Exhibit 4.22

 

Execution Version

 

STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.

 

AND THE GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN

 

 

$700,000,000

 

5.125% Senior Notes due 2021

 

$500,000,000

 

5.500% Senior Notes due 2024

 

 

PURCHASE AGREEMENT
  dated September 4, 2014

 

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.
 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
 Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
 J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
 Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
 BMO Capital Markets
 PNC Capital Markets LLC
 RBS Securities Inc.
 Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 











 

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

September 4, 2014

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
 As Representatives of the Initial Purchasers

 

c/o                   Goldman, Sachs & Co.
 200 West Street
 New York, New York 10282

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Introductory.  Steel Dynamics, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to Goldman, Sachs & Co. (“Goldman Sachs”), Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”), Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) and the other several Initial Purchasers named in Schedule I and Schedule II (together, the “Initial Purchasers”), acting severally and not jointly, the respective amounts set forth in such Schedule I of $700,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.125% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “2021 Notes”) and the respective amounts set forth in such Schedule II of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.500% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “2024 Notes” and, together with the 2021 Notes, the “Notes”).  Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley have agreed to act as the representatives of the several Initial Purchasers (the “Representatives”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes.

 

The 2021 Notes and related Guarantees will be issued pursuant to an indenture to be dated as of the Closing Date (the “2021 Initial Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors (as defined below) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “2021 Trustee”).  The 2024 Notes and related Guarantees will be issued pursuant to an indenture to be dated as of the Closing Date (the “2024 Initial Indenture” and, together with the 2021 Initial Indenture, the “Initial Indentures” and each, an “Initial Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “2024 Trustee” and, together with the 2021 Trustee, the “Trustee”).  Notes will be issued only in book-entry form in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”) pursuant to a letter of representations, to be dated on or before the Closing Date (as defined in Section 2 hereof) (the “DTC Agreement”), among the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Depositary.

 

The Notes are being issued in connection with the acquisition of Severstal Columbus, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Columbus”), by the Company.  On July 18, 2014, the Company entered into a membership interest purchase agreement with Severstal Columbus Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Seller”), and Columbus (the “Acquisition Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company will acquire all of the membership interests of Columbus from Seller (the “Acquisition”).

 











 

On the Closing Date, the Company will enter into an escrow agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”), the form of which is attached hereto as Annex A, with the Trustee and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”), pursuant to which the gross proceeds of the offering of the Notes will be deposited into an escrow account (the “Escrow Account”).  Funds held in the Escrow Account (collectively, the “Escrow Property”) will be released in accordance with the conditions set forth in the Escrow Agreement for the purpose of consummating the Acquisition (the date of such release, the “Release Date”).  If the Release Date does not occur on or prior to April 18, 2015 (the “Outside Date”), or if the Acquisition Agreement is terminated prior to the Outside Date, or if the Company determines, in its discretion, that the escrow conditions cannot be satisfied by the Outside Date, the Escrow Property shall be released to the Trustee to redeem the Notes at a price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2021 Notes outstanding and at a price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes outstanding, plus in each case accrued and unpaid interest from the Closing Date up to, but not including, the date of redemption (such date of redemption, the “Special Mandatory Redemption Date”).

 

The holders of the Notes will be entitled to the benefits of a registration rights agreement, to be dated as of the Closing Date (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers, pursuant to which the Company and the Guarantors will agree to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), under the circumstances set forth therein, (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act,” which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder), relating to another series of debt securities of the Company with terms substantially identical to the 2021 Notes (the “2021 Exchange Notes”) and to the 2024 Notes (the “2024 Exchange Notes” and, together with the 2021 Exchange Notes, the “Exchange Notes”) to be offered in exchange for the applicable series of Notes (the “Exchange Offer”) and (ii) to the extent required by the Registration Rights Agreement, a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act relating to the resale by certain holders of the Notes, and in each case, to use its reasonable best efforts to cause any applicable registration statement to be declared effective.

 

The obligations of the Company under the Notes, the Exchange Notes and the Indentures will be unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis, jointly and severally by (i) the Guarantors named in Schedule III and (ii) any other subsidiary of the Company that executes a supplemental indenture in accordance with the terms of the Indentures, including upon execution of the Supplemental Indentures (as defined below), Columbus, and their respective successors and assigns (collectively, the “Guarantors”), pursuant to the terms of the Indentures (each, a “Guarantee” and, collectively, the “Guarantees”).  Within three business days of the Release Date, Columbus will (i) execute a supplemental indenture to the 2021 Initial Indenture (the “2021 Supplemental Indenture”), providing for an unconditional guarantee of all of the Company’s obligations under the 2021 Initial Indenture and 2021 Notes on a senior unsecured basis (the “Columbus 2021 Guarantee”) and (ii) execute a supplemental indenture to the 2024 Initial Indenture (the “2024 Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the 2021 Supplemental Indenture, the “Supplemental Indentures” and each, a “Supplemental Indenture), providing for an unconditional guarantee of all of the Company’s obligations under the 2024 Indenture and 2024 Notes on a senior unsecured basis (the “Columbus 2024 Guarantee” and, together with the Columbus 2021 Guarantee, the “Columbus Guarantee”).  The 2021 Initial

 

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Indenture, as supplemented by the 2021 Supplemental Indenture, is herein referred to as the “2021 Indenture”; the 2024 Initial Indenture, as supplemented by the 2024 Supplemental Indenture, is herein referred to as the “2024 Indenture”; and the 2021 Indenture and the 2024 Indenture are collectively referred to herein as the “Indentures” and each, an “Indenture.”

 

Unless specifically stated otherwise, the terms “Guarantors,” “Affiliate,” “affiliate” and “subsidiaries” and other similar terms (in each case, with respect to the Company) shall be deemed to include Columbus.  The Notes and the Guarantees thereof are herein collectively referred to as the “Securities”; and the Exchange Notes and the Guarantees are herein collectively referred to as the “Exchange Securities.”

 

Promptly following consummation of the Acquisition, (i)  Columbus shall execute and deliver a joinder agreement (the “Joinder Agreement”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex B, whereby Columbus will agree to observe and fully perform all of the rights, obligations and liabilities contemplated herein as if it were an original signatory hereto and (ii) Columbus shall execute and deliver a joinder agreement (the “Registration Rights Joinder Agreement”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex C, whereby Columbus will agree to observe and fully perform all of the rights, obligations and liabilities contemplated under the Registration Rights Agreement as if it were an original signatory thereto.

 

The Company understands that the Initial Purchasers propose to make an offering of the Securities on the terms and in the manner set forth herein and in the Pricing Disclosure Package (as defined below) and agrees that the Initial Purchasers may resell, subject to the conditions set forth herein, all or a portion of the Securities to purchasers (the “Subsequent Purchasers”) on the terms set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package (the first time when sales of the Securities are made is referred to as the “Time of Sale”).  The Securities are to be offered and sold to or through the Initial Purchasers without being registered with the Commission under the Securities Act, in reliance upon exemptions therefrom.  Pursuant to the terms of the Securities and the Indentures, investors who acquire Securities shall be deemed to have agreed that Securities may only be resold or otherwise transferred, after the date hereof, if such Securities are registered for sale under the Securities Act or if an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available (including the exemptions afforded by Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”) or Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”)).

 

The Company has prepared and delivered to each Initial Purchaser copies of a Preliminary Offering Memorandum, dated September 4, 2014 (the “Preliminary Offering Memorandum”), and has prepared and delivered to each Initial Purchaser copies of a Pricing Supplement attached hereto as Schedule V, dated September 4, 2014 (the “Pricing Supplement”), describing the terms of the Securities, each for use by such Initial Purchaser in connection with its solicitation of offers to purchase the Securities.  The Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Pricing Supplement are herein referred to as the “Pricing Disclosure Package.”  Promptly after this Agreement is executed and delivered, the Company will prepare and deliver to each Initial Purchaser a final offering memorandum dated the date hereof (the “Final Offering Memorandum”).

 

All references herein to the terms “Pricing Disclosure Package” and “Final Offering Memorandum” shall be deemed to mean and include all information filed under the Securities

 

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Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act,” which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder), prior to the Time of Sale and incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package (including the Preliminary Offering Memorandum) or the Final Offering Memorandum (as the case may be), and all references herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Final Offering Memorandum shall be deemed to mean and include all information filed under the Exchange Act after the Time of Sale and incorporated by reference in the Final Offering Memorandum as of its date.

 

Each of the Company and the Guarantors (other than Columbus), and upon execution of the Joinder Agreement, Columbus, hereby confirms its agreements with the Initial Purchasers as follows:

 

SECTION 1.         Representations and Warranties.  Each of the Company and the Guarantors (other than Columbus), and upon execution of the Joinder Agreement, Columbus, jointly and severally, hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Initial Purchaser that, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (references in this Section 1 to the “Offering Memorandum” are to (x) the Pricing Disclosure Package in the case of representations and warranties made as of the date hereof and (y) each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum in the case of representations and warranties made as of the Closing Date):

 

(a)           No Registration Required.  Subject to compliance by the Initial Purchasers with the representations and warranties set forth in Section 2 hereof and with the procedures set forth in Section 8 hereof, it is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers and to each Subsequent Purchaser in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Offering Memorandum to register the Securities under the Securities Act or, until such time as the Exchange Securities may be issued pursuant to an effective registration statement, to qualify the Indentures under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act,” which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder).

 

(b)           No Integration of Offerings or General Solicitation.  None of the Company, its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act) (each, an “Affiliate”), or any person acting on its or any of their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Company makes no representation or warranty) has, directly or indirectly, solicited any offer to buy or offered to sell, or will, directly or indirectly, solicit any offer to buy or offer to sell, in the United States or to any United States citizen or resident, any security which is or would be integrated with the sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the Securities to be registered under the Securities Act.  None of the Company, its Affiliates, or any person acting on its or any of their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Company makes no representation or warranty) has engaged or will engage, in connection with the offering of the Securities, in any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502 under the Securities Act.  With respect to those Securities sold in reliance upon Regulation S, (i) none of the Company, its Affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Company makes no representation or warranty) has engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts within the meaning of Regulation S

 

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and (ii) each of the Company and its Affiliates and any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Company makes no representation or warranty) has complied and will comply with the offering restrictions set forth in Regulation S.

 

(c)           Eligibility for Resale under Rule 144A.  The Securities are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A and will not be, at the Closing Date, of the same class as securities listed on a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or quoted in a U.S. automated interdealer quotation system.

 

(d)           The Offering Memorandum.  Neither the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Time of Sale, nor the Final Offering Memorandum, as of its date or (as amended or supplemented in accordance with Section 3(a), if applicable) as of the Closing Date, contains or represents an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that this representation, warranty and agreement shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Final Offering Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use in the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Final Offering Memorandum or amendment or supplement thereto, as the case may be.  The Pricing Disclosure Package contains, and the Final Offering Memorandum will contain, all the information specified in, and meeting the requirements of, Rule 144A.  Each Company Supplemental Disclosure Document (as defined in Section 4(a) below) does not conflict with the information contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Memorandum, and each such Company Supplemental Disclosure Document, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Time of Sale, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements in or omissions made in any Company Supplemental Disclosure Document in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use therein.  The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Closing Date and the completion of the Initial Purchasers’ distribution of the Securities, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Final Offering Memorandum and any Company Supplemental Disclosure Document set forth on Schedule VI.

 

(e)           Incorporated Documents.  The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission (collectively, the “Incorporated Documents”) complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.

 

(f)            The Purchase Agreement and the Joinder Agreement.  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Guarantors.  Upon execution and delivery in accordance with this Agreement, the Joinder Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Columbus.

 

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(g)           The Registration Rights Agreement and the Registration Rights Joinder Agreement.  The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized, and will be executed and delivered at the Closing Date, by, and will be a valid and binding agreement of, the Company and each Guarantor (other than Columbus), enforceable against the Company and the Guarantors (other than Columbus) in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity and except as rights to indemnification and contribution under the Registration Rights Agreement may be limited under applicable law.  Within three business days of the Release Date, the Registration Rights Joinder Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and will be a valid and binding agreement of, Columbus, enforceable against Columbus in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity and except as rights to indemnification and contribution under the Registration Rights Joinder Agreement may be limited under applicable law.

 

(h)           The Notes.  The Notes have been duly authorized and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed by the Company and, when authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Initial Indentures and delivered to and paid for by the Initial Purchasers in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Initial Indentures and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

(i)            The Guarantees.  The Guarantee by each Guarantor (other than Columbus) pursuant to the terms of the applicable Initial Indenture has been duly authorized and, when the Notes have been issued and authenticated in the manner provided for in the applicable Initial Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, will be a valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity.

 

(j)            Authorization of the Exchange Notes and Exchange Guarantees.  The Exchange Notes have been duly and validly authorized for issuance by the Company, and when issued and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Exchange Offer, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity and will be entitled to the benefits of the applicable Indenture.  The Guarantees of the Exchange Notes have been duly and validly authorized for issuance by the Guarantors (other than Columbus), and within three business days of the Release Date, the Guarantee of Columbus of the Exchange Notes will have been duly and validly authorized for issuance by Columbus, and when the Exchange Notes have been issued and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Registration Rights Joinder Agreement and the Exchange Offer, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, subject to

 

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applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity and will be entitled to the benefits of the applicable Indenture.

 

(k)           The Initial Indentures and the Supplemental Indentures.  Each Initial Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and the Guarantors (other than Columbus) and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and each such Guarantor and will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company and such Guarantors, enforceable against the Company and such Guarantors in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity.  Within three business days of the Release Date, the Supplemental Indentures will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and Columbus and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company and Columbus, enforceable against the Company and Columbus in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity.

 

(l)            Description of the Securities and the Indentures.  The Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Indentures will conform in all material respects to the respective descriptions thereof contained in the Offering Memorandum under the heading “Description of the Notes.”

 

(m)          No Material Adverse Change.  There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Offering Memorandum (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement).

 

(n)           Other Transactions.  Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Offering Memorandum, (1) the Company and its subsidiaries have not incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business; (2) the Company has not purchased any of its outstanding capital stock, nor declared (except for the dividends declared or paid on the Company’s common stock in the first and second quarters of 2014 in the ordinary course), paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital stock; and (3) there has not been any material change in the capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, except in each case as described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum.

 

(o)           Independent Accountants.  Ernst & Young LLP, which expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (other than Columbus) filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum, are independent public or certified public accountants within the meaning of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and any non-audit services provided by Ernst & Young LLP to the Company or any of the Guarantors (other than Columbus) have been approved by the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company.  KPMG LLP, which expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements of Columbus included in the Offering Memorandum, are independent public or certified public accountants within the meaning of Regulation S-X under

 

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the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and no non-audit services have been provided by KPMG LLP to Columbus in 2013 or 2014.

 

(p)           Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries.  The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandum and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Initial Indentures, the Supplemental Indentures, the Escrow Agreement, the Securities and the Exchange Securities; the Company is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or on the earnings, business, properties, operations or prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (a “Material Adverse Effect”).  Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated or organized, is validly existing as a corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as applicable, has the power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandum and each Guarantor has the power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Joinder Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Registration Rights Joinder Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Initial Indentures, the Supplemental Indentures, the Securities and the Exchange Securities, as applicable; each subsidiary is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect; each direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company and the percentage of capital stock and voting stock of each such subsidiary owned by the Company directly or indirectly, as applicable, is set forth on Schedule IV hereto and all of the issued shares of capital stock of such subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except as described in the Offering Memorandum.

 

(q)           Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents or (ii) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is subject except in the case of clause (ii) above for such defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The execution and delivery by the Company and the Guarantors of, and the performance by the Company and the Guarantors of their respective obligations under, this Agreement, the Joinder Agreement, the Initial Indentures, the Supplemental Indentures, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Registration Rights Joinder Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Securities and the Exchange Securities, as applicable, and the

 

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consummation of the transactions described herein and therein and in the Offering Memorandum, do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, contravene (i) any provision of applicable law or the articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (including, but not limited to, the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2011, as amended from time to time, among Steel Dynamics, Inc., as borrower, certain designated “Initial Lenders,” PNC Bank, National Association, as Collateral Agent, PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, Bank of America, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Syndication Agents, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Documentation Agents, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith Incorporated, PNC Capital Markets LLC and Wells Fargo Securities LLC, as Joint Lead Arrangers, and the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Credit Agreement”)), or any judgment, order, regulation or decree of any regulatory or governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any regulatory or governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Company or the Guarantors of their respective obligations under this Agreement, the Joinder Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Initial Indentures, the Supplemental Indentures, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Registration Rights Joinder Agreement, the Securities and the Exchange Securities and the Guarantees, except such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities and by federal and state securities laws with respect to the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement and the Registration Rights Joinder Agreement.

 

(r)            No Material Actions or Proceedings.  There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject other than proceedings accurately described in all material respects in the Offering Memorandum and proceedings that would not have a Material Adverse Effect, or a material adverse effect on the power or ability of the Company or the Guarantors to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement, the Joinder Agreement, the Initial Indentures, the Supplemental Indentures, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Registration Rights Joinder Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Securities and the Exchange Securities or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Offering Memorandum.

 

(s)            Intellectual Property Rights.  The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all material patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names currently employed by them in connection with the business now operated by them, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in any Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(t)            All Necessary Permits, etc.  Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has all necessary consents, authorizations, approvals, orders, certificates and permits of and from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all federal, state, local and other governmental authorities, all self-regulatory organizations and all courts and other tribunals, to own, lease, license and use its properties and assets and to conduct its business in the manner described in the Offering Memorandum, except to the extent that the failure to obtain such consents, authorizations, approvals, orders, certificates and permits or make such declarations and filings would not have a Material Adverse Effect and except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such consent, authorization, approval, order, certificate or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect, except as described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum.

 

(u)           Title to Properties.  The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Offering Memorandum or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case except as described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum.

 

(v)           Investment Company Act.  Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors is required, or after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Offering Memorandum will be required, to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(w)          Insurance.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not materially and adversely affect the condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings, business, or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum.

 

(x)           No Price Stabilization or Manipulation.  None of the Company or any of the Guarantors (including, to our knowledge, Columbus) has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in

 

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stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

(y)           Accounting Systems.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (1) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (2) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (3) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (4) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (5) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum and the Pricing Disclosure Package fairly present the information called for in all material respects and are prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.  Since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness or significant deficiencies in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Since the end of Columbus’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness or significant deficiencies in Columbus’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in Columbus’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, Columbus’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

(z)           Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries is made known to the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Company by others within the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably effective to perform the functions for which they were established subject to the limitations of any such control system; the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company have been advised of:  (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a role in the Company’s internal controls; and since the date of the most recent evaluation of such disclosure controls and procedures, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

(aa)         Compliance with Environmental Laws.  The Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received all

 

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permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in any Material Adverse Effect.

 

(bb)         Periodic Review of Costs of Environmental Compliance.  In the ordinary course of business, the Company conducts a periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries (other than Columbus), in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties).  On the basis of such review, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities for its current operations would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.  To the knowledge of the Company, the associated costs and liabilities associated with the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of Columbus (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(cc)         No Material Labor Dispute.  No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists, except as described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum, or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent; and the Company is not aware of any existing, threatened or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers, manufacturers or contractors that could result in any Material Adverse Effect.

 

(dd)         Regulation S.  The Company, the Guarantors and their respective affiliates and all persons acting on their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Company and the Guarantors make no representation) have complied with and will comply with the offering restrictions requirements of Regulation S in connection with the offering of the Securities outside the United States and, in connection therewith, the Offering Memorandum will contain the disclosure required by Rule 902.  The Securities sold in reliance on Regulation S will be represented upon issuance by a temporary global security that may not be exchanged for definitive securities until the expiration of the 40-day restricted period referred to in Rule 903 of the Securities Act and only upon certification of beneficial ownership of such Securities by non-U.S. persons or U.S. persons who purchased such Securities in transactions that were exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

(ee)         Preparation of the Financial Statements.  The financial statements, together with the related schedules and notes, included or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum present fairly the consolidated financial position of the entities to which they relate as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified.  Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods

 

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involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto.  The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein.  The summary financial information included in the Offering Memorandum presents fairly the information shown therein and has been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum.  All disclosures contained in the Offering Memorandum regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable.  In addition, the pro forma financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and the related notes thereto included in the Offering Memorandum present fairly, in all material respects, the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein.  The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum and the Pricing Disclosure Package fairly present the information called for in all material respects and are prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

(ff)          Solvency.  Each of the Company and the Guarantors (other than Columbus) is, and immediately after the Closing Date will be, Solvent.  Columbus is, and immediately after the execution of the Supplemental Indentures, will be, Solvent.  As used herein, the term “Solvent” means, with respect to any person on a particular date, that on such date (i) the fair market value of the assets (including any rights to contribution) of such person is greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of such person, (ii) the present fair salable value of the assets of such person is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities of such person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (iii) such person is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, including contingent obligations, as they mature and (iv) such person does not have unreasonably small capital.  For the purposes of determining whether a Guarantor is Solvent, the amount of contingent liabilities at any time of such Guarantor shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability of such Guarantor.

 

(gg)         Compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley.  The Company and its subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors are in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act,” which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder).

 

(hh)         ERISA Compliance.  The Company and its subsidiaries and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (as amended, “ERISA,” which term, as used herein, includes the regulations and published interpretations thereunder) established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or their ERISA Affiliates (as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA.  “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company or a subsidiary, any member of any group of organizations described in Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended, the “Code,” which term, as used herein, includes the regulations and published

 

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interpretations thereunder) of which the Company or such subsidiary is a member.  No “reportable event” (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates.  No “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates, if such “employee benefit plan” were terminated, would have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined under ERISA).  Neither the Company, its subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan” or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code.  Each “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401 of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.

 

(ii)           Related Party Transactions.  No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Company or any affiliate of the Company, on the one hand, and any director, officer, member, stockholder, customer or supplier of the Company or any affiliate of the Company, on the other hand, which is required by the Securities Act to be disclosed in a registration statement on Form S-1 which is not so disclosed in the Offering Memorandum.  There are no outstanding loans, advances (except advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company or any affiliate of the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any of their respective family members.

 

(jj)           No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of (i) the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or (ii) the FCPA, including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company, its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted, maintained and enforced policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

 

“FCPA” means Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

(kk)         Money Laundering Laws.  The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by

 

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any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(ll)           OFAC.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of any Sanctions; and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person, (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of any Sanctions, or is in Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan or in any other country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of any Sanctions, or (ii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the offering, whether as initial purchaser, advisor, investor or otherwise) of any Sanctions.

 

(mm)      Escrow Agreement.  The Escrow Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company, and when executed and delivered by the Company, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Escrow Agent and the Trustee, will be a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity.

 

Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company or any Guarantor and delivered to the Initial Purchasers or to counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company or such Guarantor to each Initial Purchaser as to the matters set forth therein.

 

SECTION 2.         Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities.

 

(a)           The Securities.  Each of the Company and the Guarantors (other than Columbus) agrees to issue and sell to the Initial Purchasers, severally and not jointly, all of the Securities, and the Initial Purchasers agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company and the Guarantors the aggregate principal amount of Notes set forth opposite such Initial Purchaser’s name on Schedules I and II hereto, at a purchase price of 100.000% of the principal amount thereof with respect to the 2021 Notes and at a purchase price of 100.000% of the principal amount thereof with respect to the 2024 Notes, as the case may be, in each case, payable on the Closing Date, in each case, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereto, herein set forth.  As compensation for the services rendered by the Initial Purchasers to the Company in respect of the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Company agrees to pay the Initial Purchasers a

 

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commission in the amount of 1.375% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities on the Release Date, or, in the event the Acquisition is not consummated, the Company agrees to pay the Initial Purchasers a commission in the amount of 0.6875% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date.

 

(b)           The Closing Date.  Delivery of certificates for the Securities in definitive form to be purchased by the Initial Purchasers and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Shearman & Sterling LLP, 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022 (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the Initial Purchasers) at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on September 9, 2014, or such other time and date as the Initial Purchasers shall designate by notice to the Company (the time and date of such closing are called the “Closing Date”).  The Company hereby acknowledges that circumstances under which the Initial Purchasers may provide notice to postpone the Closing Date as originally scheduled include, but are in no way limited to, any determination by the Company or the Initial Purchasers to recirculate to investors copies of an amended or supplemented Offering Memorandum or a delay as contemplated by the provisions of Section 18 hereof.

 

(c)           Delivery of the Securities.  The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representatives for the accounts of the several Initial Purchasers certificates for the Notes at the Closing Date against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor to the Escrow Account.  The certificates for the Notes shall be in such denominations and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depositary, pursuant to the DTC Agreement, and shall be made available for inspection on the business day preceding the Closing Date at a location in New York City, as the Initial Purchasers may designate.  Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers.

 

(d)           Initial Purchasers as Qualified Institutional Buyers.  Each Initial Purchaser severally and not jointly represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Company that it is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A (a “Qualified Institutional Buyer”).

 

SECTION 3.         Additional Covenants.  Each of the Company and the Guarantors further jointly and severally covenants and agrees with each Initial Purchaser as follows:

 

(a)           Preparation of Final Offering Memorandum; Initial Purchasers’ Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements.  As promptly as practicable following the Time of Sale and in any event not later than the second business day following the date hereof, the Company will prepare and deliver to the Initial Purchasers the Final Offering Memorandum, which shall consist of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum as modified only by the information contained in the Pricing Supplement.  The Company will not amend or supplement the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Pricing Supplement.  The Company will not amend or supplement the Final Offering Memorandum prior to the Closing Date unless the Representatives shall previously have been furnished a copy of the proposed amendment or supplement at least two business days prior to the proposed use or filing, and shall not have objected to such amendment or supplement.  Before using, authorizing, approving or distributing any Company Supplemental Disclosure Document, the Company will furnish to the Representatives a copy of

 

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such written communication for review and will not use, authorize, approve or distribute any such written communication to which the Representatives reasonably objects.

 

(b)           Amendments and Supplements to the Final Offering Memorandum and Other Securities Act Matters.  If, prior to the later of (x) the Closing Date and (y) the completion of the placement of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers with the Subsequent Purchasers, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Final Offering Memorandum (or the Pricing Disclosure Package in the event the Final Offering Memorandum is not yet available), as then amended or supplemented, in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Final Offering Memorandum (or the Pricing Disclosure Package in the event the Final Offering Memorandum is not yet available) is delivered to a Subsequent Purchaser, not misleading, or if in the judgment of the Representatives or counsel for the Initial Purchasers it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Final Offering Memorandum (or the Pricing Disclosure Package in the event the Final Offering Memorandum is not yet available) to comply with law, the Company agrees to promptly notify the Initial Purchasers and promptly prepare (subject to Section 3(a) hereof), and furnish at its own expense to the Initial Purchasers, amendments or supplements to the Final Offering Memorandum (or the Pricing Disclosure Package in the event the Final Offering Memorandum is not yet available) so that the statements in the Final Offering Memorandum (or the Pricing Disclosure Package in the event the Final Offering Memorandum is not yet available) as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances at the Closing Date and at the time of sale of Securities, be misleading or so that the Final Offering Memorandum (or the Pricing Disclosure Package in the event the Final Offering Memorandum is not yet available), as amended or supplemented, will comply with all applicable law.

 

Following the consummation of the Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of an applicable shelf registration statement, in each case, if necessary under the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, and for so long as the Securities are outstanding if, in the judgment of the Representatives, the Initial Purchasers or any of their affiliates (as such term is defined in the Securities Act) are required to deliver a prospectus in connection with sales of, or market-making activities with respect to, the Securities, to periodically amend the applicable registration statement so that the information contained therein complies with the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, to amend the applicable registration statement or supplement the related prospectus or the documents incorporated therein when necessary to reflect any material changes in the information provided therein so that the registration statement and the prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing as of the date the prospectus is so delivered, not misleading and to provide the Initial Purchasers with copies of each amendment or supplement filed and such other documents as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request.

 

The Company and the Guarantors hereby expressly acknowledge that the indemnification and contribution provisions of Sections 9 and 10 hereof are specifically applicable and relate to each offering memorandum, registration statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement referred to in this Section 3.

 

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(c)           Copies of the Offering Memorandum.  The Company agrees to furnish the Initial Purchasers, without charge, as many copies of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum and any amendments and supplements thereto as they shall have reasonably requested.

 

(d)           Blue Sky Compliance.  Each of the Company and the Guarantors shall cooperate with the Representatives and counsel for the Initial Purchasers to qualify or register (or to obtain exemptions from qualifying or registering) all or any part of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities laws of the several states of the United States, the provinces of Canada or any other jurisdictions designated by the Representatives, shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities.  None of the Company or any of the Guarantors shall be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign corporation.  The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Securities for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, each of the Company and the Guarantors shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.

 

(e)           Use of Proceeds.  The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Pricing Disclosure Package.

 

(f)            The Depositary.  The Company will cooperate with the Initial Purchasers and use its best efforts to permit the Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of the Depositary.

 

(g)           Additional Issuer Information.  Prior to the completion of the placement of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers with the Subsequent Purchasers, the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission all reports and documents required to be filed under Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act.  Additionally, at any time when the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act, for the benefit of holders and beneficial owners from time to time of the Securities, the Company shall furnish, at its expense, upon request, to holders and beneficial owners of Securities and prospective purchasers of Securities information (“Additional Issuer Information”) satisfying the requirements of Rule 144A(d).

 

(h)           [Reserved.]

 

(i)            Future Reports to the Initial Purchasers.  At any time when any Securities or Exchange Securities remain outstanding and the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act, the Company will furnish to the Representatives:  (i) as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company’s independent public or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after

 

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the filing thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other report filed by the Company with the Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or any securities exchange; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any report or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of its capital stock or debt securities (including the holders of the Securities), if, in each case, such documents are not filed with the Commission within the time periods specified by the Commission’s rules and regulations under Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act.

 

(j)            No Integration.  The Company agrees that it will not and will cause its Affiliates not to make any offer or sale of securities of the Company of any class if, as a result of the doctrine of “integration” referred to in Rule 502 under the Securities Act, such offer or sale would render invalid (for the purpose of (i) the sale of the Securities by the Company to the Initial Purchasers, (ii) the resale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers to Subsequent Purchasers or (iii) the resale of the Securities by such Subsequent Purchasers to others) the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof or by Rule 144A or by Regulation S thereunder or otherwise.

 

(k)           No General Solicitation or Directed Selling Efforts.  The Company has not and agrees that it will not and will not permit any of its Affiliates or any other person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to which no representation or covenant is given) to (i) solicit offers for, or offer or sell, the Securities (A) by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) of Regulation D under the Securities Act or (B) in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or (ii) engage in any directed selling efforts with respect to the Securities within the meaning of Regulation S, and the Company will and will cause all such persons to comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S with respect to the Securities.

 

(l)            No Restricted Resales.  During the period of one year after the Closing Date, the Company will not, and will not permit any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to resell any of the Notes which constitute “restricted securities” under Rule 144 that have been reacquired by any of them.

 

(m)          No Stabilization.  Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

 

(n)           Legended Securities.  Each certificate for a Note will bear the legend contained in “Transfer Restrictions” in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum for the time period and upon the other terms stated in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum.

 

(o)           Escrow Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement.  The Company and the Guarantors shall comply with all the terms and conditions of the Escrow Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

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(p)           Joinder Agreement, Registration Rights Joinder Agreement and Supplemental Indentures.  Promptly following consummation of the Acquisition, the Company will cause to be delivered to the Representatives, (x) executed copies of the Joinder Agreement and the Registration Rights Joinder Agreement (y) such documents and information as the Representatives may reasonably require in connection with the execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreement and the Registration Rights Joinder Agreement.  Within three business days of the Release Date, the Company will cause to be delivered to the Representatives executed copies of the Supplemental Indentures and documents and information as the Representatives may reasonably require in connection with the execution and delivery of the Supplemental Indentures.

 

(q)           Escrow Agreement Officer’s Certificate.  On the Release Date, the Company will cause to be delivered to the Initial Purchasers a certificate, dated the Release Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company to the effect that each of the conditions to the release of the Escrow Property set forth in the Escrow Agreement has been satisfied on or before the Release Date.

 

The Representatives on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers may, in their sole discretion, waive in writing the performance by the Company or any Guarantor of any one or more of the foregoing covenants or extend the time for their performance.

 

SECTION 4.         Supplemental Disclosure Documents.

 

(a)           The Company (including its affiliates, agents and other representatives, other than the Initial Purchasers in their capacity as such) represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Initial Purchasers, it has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or distributed and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or distribute any written communication that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities, other than (i) the Pricing Disclosure Package, (ii) the Final Offering Memorandum and (iii) any electronic road show or other written communications in each case used in accordance with Section 3(a).  Each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives pursuant to clause (iii) of the preceding sentence and any other General Solicitation by the Company or its agents and representatives (each, a “Company Supplemental Disclosure Document”).

 

(b)           Each Initial Purchaser represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Company and the other Initial Purchasers, other than one or more term sheets relating to the Securities containing customary information and conveyed to purchasers of Securities, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that, if the offering of the Securities contemplated by this Agreement were conducted as a public offering pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act with the Commission, would constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (any such offer (other than any such term sheets) that would be required to be filed with the Commission, is hereinafter referred to as a “Purchaser Supplemental Disclosure Document”).

 

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(c)           Any Company Supplemental Disclosure Document or Purchaser Supplemental Disclosure Document the use of which has been consented to by the Company and the Initial Purchasers is listed on Schedule VI hereto.

 

SECTION 5.         Payment of Expenses.  Each of the Company and the Guarantors agrees, jointly and severally, to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Securities (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers, (iii) all fees and expenses of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (iv) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of any Company Supplemental Disclosure Document, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum (including financial statements and exhibits), and all amendments and supplements thereto, this Agreement, the Joinder Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Registration Rights Joinder Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Initial Indentures, the Supplemental Indentures, the DTC Agreement and the Notes and Guarantees, (v) all filing fees, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company, the Guarantors or the Initial Purchasers in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities laws of the several states of the United States, the provinces of Canada or other jurisdictions designated by the Initial Purchasers (including, without limitation, the cost of preparing, printing and mailing preliminary and final blue sky or legal investment memoranda and any related supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Memorandum), (vi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Initial Indentures, the Supplemental Indentures, the Securities and the Exchange Securities, (vii) any fees payable in connection with the rating of the Securities or the Exchange Securities with the ratings agencies, (viii) any filing fees incident to, and any reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Initial Purchasers in connection with the review by FINRA, if any, of the terms of the sale of the Securities or the Exchange Securities, (ix) all fees and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) of the Company and the Guarantors in connection with approval of the Securities by the Depositary for “book-entry” transfer, and the performance by the Company and the Guarantors of their respective other obligations under this Agreement, (x) the fees and expenses of the Escrow Agent and its counsel, (xi) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations or any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company, the Guarantors and any such consultants, and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, and (xii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section.  Except as provided in this Section 5 and Sections 7, 9 and 10 hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.

 

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SECTION 6.         Conditions of the Obligations of the Initial Purchasers.  The obligations of the several Initial Purchasers to purchase and pay for the Securities as provided herein on the Closing Date shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company and the Guarantors set forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though then made and to the timely performance by the Company and the Guarantors of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:

 

(a)           Accountants’ Comfort Letter.  On the date hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall have received (i) from Ernst & Young LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, a “comfort letter” dated the date hereof addressed to the Initial Purchasers, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, covering the financial information of the Company in the Pricing Disclosure Package and other customary matters and (ii) from KPMG LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for Columbus, a “comfort letter” dated the date hereof addressed to the Initial Purchasers, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, covering the financial information of Columbus in the Pricing Disclosure Package and other customary matters.  In addition, on the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received from each such accounting firm, a “bring-down comfort letter” dated the Closing Date addressed to the Initial Purchasers, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, in the form of the “comfort letters” delivered on the date hereof, except that (i) such “bring-down comfort letters” shall cover the financial information in the Final Offering Memorandum and any amendment or supplement thereto and (ii) procedures shall be brought down to a date no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.

 

(b)           No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change.  For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:

 

(i)            in the judgment of the Representatives there shall not have occurred any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Change”); and

 

(ii)           there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any securities or indebtedness of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act.

 

(c)           Opinion of Counsel for the Company.  On the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of such Closing Date, of Barrett & McNagny LLP, counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, the form of which is attached as Exhibit A.

 

(d)           Opinion of Counsel for the Initial Purchasers.  On the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall have received the favorable opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP, counsel for

 

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the Initial Purchasers, dated as of such Closing Date, with respect to such matters as may be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers.

 

(e)           Officers’ Certificate.  On the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and by the Secretary of each Guarantor (other than Columbus), dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in Section 6(b)(ii) hereof, and further to the effect that:

 

(i)            for the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change;

 

(ii)           the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company and the Guarantors set forth in Section 1 hereof were true and correct as of the Time of Sale and are true and correct as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of the Closing Date; and

 

(iii)          the Company and the Guarantors have complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(f)            Indentures and Notes.  The Company and the Guarantors (other than Columbus) shall have executed and delivered each Initial Indenture, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, and the Initial Purchasers shall have received executed copies thereof.  The Company shall have executed and delivered the Notes, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers.

 

(g)           Registration Rights Agreement.  The Company and the Guarantors (other than Columbus) shall have entered into the Registration Rights Agreement and the Initial Purchasers shall have received executed counterparts thereof.

 

(h)           Escrow Agreement and Escrow Account.  The Company, the Trustee and the Escrow Agent shall have executed the Escrow Agreement and the Initial Purchasers shall have received a copy thereof, executed by the Company, the Trustee and the Escrow Agent and such agreement shall be in full force and effect on and as of the Closing Date; and (ii) the Escrow Property equal to the Escrow Amount shall have been deposited with the Escrow Agent solely in accordance with the Escrow Agreement.

 

(i)            Additional Documents.  On or before the Closing Date, the Representatives and counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall have received such information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.

 

If any condition specified in this Section 6 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Initial Purchasers by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the

 

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part of any party to any other party, except that Sections 5, 7, 9 and 10 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

 

SECTION 7.         Reimbursement of Initial Purchasers’ Expenses.  If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 6 or 11 hereof, including if the sale to the Initial Purchasers of the Securities on the Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally agree to reimburse the Initial Purchasers (or such Initial Purchasers as have terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Initial Purchasers in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Securities, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges.

 

SECTION 8.         Offer, Sale and Resale Procedures.  Each of the Initial Purchasers, on the one hand, and the Company and each of the Guarantors, on the other hand, hereby agree to observe the following procedures in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities:

 

(A)          Offers and sales of the Securities will be made only by the Initial Purchasers or Affiliates thereof qualified to do so in the jurisdictions in which such offers or sales are made.  Each such offer or sale shall only be made to persons whom the offeror or seller reasonably believes to be Qualified Institutional Buyers or non-U.S. persons outside the United States to whom the offeror or seller reasonably believes offers and sales of the Securities may be made in reliance upon Regulation S upon the terms and conditions set forth in Annex I hereto, which Annex I is hereby expressly made a part hereof.

 

(B)          No general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act) will be used in the United States in connection with the offering of the Securities.

 

(C)          Upon original issuance by the Company, and until such time as the same is no longer required under the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Notes (and all securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof, other than the Exchange Notes) shall bear the following legend:

 

“THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER

 

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THE SECURITIES ACT) (AN “INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR”) OR (C) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO STEEL DYNAMICS, INC. OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER IS AN EXHIBIT TO THE INDENTURE), AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES OF LESS THAN $100,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO STEEL DYNAMICS, INC. THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE) OR (F) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE, THE HOLDER MUST TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE TRUSTEE. IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFEREE IS AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR OR A NON-U.S. PERSON, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND STEEL DYNAMICS, INC. SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS EITHER OF THEM MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION”, “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE INDENTURE CONTAINS PROVISIONS REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING RESTRICTION.”

 

Following the sale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers to Subsequent Purchasers pursuant to the terms hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall not be liable or responsible to the Company or the Guarantors for any losses, damages or liabilities suffered or incurred by the

 

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Company or the Guarantors, including any losses, damages or liabilities under the Securities Act, arising from or relating to any resale or transfer of any Security.

 

SECTION 9.         Indemnification.

 

(a)           Indemnification of the Initial Purchasers.  Each of the Company and the Guarantors (other than Columbus, and upon execution of the Joinder Agreement, Columbus), jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, its directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such Initial Purchaser, affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company or otherwise permitted by Section 9(d) hereof), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based:  (i) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Supplement, the Final Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Company Supplemental Disclosure Document, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (ii) in whole or in part upon any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein; or (iii) in whole or in part upon any failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under law; or (iv) any act or failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any Initial Purchaser in connection with, or relating in any manner to, the offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon any matter covered by clause (i) above; provided that the Company shall not be liable under this clause (iv) to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall have determined by a final judgment that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Initial Purchaser through its gross negligence or willful misconduct; and to reimburse each Initial Purchaser and each such affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Initial Purchaser or such affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Representatives expressly for use in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Supplement, the Final Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Company Supplemental Disclosure Document.  The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 9(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company and the Guarantors may otherwise have.

 

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(b)           Indemnification of the Company and the Guarantors.  Each Initial Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each Guarantor (other than Columbus, and upon execution of the Joinder Agreement, Columbus), each of their respective directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company, any Guarantor or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such Initial Purchaser or otherwise permitted by Section 9(d) hereof), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Supplement, the Final Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Company Supplemental Disclosure Document, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Supplement, the Final Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Company Supplemental Disclosure Document, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Representatives expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, any Guarantor and each such director, officer or controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by the Company, any Guarantor or such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action.  Each of the Company and the Guarantors hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Initial Purchasers through the Representatives have furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Pricing Supplement or the Final Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in the second and third sentences of the second paragraph and the sixth, seventh and eighth paragraphs under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Final Offering Memorandum.  The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 9(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Initial Purchaser may otherwise have.

 

(c)           Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures.  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 9 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 9, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than under the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 9 or to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure.  In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to

 

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assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties.  Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 9 for any fees and expenses of counsel subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.

 

(d)           Settlements.  The indemnifying party under this Section 9 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this Section 9, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include any statements as to or any findings of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

SECTION 10.       Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in Section 9 hereof is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses

 

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referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the representations and warranties herein which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and the total fees received by the Initial Purchasers bear to the aggregate initial offering price of the Securities.  The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact, any such omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, or any such inaccurate or alleged inaccurate representation or warranty relates to information supplied by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, or the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission or inaccuracy.

 

The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 9 hereof, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim.  The provisions set forth in Section 9 hereof with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 10; provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 9 hereof for purposes of indemnification.

 

The Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Initial Purchasers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 10.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, no Initial Purchaser shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the fee received by such Initial Purchaser in connection with the Securities distributed by it.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Initial Purchasers’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 10 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective commitments as set forth opposite their names in Schedules I and II.  For purposes of this Section 10, each affiliate, director, officer and employee of an Initial Purchaser and each person, if any, who controls an Initial Purchaser within the meaning of the Securities Act and the

 

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Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Initial Purchaser, and each director of the Company or any Guarantor, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Guarantor with the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company and the Guarantors.

 

SECTION 11.       Termination of this Agreement.  The Initial Purchasers may terminate this Agreement by notice given by the Representatives to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Offering Memorandum; (vi) in the judgment of the Representatives there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (vii) the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained a loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such character as in the judgment of the Representatives may interfere materially with the conduct of the business and operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, regardless of whether or not such loss shall have been insured.  Any termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without liability on the part of (i) the Company or any Guarantor to any Initial Purchaser, except that the Company and the Guarantors shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Sections 5 and 7 hereof, (ii) any Initial Purchaser to the Company, or (iii) any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 9 and 10 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

 

SECTION 12.       Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery.  The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, the Guarantors, their respective officers and the several Initial Purchasers set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Initial Purchaser, the Company, any Guarantor or any of their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 13.       Notices.  All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered, couriered or facsimiled and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:

 

If to the Initial Purchasers:

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.
 200 West Street

 

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New York, New York
 Toll-free telephone:  (866) 471-2526
 Attention:  Registration Department

 

and
 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated
 50 Rockefeller Plaza
 New York, New York  10020
 Facsimile:  (212) 901-7897
 Attention:  HY Legal Department

 

and

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
 1585 Broadway
 New York, New York 10036
 Attention:  High Yield
 Syndicate Desk, with
 a copy to the Legal Department

 

with a copy to:

 

Shearman & Sterling LLP
 599 Lexington Avenue
 New York, New York 10022
 Facsimile:  212-848-7293
 Attention:  Jonathan DeSantis

 

If to the Company or the Guarantors:

 

Steel Dynamics, Inc.
 7575 West Jefferson Blvd.
 Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804
 Facsimile:  260-969-3587
 Attention:  Theresa E. Wagler

 

with a copy to:

 

Barrett & McNagny LLP
 215 East Berry Street
 Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
 Facsimile:  260-423-8920
 Attention:  Robert S. Walters

 

31











 

Any party hereto may change the address or facsimile number for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.

 

SECTION 14.       Successors.  This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Initial Purchasers pursuant to Section 18 hereof, and to the benefit of the indemnified parties referred to in Sections 9 and 10 hereof, and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.  The term “successors” shall not include any Subsequent Purchaser or other purchaser of the Securities as such from any of the Initial Purchasers merely by reason of such purchase.

 

SECTION 15.       Partial Unenforceability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph or provision hereof.  If any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

 

SECTION 16.       Governing Law Provisions.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE.

 

SECTION 17.       Consent to Jurisdiction.  Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City and County of New York (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for suits, actions, or proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any Specified Court in a Related Proceeding, as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of the Specified Courts in any Related Proceeding.  Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court.  The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any Specified Proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any Specified Court that any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

SECTION 18.       Default of One or More of the Several Initial Purchasers.  If any one or more of the several Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on the Closing Date, and the aggregate number of Securities which such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate number of the Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Initial Purchasers shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the number of Securities set forth opposite their respective names on Schedules I and II, as applicable, bears to the aggregate number of Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Initial Purchasers with the consent of the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, to purchase the Securities which such

 

32











 

defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to purchase on the Closing Date.  If any one or more of the Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities and the aggregate number of Securities with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of Securities to be purchased on the Closing Date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers and the Company for the purchase of such Securities are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 5, 7, 9 and 10 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.  In any such case either the Initial Purchasers or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Final Offering Memorandum or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.

 

As used in this Agreement, the term “Initial Purchaser” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Initial Purchaser under this Section 18.  Any action taken under this Section 18 shall not relieve any defaulting Initial Purchaser from liability in respect of any default of such Initial Purchaser under this Agreement.

 

SECTION 19.       No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  Each of the Company and the Guarantors acknowledges and agrees that:  (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the several Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and the Company and the Guarantors are capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) in connection with each transaction contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Initial Purchaser is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, the Guarantors or their respective affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) no Initial Purchaser has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company or the Guarantors with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Initial Purchaser has advised or is currently advising the Company or the Guarantors on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company and the Guarantors except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement; (iv) the several Initial Purchasers and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company and the Guarantors and that the several Initial Purchasers have no obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any fiduciary or advisory relationship; and (v) the Initial Purchasers have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company and the Guarantors have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they deemed appropriate.

 

This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company, the Guarantors and the several Initial Purchasers, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.  The Company and the Guarantors hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company and the Guarantors

 

33











 

may have against the several Initial Purchasers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of fiduciary duty.

 

SECTION 20.       General Provisions.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier, facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof.  This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.  The section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

[Signature pages follow]

 

34












 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

	
 
    	
Very   truly yours,
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
STEEL   DYNAMICS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Theresa E. Wagler
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Theresa   E. Wagler
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Executive   Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
NEW   MILLENNIUM BUILDING SYSTEMS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
STEEL   DYNAMICS, INC., its sole member
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Theresa E. Wagler
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Theresa   E. Wagler
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Executive   Vice President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
STEEL   DYNAMICS SALES NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Theresa E. Wagler
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Theresa   E. Wagler
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ROANOKE   ELECTRIC STEEL CORPORATION
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Theresa E. Wagler
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Theresa   E. Wagler
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    


 

Purchase Agreement

 











 

	
 
    	
STEEL   OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Richard A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
SWVA, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Richard A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
MARSHALL   STEEL, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Richard A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
STEEL   VENTURES, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Richard A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
THE   TECHS INDUSTRIES, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Richard A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
JACKSON   IRON & METAL COMPANY, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Richard A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    


 

Purchase Agreement

 











 

	
 
    	
OMNISOURCE   CORPORATION
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Richard A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
OMNISOURCE   TRANSPORT, LLC
    
	
 
    	
By:   OMNISOURCE CORPORATION, MANAGER AND SOLE MEMBER
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Richard A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
OMNISOURCE,   LLC
    
	
 
    	
By:   OMNISOURCE CORPORATION, MANAGER AND SOLE MEMBER
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Richard A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
SUPERIOR   ALUMINUM ALLOYS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
By:   OMNISOURCE CORPORATION, MANAGER AND SOLE MEMBER
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Richard A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
OMNISOURCE   SOUTHEAST, LLC
    
	
 
    	
By:   OMNISOURCE CORPORATION, MANAGER AND SOLE MEMBER
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Richard A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    


 

Purchase Agreement

 











 

The foregoing Purchase Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Initial Purchasers as of the date first above written.

 

	
GOLDMAN,   SACHS & CO.
    	
 
    
	
MERRILL   LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
    	
 
    
	
INCORPORATED
    	
 
    
	
MORGAN   STANLEY & CO. LLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Acting on behalf of   themselves
    	
 
    
	
and as the   Representatives of
    	
 
    
	
the several   Initial Purchasers
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:   Goldman, Sachs & Co.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/   Michael Hickey
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:   Michael Hickey
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:   Managing Director
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
    	
 
    
	
Incorporated
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/   Michael Dolce
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:   Michael Dolce
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:    Director
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:   Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/   Paul Quinlan
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:  Paul Quinlan
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:    Authorized Signatory
    	
 
    


 

Purchase Agreement

 











 

SCHEDULE I

 

	
Initial Purchasers
    	
 
    	
Aggregate
   Principal Amount
   of 2021 Notes to be
   Purchased
    	
 
    
	
Goldman, Sachs & Co. 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
245,000,000
    	
 
    
	
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith   Incorporated 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
140,000,000
    	
 
    
	
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
105,000,000
    	
 
    
	
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
84,000,000
    	
 
    
	
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
70,000,000
    	
 
    
	
BMO Capital Markets 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
14,000,000
    	
 
    
	
PNC Capital Markets LLC 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
14,000,000
    	
 
    
	
RBS Securities Inc. 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
14,000,000
    	
 
    
	
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
14,000,000
    	
 
    
	
Total 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
700,000,000
    	
 
    


 

Schedule I-1











 

SCHEDULE II

 

	
Initial Purchasers
    	
 
    	
Aggregate
   Principal Amount
   of 2024 Notes to be
   Purchased
    	
 
    
	
Goldman, Sachs & Co. 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
175,000,000
    	
 
    
	
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith   Incorporated 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
100,000,000
    	
 
    
	
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
75,000,000
    	
 
    
	
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
60,000,000
    	
 
    
	
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
50,000,000
    	
 
    
	
BMO Capital Markets 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
10,000,000
    	
 
    
	
PNC Capital Markets LLC 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
10,000,000
    	
 
    
	
RBS Securities Inc. 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
10,000,000
    	
 
    
	
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
10,000,000
    	
 
    
	
Total 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
500,000,000
    	
 
    


 

Schedule II-1











 

SCHEDULE III

 

GUARANTORS

 

	
NAME
    	
 
    	
JURISDICTION
    
	
Omnisource   Southeast, LLC
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
Steel   Dynamics Sales North America, Inc.
    	
 
    	
Indiana
    
	
New   Millennium Building Systems, LLC
    	
 
    	
Indiana
    
	
Roanoke   Electric Steel Corporation
    	
 
    	
Indiana
    
	
Steel   of West Virginia, Inc.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
Steel   Ventures, Inc.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
SWVA, Inc.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
Marshall   Steel, Inc.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
The   Techs Industries, Inc.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
Omnisource   Corporation
    	
 
    	
Indiana
    
	
Jackson   Iron & Metal Company, Inc.
    	
 
    	
Michigan
    
	
OmniSource,   LLC
    	
 
    	
Indiana
    
	
Omnisource   Transport, LLC
    	
 
    	
Indiana
    
	
Superior   Aluminum Alloys, LLC
    	
 
    	
Indiana
    


 

Schedule III-1











 

SCHEDULE IV

 

DIRECT AND INDIRECT SUBSIDIARIES

 

	
Name
    	
 
    	
Percent of
   capital
   stock/equity
   units owned
   by Steel
   Dynamics,
   Inc.
    	
 
    	
Percent of
   voting
   stock/voting
   units owned by
   Steel Dynamics,
   Inc.
    	
 
    
	
New Millennium Building Systems, LLC
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
Paragon Steel Enterprises, LLC
    	
 
    	
50
    	
%
    	
50
    	
%
    
	
Ferrous Resources, LLC
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
STLD Holdings, Inc.
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
Steel Dynamics Sales North America, Inc.
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
Roanoke Electrical Steel Corporation
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
Dynamic Composites, LLC
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
Steel of West Virginia, Inc.
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
SWVA, Inc.
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
Marshall Steel, Inc.
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
Steel Ventures, Inc.
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
Dynamic Aviation, LLC
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
The Techs Industries, Inc.
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
Mesabi Nugget Delaware, LLC
    	
 
    	
81
    	
%
    	
81
    	
%
    
	
OmniSource Corporation
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
Jackson Iron & Metal Company, Inc.
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
OmniSource, LLC
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
OmniSource Transport, LLC
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
Speedbird Aviation, LLC
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
Superior Aluminum Alloys, LLC
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
Cumberland Recycling Group, LLC
    	
 
    	
50
    	
%
    	
50
    	
%
    
	
OmniSource/Mervis, LLC
    	
 
    	
50
    	
%
    	
50
    	
%
    
	
Mississippi Scrap Recycling, LLC
    	
 
    	
49
    	
%
    	
49
    	
%
    
	
Dynamic Abrasives, LLC
    	
 
    	
90
    	
%
    	
90
    	
%
    
	
Indiana Melting & Manufacturing, LLC
    	
 
    	
90
    	
%
    	
90
    	
%
    
	
Mesabi Mining, LLC
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
OmniSource Southeast, LLC
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
Protrade Steel Company, Ltd
    	
 
    	
13.2
    	
%
    	
13.2
    	
%
    
	
Second Pass, LLC
    	
 
    	
50
    	
%
    	
50
    	
%
    
	
OmniSource Scrap Metals Management of Mexico,   S.de.R.L. de C.V.
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
Resource Ventures, LLC
    	
 
    	
90
    	
%
    	
90
    	
%
    
	
Resource Ventures II, LLC
    	
 
    	
64
    	
%
    	
64
    	
%
    
	
Dynamic Holdings, LLC
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
OmniSource Holdings, LLC
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
Cohen & Green Salvage Co., Inc.
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    


 

Schedule IV-1











 

	
Name
    	
 
    	
Percent of
   capital
   stock/equity
   units owned
   by Steel
   Dynamics,
   Inc.
    	
 
    	
Percent of
   voting
   stock/voting
   units owned by
   Steel Dynamics,
   Inc.
    	
 
    
	
Cumberland Scrap Processors Transport, LLC
    	
 
    	
50
    	
%
    	
50
    	
%
    
	
Mining Resources LLC
    	
 
    	
80
    	
%
    	
80
    	
%
    
	
OmniSource Athens Division, LLC
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
PST Investments, LLC
    	
 
    	
50
    	
%
    	
50
    	
%
    
	
SDI LaFarga, LLC
    	
 
    	
55
    	
%
    	
55
    	
%
    
	
New Millennium   Joist & Deck DE Mexico, S. DE R.L. DE C.V.
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    
	
New Millennium Building Systems Holdings DE   Mexico, S. DE R.L. DE C.V.
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    	
100
    	
%
    


 

Schedule IV-2











 

SCHEDULE VI

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS

 

Electronic Roadshow dated September 4, 2014

 

Schedule VI-1












 

ANNEX B

 

Form of Joinder Agreement

 

JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

TO

 

THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

[·], 2014

 

THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT (as amended, supplemented, replaced, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Joinder Agreement”), dated as of [·], 2014, by and among Severstal Columbus, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Columbus”), and Goldman, Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as representatives (the “Representatives”) of the other several Initial Purchasers named in Schedule I and Schedule II to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) (together, the “Initial Purchasers”), in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Purchase Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Steel Dynamics, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors (named in the Purchase Agreement) and the Representatives heretofore executed and delivered a purchase agreement, dated as of [·], 2014 (the “Purchase Agreement”), providing for the issuance and sale of the Securities; and

 

WHEREAS, Columbus, who initially was not party thereto, has agreed to join in the Purchase Agreement on the Release Date.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Columbus hereby agrees for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers, as follows:

 

SECTION 21.       Joinder.  The undersigned hereby acknowledges that it has received and reviewed a copy of the Purchase Agreement and all other documents it deems appropriate prior to entering into this Joinder Agreement, and acknowledges and agrees to:  (i) join and become a party to the Purchase Agreement as a Guarantor of the Notes as indicated by its signature below; (ii) be bound by all covenants, agreements, representations, warranties and acknowledgments attributed to such party in the Purchase Agreement, as if it were an original signatory to the Purchase Agreement on the date thereof; and (iii) perform and observe all obligations and duties required of it pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, as if it were an original signatory to the Purchase Agreement on the date thereof.

 

SECTION 22.       Representations and Warranties and Agreements.  The undersigned hereby represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Initial Purchasers that it has all the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this 

 

Annex B-1











 

Joinder Agreement and that the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby has been duly and validly authorized.

 

SECTION 23.       Successors.  This Joinder Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Initial Purchasers pursuant to Section 18 of the Purchase Agreement, and to the benefit of the indemnified parties referred to in Sections 9 and 10 of the Purchase Agreement, and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation under this Joinder Agreement.  The term “successors” shall not include any Subsequent Purchaser or other purchaser of the Securities as such from any of the Initial Purchasers merely by reason of such purchase.

 

SECTION 24.       Partial Unenforceability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph or provision of this Joinder Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph or provision hereof.  If any section, paragraph or provision of this Joinder Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

 

SECTION 25.       Governing Law Provisions.  This Joinder Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state.

 

SECTION 26.       Consent to Jurisdiction.  Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Joinder Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City and County of New York (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for suits, actions, or proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any Specified Court in a Related Proceeding, as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of the Specified Courts in any Related Proceeding.  Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court.  The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any Specified Proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any Specified Court that any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

SECTION 27.       General Provisions.  This Joinder Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Joinder Agreement by telecopier, facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof.  This Joinder Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.  The section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Joinder Agreement.

 

Annex B-2











 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

Annex B-3











 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Joinder Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

	
 
    	
STEEL   DYNAMICS COLUMBUS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    


 

Annex B-4











 

	
The foregoing   Joinder Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Initial Purchaser   as of the date first above written.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
GOLDMAN,   SACHS & CO.
    	
 
    
	
MERRILL   LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
    	
 
    
	
INCORPORATED
    	
 
    
	
MORGAN   STANLEY & CO. LLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Acting   on behalf of themselves
    	
 
    
	
and as   the Representatives of
    	
 
    
	
the   several Initial Purchasers
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:   Goldman, Sachs & Co.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
    	
 
    
	
Incorporated
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:   Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    


 

Annex B-5











 

ANNEX C

 

Form of Registration Rights Joinder Agreement

 

$1,000,000,000

 

STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.

 

$500,000,000 [·]% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2021
 $500,000,000 [·]% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2024

 

JOINDER TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

[·], 2014

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith,

Incorporated

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

As Representatives of the Several Initial

Purchasers set forth on Schedule I and

Schedule II of the Purchase Agreement

c/o       Goldman, Sachs & Co.
 200 West Street
  New York, New York 10282

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of [·], 2014 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among Steel Dynamics, Inc. (the “Issuer”), the Guarantors identified on Schedule I to the Registration Rights Agreement, and Goldman, Sachs & Co.,  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as the representatives (the “Representatives”) of the initial purchasers (the “Initial Purchasers”) listed on Schedule II to the Registration Rights Agreement.  Capitalized terms used in this joinder to the Registration Rights Agreement (this “Joinder Agreement”) without definition have the respective meanings given to them in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

SECTION 1.         Joinder.  The undersigned hereby agrees to accede to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement and to undertake and perform all of the obligations of a “Guarantor” set forth therein as though the undersigned had entered into the Registration Rights Agreement on the Closing Date and been named as a “Guarantor” therein.  The undersigned agrees that such obligations include, without limitation, (a) all of the obligations of a Guarantor to perform and comply with all of the agreements thereof contained in the Registration Rights Agreement, including the obligation to pay any Additional Interest, and (b) a Guarantor’s 

 

Annex C-1











 

indemnification and other obligations contained in Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement.  The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that all references to “Guarantors” in the Registration Rights Agreement shall include the undersigned and that the undersigned shall be bound by all provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement containing such references.

 

SECTION 2.         Representations and Warranties and Agreements.  The undersigned hereby represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Initial Purchasers that it has all the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Joinder Agreement and that the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby has been duly and validly authorized and that when this Joinder Agreement is executed and delivered, it will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement enforceable against the undersigned in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

SECTION 3.         Successors and Assigns.  This Joinder Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders.

 

SECTION 4.         Third Party Beneficiary.  The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.

 

SECTION 5.         Counterparts.  This Joinder 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.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Joinder Agreement by electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof.

 

SECTION 6.         Headings.  The headings in this Joinder Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

SECTION 7.         Governing Law.  This Joinder Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

 

SECTION 8.         Severability.  In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained in this Joinder Agreement, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Annex C-2











 

SECTION 9.         Amendments and Waivers.  This Joinder Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

Annex C-3











 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Joinder Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

	
 
    	
STEEL   DYNAMICS COLUMBUS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    


 

Annex C-4











 

	
The   foregoing Joinder Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Initial   Purchasers as of the date first above written.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
GOLDMAN,   SACHS & CO.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
MERRILL   LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER, & SMITH
    	
 
    
	
INCORPORATED
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
MORGAN   STANLEY & CO., LLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
For   themselves and the other Initial Purchasers named in Schedule II of the   Registration Rights Agreement.
    	
 
    


 

Annex C-5