will not be liable if such untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission was contained or made in any preliminary prospectus
and corrected in the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto and the
Prospectus does not contain any other untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission of a material fact that was the subject matter of
the related proceeding and any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense
suffered or incurred by the Participants resulted from any action, claim or suit
by any Person who purchased Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes which are the
subject thereof from such Participant and it is established in the related
proceeding that such Participant failed to deliver or provide a copy of the
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) to such Person with or prior to the
confirmation of the sale of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes sold to
such Person if required by applicable law, unless such failure to deliver or
provide a copy of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) was a result of
noncompliance by the Company with Section 5 of this Agreement.
(b) Each Participant agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers who sign the
Registration Statement and each Person who controls the Company within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to
the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Participant,
but only (i) with reference to information relating to such Participant
furnished to the Company in writing by such Participant expressly for use in any
Registration Statement or Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or
any preliminary prospectus or (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or
representation made by such Participant in writing to the Company. The
liability of any Participant under this paragraph shall in no event exceed the
proceeds received by such Participant from sales of Registrable Notes or
Exchange Notes giving rise to such obligations.
(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or
regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against
any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the
two preceding paragraphs, such Person (the "Indemnified Person") shall promptly
------------------
notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "Indemnifying
------------
Person") in writing, and
------
-25-
the Indemnifying Person, upon request of the Indemnified Person, shall retain
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the
Indemnified Person and any others the Indemnifying Person may reasonably
designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses
actually incurred by such counsel related to such proceeding; provided, however,
-------- -------
that the failure to so notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it of
any obligation or liability which it may have hereunder or otherwise (unless and
only to the extent that such failure directly results in the loss or compromise
of any material rights or defenses by the Company and the Company was not
otherwise aware of such action or claim). In any such proceeding, any
Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person
unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have
mutually agreed in writing to the contrary, (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall
have failed within a reasonable period of time to retain counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Person or (iii) the named parties in any such
proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying
Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same
counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests
between them. It is understood that, unless there exists a conflict among
Indemnified Persons, the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any
one such proceeding or separate but substantially similar related proceeding in
the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations, be liable for
the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local
counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall
be reimbursed promptly as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for the
Participants and such control Persons of Participants shall be designated in
writing by Participants who sold a majority in interest of Registrable Notes and
Exchange Notes sold by all such Participants and any such separate firm for the
Company, its directors, its officers and such control Persons of the Company
shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not
be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its prior
written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final non-
appealable judgment for the plaintiff for which the Indemnified Person is
entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnifying Person
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person from and against
any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding
the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have
requested an Indemnifying Person to reimburse the Indemnified Person for
reasonable fees and expenses actually incurred by counsel as
-26-
contemplated by the third sentence of this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected
without its consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days
after receipt by such Indemnifying Person of the aforesaid request and (ii) such
Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement; provided,
--------
however, that the Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement
-------
effected without its consent pursuant to this sentence if the Indemnifying
Person is contesting, in good faith, the request for reimbursement. No
Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified
Person effect any settlement or compromise of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a
party, or indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person,
unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional written release of such
Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such
Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of
such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to an admission of
fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in the first and second
paragraphs of this Section 7 is for any reason unavailable to, or insufficient
to hold harmless, an Indemnified Person in respect of any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under
such paragraphs, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder and
in order to provide for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
(i) the relative benefits received by the Indemnifying Person or Persons on the
one hand and the Indemnified Person or Persons on the other from the offering of
the First Mortgage Notes or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing
clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, not only such relative benefits
but also the relative fault of the Indemnifying Person or Persons on the one
hand and the Indemnified Person or Persons on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions or alleged statements or omissions that resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the
parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company
on the one
-27-
hand or such Participant or such other Indemnified Person, as the case may be,
on the other, the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission, and any other
equitable considerations appropriate in the circumstances.
(e) The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation
--- ----
(even if the Participants were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any
other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount
paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims,
damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall
be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable
legal or other expenses actually incurred by such Indemnified Person in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall a
Participant be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which proceeds received by such Participant from sales of Registrable Notes or
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Participant has otherwise been required to pay or has paid by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 7 will be in addition to any liability which the Indemnifying Persons
may otherwise have to the Indemnified Persons referred to above.
8. Rules 144 and 144A
------------------
The Company covenants that it will file the reports required to be
filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder in a timely manner in accordance with
the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and, if at any time
the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of
any Holder of Registrable Notes, make publicly available annual reports and such
information, documents and other reports of the type specified in Sections 13
and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company further covenants
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for so long as any Registrable Notes remain outstanding, to make available to
any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Notes in connection with any sale
thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Registrable Notes from such Holder
or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the
Securities Act in order to permit resales of such Registrable Notes pursuant to
Rule 144A.
9. Underwritten Registrations
--------------------------
If any of the Registrable Notes covered by any Shelf Registration are
to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers that will manage the offering will be selected
by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Registrable
Notes included in such offering and reasonably acceptable to the Company.
No Holder of Registrable Notes may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's
Registrable Notes on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such
underwriting arrangements.
10. Miscellaneous
-------------
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the date
--------------------------
hereof, and the Company shall not, after the date of this Agreement, enter into
any agreement with respect to any of its securities that is inconsistent with
the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Notes in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The Company has not entered and
will not enter into, any agreement with respect to any of its securities which
will grant to any Person piggy-back registration rights with respect to a
Registration Statement.
(b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes. The Company shall not,
---------------------------------------
directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to the Registrable Notes as
a class that would adversely affect the ability of the Holders of Registrable
Notes to include such Registrable Notes in a registration undertaken pursuant to
this Agreement.
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(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not
----------------------
be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, otherwise than with the prior written
consent of (A) the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the then outstanding Registrable Notes and (B) in circumstances that
would adversely affect the Participating Broker-Dealers, the Participating
Broker-Dealers holding not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Exchange Notes held by all Participating Broker-Dealers; provided, however,
-------- -------
that Section 7 and this Section 10(c) may not be amended, modified or
supplemented without the prior written consent of each Holder and each
Participating Broker-Dealer (including any person who was a Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer of Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case
may be, disposed of pursuant to any Registration Statement). Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with
respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of
Registrable Notes whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration
Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or
compromise the rights of other Holders of Registrable Notes may be given by
Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Notes being sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended,
-------- -------
modified or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the
immediately preceeding sentence.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications (including without
-------
limitation any notices or other communications to the Trustee) provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, next-day air courier or facsimile:
1. if to a Holder of the Registrable Notes or any Participating
Broker-Dealer, at the most current address of such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, set forth on the records of the
registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in like manner to the Initial
Purchaser as follows:
BT Alex. Xxxxx Incorporated
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile No: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Finance Transaction Management
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with a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile No: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
2. if to the Initial Purchaser, at the addresses specified in
Section 10(d)(1);
3. if to the Company, at the address as follows:
Sheffield Steel Corporation
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxxxxx
with copies to:
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky
and Popeo, P.C.
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days
after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; one business day
after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier; and when receipt is
acknowledged by the addressee, if sent by facsimile.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address and in the manner specified in such Indenture.
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(e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
----------------------
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto,
the Holders; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the
-------- -------
benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to
the extent such successor or assign holds Registrable Notes.
(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
------------
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
--------
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(H) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
-------------
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS
MADE AND PERFORMED WHOLLY WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO
THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(i) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
------------
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to
achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such
term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared
to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that
may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
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(j) Securities Held by the Company or Its Affiliates. Whenever the
------------------------------------------------
consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Notes is
required hereunder, Registrable Notes held by the Company or its affiliates (as
such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) shall not be counted
in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such
required percentage.
(k) Third Party Beneficiaries. Holders of Registrable Notes and
-------------------------
Participating Broker-Dealers are intended third party beneficiaries of this
Agreement and this Agreement may be enforced by such Persons.
(l) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Purchase
----------------
Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein and therein and any and all prior oral or
written agreements, representations, or warranties, contracts, understandings,
correspondence, conversations and memoranda between the Initial Purchaser on the
one hand and the Company on the other, or between or among any agents,
representatives, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors in interest or
successors in interest with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof are
merged herein and replaced hereby.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
The Company:
-----------
SHEFFIELD STEEL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Chief Financial Officer
The Initial Purchaser:
---------------------
BT ALEX. XXXXX INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President
