Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.11

CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED
UNDER C.F.R. SECTIONS
200.80(b)(4), 200.83 and 230.406

*** INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT
IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUEST FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION

                              COKE SUPPLY AGREEMENT

                                 by and between

                         UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

                                       and

                        REPUBLIC ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LLC

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS ....................................................  1

ARTICLE II - COKE SALES ....................................................  3

         2.1      Quantities. ..............................................  3
         2.2      Forecasting and Declarations .............................  4
         2.3      Sampling, Analysis and Weighing. .........................  6
         2.4      Prices. ..................................................  7
         2.5      Storage. .................................................  8
         2.6      Invoices and Payment. ....................................  9
         2.7      Delivery, Title and Risk of Loss. ........................  11
         2.8      Terms and Conditions of Sale. ............................  11
         2.9      Warranty .................................................  11
         2.10     Freeze-Conditioning. .....................................  12
         2.11     Most Favored Customer. ...................................  12
         2.12     Cross Default; Setoff; Right to Substitute New Terms .....  13

ARTICLE III - TERM AND TERMINATION .........................................  14

         3.1      Term. ....................................................  14
         3.2      Termination. .............................................  15

ARTICLE IV - MISCELLANEOUS .................................................  15

         4.1      Intent of Agreement. .....................................  15
         4.2      Payment Errors. ..........................................  15
         4.3      Dispute Resolution. ......................................  16
         4.4      Records. .................................................  16
         4.5      Confidentiality. .........................................  17
         4.6      Severability. ............................................  18
         4.7      Rights and Remedies; No Consequential Damages. ...........  18
         4.8      Costs and Expenses. ......................................  18
         4.9      Notices. .................................................  18
         4.10     Assignment. ..............................................  19
         4.11     Counterparts. ............................................  20
         4.12     Entire Agreement. ........................................  20
         4.13     Headings. ................................................  20
         4.14     Governing Law. ...........................................  20
         4.15     No Third Party Rights. ...................................  20
         4.16     Waiver and Amendments. ...................................  20
         4.17     Force Majeure. ...........................................  20

SCHEDULE A:       2002 Clairton Coke Quality Specifications

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                              COKE SUPPLY AGREEMENT

        THIS COKE SUPPLY AGREEMENT, made effective as of August 16, 2002 (the
"Effective Date"), by and between REPUBLIC ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company ("Buyer" or "Republic") and UNITED STATES STEEL
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Seller" or "USS").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Buyer desires to obtain a reliable source of blast furnace
coke for its Lorain Works steelmaking facility located near Lorain, Ohio; and

         WHEREAS, Seller desires to supply to Buyer blast furnace coke produced
by Seller at its Clairton Works in Clairton, Pennsylvania, in accordance with
the terms and conditions set forth herein;

         WHEREAS, Buyer and Seller wish to enter into this Coke Supply Agreement
(this "Agreement"), setting forth, inter alia, the terms and conditions relating
to Seller's agreement to sell to Buyer, and Buyer's agreement to purchase from
Seller, blast furnace coke (including Coke, as defined herein), all upon and
subject to the terms and conditions herein provided.

         NOW, THEREFORE, Buyer and Seller hereby agree as follows:

                             ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS

        As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth
below:

        "Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned in the Recitals hereto.

        "Alternate Coke" means blast furnace coke produced by sources located
outside the continental United States.

        "Business Plan" means Republic's five-year business plan as presented to
USS on August 14, 2002.

        "Buyer" shall have the meaning assigned in the preamble hereto.

        "Coke" means blast furnace coke produced by Seller at Clairton Works
which meets the Specifications.

        "Default" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 3.1.

        "Effective Date" shall have the meaning assigned in the preamble hereto.

        "Force Majeure" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 4.17(a).

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        "Late Payment Rate" means [***].

        "Lorain Pipe Mills" or "LPM" means USS Tubular Products Division's
tube/pipe making facility in Lorain, Ohio (such facility referred to herein as
the "Pipemill").

        "Material Adverse Change" shall have the meaning assigned in Section
2.6(f).

        "Payment Date" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 2.6(c).

        "Pellets" shall have the meaning set forth in the Pellet Supply
Agreement.

        "Pellet Supply Agreement" means the Pellet Supply Agreement of even date
herewith by and between Buyer and Seller.

        "Person" means any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm,
corporation, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or
government or political subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality
thereof.

        "Proprietary Information" shall have the meaning assigned in Section
4.5(a).

        "Republic" shall have the meaning assigned in the preamble thereto.

        "Rounds" shall have the meaning set forth in the Rounds Supply
Agreement.

        "Rounds Supply Agreement" means the Rounds Supply Agreement of even date
herewith by and among Buyer, LPM and USS.

        "Seller" shall have the meaning assigned in the preamble hereto.

        "Services Agreement" means the Administrative and Utilities Services
Agreement dated August 16, 2002 by and between LPM and Buyer.

        "Settlement Date" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 2.6(c).

        "Settlement Period" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 2.6(c).

        "Specifications" means the qualities, sizes, conditions and other
specifications set forth on Schedule A, as the same may be amended from time to
time by mutual agreement of the parties.

        "Ton," "net ton" and "NT" each means 2,000 pounds avoirdupois in weight.

        "USS" shall have the meaning assigned in the preamble hereto.

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                             ARTICLE II - COKE SALES

        2.1 Quantities.

        (a) Subject to the terms hereof, Seller agrees to sell and deliver to
Buyer, and Buyer agrees to purchase and accept delivery of, 100% of Buyer's
requirements for blast furnace coke (also generically referred to herein as
"coke", which consists of the subsets of Coke and Alternate Coke) for
consumption in one blast furnace at Lorain Works. Seller shall also have a right
of first refusal (but not the obligation) to supply Buyer's requirements for
coke for the second blast furnace at Lorain Works in the event Buyer operates
both blast furnaces simultaneously. Except as provided in clause (b) below, all
of Buyer's requirements for blast furnace coke shall be fulfilled with Coke.
Buyer may not resell or trade blast furnace coke, except for fines and/or
screenings, unless prior written consent is obtained from Seller.

        (b) On an annual basis, Buyer may require that up to [***] of its
requirements to be fulfilled with blast furnace coke supplied by Seller in one
or more of the three ways identified below. Buyer's preparation of the Quarterly
Declarations and Amended Monthly Delivery Schedules as set forth in Section
2.2(b) below shall be accomplished in a manner that takes into account the
following options, all of which collectively shall be subject to said [***]
annual limit, as monitored and reported by Seller from time to time.

               (i)  In the event that at any point(s) in time during the course
                    of a year Seller forecasts purchasing Alternate Coke for
                    movement by barge via the Mississippi River to Seller's Gary
                    Works in Gary, Indiana, upon Buyer's election as provided
                    herein, Seller shall make arrangements to acquire a
                    sufficient quantity of Alternate Coke to satisfy such
                    requirements of Buyer. Alternate Coke shall be re-sold to
                    Buyer (and invoiced to and paid by Buyer in accordance with
                    Section 2.6 hereof) [***], F.O.B. Ohio River port,
                    Steubenville, Ohio, and Buyer shall be responsible for
                    arranging and paying for all transportation from such port
                    to Lorain Works. No later than ten days prior to Seller's
                    commitment to purchase Alternate Coke on a particular
                    occasion, Seller shall provide Buyer written notice of
                    Seller's intentions for purchasing Alternate Coke for Gary
                    Works for such occasion and the reasonably anticipated
                    quality specifications for the Alternate Coke to be acquired
                    by Seller. Buyer shall advise Seller in writing no later
                    than five days after receipt of such notice from Seller of
                    Buyer's election to accept a specified quantity of such
                    Alternate Coke. Any failure of Buyer to respond in the
                    affirmative within said five days shall be deemed a
                    rejection of the opportunity.

               (ii) In connection with the forecasting and declaration process
                    set forth in Section 2.2 below, Seller shall advise Buyer no
                    less often than monthly of Seller's projected plans for
                    purchasing Alternate Coke for Gary Works pursuant to Section
                    2.1(b)(i) above. In the event Seller does not forecast at
                    any given point in time purchasing Alternate Coke for its
                    Gary Works during the 90 days, or in the reasonable judgment
                    of Buyer the quality specifications for Alternate Coke to be
                    purchased by Seller during such time would make it
                    incompatible for use

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                    in Buyer's blast furnace, Upon Buyer's written request, and
                    as Buyer's agent, Seller shall assert commercially
                    reasonable efforts to acquire for Buyer's account a
                    sufficient quantity of Alternate Coke to satisfy such
                    requirements as specified in Buyer's request, upon terms and
                    conditions and conforming with specifications reasonably
                    acceptable to Buyer. Such commitments shall be incurred in
                    Buyer's name, and Buyer shall be solely responsible for
                    payment of all such Alternative Coke so acquired, and for
                    purposes of any customs clearance that may be required,
                    Buyer shall be the importer of record. In compensation for
                    Seller's efforts hereunder, Buyer shall pay Seller $[***]
                    per ton of such coke acquired on behalf of Buyer, and such
                    amounts shall be paid in accordance with Section 2.6 hereof.

               (iii) If, pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(ii) above, Seller is able to
                    arrange for the purchase of Alternate Coke for Buyer's
                    account upon terms and conditions, in quantities, and
                    conforming with specifications acceptable to Buyer, at
                    Seller's option Seller may, at the time it offers to
                    purchase Alternate Coke in Buyer's name as set forth in
                    Section 2.1(b)(ii), also offer, in writing, to sell to
                    Buyer, in lieu of such Alternate Coke, an equal quantity of
                    Coke; provided further, that the price of such quantity of
                    Coke shall be adjusted to match the price of the Alternate
                    Coke then available for purchase by Buyer which is of a
                    quality that is compatible for use in Buyer's blast furnace;
                    provided, however, that Seller shall also have the right to
                    adjust such price to the extent as may be agreed upon by the
                    parties, each acting in good faith, to take into account
                    differences between the terms and conditions and/or the
                    quality of said Alternate Coke with those of Seller's Coke
                    hereunder. If Seller offers Coke in lieu of Alternate Coke,
                    Buyer shall accept or decline such offer in writing within
                    ten days of its receipt of Seller's offer. Buyer's failure
                    to respond within said ten day period shall be deemed to be
                    rejection of the Alternate Coke and acceptance of Seller's
                    offer to supply Coke under this Section 2.1(b)(iii).

        2.2 Forecasting and Declarations.

        (a) During the term of this Agreement, Buyer in good faith will provide
Seller with annual written forecasts, consistent with Buyer's business plan, of
the quantity of blast furnace coke to be purchased hereunder for each calendar
year not later than 90 days prior to the commencement of such year. It is
understood that Buyer's forecasts provided in accordance with this Section
2.2(a) are for the purpose of facilitating production, scheduling and delivery
of blast furnace coke and are not binding upon Buyer. It is also expressly
understood and agreed that Seller shall not be deemed in breach of this
Agreement in connection with any failure to provide adequate supplies of blast
furnace coke to satisfy Buyer's requirements caused by Buyer's failure to timely
submit the forecasts or declarations required by this Section 2.2.

        (b) For each calendar quarter during the term of this Agreement, Buyer
shall provide Seller a written declaration (hereinafter "Quarterly Declaration")
of the quantities of blast furnace coke to be purchased hereunder. The quantity
of Alternate Coke in any calendar quarter cannot be greater than [***] of the
Quarterly Declaration. The declarations must be received by Seller no later

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than 60 days before the calendar quarter in question. The declarations will
specify quantities by the calendar months during which delivery is requested
(hereinafter "Monthly Delivery Schedule"). No later than 30 days before the
beginning of each calendar month, Buyer may amend its Monthly Delivery Schedule
for such month as set forth in Buyer's Quarterly Declaration so that the
quantity of blast furnace coke to be purchased during said month may be greater
or lesser than the quantity in the Monthly Delivery Schedule for such month as
set forth in Buyer's Quarterly Declaration by up to ten percent (10%)
(hereinafter "Amended Monthly Delivery Schedule"); provided, however, that the
quantity of Alternate Coke for the calendar quarter does not exceed [***] of the
blast furnace coke to be purchased by Buyer during said quarter. The total
quantities of blast furnace coke in Buyer's Monthly Delivery Schedules or
Amended Monthly Delivery Schedules made pursuant to this paragraph shall be the
binding purchase and sale commitments of Buyer and Seller, respectively, under
this Agreement. Buyer agrees to use reasonable efforts to purchase blast furnace
coke for delivery at as uniform a rate as practicable from month to month;
provided further, that in no event will Buyer be obligated to disrupt its normal
course of business or to incur any additional expense in exerting such efforts.
Buyer shall make its declarations hereunder in good faith, considering its
commitment under Section 2.1 herein to purchase from Seller 100% of Buyer's
requirements for blast furnace coke (subject to the limits on Alternate Coke as
provided herein) and considering the reliance that Seller will, of necessity,
place on the declarations. All requests for changes in a Monthly Delivery
Schedule or Amended Monthly Delivery Schedule that are received after said 30th
day preceding the month (i) shall be subject to acceptance or rejection by
Seller and (ii) shall not be binding on Seller until accepted, which acceptance
shall not be unreasonably withheld.

        (c) The provisions of Section 2.2(b), above, notwithstanding, if LPM's
forecast of Rounds for a given month as contemplated by the heat forecast
submitted pursuant to Section 2.4(a)(ii) of the Rounds Supply Agreement
(hereinafter the "Heat Forecast") is less than the number of Rounds initially
forecast by LPM for said month as part of the quarterly forecast under Section
2.1(ii) of the Rounds Supply Agreement (hereinafter the "Monthly Forecast") by
more than ten percent (10%) of said Monthly Forecast, Buyer shall not be deemed
to be in breach of its purchase commitment for blast furnace coke for said month
under Section 2.2(b) above to the extent that the shortfall of Buyer's actual
purchases of blast furnace coke for said month from the quantity of blast
furnace coke committed to under Section 2.2(b) above is no greater than 40% of
the shortfall (if any) of LPM's actual purchases of Rounds for said month under
Section 2.4(a)(iii) of the Rounds Supply Agreement as compared to LPM's forecast
of Rounds for said month as contemplated by the Heat Forecast for said month.

        (d) Within seven business days of Seller's receipt of any Quarterly
Declaration (including the Monthly Delivery Schedule) or Amended Monthly
Delivery Schedule from Buyer, Seller shall send Buyer a written acknowledgement
of its receipt of the Quarterly Declaration or Amended Monthly Delivery
Schedule. Any proposed changes by Seller from Buyer's written Quarterly
Declaration or any Amended Monthly Delivery Schedule shall be negotiated by the
parties before acknowledgement. If Seller has the right to reject all or any
portion of such Quarterly Declaration or Amended Monthly Delivery Schedule
pursuant to Section 2.2(b), Seller's written acknowledgement shall identify the
basis for any such rejection. Seller's notices of acknowledgement shall set
forth the quantity and type of coke (including without limitation Coke) Seller
will deliver to Buyer and the anticipated delivery schedule.

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        (e) Seller may fulfill its obligations to sell and deliver Coke under
this Agreement by supplying Buyer Coke produced at Clairton Works by Clairton
1314B Partnership, L. P., a Delaware limited partnership ("1314B"). Coke
produced by 1314B and sold under this Agreement shall be sold by 1314B and will
be identified on invoices issued hereunder on line items separate from Coke sold
by Seller. Payment for the entirety of said invoices shall nevertheless be made
by Buyer to Seller, and Seller shall remain responsible for the product of 1314B
complying in all respects with the requirements of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the Specifications.

        2.3 Sampling, Analysis and Weighing.

        (a) Seller shall sample the Coke produced by each production turn as per
its standard practice (four belt cuts per shift), perform chemical and physical
analyses to American Society of Testing and Measurement standards, and average
the analyses of such samples to determine a daily average analysis that shall be
deemed to be the analysis of Coke loaded into railcars for Buyer's account on
such day. The daily weighted average Coke analysis for each day in which Seller
is loading railcars for Buyer's account shall be transmitted electronically or
telefaxed to such Person as Buyer may from time to time direct as soon as
available, it being understood that such analysis will be available as soon as
possible, normally within 24 to 48 hours of the analyzed Coke's loading. Such
daily average analyses shall be rebuttably presumptively correct as to the
quality of Coke sold hereunder; however, if Buyer should encounter material
discrepancies between Seller's daily average analyses and Buyer's own quality
analyses, Buyer and Seller shall meet to discuss the reasons for such
discrepancies and any appropriate remedial action. If Buyer encounters any such
material discrepancy, then Buyer shall retain a sample of the Coke sampled
pursuant to this Section 2.3(a) for its own quality analysis, labeled so as to
identify the railcar which was sampled. In the event that Buyer and Seller
cannot agree as to the quality of the Coke, either party may, without
limitation, submit such dispute for resolution in accordance with Section 4.3.

        (b) With respect to shipments of Coke, the weights used for billing
hereunder shall be the weights determined by the rail carrier transporting Coke
to Lorain Works, as adjusted by Seller for moisture to a [***] moisture standard
(per existing procedures). Such weights shall be rebuttably presumptively
correct as to the quantities of Coke sold hereunder; however, if Buyer should
encounter material discrepancies in weights measured by the carrier and weights
measured by Buyer, Buyer and Seller shall meet to discuss the reasons for such
discrepancies and whether remedial action is necessary. In the event that Buyer
and Seller cannot agree as to the weights, either party may, without limitation,
submit such dispute for resolution in accordance with Section 4.3.

        (c) With respect to shipments of Coke, Buyer shall have the
responsibility for making sure the tare weight of each rail car has been
properly established. If a railcar has a tare weight of more than two years old,
Buyer shall promptly arrange for said car to be reweighed by the railroad on
certified scales so that a more accurate light weight can be established for
billing purposes hereunder. In the event that Buyer fails to take such action
and Seller discovers that a railcar has a tare weight of more than two years
old, Seller shall have the right (but not the obligation) to reject such rail
car. Costs of removing such rail car shall be for Buyer's account. If Seller
loads a rail car that has an inaccurate light weight and Seller learns of the
correct tare weight within ninety (90) days after loading the railcar, Seller
shall correct the billing invoice for such shipment to reflect the correct light
weight and corresponding charges associated with the actual tare weight of a
car. Any discrepancies

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related to a railcar's correct light weight that are discovered later than 90
days after the railcar was loaded shall be deemed closed.

        (d) The sampling, weighing and analysis of Alternate Coke shall be
handled in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions negotiated by
Seller pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 2.1(b)(i) and (ii).

        2.4 Prices.

        (a) From the Effective Date to and including December 31, 2002, Buyer
shall pay Seller a purchase price of $[***] per Ton of Coke delivered at
Clairton Works, subject to adjustment as set forth in Schedule A for variation
in quality. The pricing of Alternate Coke shall be handled in accordance with
the applicable terms and conditions negotiated by Seller pursuant to the
applicable provisions of Sections 2.1(b)(i) and (ii).

        (b) At least 60 days before the commencement of each of the one-year
periods beginning January 1, 2003 and January 1, 2004, the parties hereto shall
revise the price of Coke to be equal to [***] to be effective for each such
annual period commencing January 1. If the parties are unable to agree on the
prevailing market price within 30 days of commencing their discussions, the
matter shall be submitted to the dispute resolution procedure set forth in
Section 4.3.

        (c) At least 60 days before the commencement of each of the one-year
periods beginning January 1, 2003 and January 1, 2004, the parties hereto shall
renegotiate the price adjustment provisions applicable to Coke as set forth in
Schedule A based upon [***] to be effective for each such annual period
commencing January. If the parties are unable to agree upon the prevailing
market prices and conditions relating to price adjustments within 30 days of
commencing their discussions, the matter shall be submitted to the dispute
resolution procedure set forth in Section 4.3.

        (d) If, during any calendar year, after the price of Coke has been
agreed to by the parties or established through dispute resolution procedures,
(i) a significant change (other than spot market or short term fluctuations)
occurs in the relationship between the number of domestic operating blast
furnaces and the number of domestic operating blast furnace coke production
plants, or a similar change occurs causing a structural change in the market,
and (ii) such change creates significant opportunities for Seller to market Coke
at higher prices or significant opportunities for Buyer to purchase domestically
produced blast furnace coke at lower prices, then either party may provide
written notice to the other party specifying the changed circumstances and
requesting that negotiations concerning the price of Coke hereunder be reopened.
Following receipt of any such notice of changed circumstances, the parties shall
negotiate in good faith to establish a revised Coke price which is reasonable
under the changed circumstances. If the parties are unable to agree upon any new
Coke price, the matter may be submitted to the dispute resolution procedure set
forth in Section 4.3. During any such negotiations or dispute resolution
procedures, the previously agreed to or established Coke price shall continue to
be charged by Seller and paid by Buyer; however, any new Coke price agreed to by
the parties or established through dispute resolution procedures shall be
effective on, and, if necessary, applied retroactively to the later of (x) the
date of the notice of changed circumstances, or (y) July 1 of the calendar year
in which such notice of changed circumstances is provided (including application
of the Late Payment Rate to any adjustment).

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Notwithstanding anything set forth herein, neither Seller nor Buyer shall have
any right to submit a notice of changed circumstances pursuant to this Section
2.4(d) more often than once during the term of this Agreement.

        (e) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 2.4, Seller
shall comply with Section 2.11.

        (f) To the extent legally permissible, all present and future taxes
imposed by any federal, state, local or foreign authority which [***] may be
required to pay or collect, upon or with reference to the sale, purchase,
transportation, delivery, storage, use or consumption of Coke, including taxes
upon or measured by the receipts therefrom (except net income and equity
franchise taxes), shall be for account of [***].

        2.5 Storage.

        If, for reasons other than those excused due to events of Force Majeure
under Section 4.17, Buyer is unable to accept deliveries of Coke in accordance
with the schedule, or unexpectedly requires less Coke than as specified in
Buyer's Monthly Delivery Schedule or Amended Delivery Schedule under Section
2.2(b), Buyer may request in writing that Seller effectuate an alternate
disposition of the affected quantities of Coke, and if Seller consents, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, such Coke shall be handled as set
forth below. Deliveries of Alternate Coke pursuant to Sections 2.1(b)(i) and
(ii) shall not be subject to the provisions of this Section 2.5.

        (a) To the extent Seller is able to prior to the time such Coke needs to
be either loaded into railcars for shipment to the purchaser or alternatively
directed to stockpile in accordance with Section 2.5(b), below, Seller shall
assert commercially reasonable efforts to effectuate alternate sale(s) of such
Coke (which may, at Seller's sole discretion, include consumption in Seller's
own steelmaking operations). Any such sale shall be for Seller's account, and
Buyer shall be thereby relieved of its purchase obligation under this Agreement
to the extent of the quantities subject to such alternate sale(s); except that:

              (i)    if the price at which Seller effectuates the alternate sale
                     to a third party is less than the prevailing price of Coke
                     to Buyer hereunder, with respect to the quantity subject to
                     such sale, Buyer shall, in accordance with the procedures
                     set forth in Section 2.6 hereof, remit the difference in
                     price to Seller upon Seller's issuance of an invoice to
                     Buyer with respect to such sale; and

              (ii)   if the price at which Seller effectuates the alternate sale
                     to a third party is greater than the prevailing price of
                     Coke to Buyer hereunder, with respect to the quantity
                     subject to such sale, Seller shall remit the difference in
                     price to Buyer within 45 days of receiving payment for such
                     sale; and

              (iii)  if Seller consumes the Coke in its own steelmaking
                     operations, the price of such Coke shall be deemed the same
                     as the prevailing contract price applicable to Buyer
                     hereunder.

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        (b) If Seller is unable to effectuate alternate sale of such Coke in
accordance with clause (a) above, such quantities shall be delivered into a
separately established stockpile at Clairton Works that will contain only Coke
of Buyer. The stockpile shall be appropriately marked by Seller to reflect the
ownership thereof by Buyer. In the event that Buyer deems it advisable to file
Uniform Commercial Code financing statements for informational purposes
indicating the ownership interest of Buyer in the stockpiled Coke, Seller shall
upon request of Buyer execute such statements as are reasonably required by
Buyer. Buyer shall pay Seller for all Coke delivered into such stockpile, the
purchase price plus a stocking fee of $[***] per net ton, which fee covers
Seller's costs of stocking, de-stocking and screening the Coke and in-kind
replacement of screening losses at outturn. Said stocking fee shall be adjusted
from time to time by agreement of the parties, but no less often than annually,
to reflect Seller's actual costs of the aforementioned activities in stockpiling
Buyer's Coke. No other handling charges or ground rent associated with
stockpiling Buyer's Coke shall apply. Title and risk of loss or damage to such
Coke shall pass to Buyer upon delivery into stockpile, and Seller shall invoice
Buyer pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.6 hereof the purchase
price plus the stocking fee upon delivery into stockpile. Upon delivery to the
stockpile, Buyer shall provide Seller a good faith forecast of when the Coke
will be withdrawn from the stockpile, which event shall be no later than nine
months after delivery to the stockpile. Upon the request of Buyer, stockpiled
Coke shall be de-stocked, screened and loaded into railcars for shipment to
Lorain Works. Seller shall be responsible to meet quality Specifications of
Schedule A on Coke delivered to Buyer from stockpile only at the time it is
delivered into stockpile, except with respect to size. Seller shall retain fines
from the screening at outturn and reimburse Buyer a like quantity of Coke that
meets the size Specification. Weight of Coke loaded from stockpile shall be
adjusted to account for moisture variation between Coke entering and being
recovered from stockpile. Unless Buyer directs otherwise, once such Coke is
directed to stockpile as herein provided, Seller, as Buyer's agent, shall assert
commercially reasonable efforts on a regular basis to re-sell such stockpiled
Coke on Buyer's behalf and for Buyer's account, at such price(s) and upon such
terms and conditions as approved by Buyer. Any of Buyer's Coke remaining in the
stockpile ninety (90) days after the expiration or termination of this Agreement
shall be deemed abandoned to Seller, to be disposed of at Seller's discretion
and with no further obligation owed by Seller to Buyer; provided, however, that
Seller provides Buyer no less than 45 days prior written notice before the
stockpiled material may be deemed abandoned hereunder. Provided Buyer has
commenced reasonable, good faith efforts to arrange for removal of the stockpile
before it can be deemed abandoned, Seller shall not obstruct or delay Buyer's
efforts to remove the stockpiled material before it is deemed abandoned under
this Section.

        2.6 Invoices and Payment.

        (a) Seller shall invoice Buyer (as below provided), and Buyer shall pay
Seller via wire transfer, the net amount due per such invoices in accordance
with the payment provisions set forth in this Section 2.6.

        (b) Invoices shall be issued upon delivery of the coke in accordance
with Section 2.7(a) and the price shall the price as in effect at the time of
such delivery in accordance with Section 2.4.

        (c) Subject to Section 2.12 below, payment shall be made for coke
invoiced during each Settlement Period (as hereinafter defined) on the Payment
Date (as hereinafter defined). A

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<PAGE>

        "Settlement Period" shall be the period falling from [***] (the "First
Settlement Period") and the period from [***] ("the "Second Settlement Period").
On the day following each Settlement Period (i.e., [***]) (the "Settlement
Date"), Seller shall provide to Buyer a summary of all payments to be made on
the Payment Date consistent with the invoices issued in accordance with Section
2.5(b). The Payment Date for the First Settlement Period shall be on the
immediately succeeding [***] and the Payment date for the Second Settlement
Period shall be on the immediately succeeding [***]. In the event a Payment Date
falls on a holiday, the Payment Date shall be the day immediately following. Any
deliveries of coke (including without limitation Coke) for which an invoice is
not available prior to the otherwise applicable Settlement Date (e.g., due to
delays in the normal invoice cycle) and any corrected invoices will be settled
on the next Settlement Date.

        (d) Each partial delivery or installment of coke shall be deemed to be
sold under a separate agreement, and no Default by Seller of or with respect to
any partial delivery or installment shall entitle Buyer to treat this Agreement
as breached or repudiated in regard to any balance or installment with respect
to which there is no Default or breach.

        (e) Buyer shall make payment in full of the amount due under each
invoice in strict compliance with the payment terms as set forth in this
Agreement without any deduction for any discount or credits, contra or setoffs
of any kind or amount whatsoever unless expressly authorized in writing by
Seller prior to the Settlement Date relating to such invoice(s). Any delinquent
invoice(s) not paid when due shall bear interest on the unpaid amount at the
Late Payment Rate specified in this Agreement.

        (f) (i) Buyer agrees to furnish Seller's Treasury Department on an
ongoing basis (1) unaudited quarterly financial statements of its operations,
including income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements and borrowing
bases, all in substantially the form presented in its Business Plan, (2) audited
year-end financial statements and (3) such other financial data or information
as may be required to reasonably assure Seller of Buyer's continuing ability to
perform this Agreement and comply fully with its payment obligations at all
times as to both existing and future product shipments hereunder. For purposes
of this subsection (f), Seller confirms its obligations under that certain
Confidentiality Agreement dated as of August 16, 2002 by and between Seller and
Buyer. Any failure of Buyer to timely provide any of the documents or
information required by this paragraph shall be deemed a material breach of this
Agreement that entitles Seller to invoke any of the remedies available to Seller
under this Agreement and/or at law or in equity.

            (ii) Beginning on and continuing for each quarterly period after
January 1, 2003, Republic agrees to submit to Seller on a quarterly basis the
financial information noted in subsection (f) (i) above. Upon receipt of such
information, Seller agrees to make a comprehensive review of all such financial
information submitted to determine if, in Seller's sole judgment, there is a
basis to modify the [***] credit, payment and settlement terms as set forth in
subsection 2.6(c) above. Seller agrees to make this financial review in good
faith; provided, however, there is no assurance or obligation that such a review
will result in a modification of any such credit/payment/settlement terms. In
the event the parties agree to a modification to the credit/payment/settlement,
then the relevant, parallel provisions of the Pellet Supply Agreement, this Coke
Supply Agreement, and the Rounds Supply Agreement shall be amended accordingly
to reflect the agreed to modifications. The parties agree that this Section
2.6(f)(i) and (ii), or any dispute arising hereunder, shall be excluded

                                       10

<PAGE>

from Section 4.3 hereof.

        (g) In the event, in Seller's sole judgment, of any material adverse
change in the financial condition of Buyer, or deterioration in its liquidity
and/or then current ability to discharge its existing or future payment
obligations hereunder (a "Material Adverse Change"), Seller shall have the right
to require Buyer to provide additional security for its obligations hereunder.
The form, nature and sufficiency of such additional security shall be in
Seller's sole and absolute discretion. If Buyer does not provide such additional
security within 10 days of written notice from Seller that a Material Adverse
Change has occurred and that additional security is required, Seller may (i)
suspend further shipments of coke (including without limitation Coke) until such
additional security is provided, (ii) require Buyer to pay for future deliveries
of coke (including without limitation Coke) on a cash-on-delivery basis, or
(iii) immediately terminate this Agreement. Seller agrees that minor deviations
from the Business Plan will not be deemed to be a Material Adverse Change
hereunder unless such minor deviations continue for three or more consecutive
calendar months.

        2.7 Delivery, Title and Risk of Loss.

        (a) Delivery of Coke to Buyer shall take place F.O.B. railcar at
Seller's Clairton Works, or in such other manner or at such other place as shall
be agreed upon by the parties in writing prior to the shipment of Coke. Except
as otherwise provided in Section 2.5 with respect to Coke subject to alternate
disposition, title and risk of loss and damage to the Coke shall pass from
Seller to Buyer when the Coke is delivered in accordance with this Section 2.7.
Unless otherwise agreed to by Buyer, Seller shall use its best efforts to
schedule such deliveries of Coke in amounts and at intervals commensurate with
Lorain Works' rate of consumption. Delivery and the passing of risk of loss for
Alternate Coke shall be handled in accordance with the applicable terms and
conditions negotiated by Seller pursuant to the applicable provisions of
Sections 2.1(b)(i) and (ii).

        (b) Buyer shall arrange [***] all transportation hereunder of Coke from
Clairton Works to Lorain Works.

        2.8 Terms and Conditions of Sale.

        (a) In the event that any shipment of coke does not conform to the
applicable specifications, the party discovering the nonconformity shall provide
prompt written notice to the other party (and in any event, no later 14 days
after the arrival of the train) of the nonconformity, which notice shall include
copies of all analyses and other documentation describing and quantifying the
nonconformity, and the parties shall promptly undertake negotiations in good
faith to effectuate an appropriate disposition of the nonconforming material,
which may include an equitable price adjustment. In the event that the parties
are unable to agree to an appropriate disposition of the nonconforming material
within fourteen (14) days, either party may submit such dispute for resolution
in accordance with Section 4.3 hereof.

        (b) In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and the terms or conditions contained in any notice, shipment,
specifications, purchase order, sales order, acknowledgement or other document
which may be used in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall supersede and

                                       11

<PAGE>

govern, unless expressly waived in accordance with Section 4.16.

        2.9 Warranty.

        (a) Seller warrants that all Coke sold by Seller hereunder will conform
to the Specifications. OTHER THAN AS AFORESAID, SELLER MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY
KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR OTHERWISE ARE HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED BY
SELLER AND EXCLUDED HEREUNDER. Seller shall not be liable for any incidental or
consequential damages, losses or expenses based upon, resulting from, or arising
out of any use of, or the inability to use, the coke for any purpose whatsoever.

        (b) Without limiting the generality of Section 2.9(a), Seller makes no
warranty with respect to and shall have no liability to Buyer in any case where
Coke satisfies the Specifications. If Coke does not satisfy the Specifications
but reasonably can be used by Buyer, then price adjustments shall be made in
accordance with Schedule A. [***]

        (c) With respect to Alternate Coke, Seller does not extend to Buyer any
warranties, express or implied, except any warranties provided by the supplier
of such coke as Seller may assign to Buyer.

        2.10 Freeze-Conditioning.

        At Buyer's request, Seller shall apply a freeze-conditioning product in
a satisfactory and workman-like manner to coke shipped hereunder. Buyer shall
notify Seller in writing of Buyer's desired start and stop dates concerning
freeze-conditioning of coke in the upcoming winter. Invoicing and payment of the
costs incurred by Seller in freeze-conditioning coke ordered hereunder shall be
made in accordance with Section 2.6 hereof; provided, however, that Seller
reserves the right to separately invoice for the freeze-conditioning on a
monthly basis and the invoiced amount shall be paid by Buyer on the next Payment
Date after issuance of such invoice.

        2.11 Most Favored Customer.

        If, during the term of this Agreement, Seller or 1314B sells and/or
agrees to sell Coke of similar or better specifications in similar quantities to
any third party, under substantially similar circumstances and conditions, at
prices and/or upon terms and/or conditions which are more favorable than those
effective pursuant to this Agreement, then Seller shall immediately notify Buyer
and offer to extend to Buyer under this Agreement such more favorable prices,
terms and/or conditions.

        2.12 Cross-Default; Setoff; Right to Substitute New Terms

        (a) Any Default by Republic under the Pellet Supply Agreement, the
Rounds Agreement or the Services Agreement shall be deemed a Default of Republic
under this Agreement.

                                       12

<PAGE>

        (b) Only in the event of a payment Default, which is defined as any
failure by Republic at any time to make a payment in full when due under Section
2.6 of this Agreement, Section 2.5 of the Pellet Supply Agreement and/or Section
3.2 of the Services Agreement (for any reason other than exercising its rights
upon a payment Default by LPM or USS), LPM and/or USS may (i) defer payment of
any amounts due Republic under the Rounds Supply Agreement and/or the Services
Agreement until such time as any and all delinquent amounts due and owing USS
and/or LPM under this Agreement, the Pellet Supply Agreement and/or the Services
Agreement (the "Delinquent Amount") are paid, and/or (ii) deliver to Republic a
`Notice of Intent to Effect Set-off.' Provided that Republic has not remitted to
USS the Delinquent Amount within 5 days of Republic's receipt of the Notice of
Intent to Effect Set-off, LPM and/or USS may, on the 5th day following the
delivery of such Notice of Intent to Effect Set-off, set-off the Delinquent
Amount against the amounts owed by LPM and/or USS to Republic under the Rounds
Supply Agreement and/or the Services Agreement as of the date of such Notice. If
the Delinquent Amount is not paid in full within 10 days following the delivery
of such Notice of Intent to Effect Set-off, USS shall have the right to suspend
further shipments of Pellets to Buyer until the Delinquent Amount (including any
other delinquent amounts owed to USS and/or LPM under this Agreement, the Pellet
Supply Agreement and/or the Services Agreement that accrue after issuance of the
Notice) are paid in full. Interest on the Delinquent Amount shall accrue at the
Late Payment Rate specified in this Agreement.

        (c) In the event that the aggregate amounts due USS in connection with
Republic's purchases of coke (including without limitation Coke) hereunder and
Republic's purchases of Pellets under the Pellet Supply Agreement at any time
exceed by $1,000,000 or more the amount due Republic in connection with USS's
purchases of Rounds under the Rounds Supply Agreement (the "Excess"), Republic
shall remit to USS an amount equal to the Excess within three days of the
Settlement Date immediately succeeding the date that such Excess occurs. If the
Excess is not paid in full by such date, USS shall have the right to withhold
and/or setoff against the Excess any amounts due from USS to Republic under the
Services Agreement. If the Excess is not paid in full within 10 days of such
Settlement Date, USS shall have the right to suspend further shipments of coke
(including without limitation Coke) to Buyer until the Excess is paid in full;
provided, that Seller agrees not to suspend such shipments during such time so
long as payment on deliveries of coke (including without limitation Coke) is
made by Buyer on a cash-on-delivery basis. Interest on the Excess shall accrue
at the Late Payment Rate specified in this Agreement.

        (d) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary (including
without limitation the provisions of Section 2.6 hereof), in the event that (i)
LPM ceases operations at the Pipemill either on a temporary or permanent basis,
(ii) USS sells or otherwise transfers (or enters into an agreement to sell or
transfer) ownership of the Pipemill assets or operations to a third party, or
(iii) USS's purchases of Rounds under the Rounds Supply Agreement and/or
utilities under the Services Agreement are reduced for any reason such that the
Excess exceeds $1,000,000 in three consecutive Settlement Periods, then USS
shall have the right to substitute new or revised payment terms and conditions
for the payment terms which are then in effect hereunder such that payments due
by Buyer to USS hereunder remain secured at all times.

        (e) Republic hereby agrees to continue to perform fully its obligations
hereunder and under the Rounds Supply Agreement, the Pellet Supply Agreement and
the Services Agreement notwithstanding the exercise by USS of any of its rights
hereunder or under Section 2.6.

                                       13

<PAGE>

                       ARTICLE III - TERM AND TERMINATION

        3.1 Term.

        This Agreement shall be effective as of the date set forth in the
preamble hereto and shall remain in full force and effect through [***]:

              (i)    By written mutual consent of the parties at any time;

              (ii)   By either party if USS permanently ceases production of
                     Coke at Clairton Works or Republic ceases to operate the
                     Lorain Works; provided, that Republic or USS, as the case
                     may be, will give the other immediate notice if it intends
                     to cease, or anticipates cessation of, such production or
                     operations;

              (iii)  By either party if the other party is in Default under any
                     of the provisions of this Agreement (except as otherwise
                     expressly provided in items (iv), (v) and (vi) below) and
                     fails to correct such Default within 60 days of written
                     notice of such Default;

              (iv)   By USS pursuant to Section 2.6(f) hereof in the case of a
                     Material Adverse Change;

              (v)    By USS if Republic, at any time, fails (A) to make any
                     payment when due under this Agreement, (B) to comply with
                     the applicable credit and/or payment terms (as established
                     or adjusted hereunder) or (C) to provide the financial
                     statements and information pursuant to Section 2.6(g)
                     hereof; or

              (vi)   By Republic, upon 90 days' prior written notice, if LPM
                     terminates the Rounds Supply Agreement for any reason other
                     than Default of Republic thereunder.

In addition to the rights of USS to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
subsection (v) above, Seller shall have the right, upon the occurrence of any of
the events set forth therein, (X) to suspend production and/or refuse to make
further shipments or deliveries of coke (including without limitation Coke) or
otherwise suspend its further performance under this Agreement or (Y) to declare
immediately due and payable all then outstanding and unpaid invoices covering
coke (including without limitation Coke) previously delivered hereunder.

As used herein, "Default" means failure of either party to perform, keep or
observe any material obligation, provision, warranty or condition contained
herein, unless such performance is otherwise excused by the terms of this
Agreement.

        3.2 Termination.

        Seller and Buyer agree that upon and after termination of this
Agreement:

                                       14

<PAGE>

              (i)    All Monthly Delivery Schedules or Amended Monthly Delivery
                     Schedules given that are binding in accordance with the
                     terms hereof, previously accepted by Seller hereunder, and
                     Buyer's obligation to pay for such deliveries made, shall
                     continue in full force and effect.

              (ii)   Buyer shall remain obligated to make any payment due to
                     Seller hereunder prior to termination.

              (iii)  Liabilities of any party arising from any act, Default or
                     occurrence prior to termination shall remain with such
                     party.

              (iv)   The parties' rights and obligations under Sections 2.6,
                     2.9, 2.10, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.14,
                     4.17 and this Article III shall survive the termination of
                     this Agreement.

                           ARTICLE IV - MISCELLANEOUS

        4.1 Intent of Agreement.

        The parties hereto intend that they shall mutually benefit from the
terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement and that no party shall be
either unreasonably enriched or unreasonably harmed by any implementation and/or
interpretation of said terms, conditions and provisions. This Agreement shall be
administered and interpreted in order to fulfill the intent stated in this
Section 4.1. Any arbitrator(s) considering disputes pursuant to Section 4.3
hereof shall attempt to render a decision which fulfills the intent stated in
this Section 4.1.

        4.2 Payment Errors.

        (a) If either Buyer or Seller believes that there has been an error in
an amount paid or the timing of any payment hereunder, then such party shall
notify the other party of such alleged error and shall provide such written
evidence of the error as is available at the time of such notice. Each party
shall provide the other with sufficient records relating to the matter so as to
permit the parties to attempt to resolve the inconsistency.

        (b) Following the determination of whether an error occurred, any
overpayment or underpayment found shall be remedied by the party that benefited
from such error.

        (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither party may question the
accuracy, correctness, timing or amount of any payment under this Agreement
unless it notifies the other party of its disagreement within the 12 months
immediately following the date on which such payment was due.

        4.3 Dispute Resolution.

        At any time and from time to time, if the parties are unable to resolve
a dispute concerning Buyer's or Seller's performance or nonperformance of their
obligations under this Agreement

                                       15

<PAGE>

(excepting any disputes excluded herefrom), Buyer or Seller, as the case may be,
shall provide written notice to the other of such dispute as provided in Section
4.9 hereof. It is mutually agreed that any Default by Buyer in its payment
obligations hereunder (or any dispute relating thereto), and/or any dispute
relating to USS's exercise of its rights under Section 2.11 hereof shall not be
subject to (and are excluded from) the provisions of this Section 4.3; it being
agreed that any such excluded disputes (as aforesaid) shall be pursued and
adjudicated by the parties in a court of competent jurisdiction. Any dispute
covered by this Section 4.3 shall be resolved by using the procedures for
Mediation and Arbitration set forth below:

        (a) Mediation. At any time after a party has provided a written notice
of dispute to the other party, but prior to the time that either party commences
arbitration pursuant to Article 4.3(b) herein, the parties may agree to submit
the dispute to non-binding mediation under terms and conditions satisfactory to
both parties.

        (b) Arbitration. At any time after a party has provided a written notice
of dispute to the other party, including at any time during any non-binding
mediation agreed to by the parties, either party may submit the matter in
dispute to a pre-designated arbitrator or, in the event such arbitrator has not
been selected or is unavailable, to a three member arbitral panel to which each
Party shall appoint one member and those two members shall appoint a third
member. Such arbitration shall be governed by the CPR Rules for Non-Administered
Arbitration of Business Disputes. Pending the issuance of an arbitral decision,
the Parties shall continue their full and normal operations and obligations in
accordance with this Agreement. All arbitral awards for the payment of money
and/or for any retroactive adjustment of any interim prices paid hereunder shall
accrue interest at the Late Payment Rate starting from the date on which any
amount is due or the date on which the interim payment was due.

        (c) Consent to Enforceability.Each of the Parties consents and agrees
that any arbitral award rendered pursuant to Subsection 4.3(b) shall be final,
non-appealable and binding against the Parties and their respective assets, and
may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction.

        4.4 Records.

        Seller shall maintain such detailed and accurate records relating to the
sales of coke, adjustment of railcar light weights and freeze-conditioning
hereunder as shall be necessary for the calculation of amounts payable under
Sections 2.6 and 2.10. At all times on or before the date that is 12 months
after the date of termination of this Agreement, representatives of Buyer and
its auditors shall be entitled, at Buyer's expense, to inspect and audit such
records and accounts and to consult with Seller's personnel in a reasonable,
non-intrusive manner upon reasonable notice and during business hours. Seller
shall have the right to require that any audit be conducted by a mutually
agreeable independent auditor and that the details of the information examined
in such audit be kept confidential from Buyer, except to the extent necessary to
resolve any controversy that is pursued in good faith. Such audit expense shall
be borne by Buyer.

        4.5 Confidentiality.

        (a) Buyer and Seller acknowledge that all information about the
businesses, properties,

                                       16

<PAGE>

finances, prospects, marketing, processes, products, methods, computer programs,
procedures, machinery, apparatus or trade secrets owned, or held or used
(including under license from or agreement with third parties) by the other that
is disclosed to Buyer or Seller, as the case may be, during the course of
performing its obligations under this Agreement is the property of, and is
proprietary and confidential to the disclosing party (the "Proprietary
Information").

        (b) Buyer and Seller agree that they shall use reasonable efforts not to
make any disclosure of the other's Proprietary Information (including methods or
concepts utilized therein other than those commonly known to professionals in
the field) to any person other than officers, employees and agents of and
consultants to Buyer or Seller to whom such disclosure is necessary or
convenient for performance of its obligations hereunder and except as may be
required by applicable legal requirements or by a court of competent
jurisdiction. Buyer and Seller shall appropriately notify each officer,
employee, agent and consultant to whom any such disclosure of the other's
Proprietary Information is made that such disclosure is made in confidence and
shall be kept in confidence by such Person.

        (c) Each of Buyer and Seller agrees to use diligent efforts in
accordance with customary and reasonable commercial practice and at least with
the same degree of skill and care that it would manifest in protection of its
own proprietary and confidential property to protect the other's Proprietary
Information.

        (d) Each of Buyer and Seller agrees to notify the other immediately in
the event that it becomes aware of the unauthorized possession or use of the
other's Proprietary Information (or any part thereof) by any third Person,
including any of its officers, employees, agents or consultants. Each of Buyer
and Seller further agrees to cooperate with the other in connection with its
efforts to terminate or prevent such unauthorized possession or use of such
Proprietary Information. Seller or Buyer, as the case may be, shall pay the
nonproprietary party's reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in so cooperating,
unless the unauthorized possession or use of the Proprietary Information
resulted from the fault or negligence of such nonproprietary party.

        (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
obligation of Buyer and Seller to maintain the confidentiality of the other's
Proprietary Information shall not apply to any portion of such Proprietary
Information that:

              (i)    was in the public domain at the time of Buyer's or Seller's
                     disclosure to the other;

              (ii)   enters the public domain through no fault of the
                     nonproprietary party;

              (iii)  was communicated to the nonproprietary party by a third
                     party free of any obligation of confidence known to the
                     nonproprietary party; or

              (iv)   was developed by officers, employees or agents of or
                     consultants to the nonproprietary party independently of
                     and without reference to the Proprietary Information;

                                       17

<PAGE>

provided, however, that Proprietary Information which is specific shall not be
considered to be within the exception provided by this Section 4.5(e) merely
because it is embraced by general information in the public domain; provided,
further, that any combination of features within the Proprietary Information
shall not be deemed within such exception merely because individual features are
within the public domain, but only if the combination itself is within the
public domain.

        4.6 Severability.

        In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement is
adjudged to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall
not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, except to the extent necessary
to avoid an unjust or inequitable result.

        4.7 Rights and Remedies; No Consequential Damages.

        The rights and remedies granted under this Agreement shall not be
exclusive but shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies available at
law or in equity, including, but not limited to, claims for breach of contract,
except that Buyer and Seller agree that in no event shall either party be liable
to the other for any indirect, special or consequential damages or lost profits
as a result of a breach of any provision of this Agreement.

        4.8 Costs and Expenses.

        Each of Buyer and Seller shall bear its own expenses incurred in
connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement.

        4.9 Notices.

        All notices or other communications required or permitted by this
Agreement shall be effective upon receipt and shall be in writing and (i)
personally delivered, or (ii) mailed by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, or (iii) sent by overnight delivery service which provides
proof of delivery, or (iv) sent by telecopy, with a duplicate copy sent via
first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

            If to Seller:

               UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
               600 Grant Street
               Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-2800
               Attention: Director - Raw Materials P. P. D. & S.
               Telephone:  (412) 433-3620
               Facsimile:  (412) 433-3624

            If to Buyer:

               REPUBLIC ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LLC

                                       18

<PAGE>

               3770 Embassy Parkway
               Akron, Ohio 44333-8367
               Attention:   Vice President of Purchasing
               Telephone:  (330) 670-3172
               Facsimile: (330-670-7006)

or to such other address as hereafter shall be furnished as provided in this
Section 4.9 by either of the parties hereto to the other.

        4.10 Assignment.

        (a) Except as provided in Section 4.10(c), neither party can without the
prior written consent of the other assign any of its rights or benefits or
delegate any of its duties or obligations under this Agreement, and any
attempted assignment or delegation which is not permitted under Section 4.10(c)
shall be null, void and without effect; provided, however, that Buyer may grant
a security interest in Buyer's rights, benefits, duties and obligations under
this Agreement without the consent of Seller. Buyer shall provide Seller written
notice of the granting or revision of any such security interest.

        (b) The rights, benefits, duties and obligations of each party hereto
shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, any successors, assigns or
delegates permitted under Section 4.10(c).

        (c) Either party hereto may delegate any of its duties or obligations
under this Agreement to any person, but except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement such party shall remain liable for the full performance of such duties
and obligations. Either party hereto may assign or delegate any of its rights,
benefits, duties or obligations hereunder (i) to any person if it has received
the prior written consent of the other party, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, (ii) to its legal successor if it
merges (whether or not it is the surviving corporation) or consolidates with one
or more other corporations or (iii) to any person to whom either party has made
any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of (A) all or substantially all
of its assets, or (B) the consuming facility in the case of Buyer or the
producing facility in the case of Seller; provided, however, that neither party
may make an assignment or delegation described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above
unless there are delivered to the other party such written assumptions,
affirmations and/or legal opinions as such other party may reasonably request to
preserve its rights and remedies under this Agreement.

        4.11 Counterparts.

        This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute a
single instrument.

        4.12 Entire Agreement.

        This Agreement (including the Schedules hereto) sets forth the entire
understanding and agreement between the parties as to the matters covered herein
and supersedes and replaces any prior understanding, agreement or statement of
intent, in each case written or oral.

                                       19

<PAGE>

        4.13 Headings.

        The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and do not modify or affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

        4.14 Governing Law.

        This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and
governed by, the internal laws of the State of Ohio.

        4.15 No Third Party Rights.

        This Agreement is intended to be solely for the benefit of the parties
hereto and is not intended to confer any benefits upon, or create any rights in
favor of, any Person other than the parties hereto, except as expressly provided
to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement.

        4.16 Waiver and Amendments.

        No waiver shall be deemed to have been made by either party of any of
its rights under this Agreement unless the same shall be in a writing that
expressly refers to this Section 4.16 and is signed on its behalf by its
authorized officer. Any such waiver shall constitute a waiver only with respect
to the specific matter described in such writing and shall in no way impair the
rights of the party granting such waiver in any other respect or at any other
time. This Agreement shall not be amended or modified except by an instrument in
writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought.

        4.17 Force Majeure.

        (a) Except for obligations to make payments hereunder, neither party
hereto shall be liable for any failure to perform the terms of the Agreement
when such failure is due to Force Majeure. "Force Majeure" means acts of God,
strikes, lockouts, or other labor disputes or disturbances, civil disturbances,
arrests and restraint from rulers or people, interruptions or terminations by or
as a result of government or court action or orders, or present and future valid
orders of any regulatory body having jurisdiction, acts of the public enemy,
wars, riots, blockades, insurrections, inability to secure or delay in securing
labor or materials by reason of allocations promulgated by authorized
governmental agencies, epidemics, landslides, lightning, earthquakes, fire,
storm, floods, washouts, explosions, breakdowns or accidents, inability to
obtain transportation services, or any other cause, whether of the kind
enumerated or otherwise, not reasonably within the control of the party claiming
Force Majeure. The Force Majeure shall, so far as possible, be remedied with all
reasonable dispatch. The settlement of strikes or lockouts or other labor
disputes or disturbances shall be entirely within the discretion of the party
having the difficulty, and the above requirement that any Force Majeure shall be
remedied with all reasonable dispatch shall not require the settlement of
strikes, lockouts, or labor disputes or disturbances by acceding to the demands
of any opposing party therein when such

                                       20

<PAGE>

course is inadvisable in the discretion of the party having the difficulty.

        (b) The party whose performance is affected or who has reason to believe
such performance may be affected by reason of Force Majeure shall as promptly as
possible give notice thereof to the other party and shall confirm such notice in
writing if requested, giving the particulars of the event, including supporting
documentation if available. The party so affected shall also take reasonable
steps to resume performance hereunder with the least possible delay.

                         [Signatures on following page]

                                       21

<PAGE>

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed and delivered to be
effective as of the date first above written.

                    UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

                    By:                 /s/ R.M. Efkeman

                    Name:             R. M. Efkeman
                             ----------------------------------------------

                    Title:            Director, Raw Materials P.P.D.& S.
                             ----------------------------------------------

                    REPUBLIC ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LLC

                    By:                 /s/ J.T. Kuntz

                    Name:             J. T. Kuntz
                             ----------------------------------------------

                    Title:            V.P., Integrated Supply Chain Management
                                 ----------------------------------------------

                                       22

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A

                    2002 CLAIRTON COKE QUALITY SPECIFICATIONS

                        REPUBLIC ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LLC

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
---------------------------------- ----------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------- ------------------
            Parameter               Typical        Penalty       Rejection            Penalty                     Frequency
                                                 Range/Limit
---------------------------------- ----------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------- ------------------
<S>                                   <C>        <C>    <C>      <C>                <C>                         <C>
Stability, %                          60.5       58.0 - 57.0     less than 57.0     [***]                       Each lot
---------------------------------- ----------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------- ------------------
Moisture, %                           2.5        2.5 - 10.0      greater than 10.0  [***]                       Each lot
---------------------------------- ----------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------- ------------------
Ash, % (D.B.)                         8.1         8.8 - 9.0      greater than 9.0   [***]                       Each lot
---------------------------------- ----------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------- ------------------
Sulfur, % (D.B.)                      0.80       0.90 - 0.94     greater than 0.94  [***]                       Each lot
---------------------------------- ----------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------- ------------------
Volatile Matter, % (D.B.)             0.80       1.00 - 1.20     greater than 1.20  [***]                       Each lot
---------------------------------- ----------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------- ------------------
Phosphorous, % P2O5 in coke ash      0.024           N/a            n/a             [***]                       Monthly
---------------------------------- ----------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------- ------------------
Potassium, % K2O in coke ash         0.151     greater than 0.170   n/a             [***]                       Monthly
---------------------------------- ----------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------- ------------------
CSR                                   58.0           N/a            n/a             [***]                       Monthly
---------------------------------- ----------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------- ------------------
+ 4 inch                               0             N/a         greater than 4.0   [***]                               "
---------------------------------- ----------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------- ------------------
+ 3 inch cumulative                    10            N/a            n/a             [***]                               "
---------------------------------- ----------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------- ------------------
+2 inch cumulative                     52            N/a         less than 45.0     [***]                               "
---------------------------------- ----------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------- ------------------
+1 inch cumulative                     94            N/a            n/a             [***]                               "
---------------------------------- ----------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------- ------------------
+ 3/4inch cumulative                   97.5       96.0 - 94.0    less than 94.0     [***]                               "
---------------------------------- ----------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------- ------------------
</TABLE>

Comments:

o    "DB" designates "Dry Basis" as defined by ASTM. All other analyses reported
     according to ASTM Standards and / or guidelines.

o    The term "Each Lot" refers to daily shipments.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Accepted by:
<S>                                                           <C>
Republic Engineered Products, LLC                              United States Steel Corporation

Name:                                                          Name:
       ------------------------------------                           --------------------------------------

Title:  V.P., Integrated Supply Chain Management               Title:  Director, Raw Materials

Date:                                                          Date:
       -------------------------------------------                    --------------------------------------
</TABLE><PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.12

CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED
UNDER C.F.R. SECTIONS
200.80(b)(4), 200.83 and 230.406

*** INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT
IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT REQUEST FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION

                             PELLET SUPPLY AGREEMENT

                                 by and between

                         UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

                                       and

                        REPUBLIC ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LLC

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                  <C>
ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS ...........................................................  1

ARTICLE II - PELLET SALES .........................................................  3
         2.1      Quantities. .....................................................  3
         2.2      Forecasts. ......................................................  4
         2.3      Declarations:  2004 Shipping Season. ............................  5
         2.4      Prices. .........................................................  5
         2.5      Invoices and Payment. ...........................................  9
         2.6      Delivery, Title and Risk of Loss:  Bailment Period. .............  11
         2.7      Delivery, Title and Risk of Loss:  2004 Shipping Season. ........  14
         2.8      Terms and Conditions of Sale. ...................................  14
         2.9      Warranty. .......................................................  14
         2.10     Most Favored Customer. ..........................................  14
         2.11     Cross-Default; Setoff; Right to Substitute New Terms ............  15

ARTICLE III - TERM AND TERMINATION ................................................  16
         3.1      Term. ...........................................................  16
         3.2      Termination. ....................................................  16

ARTICLE IV - MISCELLANEOUS ........................................................  17
         4.1      Intent of Agreement. ............................................  17
         4.2      Payment Errors. .................................................  17
         4.3      Dispute Resolution. .............................................  17
         4.4      Records. ........................................................  18
         4.5      Confidentiality. ................................................  18
         4.6      Severability. ...................................................  19
         4.7      Rights and Remedies; No Consequential Damages. ..................  19
         4.8      Costs and Expenses. .............................................  19
         4.9      Notices. ........................................................  20
         4.10     Assignment. .....................................................  20
         4.11     Counterparts. ...................................................  21
         4.12     Headings. .......................................................  21
         4.13     Governing Law. ..................................................  21
         4.14     No Third Party Rights. ..........................................  21
         4.15     Waiver and Amendments. ..........................................  21
         4.16     Force Majeure. ..................................................  21
         4.17     Entire Agreement. ...............................................  22

SCHEDULE A:          2002 Quality Specification for Minntac Acid Pellets
SCHEDULE B:          2002 Quality Specification for Minntac USS Fluxtac Pellets
SCHEDULE C:          2002 Quality Specification for Wabush 2.0% Mn Pellets
SCHEDULE D:          [***]
SCHEDULE E:          Bailment - Form 1
SCHEDULE F:          Bailment - Form 2
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                             PELLET SUPPLY AGREEMENT

         THIS PELLET SUPPLY AGREEMENT, made effective as of August 16, 2002 (the
"Effective Date"), by and between REPUBLIC ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company ("Buyer" or "Republic") and UNITED STATES STEEL
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Seller" or "USS").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Buyer desires to obtain a reliable source for its requirements
for Pellets (as defined herein) for use at its Lorain Works steelmaking facility
located near Lorain, Ohio; and

         WHEREAS, Seller desires to supply Buyer's requirements for Pellets; and

         WHEREAS, Buyer and Seller wish to enter into this Pellet Supply
Agreement (this "Agreement") setting forth, inter alia, the terms and conditions
relating to Seller's agreement to sell to Buyer, and Buyer's agreement to
purchase from Seller, Pellets, all upon and subject to the terms and conditions
herein provided.

         NOW, THEREFORE, Buyer and Seller hereby agree as follows:

                             ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS

         As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth
below:

         "Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned in the Recitals hereto.

         "Alternate Acid Pellets" means acid pellets acquired by Seller from a
third party for resale to Buyer hereunder.

         "Alternate Fluxed Pellets" means fluxed pellets acquired by Seller from
a third party for resale to Buyer hereunder.

         "Bailment Period" means the period from the Effective Date through the
end of the 2003 Shipping Season.

         "Business Plan" means Republic's five-year business plan as presented
to USS on August 14, 2002.

         "Buyer" shall have the meaning assigned in the preamble hereto.

         "Coke" shall have the meaning set forth in the Coke Supply Agreement.

         "Coke Supply Agreement" means the Coke Supply Agreement of even date
herewith by and between Buyer and Seller.

         "Consumption Adjustment Report" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto
in Section 2.6(g).

         "Daily Consumption Report" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in
Section 2.6(g).

         "Default" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 3.1.

         "Effective Date" shall have the meaning assigned in the preamble
hereto.

<PAGE>

         "Eastern Canadian Price" means [***].

         "Force Majeure" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 4.16.

         "High Mn Pellets" means Canadian produced high manganese acid pellets
meeting the specifications set forth in Schedule C, as amended from time to time
by Seller, subject to the consent of Buyer, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld.

         "Lorain Pipe Mills" or "LPM" means USS Tubular Products Division's
pipe/tubemaking facility in Lorain, Ohio .

         "Lorain Works" means Buyer's steelmaking facility in Lorain, Ohio.

         "Late Payment Rate" means [***].

         "Material Adverse Change" shall have the meaning assigned in Section
2.5(g).

         "Minntac" means Seller's acid and fluxed taconite ore pellet producing
facility in Mt. Iron, Minnesota.

         "Minntac Acid Pellets" means taconite pellets produced at Seller's
Minntac facility meeting the Specifications set forth in Schedule A, as amended
from time to time by Seller, subject to the consent of Buyer, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld.

         "Minntac Fluxed Pellets" means taconite pellets produced at Seller's
Minntac facility meeting the Specifications set forth in Schedule B, as amended
from time to time by Seller, subject to the consent of Buyer, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld.

         "Navigation Date" means the date of the official seasonal opening of
navigating routes required for lake transportation from Duluth, Minnesota to
Lorain Works, which event typically occurs on or about March 25.

         "Payment Date" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 2.5(c).

         "Pellets" means ore pellets, either acid or fluxed as specified by
Buyer, produced by Seller at its Minntac Plant or otherwise acquired by Seller,
which meet the Specifications.

         "Person" means any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm,
corporation, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or
government or political subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality
thereof.

         "Product Price" means [***].

         "Proprietary Information" shall have the meaning assigned in Section
4.5(a).

         "Republic" shall have the meaning assigned in the preamble hereto.

         "Rounds" shall have the meaning assigned in the Rounds Supply
Agreement.

         "Rounds Supply Agreement" means the Rounds Supply Agreement of even
date herewith by and

                                       2

<PAGE>

among Buyers, Lorain Pipe Mill, an unincorporated unit of Seller's Tubular
Products Division and USS.

         "Seller" shall have the meaning assigned in the preamble hereto.

         "Services Agreement" means the Administrative and Utility Services
Agreement dated August 16, 2002 by and between Buyer and Lorain Pipe Mill, an
unincorporated unit of Seller's Tubular Products Division.

         "Settlement Date" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 2.5(c).

         "Settlement Period" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 2.5(c).

         "Shipping Season" means: (a) for 2002, that period extending from
August 16, 2002 through the day immediately prior to the 2003 calendar year
Navigation Date; (b) for 2003, that period extending from the 2003 calendar year
Navigation Date through the day immediately prior to the 2004 calendar year
Navigation Date; and (c) for 2004, that period extending from the 2004 calendar
year Navigation Date through December 31, 2004.

         "Specifications" means the qualities, sizes, conditions and other
specifications for Minntac Acid Pellets as set forth on Schedule A; for Minntac
Fluxed Pellets as set forth on Schedule B; and for High Mn Pellets as set forth
on Schedule C, as such Schedules are amended from time to time by Seller,
subject to the consent of Buyer, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.

         "Storage Piles" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 2.5(a).

         "Ton," "net ton" and "NT" each means 2,000 pounds avoirdupois in
weight.

         "Transportation Charge" shall have the meaning assigned in Section 2.4.

         "USS" shall have the meaning assigned in the preamble hereto.

                            ARTICLE II - PELLET SALES

         2.1 Quantities.

         (a) Subject to the terms hereof, Seller agrees to sell and deliver to
Buyer, and Buyer agrees to purchase and accept delivery of, all of Buyer's
requirements for Pellets, including High Mn Pellets, for consumption in one
blast furnace at Lorain Works, it being understood that Buyer has the right to
change production practices at Lorain Works so as to use natural iron ore rather
than Pellets; provided, that Buyer may not substitute natural iron ore for
Pellets in excess of [***] of Buyer's normal annual requirements for Pellets
(including High Mn Pellets) in any Shipping Season. Seller shall also have a
right of first refusal (but not the obligation) to supply Buyer's requirements
for the second blast furnace at Lorain Works in the event Buyer operates both
blast furnaces simultaneously. In order to meet Buyer's requirements for Pellets
at Lorain Works, Seller may sell hereunder Minntac Acid Pellets, Minntac Fluxed
Pellets, Alternate Acid Pellets, Alternate Fluxed Pellets or High Mn Pellets;
provided, however, that Seller shall give Buyer prior written notice of any
delivery hereunder of any Alternate Acid Pellets or Alternate Fluxed Pellets,
and Buyer shall have the right to refuse delivery of such Alternate Acid Pellets
or Alternate Fluxed Pellets, if using such pellets would significantly increase
Lorain Works' operating costs, as determined in good faith by Buyer, subject to
review by Seller. Buyer may not resell or trade Pellets, except fines and/or
screenings, unless prior written consent is obtained from Seller. The total
quantity of High Mn Pellets purchased by Buyer

                                       3

<PAGE>

hereunder during any Shipping Season shall not exceed [***] of Buyer's total
requirements for Pellets during such Shipping Season.

         (b) In the event that Buyer changes production practices at Lorain
Works so as to use natural iron ore rather than Pellets (subject to the limit
set forth in Section 2.1(a) above), (i) Buyer will negotiate in good faith with
Seller with a view toward reaching an exclusive iron ore supply arrangement
based on market prices and conditions then prevailing, and (ii) before Buyer
enters any long-term natural iron ore supply arrangement with any third Person,
Seller shall have the right to enter an arrangement with Buyer matching such
third Person's offered prices and terms.

         (c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) above, from and after
September 1, 2004, Buyer may require that up to 600,000 Tons of its requirements
for Pellets be fulfilled with pellets purchased by Buyer from a third party
source; provided, that such pellets shall not be intended for consumption or
used by Buyer before January 1, 2005.

         2.2 Forecasts.

         (a) During the Bailment Period, Buyer shall provide to Seller, prior to
the end of each calendar month during the Bailment Period, a written forecast of
its consumption of Minntac Acid Pellets, Minntac Fluxed Pellets and High Mn
Pellets during the next three-month period (the "Consumption Forecast"), except
that the Consumption Forecasts to be issued during each of the months of
September, October and November of each of 2002 and 2003 shall forecast Buyer's
consumption of such pellets through the following March. Promptly upon execution
of this Agreement, Buyer shall provide Seller a Consumption Forecast for the
period from the date of execution of this Agreement by both parties to the next
Navigation Date. During the Bailment Period, Seller shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to schedule deliveries of Pellets to Buyer in amounts and at
intervals to allow Buyer to maintain in the Stock Piles on an ongoing basis an
approximate two-week supply of Pellets in accordance with Buyer's projected
requirements as reflected in Buyer's Consumption Forecast; provided, however,
that during the time period of mid-September through late December of each of
the 2002 and 2003 Shipping Seasons, consistent with Buyer's Consumption
Forecasts and in consultation with Buyer, Seller shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to schedule additional deliveries of Pellets to Buyer in
amounts and at intervals to allow Buyer to build the bailment Stock Piles to
such levels as to permit Buyer to continue operations using only the Stock Piles
during the time that the navigating routes required for lake transportation from
Duluth, Minnesota to Lorain Works are closed (from approximately mid-December
until the Navigation Date).

         (b) With respect to the 2004 Shipping Season, no later than November
15, 2003 Buyer shall provide to Seller a written forecast of the quantity of
Minntac Acid Pellets, Minntac Fluxed Pellets and High Mn Pellets which it
anticipates consuming in its blast furnace(s) during the 2004 Shipping Season;
provided, however, that Buyer shall provide Seller with a supplement updating
its annual forecast if, at any time during the 2004 Shipping Season, such
forecast changes materially. It is understood that Buyer's 2004 Shipping Season
forecast provided in accordance with this Section 2.2(b) is for the purpose of
facilitating production, scheduling and delivery of Pellets during the 2004
Shipping Season and is not binding upon Buyer. Buyer shall purchase its
requirements for Pellets during the 2004 Shipping Season in accordance with the
declaration procedures set forth in Section 2.3 below.

         (c) It is expressly understood and agreed that Seller shall not be
deemed in breach of this Agreement in connection with any failure to provide
adequate supplies of Pellets to satisfy Buyer's requirements caused by Buyer's
failure to submit any of the Consumption Forecasts as required by Section
2.2(a), the 2004 Shipping Season forecast as required by Section 2.2(b), or any
of the Quarterly Declarations, Monthly Delivery Schedules or Amended Monthly
Delivery Schedules as required by Section 2.3, in a timely and reasonably
accurate and detailed manner.

                                       4

<PAGE>

         2.3 Declarations: 2004 Shipping Season.

         (a) On or before the first day of March, June and September of the 2004
Shipping Season, Buyer shall submit to Seller a written declaration (hereinafter
"Quarterly Declaration") setting forth the quantity and type and the requested
monthly delivery schedule (hereinafter "Monthly Delivery Schedule"), for
Pellets, if any, to be delivered during each month in the next succeeding
calendar quarter. Buyer agrees to use reasonable efforts to schedule Pellets for
delivery at as uniform a rate as practicable from month to month; provided,
however, that in no event will Buyer be obligated to disrupt its normal course
of business or incur any additional expense in exerting such efforts. No later
than 15 days prior to the beginning of each month during each such calendar
quarter, Buyer may, by written notice to Seller, amend the Monthly Delivery
Schedule for such month as set forth in Buyer's Quarterly Declaration, so that
the quantity of Pellets to be delivered during such month is up to 20% greater
or up to 20% lesser than the quantity in the Monthly Delivery Schedule as set
forth in Buyer's Quarterly Declaration (hereinafter "Amended Monthly Delivery
Schedule"); provided, however, that any such changes shall be proportionately
spread across all pellet types contained in Buyer's initial Monthly Delivery
Schedule and shall be compatible with full vessel quantity deliveries as
required hereunder, unless the parties agree, in writing, to a different
allocation of the change. The total quantity of Pellets in Buyer's Monthly
Delivery Schedules or Amended Monthly Delivery Schedules, if any, made pursuant
to this paragraph shall be the binding purchase and sale commitments of Buyer
and Seller, respectively, under this Agreement for the applicable month. It is
recognized by the parties that deliveries of Pellets hereunder shall be made
during the 2004 Shipping Season. All requests for changes in a Monthly Delivery
Schedule or Amended Monthly Delivery Schedule, that are received less than 15
days prior to the beginning of the month (i) shall be subject to acceptance or
rejection by Seller and (ii) shall not be binding on Seller until accepted.

         (b) Within seven business days of Seller's receipt of any Quarterly
Declaration (including the Monthly Delivery Schedule) or any Amended Monthly
Delivery Schedule from Buyer, Seller shall send Buyer a written acknowledgement
of its receipt of the Quarterly Declaration or Amended Monthly Delivery
Schedule. Any proposed changes by Seller from Buyer's written Quarterly
Declaration or any Amended Monthly Delivery Schedule, shall be negotiated by the
parties before acknowledgement. If Seller has the right to reject all or any
portion of such Quarterly Declaration or Amended Monthly Delivery Schedule
pursuant to Section 2.3(a), Seller's written acknowledgement shall identify the
basis for any such rejection. Seller's notices of acknowledgement shall set
forth the quantity and type of Pellets Seller will deliver to Buyer and the
anticipated delivery schedule.

         2.4 Prices.

         (a) For Pellets delivered hereunder during the 2002 Shipping Season,
Buyer shall pay Seller per Ton of Pellets delivered at Lorain Works in
accordance with Section 2.6 or Section 2.7 hereof a price consisting of the sum
of the Product Price and the Transportation Charge, each determined as follows:

              (i)    Minntac Acid Pellets and Alternate Acid Pellets. For the
                     first [***] Tons of Minntac Acid Pellets and Alternate Acid
                     Pellets delivered on or after the Navigation Date for 2002
                     (when taking into account Minntac Acid Pellets and
                     Alternate Acid Pellets purchased by the prior owner of
                     Buyer's Lorain Works, Republic Technologies International,
                     LLC, during said time period), the Product Price for
                     Minntac Acid Pellets or Alternate Acid Pellets shall be
                     $[***] for each Ton unit of iron (natural basis analysis)
                     contained in the product (hereinafter, the "2002 Acid
                     Payback Price"); thereafter, and if said [***] Ton
                     threshold is achieved during the 2002 Shipping Season, for
                     the remainder of the 2002 Shipping Season the Product Price
                     shall be $[***] (hereinafter, the "2002 Acid Contract
                     Price", and the difference between the

                                       5

<PAGE>

                     2002 Acid Payback Price and the 2002 Acid Contract Price is
                     the "Acid Payback Premium").

              (ii)   Minntac Fluxed Pellets and Alternate Fluxed Pellets. For
                     the first [***] Tons of Minntac Fluxed Pellets and
                     Alternate Fluxed Pellets delivered on or after the
                     Navigation Date for 2002 (when taking into account Minntac
                     Fluxed Pellets and Alternate Fluxed Pellets purchased by
                     the prior owner of Buyer's Lorain Works, Republic
                     Technologies International, LLC, during said time period),
                     the Product Price for Minntac Fluxed Pellets or Alternate
                     Fluxed Pellets shall be $[***] for each Ton unit of iron
                     (natural basis analysis) contained in the product
                     (hereinafter, the "2002 Fluxed Payback Price"); thereafter,
                     and if said [***] Ton threshold is achieved during the 2002
                     Shipping Season, for the remainder of the 2002 Shipping
                     Season the Product Price shall be $[***] (hereinafter, the
                     "2002 Fluxed Contract Price", and the difference between
                     the 2002 Fluxed Payback Price and the 2002 Fluxed Contract
                     Price is the "Fluxed Payback Premium").

              (iii)  High Mn Pellets. The Product Price for High Mn Pellets
                     shall be $[***] for each Ton unit of iron (natural basis
                     analysis) contained in the product.

              (iv)   The Transportation Charge for Minntac Acid Pellets and
                     Minntac Fluxed Pellets shall be equal to the sum (A) the
                     amount per Ton paid by Seller for rail transportation [***]
                     and (B) the rate per Ton in effect between Seller and [***]
                     including any end-of-year adjustments (up or down, as the
                     case may be), as such amounts may be determined from time
                     to time in accordance with the Transportation Services
                     Agreement effective July 1, 1998, by and between United
                     States Steel Corporation as successor by merger to USX
                     Corporation, on the one hand, and [***], on the other hand,
                     as amended.

              (v)    The Transportation Charge for Alternate Acid Pellets and
                     Alternate Fluxed Pellets shall be an imputed amount which
                     is equal to the sum of (A) the rate per Ton in effect
                     between Seller and [***] and (B) the rate per Ton in effect
                     between Seller and [***] including any end-of-year
                     adjustments (up or down, as the case may be), as such
                     amounts may be determined from time to time in accordance
                     with the Transportation Services Agreement effective July
                     1, 1998, by and between United States Steel Corporation as
                     successor by merger to USX Corporation, on the one hand,
                     and [***], on the other hand, as amended.

              (vi)   The Transportation Charge for High Mn Pellets shall be
                     $[***] (U.S. Dollars) per Ton. Seller shall be importer of
                     record for any High Mn Pellets, Alternate Acid Pellets or
                     Alternate Fluxed Pellets which Seller acquires from a
                     Canadian producer for resale to Buyer hereunder.

         (b) As close to the commencement of each of the 2003 and 2004 Shipping
Seasons as possible, as dictated by the formal publishing of the Eastern
Canadian Price, the parties hereto shall determine the revised Product Prices
and Transportation Charges for Pellets to be sold hereunder during the next
Shipping Season as follows:

              (i)    The Product Price for Minntac Acid Pellets and Alternate
                     Acid Pellets shall be the Product Price in effect for the
                     immediately prior Shipping Season (which is the 2002 Acid
                     Contract Price with respect to the 2002 Shipping Season,
                     and may be the 2003 Acid Contract Price with respect to the
                     2003 Shipping Season as provided below), as

                                       6

<PAGE>

                     adjusted by the percentage change, up or down as the case
                     may be, in the Eastern Canadian Price from the immediately
                     prior calendar year to the current calendar year (which
                     resulting price for the 2003 Shipping Season is deemed the
                     "2003 Acid Contract Price"). Notwithstanding the preceding
                     sentence, in the event that Buyer does not achieve the
                     [***] Ton threshold during the 2002 Shipping Season (when
                     taking into account Minntac Acid Pellets and Alternate Acid
                     Pellets purchased by the prior owner of Lorain Works,
                     Republic Technologies International, LLC, on and after
                     March 31, 2002) as set forth in Section 2.4(a)(i), the
                     Product Price for Minntac Acid Pellets and Alternate Acid
                     Pellets for the 2003 Shipping Season shall be increased by
                     the Acid Payback Premium (and the resulting price for the
                     2003 Shipping Season is deemed the "2003 Acid Payback
                     Price") until such time that said threshold is achieved, at
                     which time the Product Price for the 2003 Shipping Season
                     shall revert to the 2003 Acid Contract Price.

              (ii)   The Product Price for Minntac Fluxed Pellets and Alternate
                     Fluxed Pellets shall be the Product Price in effect for the
                     immediately prior Shipping Season (which is the 2002 Fluxed
                     Contract Price with respect to the 2002 Shipping Season,
                     and may be the 2003 Fluxed Contract Price with respect to
                     the 2003 Shipping Season as provided below), as adjusted by
                     the percentage change, up or down as the case may be, in
                     the Eastern Canadian Price from the immediately prior
                     calendar year to the current calendar year (which resulting
                     price for the 2003 Shipping Season is deemed the "2003
                     Fluxed Contract Price"). Notwithstanding the preceding
                     sentence, in the event that Buyer does not achieve the
                     [***] Ton threshold during the 2002 Shipping Season (when
                     taking into account Minntac Fluxed Pellets and Alternate
                     Fluxed Pellets purchased by the prior owner of Lorain
                     Works, Republic Technologies International, LLC, on and
                     after March 31, 2002) as set forth in Section 2.4(a)(i),
                     the Product Price for Minntac Fluxed Pellets and Alternate
                     Fluxed Pellets for the 2003 Shipping Season shall be
                     increased by the Fluxed Payback Premium (and the resulting
                     price for the 2003 Shipping Season is deemed the "2003
                     Fluxed Payback Price") until such time that said threshold
                     is achieved, at which time the Product Price for the 2003
                     Shipping Season shall revert to the 2003 Fluxed Contract
                     Price.

              (iii)  The Transportation Charge for Minntac Acid Pellets, Minntac
                     Fluxed Pellets, Alternate Acid Pellets and Alternate Fluxed
                     Pellets shall be calculated throughout the term of this
                     Agreement in the same manner as set for the 2002 Shipping
                     Season in Sections 2.4(a)(iv) and (v) above.

              (iv)   With respect to High Mn Pellets: (A) the Product Price
                     shall based upon the Product Price in effect for the
                     immediately prior Shipping Season, as adjusted by the
                     percentage change, up or down as the case may be, in the
                     Eastern Canadian Price from the immediately prior calendar
                     year to the current calendar year; (B) the Transportation
                     Charge shall be determined in a manner that ensures Seller
                     is reimbursed for all product, transportation,
                     transportation-related, dock storage and handling, and
                     other out-of-pocket costs actually incurred by Seller for
                     each vessel delivered to Lorain Works; and (C) Seller shall
                     be entitled to a reasonable percentage profit on the
                     combination of items (A) and (B).

              (v)    If the parties have not agreed upon or otherwise
                     established revised Product Prices for Minntac Acid
                     Pellets, Minntac Fluxed Pellets, Alternate Acid Pellets,
                     Alternate Fluxed Pellets and/or High Mn Pellets by the
                     start of the Shipping Season, the Product Price in effect
                     during the preceding Shipping Season, for the type of
                     Pellet as

                                       7

<PAGE>

                     to which there is no agreement, shall continue to be
                     charged subject to reconciliation (including application of
                     the Late Payment Rate to any adjustment) until after the
                     new Product Price is established.

              (vi)   If, during any Shipping Season, after Product Prices have
                     been agreed to by the parties or established through
                     dispute resolution procedures, (A) a significant change
                     (other than spot market or short term fluctuations) occurs
                     in the relationship between the number of operating blast
                     furnaces in the United States and Canada and the number of
                     operating pellet production plants in the United States and
                     Canada, or a similar change occurs causing a structural
                     change in the market, and (B) such change creates
                     significant opportunities for Seller to market Minntac
                     Pellets at higher prices or significant opportunities for
                     Buyer to purchase United States or Canadian pellets at
                     lower prices, then either party may provide written notice
                     to the other party specifying the changed circumstances and
                     requesting that negotiations concerning Product Prices
                     hereunder be reopened. Following receipt of any such notice
                     of changed circumstances, the parties shall negotiate in
                     good faith to establish revised Product Prices which are
                     reasonable under the changed circumstances. If the parties
                     are unable to agree upon any new Product Price, the matter
                     may be submitted by either party to the dispute resolution
                     procedure set forth in Section 4.3. During any such
                     negotiations or dispute resolution procedures, the
                     previously agreed to or established Product Prices shall
                     continue to be charged by Seller and paid by Buyer;
                     however, any new Product Prices agreed to by the parties or
                     established through dispute resolution procedures shall be
                     effective on, and, if necessary applied retroactively to,
                     the later of (X) the date of the notice of changed
                     circumstances, or (Y) July 1 of the calendar year in which
                     such notice of changed circumstances is provided (including
                     application of the Late Payment Rate to any adjustment).
                     Notwithstanding anything set forth herein, neither Seller
                     nor Buyer shall have any right to submit a notice of
                     changed circumstances pursuant to this Section 2.4(b)(iv)
                     more often than once during the term of this Agreement.

         (c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 2.4, Seller
shall comply with Section 2.10.

         (d) The prevailing prices for Minntac Acid Pellets and Minntac Fluxed
Pellets at all times hereunder shall be subject to adjustment for variation in
quality as set forth in Schedule D, as the same may be revised from year to year
by the parties during the renegotiation of the Product Price, based upon
competitive market conditions prevailing at the time of such renegotiation for
long term sales of acid and fluxed pellets by domestic producers (including
Seller) to unaffiliated customers, and if the parties are unable to agree on
appropriate revised price adjustments prior to the start of the Shipping Season,
the matter in dispute may be submitted to the dispute resolution procedure set
forth in Section 4.3. Adjustments for variation in quality with respect to
Alternate Acid Pellets and Alternate Fluxed Pellets shall be governed by the
terms and conditions of Seller's purchase agreements with the third party
supplier thereof, which terms and conditions shall be subject to Buyer's
approval, which such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed.

         (e) To the extent legally permissible, all present and future taxes
imposed by any federal, state, local or foreign authority which [***] may be
required to pay or collect, upon or with reference to the sale, purchase,
transportation, delivery, storage (including, inter alia, with respect to the
bailment Stock Piles described in Section 2.6 below), use or consumption of
Pellets, including taxes upon or measured by the receipts therefrom (except net
income and equity franchise taxes), shall be for the account of [***].

                                       8

<PAGE>

         (f) The weights used for purposes of the bill of lading by the lake
carrier transporting Pellets to Lorain Works shall be the basis for determining
the amount of Pellets actually sold hereunder, and such weights shall be
conclusive as to the quantities of Pellets sold hereunder; provided, however,
that if Buyer should encounter material discrepancies in weights measured by the
lake carrier and weights measured by Buyer, Buyer and Seller shall meet to
discuss reasons for such discrepancies and whether remedial action is necessary.

         2.5 Invoices and Payment.

         (a) Buyer shall provide the Daily Consumption Reports and any
Consumption Adjustment Reports to Seller summarizing the number of tons of
Pellets removed during the prior day by Buyer from the bailment storage piles
referenced in Section 2.6 herein (hereinafter "Storage Piles"). Such reports
shall specify the type of Pellets removed and shall identify the Storage Pile
and/or piles from which they were removed.

              (b)(i) Bailment Invoicing. On each Settlement Date of each
                     Settlement Period from the Effective Date through March 31,
                     2004, Seller shall invoice Buyer for all Tons removed from
                     the bailment Storage Piles hereunder during such Settlement
                     Period based upon Buyer's Daily Consumption Reports and
                     Consumption Adjustment Reports. Seller shall invoice Buyer,
                     and Buyer shall pay Seller via wire transfer, the net
                     amount of the Product Price due per such invoices in
                     accordance with the payment provisions set forth in
                     Sections 2.5(c) through (g) below. The Product Price for
                     such Pellets shall be the Product Price in effect hereunder
                     at the time the Pellets were first received by Buyer and
                     placed into bailment storage at Lorain Works; provided,
                     however, that if more than one vessel is stored in a
                     Storage Pile, then the number of iron units in each Ton
                     removed from such Storage Pile, together with the
                     Transportation Charge for each such Ton, shall be
                     determined, for billing purposes, on a "first-in-first-out"
                     basis. Buyer shall promptly notify Seller in writing when
                     each individual Storage Pile is completely removed
                     (depleted) by Buyer. Seller shall then reconcile Buyer's
                     cumulative Daily Consumption Reports and any Consumption
                     Adjustment Reports issued with respect to such Storage Pile
                     with the cumulative vessel bill of lading weights of
                     material placed onto the Storage Pile. Seller shall then
                     issue to Buyer (i) a corrected invoice for the number of
                     Tons by which the cumulative vessel bill of lading weights
                     placed in the pile exceeds the total amount removed from
                     such Storage Pile by Buyer per its Daily Consumption
                     Reports and any Consumption Adjustment Reports, or (ii) a
                     credit memo for the number of Tons by which the total
                     amount removed from such Storage Pile by Buyer per its
                     Daily Consumption Reports and any Consumption Adjustment
                     Reports exceeds the cumulative vessel bill of lading
                     weights placed in the Storage Pile. Buyer shall pay such
                     corrected invoices by wire transfer on the next Payment
                     Date or reflect any such credit on a payment to Seller
                     subsequent to receipt of a credit memo. Buyer shall pay
                     interest on all amounts not paid as specified herein at the
                     Late Payment Rate from and including the due date to but
                     excluding the date payment is actually made.

              (ii)   Bailment Settlement Invoicing. After the Bailment Period
                     ends on March 31, 2004, Seller shall reconcile Buyer's
                     cumulative Daily Consumption Reports and any Consumption
                     Adjustment Reports issued with respect to each Storage Pile
                     established during the Bailment Period and which has not
                     been previously reconciled in accordance with subsection
                     2.5 (b) (i) above with the cumulative vessel bill of lading
                     weights of material placed onto the Storage Pile. Any
                     quantities of Pellets physically remaining in a Stock Pile
                     on such date and which have not been reported

                                       9

<PAGE>

                     by Buyer in a Daily Consumption Report or Consumption
                     Adjustment Report as consumed shall be deemed for these
                     purposes as consumed by Buyer on the Bailment Period
                     termination date. Seller shall then issue to Buyer (i) a
                     corrected invoice for the number of Tons by which the
                     cumulative vessel bill of lading weights placed in the pile
                     exceeds the total amount removed from such Storage Pile by
                     Buyer per its Daily Consumption Reports and any Consumption
                     Adjustment Reports (and including any quantities deemed as
                     consumed under this paragraph), or (ii) a credit memo for
                     the number of Tons by which the total amount removed from
                     such Storage Pile by Buyer per its Daily Consumption
                     Reports and any Consumption Adjustment Reports (and
                     including any quantities deemed as consumed under this
                     paragraph) exceeds the cumulative vessel bill of lading
                     weights placed in the Storage Pile. Payment of the
                     corrected invoice shall be made by Buyer via wire transfer
                     on the next Payment Date, or reflect any such credit on a
                     payment to Seller subsequent to receipt of a credit memo.
                     Buyer shall pay interest on all amounts not paid as
                     specified herein at the Late Payment Rate from and
                     including the due date to but excluding the date payment is
                     actually made.

              (iii)  Post-Bailment Invoicing. For Pellets delivered on or after
                     April 1, 2004 pursuant to Section 2.7, invoices shall be
                     issued upon delivery of the Pellets in accordance with
                     Section 2.7(a) and the price shall the Product Price in
                     effect at the time of such delivery. Payment shall be made
                     by Buyer via wire transfer in accordance with the payment
                     provisions set forth in Sections 2.5(c) through (g) below.

         (c) Subject to Section 2.11 below, payment shall be made for Pellets
invoiced during each Settlement Period (as hereinafter defined) on the Payment
Date (as hereinafter defined). A "Settlement Period" shall be the period falling
from [***] (the "First Settlement Period") and the period from [***] (the
"Second Settlement Period"). On the day following each Settlement Period (i.e.,
[***]) (the "Settlement Date"), Seller shall provide to Buyer a summary of all
payments to be made on the Payment Date consistent with the invoices issued in
accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 2.5(b). The Payment Date
for the First Settlement Period shall be on the immediately succeeding [***] and
the Payment date for the Second Settlement Period shall be on the immediately
succeeding [***]. In the event a Payment Date falls on a holiday, the Payment
Date shall be the day immediately following. Any deliveries of Pellets for which
an invoice is not available prior to the otherwise applicable Settlement Date
(e.g., due to delays in the normal invoice cycle) will be settled on the next
Settlement Date.

         (d) Each partial delivery or installment of Pellets shall be deemed to
be sold under a separate agreement, and no Default by Seller of or with respect
to any partial delivery or installment shall entitle Buyer to treat this
Agreement as breached or repudiated in regard to any balance or installment with
respect to which there is no Default or breach.

         (e) Buyer shall make payment in full of the amount due under each
invoice in strict compliance with the payment terms as set forth in this
Agreement without any deduction for any discount or credits, contra or setoffs
of any kind or amount whatsoever unless expressly authorized in writing by
Seller prior to the Settlement Date relating to such invoice(s). Any delinquent
invoice(s) not paid when due shall bear interest on the unpaid amount at the
Late Payment Rate specified in this Agreement.

         (f) (i) Buyer agrees to furnish Seller's Treasury Department on an
ongoing basis (1) unaudited quarterly financial statements of its operations,
including income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements and borrowing
bases, all in substantially the form presented in its Business Plan, (2) audited
year-end financial statements and (3) such other financial data or information
as may be required to reasonably assure Seller of Buyer's continuing ability to
perform this Agreement and comply fully with its

                                       10

<PAGE>

payment obligations at all times as to both existing and future product
shipments hereunder. For purposes of this subsection (f), Seller confirms its
obligations under that certain Confidentiality Agreement dated as of August 16,
2002 by and between Seller and Buyer. Any failure of Buyer to timely provide any
of the documents or information required by this paragraph shall be deemed a
material breach of this Agreement that entitles Seller to invoke any of the
remedies available to Seller under this Agreement and/or at law or in equity.

              (ii) Beginning on and continuing for each quarterly period after
January 1, 2003, Republic agrees to submit to Seller on a quarterly basis the
financial information noted in subsection (f) (i) above. Upon receipt of such
information, Seller agrees to make a comprehensive review of all such financial
information submitted to determine if, in Seller's sole judgment, there is a
basis to modify the [***] credit, payment and settlement terms as set forth in
subsection 2.5(c) above. Seller agrees to make this financial review in good
faith; provided, however, there is no assurance or obligation that such a review
will result in a modification of any such credit/payment/settlement terms. In
the event the parties agree to a modification to the credit/payment/settlement,
then the relevant, parallel provisions of the Coke Supply Agreement, this Pellet
Supply Agreement, and the Rounds Supply Agreement shall be amended accordingly
to reflect the agreed to modifications. The parties agree that this Section
2.5(f)(i) and (ii), or any dispute arising hereunder, shall be excluded from
Section 4.3 hereof.

         (g) In the event, in Seller's sole judgment, of any material adverse
change in the financial condition of Buyer, or deterioration in its liquidity
and/or then current ability to discharge its existing or future payment
obligations hereunder (a "Material Adverse Change"), Seller shall have the right
to require Buyer to provide additional security for its obligations hereunder.
The form, nature and sufficiency of such additional security shall be in
Seller's sole and absolute discretion. If Buyer does not provide such additional
security within 10 days of written notice from Seller that a Material Adverse
Change has occurred and that additional security is required, Seller may (i)
suspend further shipments of Pellets until such additional security is provided,
(ii) require Buyer to pay for future deliveries of Pellets on a cash-on-delivery
basis, or (iii) immediately terminate this Agreement. Seller agrees that minor
deviations from the Business Plan will not be deemed to be a Material Adverse
Change hereunder unless such minor deviations continue for three or more
consecutive calendar months.

         2.6 Delivery, Title and Risk of Loss: Bailment Period.

         (a) During the Bailment Period, all Pellets covered hereunder shall be
tendered by Seller to Buyer F.O.B. end of boom of self unloading vessel in full
vessel quantity at the Lorain Works facility for storage in designated bailment
Storage Piles hereunder, unless otherwise agreed by the parties prior to the
shipment of the Pellets. Buyer shall be responsible for providing a safe berth
at Lorain Works for all vessels making deliveries hereunder. Vessels in excess
of 767 feet in length shall not be used to make deliveries hereunder, unless
agreed to in advance in writing by Buyer.

         (b) Pellets tendered to Buyer hereunder shall be placed in designated
bailment storage consisting of individual Storage Piles and held by Buyer as a
bailee of Seller and shall remain the sole and exclusive property of Seller,
with legal and equitable title to all Pellets remaining in Seller, until Buyer
removes Pellets from a Storage Pile for use in a blast furnace. Buyer may only
remove Pellets from the bailment Storage Piles for consumption in its blast
furnaces. Until such removal by Buyer for use in its blast furnaces, Buyer shall
have no interest, legal or equitable, in the Pellets. Risk of loss, however,
shall pass to Buyer upon receipt by Buyer end of boom by the self-unloading
vessel at Lorain Works. The bailment storage area shall be kept separate and
reserved and shall be used by Buyer exclusively for its receipt and storage of
Pellets tendered by Seller for bailment storage hereunder.

         (c) This Agreement is intended to create a true bailment. Buyer shall
execute UCC-1 forms and

                                       11

<PAGE>

any other documents relating to Seller's ownership interest and shall take all
actions and extend full cooperation to Seller as necessary to create and perfect
Seller's ownership interest in the bailment Pellets.

         (d) Buyer shall, at its sole expense, receive, handle, place, maintain
and store in bailment storage area in segregated Storage Piles all Pellets
supplied by Seller hereunder, in a manner designed to assure the safe storage
and protection of such Pellets from loss, damage or deterioration and to protect
and insulate the Pellets and value thereof from any security interest, claim or
adverse action of any creditor of Buyer or any other party. Buyer shall
prominently place signs adjacent to such segregated Storage Piles which identify
the Storage Piles as the property of Seller. Buyer shall provide the same level
of care for Pellets held in bailment storage hereunder that it has traditionally
provided for Pellets owned by Buyer and stored at Lorain Works.

         (e) A cleared area shall be created by Buyer at Buyer's expense prior
to the construction of each Storage Pile held in bailment hereunder, and such
cleared space shall be confirmed in Form 1 (attached as Schedule E to this
Agreement) to be submitted by Buyer to Seller prior to the construction of a new
pile. Each Storage Pile of Pellets shall consist of the load delivered by not
less than one lake vessel. A vessel shall discharge its entire load into a
designated reserve Storage Pile, and thereafter the cumulative weight of each
newly constructed Storage Pile of Pellets shall equal the sum of the unloading
vessel's bill of lading weights. When a reserve Storage Pile is fully
constructed and complete, Buyer shall notify Seller immediately by fax
communication using Form 2 (attached as Schedule F to this Agreement).

         (f) Buyer shall remove and use Pellets from each Storage Pile held in
bailment hereunder strictly in accordance with the procedures specified herein.
For each type of Pellets being tendered to Buyer for bailment storage hereunder,
Buyer shall maintain a `working' Storage Pile and one or more `reserve' Storage
Piles of Pellets. During the unloading of a vessel and placement of Pellets in a
reserve Storage Pile, there shall be no Pellets removed from that Storage Pile.
Restocking and consumption of Pellets shall be permissible only when a Storage
Pile is constructed fully and Buyer advises Seller by transmission of Form 2
that a particular Storage Pile is complete. Further, Buyer may remove Pellets of
each type only from a working Storage Pile until such working Storage Pile is
used fully and is depleted. Buyer shall use all reasonable efforts to utilize
Storage Piles of each type of Pellet on a first-in-first-out basis in order to
ensure that Pellets of each type received at Lorain Works during a Shipping
Season are consumed before Pellets received during a subsequent Shipping Season
are utilized. Upon depletion of any working Storage Pile of Pellets, Buyer shall
immediately submit to Seller a new Form 1.

         (g) On a daily basis throughout the Bailment Period of this Agreement,
Buyer shall send by facsimile or electronic mail to Seller a written Pellet
consumption report for each Buyer furnace then operating (the "Daily Consumption
Report"). In addition to this Daily Consumption Report, Buyer shall provide to
Seller in writing any adjustments to blast furnace Pellet consumption and any
other information reasonably intended to inform and fully advise Seller of
Buyer's consumption of Pellets and the quantity of Pellets then remaining in the
working pile of Pellets (the "Consumption Adjustment Reports"). Buyer agrees to
maintain accounts and records satisfactory to Seller, including the Daily
Consumption Reports, the Consumption Adjustment Reports, and all related records
of Buyer's removal and use of Pellets, and a true, accurate and complete record
of all Pellets received and stored by Buyer as bailee from time to time.
Accurate inventory control of the Pellets in each of the Storage Piles shall be
maintained at all times by Buyer.

         (h) Based upon the above-described reports and information timely
provided by Buyer, Seller shall invoice Buyer in accordance with Section 2.5(b).
Adjustments by Buyer to its Daily Consumption Report may be reflected by Seller
in the invoice for the following Settlement Period. Buyer's failure or refusal,
for any reason, to fax to Seller a blast furnace production and Daily
Consumption Report for each Buyer blast furnace then operating or to provide
other reasonable information requested by Seller concerning Pellet consumption
and/or Pellets held in bailment hereunder, when and as requested by Seller,
shall be

                                       12

<PAGE>

considered a Default hereunder.

         (i) Upon 24-hour notice from Seller, Buyer shall afford representatives
of Seller full access to and opportunity to examine all reasonable information
and/or documents requested by Seller concerning Buyer's Pellet consumption
and/or Pellets held in bailment hereunder at any time during Buyer's regular
business hours during the term of this Agreement and for a period of one year
thereafter.

         (j) Buyer shall permit Seller's representatives, at any time during
Buyer's regular business hours during the term of this Agreement, upon arrival
at Lorain Works without prior notice, to make a physical inspection and take an
inventory, at Seller's expense, of all bailed Pellets in the possession of
Buyer; provided, however, such representatives may be accompanied by Buyer's
representatives during such inspection and shall comply with all applicable
plant safety rules during such inspection.

         (k) At all times while the Pellets are in its possession as bailee,
Buyer shall keep the same free of all taxes, liens, encumbrances and security
interests. Any sums of money, including attorneys' fees that are paid by Seller
to effect a release or discharge thereof, or to replevin or take possession of
the Pellets, shall be paid on demand by Buyer as an express obligation assumed
by Buyer hereunder.

         (l) At any time that Buyer is in Default hereunder, and Seller has
provided notice of Default to Buyer pursuant to Section 3.1(iii), (iv) or (v)
hereunder, Seller may, until such Default is cured, require that Buyer pay cash
in advance before removing any Pellets from any Storage Pile held in bailment
hereunder. Seller shall have the right during any such period to station
representatives at Lorain Works to ensure that no Pellets held in bailment are
removed from storage without advance cash payment.

         (m) If this Agreement is terminated for any reason, Seller may require
Buyer to continue to store any Pellets held in bailment at Lorain Works, without
charge to Seller, for a period not to exceed one year from the date of
termination.

         (n) If this Agreement is terminated for any reason, in addition to its
other legal rights or remedies, Seller may demand that Buyer make all such
Pellets then stored in Buyer's ore yard available to Seller immediately and
unconditionally for return to Seller. Upon demand by Seller, Buyer shall cease
immediately any further removal, consumption or use of the Pellets held in
bailment in its furnaces or for any other purpose and shall permit Seller or any
sheriff or other officer of the law to take immediate possession of such Pellets
without demand or further notice to Buyer and without legal process. For this
purpose, Seller shall have the right, and Buyer does hereby authorize and
empower Seller, to enter upon the Buyer's Lorain Works or other premises
wherever the Pellets may be and, at Seller's expense, take possession of and
remove the Pellets without liability for trespass or other action.

         2.7 Delivery, Title and Risk of Loss: 2004 Shipping Season.

         At all times during the 2004 Shipping Season:

         (a) delivery of Pellets to Buyer shall take place F.O.B. end of boom of
self unloading vessel in full vessel quantity at the Lorain Works facility, or
in such other manner or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the
parties in writing prior to the shipment of Pellets; and

         (b) except as otherwise provided herein, title and risk of loss and
damage to the Pellets shall pass from Seller to Buyer when the Pellets are
delivered in accordance with this Section 2.7.

         2.8 Terms and Conditions of Sale.

                                       13

<PAGE>

         (a) In the event that any shipment of Pellets does not conform to the
applicable Specifications, Buyer shall promptly notify Seller in writing of the
nonconformity (and in any event, no later than 14 days after removal from the
Storage Pile by Buyer in case of Pellets subject to the bailment and 14 days
after offloading from the vessel in the case of Pellets not subject to the
bailment), which notice shall include copies of all analyses and other
documentation describing and quantifying the nonconformity; and Seller shall
have fourteen (14) days to investigate and cure such nonconformity, which may
include an equitable price adjustment. In the event that the parties are unable
to agree to an appropriate disposition of the nonconforming material within said
fourteen (14) days after notice from Buyer, either party may submit such dispute
for resolution in accordance with Section 4.3 hereof.

         (b) In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and the terms or conditions contained in any notice, shipment,
specifications, purchase order, sales order, acknowledgement or other document
which may be used in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall supersede and
govern, unless expressly waived in accordance with Section 4.15.

         2.9 Warranty.

         (a) All Pellets sold by Seller hereunder will conform to the
Specifications. OTHER THAN AS AFORESAID, SELLER MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR OTHERWISE ARE HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED BY SELLER AND
EXCLUDED HEREUNDER. Seller shall not be liable for any incidental or
consequential damages, losses or expenses based upon, resulting from, or arising
out of any use of, or the inability to use, the Pellets for any purpose
whatsoever.

         (b) Without limiting the generality of Section 2.9(a), Seller makes no
warranty with respect to and shall have no liability to Buyer in any case where
Pellets satisfy the Specifications. If Pellets do not satisfy the Specifications
but reasonably can be used by Buyer, then price adjustments shall be made in
accordance with Schedule D. [***]

         2.10 Most Favored Customer.

         If, during the term of this Agreement, Seller sells and/or agrees to
sell taconite ore pellets of similar or better specifications in similar
quantities to any third party, under substantially similar circumstances and
conditions, at prices and/or upon terms and/or conditions which are more
favorable than those effective pursuant to this Agreement, then Seller shall
immediately notify Buyer, and offer to extend to Buyer under this Agreement such
more favorable prices, terms and/or conditions.

         2.11 Cross-Default; Setoff; Right to Substitute New Terms

         (a) Any Default by Republic under the Coke Supply Agreement, the Rounds
Agreement or the Services Agreement shall be deemed a Default of Republic under
this Agreement.

         (b) Only in the event of a payment Default, which is defined as any
failure by Republic at any time to make a payment in full when due under Section
2.5 of this Agreement, Section 2.6 of the Coke Supply Agreement and/or Section
3.2 of the Services Agreement (for any reason other than exercising its rights
upon a payment Default by LPM or USS), LPM and/or USS may (i) defer payment of
any amounts due Republic under the Rounds Supply Agreement and/or the Services
Agreement until such time as any and all delinquent amounts due and owing USS
and/or LPM under this Agreement, the Coke Supply Agreement and/or the

                                       14

<PAGE>

Services Agreement (the "Delinquent Amount") are paid, and/or (ii) deliver to
Republic a `Notice of Intent to Effect Set-off. ` Provided that Republic has not
remitted to USS the Delinquent Amount within 5 days of Republic's receipt of the
Notice of Intent to Effect Set-off, LPM and/or USS may, on the 5th day following
the delivery of such Notice of Intent to Effect Set-off, set-off the Delinquent
Amount against the amounts owed by LPM and/or USS to Republic under the Rounds
Supply Agreement and/or the Services Agreement as of the date of such Notice. If
any Delinquent Amount (remaining due after LPM and/or USS's application of
set-off hereunder) is not paid in full within 10 days following the delivery of
such Notice of Intent to Effect Set-off, USS shall have the right to suspend
further shipments of Pellets to Buyer until the Delinquent Amount (including any
other delinquent amounts owed to USS and/or LPM under this Agreement, the Coke
Supply Agreement and/or the Services Agreement that accrue after issuance of the
Notice) are paid in full. Interest on the Delinquent Amount shall accrue at the
Late Payment Rate specified in this Agreement.

         (c) In the event that the aggregate amounts due USS in connection with
Republic's purchases of Pellets hereunder and Republic's purchases of coke
(including without limitation Coke) under the Coke Supply Agreement at any time
exceed by $1,000,000 or more the amount due Republic in connection with USS's
purchases of Rounds under the Rounds Supply Agreement (the "Excess"), Republic
shall remit to USS an amount equal to the Excess within three days of the
Settlement Date immediately succeeding the date that such Excess occurs. If the
Excess is not paid in full by such date, USS shall have the right to withhold
and/or setoff against the Excess any amounts due from USS to Republic under the
Services Agreement. If the Excess is not paid in full within 10 days of such
Settlement Date, USS shall have the right to suspend further shipments of
Pellets to Buyer until the Excess is paid in full; provided, that Seller agrees
not to suspend such shipments during such time so long as payment on deliveries
of Pellets is made by Buyer on a cash-on-delivery basis. Interest on the Excess
shall accrue at the Late Payment Rate specified in this Agreement.

         (d) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary (including
without limitation the provisions of Section 2.5 hereof), in the event that (i)
LPM ceases operations at the Pipemill either on a temporary or permanent basis,
(ii) USS sells or otherwise transfers (or enters into an agreement to sell or
transfer) ownership of the Pipemill assets or operations to a third party, or
(iii) USS's purchases of Rounds under the Rounds Supply Agreement and/or
utilities under the Services Agreement are reduced for any reason such that the
Excess exceeds $1,000,000 in three consecutive Settlement Periods, then USS
shall have the right to substitute new or revised payment terms and conditions
for the payment terms which are then in effect hereunder such that payments due
by Buyer to USS hereunder remain secured at all times.

         (e) Republic hereby agrees to continue to perform fully its obligations
hereunder and under the Rounds Supply Agreement, the Coke Supply Agreement and
the Services Agreement notwithstanding the exercise by USS of any of its rights
hereunder or under Section 2.5.

                       ARTICLE III - TERM AND TERMINATION

         3.1 Term.

         This Agreement shall be effective as of the date set forth in the
preamble hereto and shall remain in full force and effect through [***] unless
terminated as follows:

              (i)    By written mutual consent of the parties at any time;

              (ii)   By either party if USS permanently ceases production of
                     Pellets at its Minntac facility or Republic ceases to
                     operate the Lorain Works; provided, that Republic or USS,
                     as the case may be, will give the other immediate notice if
                     it intends to cease, or anticipates cessation of, such
                     production or operations;

                                       15

<PAGE>

              (iii)  By either party if the other party is in Default under any
                     of the provisions of this Agreement (except as otherwise
                     expressly provided in items (iv), (v) and (vi) below) and
                     fails to correct such Default within 60 days of written
                     notice of such Default;

              (iv)   By USS pursuant to Section 2.5(f) hereof in the case of a
                     Material Adverse Change;

              (v)    By USS if Republic, at any time, fails (A) to make any
                     payment when due under this Agreement, (B) to comply with
                     the applicable credit and/or payment terms (as established
                     or adjusted hereunder) or (C) to provide the financial
                     statements and information pursuant to Section 2.5(g)
                     hereof; or

              (vi)   By Republic, upon 90 days' prior written notice, if LPM
                     terminates the Rounds Supply Agreement for any reason other
                     than Default of the Buyer thereunder.

In addition to the rights of USS to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
subsection 3.1 (v) above, Seller shall have the right, upon the occurrence of
any of the events set forth therein, (X) to suspend production and/or refuse to
make further shipments or deliveries of Pellets or otherwise suspend its further
performance under this Agreement or (Y) to declare immediately due and payable
all then outstanding and unpaid invoices covering Pellets previously delivered
hereunder.

As used herein, "Default" means failure of either party to perform, keep or
observe any material obligation, provision, warranty or condition contained
herein, unless such performance is otherwise excused by the terms of this
Agreement.

         3.2 Termination.

         Seller and Buyer agree that upon and after termination of this
Agreement:

              (i)    All Monthly Delivery Schedules or Amended Monthly Delivery
                     Schedules previously given that are binding in accordance
                     with the terms hereof, and Buyer's obligation to pay for
                     such deliveries made pursuant to such schedules, shall
                     continue in full force and effect.

              (ii)   Buyer shall remain obligated to make any payment that
                     became due to Seller hereunder prior to termination.

              (iii)  Liabilities of any party arising from any act, Default or
                     occurrence prior to termination shall remain with such
                     party.

              (iv)   The parties' rights and obligations under Sections 2.5,
                     2.9, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.13, 4.16 and
                     this Article III shall survive the termination of this
                     Agreement.

                           ARTICLE IV - MISCELLANEOUS

         4.1 Intent of Agreement.

         The parties hereto intend that they shall mutually benefit from the
terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement and that no party shall be
either unreasonably enriched or unreasonably harmed by any

                                       16

<PAGE>

implementation and/or interpretation of said terms, conditions and provisions.
This Agreement shall be administered and interpreted in order to fulfill the
intent stated in this Section 4.1. Any arbitrator(s) considering disputes
pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof shall attempt to render a decision which fulfills
the intent stated in this Section 4.1.

         4.2 Payment Errors.

         (a) If either Buyer or Seller believes that there has been an error in
an amount paid or the timing of any payment hereunder, then such party shall
notify the other party of such alleged error and shall provide such written
evidence of the error as is available at the time of such notice. Each party
shall provide the other with sufficient records relating to the matter so as to
permit the parties to attempt to resolve the inconsistency.

         (b) Following the determination of whether an error occurred, any
overpayment or underpayment found shall be remedied by the party that benefited
from such error.

         (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither party may question the
accuracy, correctness, timing or amount of any payment under this Agreement
unless it notifies the other party of its disagreement within the 12 months
immediately following the date such payment was due.

         4.3 Dispute Resolution.

         At any time and from time to time, if the parties are unable to resolve
a dispute concerning Buyer's or Seller's performance or nonperformance of their
obligations under this Agreement (excepting any disputes excluded herefrom),
Buyer or Seller, as the case may be, shall provide written notice to the other
of such dispute as provided in Section 4.9 hereof. It is mutually agreed that
any Default by Buyer in its payment obligations hereunder (or any dispute
relating thereto), and/or any dispute relating to USS's exercise of its rights
under Section 2.11 hereof shall not be subject to (and are excluded from) the
provisions of this Section 4.3; it being agreed that any such excluded disputes
(as aforesaid) shall be pursued and adjudicated by the parties in a court of
competent jurisdiction. Any dispute covered by this Section 4.3 shall be
resolved by using the procedures for Mediation and Arbitration set forth below:

         (a) Mediation. At any time after a party has provided a written notice
of dispute to the other party, but prior to the time that either party commences
arbitration pursuant to Article 4.3(b) herein, the parties may agree to submit
the dispute to non-binding mediation under terms and conditions satisfactory to
both parties.

         (b) Arbitration. At any time after a party has provided a written
notice of dispute to the other party, including at any time during any
non-binding mediation agreed to by the parties, either party may submit the
matter in dispute to a pre-designated arbitrator or, in the event such
arbitrator has not been selected or is unavailable, to a three member arbitral
panel to which each Party shall appoint one member and those two members shall
appoint a third member. Such arbitration shall be governed by the CPR Rules for
Non-Administered Arbitration of Business Disputes. Pending the issuance of an
arbitral decision, the Parties shall continue their full and normal operations
and obligations in accordance with this Agreement. All arbitral awards for the
payment of money and/or for any retroactive adjustment of any interim prices
paid hereunder shall accrue interest at the Late Payment Rate starting from the
date on which any amount is due or the date on which the interim payment was
due.

         (c) Consent to Enforceability. Each of the parties consents and agrees
that any arbitral award rendered pursuant to Subsection 4.3(b) shall be final,
non-appealable and binding against the parties and their respective assets, and
may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction.

                                       17

<PAGE>

         4.4 Records.

         Seller shall maintain such detailed and accurate records relating to
the sales of Pellets hereunder as shall be necessary for the calculation of
amounts payable under Sections 2.5. At all times on or before the date that is
12 months after the date of termination of this Agreement, representatives of
Buyer and its auditors shall be entitled, at Buyer's expense, to inspect and
audit such records and accounts and to consult with Seller's personnel in a
reasonable, non-intrusive manner upon reasonable notice and during business
hours. Seller shall have the right to require that any audit be conducted by a
mutually agreeable independent auditor and that the details of the information
examined in such audit be kept confidential from Buyer, except to the extent
necessary to resolve any controversy that is pursued in good faith. Such audit
expense shall be borne by Buyer.

         4.5 Confidentiality.

         (a) Buyer and Seller acknowledge that all information about the
businesses, properties, finances, prospects, marketing, processes, products,
methods, computer programs, procedures, machinery, apparatus or trade secrets
owned, or held or used (including under license from or agreement with third
parties) by the other that is disclosed to Buyer or Seller, as the case may be,
during the course of performing its obligations under this Agreement is the
property of, and is proprietary and confidential to the disclosing party (the
"Proprietary Information").

         (b) Buyer and Seller agree that they shall use reasonable efforts not
to make any disclosure of the other's Proprietary Information (including methods
or concepts utilized therein other than those commonly known to professionals in
the field) to any person other than officers, employees and agents of and
consultants to Buyer or Seller to whom such disclosure is necessary or
convenient for performance of its obligations hereunder and except as may be
required by applicable legal requirements or by a court of competent
jurisdiction. Buyer and Seller shall appropriately notify each officer,
employee, agent and consultant to whom any such disclosure of the other's
Proprietary Information is made that such disclosure is made in confidence and
shall be kept in confidence by such Person.

         (c) Each of Buyer and Seller agrees to use diligent efforts in
accordance with customary and reasonable commercial practice and at least with
the same degree of skill and care that it would manifest in protection of its
own proprietary and confidential property to protect the other's Proprietary
Information.

         (d) Each of Buyer and Seller agrees to notify the other immediately in
the event that it becomes aware of the unauthorized possession or use of the
other's Proprietary Information (or any part thereof) by any third Person,
including any of its officers, employees, agents or consultants. Each of Buyer
and Seller further agrees to cooperate with the other in connection with its
efforts to terminate or prevent such unauthorized possession or use of such
Proprietary Information. Seller or Buyer, as the case may be, shall pay the
nonproprietary party's reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in so cooperating,
unless the unauthorized possession or use of the Proprietary Information
resulted from the fault or negligence of such nonproprietary party.

         (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
obligation of Buyer and Seller to maintain the confidentiality of the other's
Proprietary Information shall not apply to any portion of such Proprietary
Information that:

              (i)    was in the public domain at the time of Buyer's or Seller's
                     disclosure to the other;

              (ii)   enters the public domain through no fault of the
                     nonproprietary party;

                                       18

<PAGE>

              (iii)  was communicated to the nonproprietary party by a third
                     party free of any obligation of confidence known to the
                     nonproprietary party; or

              (iv)   was developed by officers, employees or agents of or
                     consultants to the nonproprietary party independently of
                     and without reference to the Proprietary Information;

provided, however, that Proprietary Information which is specific shall not be
considered to be within the exception provided by this Section 4.5(e) merely
because it is embraced by general information in the public domain; provided
further, that any combination of features within the Proprietary Information
shall not be deemed within such exception merely because individual features are
within the public domain, but only if the combination itself is within the
public domain.

         4.6 Severability.

         In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement
is adjudged to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, except to the
extent necessary to avoid an unjust or inequitable result.

         4.7 Rights and Remedies; No Consequential Damages.

         The rights and remedies granted under this Agreement shall not be
exclusive but shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies available at
law or in equity, including, but not limited to, claims for breach of contract,
except that Buyer and Seller agree that in no event shall either party be liable
to the other for any indirect, special or consequential damages or lost profits
as a result of a breach of any provision of this Agreement.

         4.8 Costs and Expenses.

         Each of Buyer and Seller shall bear its own expenses incurred in
connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement.

         4.9      Notices.

         All notices or other communications pertaining to this Agreement shall
be deemed sufficient if made in writing and delivered (i) in person to an office
of the intended recipient, or (ii) by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested; or (iii) by overnight delivery service which provides proof
of delivery; or (iv) by telecopy, with a duplicate copy sent via first class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows or to such other address as either
party shall designate in writing:

                  If to Seller:

                           UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
                           600 Grant Street - Room 1784
                           Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-2800
                           Attn:  Director - Raw Materials P. P. D. & S
                           Tel:   (412) 433-3620
                           Fax:   (412) 433-3624

                                       19

<PAGE>

                  If to Buyer:

                           REPUBLIC ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LLC
                           3770 Embassy Parkway
                           Akron, Ohio 44333-8367
                           Attn:   Vice President of Purchasing
                           Tel:  (330) 670-3172
                           Fax: (330-670-7006)

         4.10 Assignment.

         (a) Except as provided in Section 4.10(c), neither party can without
the prior written consent of the other assign any of its rights or benefits or
delegate any of its duties or obligations under this Agreement, and any
attempted assignment or delegation which is not permitted under Section 4.10(c)
shall be null, void and without effect; provided however, Buyer may grant a
security interest in the rights, benefits, duties and obligations under this
Agreement, without the consent of Seller. Buyer shall provide Seller written
notice of the granting or revision of any such security interests.

         (b) The rights, benefits, duties and obligations of each party hereto
shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, any successors, assigns or
delegates permitted under Section 4.10(c).

         (c) Either party hereto may delegate any of its duties or obligations
under this Agreement to any person, but except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement such party shall remain liable for the full performance of such duties
and obligations. Either party hereto may assign or delegate any of its rights,
benefits, duties or obligations hereunder (i) to any person if it has received
the prior written consent of the other party, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, (ii) to its legal successor if it
merges (whether or not it is the surviving corporation) or consolidates with one
or more other corporations or (iii) to any person to whom either party has made
any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of
its assets; provided, however, that neither party may make an assignment or
delegation described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above unless there are delivered
to the other party such written assumptions, affirmations and/or legal opinions
as such other party may reasonably request to preserve its rights and remedies
under this Agreement.

         4.11 Counterparts.

         This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute a
single instrument.

         4.12 Headings.

         The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and do not modify or affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

         4.13 Governing Law.

         This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and
governed by, the internal laws of the State of Ohio, excluding its conflict of
laws provisions.

         4.14 No Third Party Rights.

         This Agreement is intended to be solely for the benefit of the parties
hereto and is not intended to

                                       20

<PAGE>

confer any benefits upon, or create any rights in favor of, any Person other
than the parties hereto, except as expressly provided to the contrary elsewhere
in this Agreement.

         4.15 Waiver and Amendments.

         No waiver shall be deemed to have been made by either party of any of
its rights under this Agreement unless the same shall be in a writing that
expressly refers to this Section 4.15 and is signed on its behalf by its
authorized officer. Any such waiver shall constitute a waiver only with respect
to the specific matter described in such writing and shall in no way impair the
rights of the party granting such waiver in any other respect or at any other
time. This Agreement shall not be amended or modified except by an instrument in
writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought.

         4.16 Force Majeure.

         (a) Except for obligations to make payments hereunder, neither party
hereto shall be liable for any failure to perform the terms of the Agreement
when such failure is due to Force Majeure. "Force Majeure" means acts of God,
strikes, lockouts, or other labor disputes or disturbances, civil disturbances,
arrests and restraint from rulers or people, interruptions or terminations by or
as a result of government or court action or orders, or present and future valid
orders of any regulatory body having jurisdiction, acts of the public enemy,
wars, riots, blockades, insurrections, inability to secure or delay in securing
labor or materials by reason of allocations promulgated by authorized
governmental agencies, epidemics, landslides, lightning, earthquakes, fire,
storm, floods, washouts, explosions, breakdowns or accidents, inability to
obtain transportation services, or any other cause, whether of the kind
enumerated or otherwise, not reasonably within the control of the party claiming
Force Majeure. The Force Majeure shall, so far as possible, be remedied with all
reasonable dispatch. The settlement of strikes or lockouts or other labor
disputes or disturbances shall be entirely within the discretion of the party
having the difficulty, and the above requirement that any Force Majeure shall be
remedied with all reasonable dispatch shall not require the settlement of
strikes, lockouts, or labor disputes or disturbances by acceding to the demands
of any opposing party therein when such course is inadvisable in the discretion
of the party having the difficulty.

         (b) The party whose performance is affected or who has reason to
believe such performance may be affected by reason of Force Majeure shall as
promptly as possible give notice thereof to the other party and shall confirm
such notice in writing if requested, giving the particulars of the event,
including supporting documentation if available. The party so affected shall
also take reasonable steps to resume performance hereunder with the least
possible delay.

         4.17 Entire Agreement.

         This Agreement (including the Schedules hereto) sets forth the entire
understanding and agreement between the parties as to the matters covered herein
and supersedes and replaces any prior understanding, agreement or statement of
intent, in each case written or oral.

                         [Signatures on following page]

                                       21

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed and delivered to
be effective on the date first above written.

                       UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

                       By:          /s/ R.M. Efkeman

                       Name:        R. M. Efkeman
                                ---------------------------------------------

                       Title:       Director, Raw Materials P.P.D.& S.
                                ---------------------------------------------

                       REPUBLIC ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, LLC

                       By:          /s/ J.T. Kuntz

                       Name:        J. T. Kuntz
                                ---------------------------------------------

                       Title:       V.P., Integrated Supply Chain Management
                                ---------------------------------------------

                                       22

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A
                                   ----------
                                      2002
                 QUALITY SPECIFICATION FOR MINNTAC ACID PELLETS
                                     Minntac

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    Percentage (Dry Basis)
                                                               --------------- -------------- ---------------- -----------------
                                                                  Monthly         Monthly          Lower            Upper
                 BELOW FROM R.R. CAR TOP SAMPLES:                   Mean         Std. Dev.      Spec Limit        Spec Limit
                 --------------------------------              --------------- -------------- ---------------- -----------------
<S>                                         <C>                   <C>          <C>                 <C>          <C>
                            CHEMISTRY
                          Controlled Variables
                                         SiO2 %                   5.40         0.12                5.04         5.76
                                           H2O % (Summer)          2.5         0.7                   --         4.60
                                                 (Winter)          1.8         0.8                   --         4.20

                                                                                                        Process Range
                                                                                              ----------------------------------
                          Consequent Variables %                                              Minimum          Maximum
                          ----------------------                                              -------          -------
                                          Fe                     65.50         0.12              65.14         65.86

                                        Typical
                                   Minor Elements %
                                         Al2O3                     0.20
                                          CaO                      0.40
                                          MgO                      0.35
                                          K2O                      0.021
                                         Na2O                      0.022
                                           P                       0.012
                                           S                       0.002
                                         TiO2                      0.021
                                          Mn                       0.07
                                          ZnO                      0.002
              BELOW Based on 041 Conveyor Composite            TRAINS:
     --------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
                         PHYSICAL QUALITY                      TRAINS                              Lower            Upper
                                       Size %                  Mean                           Spec Limit       Spec Limit
                                                               ---------------                ---------------- -----------------
                                       +1/2 inch                   7.5            -               -            10.0
                                       +1/4 inch                 98.5             -              97.5             -

                                   Tumble Index (%)
                                   ----------------
                                       +1/4 inch                 97.0             -              96.0             -
                                       -28 mesh                    2.5            -               -             3.0
                                 Compression Strength
                                 --------------------
                                        Pounds                 500                -              450
                                 % less than 200 pounds            5.0            -               -             6.0

                                                                Weekly
                   (ISO)         Low Temp. Degradation           Mean
                                 ---------------------          -------
                                     Static %+1/4                92.0                            90.0             -
                                        w/2% H2                                                   -               -
                   (ISO)         Reducibility, dR/dT40
                                 ---------------------
                                       %/Minute                   0.80                            0.70            -

Republic Engineered Products, LLC                        United States Steel Corporation

Name:                                                    Name:
       ----------------------------------------------           ----------------------------------------------
Title:    V.P., Integrated Supply Chain Management       Title:    Director, Raw Materials
Date:                                                    Date:
         --------------------------------------------             --------------------------------------------

Specification valid through December 31, 2002
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE B
                                   ----------
           2002 QUALITY SPECIFICATION FOR MINNTAC USS FLUXTAC PELLETS
                                    060 GRADE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    Percentage (Dry Basis)
                                                               --------------- -------------- ---------------- -----------------
                                                                  Monthly         Monthly          Lower            Upper
                 BELOW FROM R.R. CAR TOP SAMPLES:                   Mean         Std. Dev.      Spec Limit        Spec Limit
                 -------------------------------               --------------- -------------- ---------------- -----------------
<S>                                         <C>                   <C>          <C>                 <C>          <C>
                            CHEMISTRY
                            ---------
                            Controlled Variables
                            --------------------

                                        SiO2 %                    4.25         0.09                3.98         4.52
                                      B/A (Ratio)                 1.04         0.04                0.92         1.16
                                    H2O % (Summer)                 2.5         0.7                 -            4.6
                                                     (Winter)      1.8         0.8                 -            4.2
                                                                                                        Process Range
                                                                                              ----------------------------------
                                Consequent Variables %                                        Minimum          Maximum
                                ----------------------                                        -------          -------
                                          Fe                     63.58         0.14              63.16         64.00
                                          CaO                      3.52        0.13                3.13          3.91
                                          MgO                      1.10        0.04                0.98          1.22
                                   Minor Elements %
                                   ----------------
                                         Al2O3                     0.20
                                          K2O                      0.021
                                         Na2O                      0.022
                                           P                       0.012
                                           S                       0.002
                                         TiO2                      0.021
                                          Mn                       0.07
                                          ZnO                      0.002
              BELOW Based on 041 Conveyor Composite            TRAINS:
     --------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
                         PHYSICAL QUALITY
                         ----------------                      TRAINS                              Lower            Upper
                                       Size %                   Mean                           Spec. Limit      Spec Limit
                                       ------                 ---------------                ---------------- -----------------
                                       +1/2 inch                 10.0             -               -               17.5
                                       +1/4 inch                 98.0             -              97.0               -

                                   Tumble Index (%)
                                   ----------------
                                       +1/4 inch                 96.0             -              95.0               -
                                       -28 mesh                    3.0            -               -                4.0

                                 Compression Strength
                                 --------------------
                                        Pounds                 445                -              400
                                  % less than 200 pounds          5.0             -               -                6.5

                                                                 Weekly
                   (ISO)         Low Temp. Degradation            Mean
                                 ---------------------         --------------
                                     Static %+1/4                87                              84                 -
                                        w/2% H2

                   (ISO)         Reducibility, dR/Dt40
                                 ---------------------
                                       %/Minute                   1.15                            1.05              -

Republic Engineered Products, LLC                             United States Steel Corporation

Name:                                                         Name:
       ----------------------------------------------                ----------------------------------------------

Title:    V.P., Integrated Supply Chain Management            Title:  Director, Raw Materials

Date:                                                         Date:
         --------------------------------------------                  --------------------------------------------

Specification valid through December 31, 2002
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE C
                                   ----------
                                      2002
                QUALITY SPECIFICATION FOR WABUSH 2.0% Mn Pellets
                          Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         Percentage (Dry Basis)
                                                                         -----------
                                                                           Typical
                                                                           -------
             CHEMISTRY
             ---------
                        <S>                                         <C>
                           Controlled Variables
                           --------------------
                                    SiO2 %                                  3.350
                                    B/A (Ratio)                             0.140

                           Consequent Variables %
                           ----------------------
                                    Fe                                      65.200
                                    CaO                                     0.400
                                    MgO                                     0.120

                                    Typical

                           Minor Elements %
                           ----------------
                                    A12O3                                   0.400
                                    K2O                                     0.030
                                    Na2O                                    0.025
                                    P                                       0.010
                                    S                                       0.010
                                    TiO2                                    0.030
                                    Mn                                      2.000

             PHYSICAL QUALITY
             ----------------

                           Size %                                            Mean
                           ------                                            ----
                                     +1/2 inch                               6.00
                                     -1/2", +3/8"                           83.00
                                     +1/4 inch                              99.00

                           Tumble Index (%)
                           ----------------
                                     +1/4 inch                              95.50
                                    -28 mesh                                 4.30

                           Compression Strength
                           --------------------
                                    Pounds                                   600
                                    % less than 200 pounds                  1.00

             (ISO)         Low Temp. Degradation
                                    Static %+1/4                              90
                                    w/2% H2

             (ISO)         Reducibility, dR/dT40
                                    %/Minute                                 0.70

             REP                                                         USS
             ---                                                         ---
             Name:                                                       Name:
             Title: Vice President                                       Title: Director, Raw Materials
             Date:                                                       Date:
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                  Specification Valid Through December 31, 2002

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE D
                                   ----------

                                      [***]

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE E
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>

                                             REP Consignment/Bailment Program

                                                          Form 1

                                          Cleared Area for Reserve Pile Building

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                    General Information

   Date: _____________________

   Pellet Type:      Flux              Acid             High Mn
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                     Pile Information

   Pile Designation (Name and/or Coordinates):

   Pile Exhaustion Date:
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                 Approval / Authorization

   REP Management Signature: ________________________________________________

   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   SCHEDULE F

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                         <C>

                                              REP Consignment/Bailment Program

                                                           Form 2

                                            Completion of Reserve Pile Building

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                    General Information

Date: ______________________________

Pile Type:        Flux              Acid             High Mn

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                      Pile Information

Pile Designation (Name and/or Coordinates): ____________________________

Pile Beginning Date: ___________________________

Pile Ending Date: _______________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                               Vessel and Weight Information

Vessel Name                Date                     B/L #                    B/L Weight               Cumulative
                           Unloaded                                          (Net Tons)               B/L Weight

__________________         ___________________      ___________________      __________________       __________________

__________________         ___________________      ___________________      __________________       __________________

__________________         ___________________      ___________________      __________________       __________________

__________________         ___________________      ___________________      __________________       __________________

__________________         ___________________      ___________________      __________________       __________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                  Approval / Authorization

REP Management Signature: ________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

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