Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

TENTH AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This Tenth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (this “Tenth Amendment”) is made as of March 22, 2013, by and among GLOBAL OPERATING LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“OLLC”), GLOBAL COMPANIES LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Global”), GLOBAL MONTELLO GROUP CORP., a Delaware corporation (“Montello”), GLEN HES CORP., a Delaware corporation (“Glen Hes”), CHELSEA SANDWICH LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Chelsea LLC”), GLP FINANCE CORP., a Delaware corporation (“Finance”), GLOBAL ENERGY MARKETING LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“GEM”), GLOBAL ENERGY MARKETING II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“GEM II”), ALLIANCE ENERGY LLC, a Massachusetts limited liability company (“Alliance”, and, collectively with OLLC, Global, Montello, Glen Hes, Chelsea LLC, Finance, GEM and GEM II, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower”), GLOBAL PARTNERS LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “MLP”), GLOBAL GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “GP” and, collectively with the MLP, the “Original  Guarantors and each individually, an “Original  Guarantor”), each “Lender” (as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below) (collectively, the “Lenders” and each individually, a “Lender”) party hereto, and Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent (as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement), amending certain provisions of that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 14, 2010 (as amended and in effect from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) by and among the Borrowers, the Original Guarantors, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Syndication Agent and Societe Generale, Standard Chartered Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and RBS Citizens, National Association, as Co-Documentation Agents.  Terms not otherwise defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the same respective meanings herein as therein.

 

WHEREAS, certain of the Loan Parties are contemplating entering into one or more transactions (each, a “Proposed Receivables Transaction”) pursuant to which such Loan Party will sell certain of its Accounts Receivables;

 

WHEREAS, the Loan Parties are not currently permitted to sell their Accounts Receivable as contemplated by any Proposed Receivables Transaction and desire to amend the Credit Agreement to permit the Loan Parties to enter into one or more Proposed Receivables Transactions;

 

WHEREAS, in connection therewith, the Borrowers, the Original Guarantors, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent desire to amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement as provided more fully herein below;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

§1.  Amendment to Section 1 of the Credit Agreement.  Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

 

(a)                                 The definition of “Indebtedness” is hereby amended by deleting clause (b) of such definition in its entirety and restating it as follows:

 

(b)                                 (i) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments; and (ii) without duplication of clause (i), all reimbursement or repurchase obligations of such Person arising under any Receivables Sales Agreement which have become due under such Receivables Sales Agreement and not been satisfied in the time provided for under any such Receivables Sales Agreement (after giving effect to all applicable grace periods provided for therein);

 

(b)                                 Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is further amended by inserting the following new definitions in the appropriate alphabetical order:

 

“AR Buyer” means any Person that, in its capacity as a party to a Receivables Sales Agreement, at the time it enters into such Receivables Sales Agreement permitted under Section 7.05 hereof, is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender.

 

“AR Sales Transaction” means any sale by a Loan Party of certain of its Accounts Receivable to an AR Buyer pursuant to the terms of a Receivables Sales Agreement and made in compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

“Open Receivables Amount” means, with respect to any sale by a Loan Party to an AR Buyer of Accounts Receivable made in connection with an AR Sales Transaction, that portion of the Accounts Receivable sold which has not yet been collected by or for the benefit of the AR Buyer and which may, pursuant to the terms of the Receivables Sales Agreement, either be sold back to the applicable Loan Party or subject to a refund by the applicable Loan Party to the AR Buyer pursuant to any recourse provisions applicable thereto.

 

“Receivables Intercreditor Agreement” means each intercreditor agreement to be entered into among the Administrative Agent, the applicable Loan Party and the applicable AR Buyer with respect to any AR Sales Transaction, such agreement to be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Receivables Sales Agreement” means any agreement entered into by a Loan Party and an AR Buyer pursuant to which such Loan Party may, from time to time, sell Accounts Receivable to such AR Buyer, and such AR Buyer may purchase such Accounts Receivable from such Loan Party for a cash purchase price to be agreed upon between such Loan Party and such AR Buyer, which agreement shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

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“Subject AR Receivables” means any Accounts Receivable a Loan Party sold to an AR Buyer in an AR Sales Transaction.

 

§2.  Amendment to Section 6 of the Credit Agreement.  Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) deleting the word “and” which appears at the end of the text of Section 6.02(h); (ii) deleting the period which appears at the end of the text of Section 6.02(i) and substituting in place thereof a semicolon; and (iii) inserting immediately after the text of Section 6.02(i) the following new paragraphs:

 

(j)                                    immediately upon selling any Accounts Receivable to an AR Buyer under any Receivables Sales Agreement, written notice to the Administrative Agent setting forth (a) a listing of the Accounts Receivable (such listing to be in reasonable detail) sold, together with detail as to the amount of cash proceeds to be received by the selling Loan Party for each Account Receivable sold and the discount rate (if any) applicable to such sale; (b) the identity of the Loan Party and the AR Buyer; (c) as of the date of such sale, the Open Receivables Amount (which shall include the Accounts Receivable that is the subject of such notice); (d) any change to the Borrowing Base (and Borrowing Base Report) as a result of such sale from the Borrowing Base Report most recently delivered; and (e) a certification that such sale is a Permitted Receivable Sale made pursuant to Section 7.05(h) hereof;

 

(k)                                 immediately upon a Loan Party having to repurchase any Accounts Receivable sold in connection with any Receivables Sales Agreement or otherwise having to refund all or any portion of the proceeds received by such Loan Party in connection with any Receivables Sales Agreement, written notice to the Administrative Agent setting forth (a) a listing of the Accounts Receivable to be repurchased and/or the amount of the portion of the proceeds received in connection with a Receivables Sales Agreement to be refunded to the AR Buyer; (b) the reason for such repurchase and/or refund; and (c) any change to the Borrowing Base (and Borrowing Base Report) as a result of such repurchase and/or refund from the Borrowing Base Report most recently delivered; and

 

(l)                                     immediately upon terminating any Receivables Sales Agreement, written notice to the Administrative Agent that such Receivables Sales Agreement has been terminated together with information as to whether any Open Receivables Amounts remain under such Receivables Sales Agreement.

 

§3.  Amendment to Article VII of the Credit Agreement.  Article VII of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

(a)                                 Section 7.01(k) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting Section 7.01(k) in its entirety and restating it as follows:

 

(k)                                 Liens granted to (i) a Subject Utility on the Subject Natural Gas Receivables (and no other assets of a Loan Party) solely in connection with a Natural Gas Transaction; and (ii) an AR Buyer on the Subject AR Receivables

 

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(and no other assets of a Loan Party) solely in connection with an AR Sales Transaction;

 

(b)                                 Section 7.05 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) deleting the word “and” which appears at the end of the text of Section 7.05(f); (ii) deleting the period which appears at the end of the text of Section 7.05(g) and substituting in place thereof a semicolon and the word “and”; and (iii) inserting immediately after the text of Section 7.05(g) the following new paragraph:

 

(h)                                 Dispositions of Accounts Receivable to an AR Buyer to the extent that (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would exist after giving effect to any such Disposition; (ii) such Accounts Receivable are sold for cash; (iii) the cash purchase price to be paid to the selling Loan Party for each Account Receivable shall not be less than the amount of credit such Loan Party would have been able to get for such Account Receivable had such Account Receivable been included in the Borrowing Base (or, to the extent such Account Receivable is not otherwise eligible to be included in the Borrowing Base, then the cash purchase price to be paid shall not be less than 85% of the face amount of such Account Receivable); (iv) such Account Receivable shall be sold pursuant to a Receivables Sales Agreement, a copy of which has been provided to the Administrative Agent and the AR Sales Transaction shall be subject to an Receivables Intercreditor Agreement (which shall be entered into prior to any sale being made); (v) the Loan Parties have complied with the notice requirement set forth in Section 6.02 hereof; (vi) neither the AR Buyer nor the Administrative Agent has delivered any notice of a termination event under the terms of the Receivables Intercreditor Agreement; (vii) the aggregate amount of the Open Receivables Amount (after giving effect to all sales) shall not exceed $75,000,000 at any time; and (viii) the cash proceeds received from the applicable Loan Party in connection with such sale shall be used to immediately repay any outstanding WC Loans (such Dispositions made in compliance with the terms hereof being hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Receivable Sale”).

 

§4.  Conditions to Effectiveness.  This Tenth Amendment will become effective as of the date hereof upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of fully-executed original counterparts of this Tenth Amendment executed by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and the required Lenders.

 

§5.                               Representations and Warranties.  Each of the Loan Parties hereby repeats, on and as of the date hereof, each of the representations and warranties made by it in Article V of the Credit Agreement, provided, that all references therein to the Credit Agreement shall refer to such Credit Agreement as amended hereby.  In addition, each of the Loan Parties hereby represents and warrants that the execution and delivery by such Loan Party of this Tenth Amendment and the performance by each such Loan Party of all of its agreements and obligations under the Credit Agreement as amended hereby and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party are within the corporate, partnership and/or limited liability company authority of each of the Loan Parties and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or membership action on the part of each of the Loan Parties.

 

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§6.                               Ratification, Etc.  Except as expressly amended hereby, the Credit Agreement and all documents, instruments and agreements related thereto, including, but not limited to the Security Documents, are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect.  The Credit Agreement and this Tenth Amendment shall be read and construed as a single agreement.  All references in the Credit Agreement or any related agreement or instrument to the Credit Agreement shall hereafter refer to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.  This Tenth Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document.

 

§7.                               No Waiver.  Nothing contained herein shall constitute a waiver of, impair or otherwise affect any Obligations, any other obligation of the Loan Parties or any rights of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender, the Syndication Agent, the Co-Documentation Agents or the Lenders consequent thereon.

 

§8.                               Counterparts.  This Tenth Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

§9.                               Governing Law.  THIS TENTH AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT REFERENCE TO CONFLICT OF LAWS).

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Tenth Amendment as a document under seal as of the date first above written.

 

	
 
    	
GLOBAL   OPERATING LLC
    
	
 
    	
By:   Global Partners LP, its sole member
    
	
 
    	
By:   Global GP LLC, its general partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   
    	
/s/Daphne   H. Foster
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GLOBAL   COMPANIES LLC
    
	
 
    	
By:   Global Operating LLC, its sole member
    
	
 
    	
By:   Global Partners LP, its sole member
    
	
 
    	
By:   Global GP LLC, its general partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   
    	
/s/Daphne   H. Foster
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GLOBAL   MONTELLO GROUP CORP.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   
    	
/s/Daphne   H. Foster
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
CHELSEA   SANDWICH LLC
    
	
 
    	
By:   Global Operating LLC, its sole member
    
	
 
    	
By:   Global Partners LP, its sole member
    
	
 
    	
By:   Global GP LLC, its general partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   
    	
/s/Daphne   H. Foster
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GLEN   HES CORP.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   
    	
/s/Daphne   H. Foster
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
Treasurer
    

 

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GLP   FINANCE CORP.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/Daphne   H. Foster
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GLOBAL   ENERGY MARKETING LLC
    
	
 
    	
By:  Global Operating LLC, its sole member
    
	
 
    	
By:  Global Partners LP, its sole member
    
	
 
    	
By:  Global GP LLC, its general partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/Daphne   H. Foster
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GLOBAL   ENERGY MARKETING II LLC
    
	
 
    	
By:  Global Operating LLC, its sole member
    
	
 
    	
By:  Global Partners LP, its sole member
    
	
 
    	
By:  Global GP LLC, its general partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/Daphne   H. Foster
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ALLIANCE   ENERGY LLC
    
	
 
    	
By:  Global Operating LLC, its sole member
    
	
 
    	
By:  Global Partners LP, its sole member
    
	
 
    	
By:  Global GP LLC, its general partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/Daphne   H. Foster
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GLOBAL   PARTNERS LP
    
	
 
    	
By:  Global GP LLC, its general partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/Daphne   H. Foster
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GLOBAL   GP LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/Daphne   H. Foster
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Treasurer
    

 

7

 

	
 
    	
BANK   OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   
    	
/s/   Angelo Martorana
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Angelo   Martorana
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Assistant   Vice President
    

 

8

 

	
 
    	
BANK   OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Jason Zilewicz
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Jason   Zilewicz
    
	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
Assistant   Vice President
    

 

9

 

	
 
    	
JPMORGAN   CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Dan Bueno
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Dan   Bueno
    
	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
Vice   President
    

 

10

 

	
 
    	
WELLS   FARGO BANK, N.A., as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Daniel M. Grondin
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Daniel   M. Grondin
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President
    

 

11

 

	
 
    	
SOCIETE   GENERALE, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Matt Worstell
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Matt   Worstell
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Chad Clark
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Chad   Clark
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Managing   Director
    

 

12

 

	
 
    	
STANDARD   CHARTERED BANK, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Kevin Garrow
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Kevin   Garrow
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Robert Reddington
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Robert   Reddington
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Credit   Documentation Manager
    

 

13

 

	
 
    	
RBS   CITIZENS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Donald A. Wright
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Donald   A. Wright
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President
    

 

14

 

	
 
    	
BNP   PARIBAS, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Matthew Rosetti
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Matthew   Rosetti
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Jordan Menoff
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Jordan   Menoff
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    

 

15

 

	
 
    	
COOPERATIEVE   CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN-BOERENLEENBANK B.A., “RABOBANK NEDERLAND” NEW YORK   BRANCH, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Rodney P. Hutchinson
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Rodney   P. Hutchinson
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Executive   Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Tim Hogebrug
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Tim   Hogebrug
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Executive   Director
    

 

16

 

	
 
    	
SOVEREIGN   BANK, N.A. as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Robert D. Lanigan
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Robert   D. Lanigan
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President
    

 

17

 

	
 
    	
CREDIT   AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Zali Win
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Zali   Win
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Managing   Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Michel Kermarrec
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Michel   Kermarrec
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    

 

18

 

	
 
    	
KEYBANK   NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Keven D. Smith
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Keven   D. Smith
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President
    

 

19

 

	
 
    	
TORONTO   DOMINION (NEW YORK) LLC, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Debbi L. Brito
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Debbi   L. Brito
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Authorized   Signatory
    

 

20

 

	
 
    	
RB   INTERNATIONAL FINANCE (USA) LLC, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Astrid Wilke
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Astrid   Wilke
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Group   Vice President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Pearl Geffers
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Pearl   Geffers
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
First   Vice President
    

 

21

 

	
 
    	
RAYMOND   JAMES BANK, FSB, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Scott G. Axelrod
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Scott   G. Axelrod
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    

 

22

 

	
 
    	
BARCLAYS   BANK PLC, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Sreedhar R. Kona
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Sreedhar   R. Kona
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    

 

23

 

	
 
    	
WEBSTER   BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Carol Carver
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Carol   Carver
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    

 

24

 

	
 
    	
NATIXIS,   NEW YORK BRANCH, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Carla Gray
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Carla   Gray
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   David Pershad
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
David   Pershad
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Managing   Director
    

 

25

 

	
 
    	
BMO   HARRIS FINANCING, INC., as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Kevin Utsey
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Kevin   Utsey
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    

 

26

 

	
 
    	
SUMITOMO   MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Shuji Yabe
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Shuji   Yabe
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Managing   Director
    

 

27

 

	
 
    	
DEUTSCHE   BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Chris Chapman
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Chris   Chapman
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Juan-Jose Mejia
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Juan-Jose   Mejia
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    

 

28

 

	
 
    	
TD   BANK, N.A., as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Vijay Prasad
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Vijay   Prasad
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior   Vice President
    

 

29

 

	
 
    	
PEOPLE’S   UNITED BANK, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    

 

30

 

	
 
    	
THE   HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Jared Shaner
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Jared   Shaner
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Assistant   Vice President
    

 

31

 

	
 
    	
BLUE   HILLS BANK, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    

 

32

 

	
 
    	
THE   BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD., as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    

 

33

 

	
 
    	
FIRST   NIAGARA BANK, N.A. as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Robert Dellatorre
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Robert   Dellatorre
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    

 

34

 

RATIFICATION OF GUARANTY

 

Each of the undersigned guarantors (each a “Guarantor”) hereby acknowledges and consents to the foregoing Tenth Amendment as of March 22, 2013, and agrees that each of (a) the Amended and Restated Guaranty dated as of May 14, 2010 (as amended and in effect from time to time, the “Original  Guaranty”) from each of Global Partners LP and Global GP LLC; (b) the Guaranty dated as of March 1, 2012 (as amended and in effect from time to time, the “Alliance Guaranty”) from Bursaw Oil LLC; and (c) the Guaranty dated as of February 15, 2013 (as amended and in effect from time to time, the “Cascade Guaranty”) from Cascade Kelly Holdings LLC remains in full force and effect, and each of the Guarantors confirms and ratifies all of its obligations thereunder and under each of the other Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties thereto hereby acknowledge, agree and confirm that as of the date hereof, each of the Original Guaranty, the Alliance Guaranty and the Cascade Guaranty remains in full force and effect.

 

	
 
    	
GLOBAL   PARTNERS LP
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
Global   GP LLC, its general partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   
    	
/s/Daphne   H. Foster
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GLOBAL   GP LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/Daphne   H. Foster
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
BURSAW   OIL LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/Daphne   H. Foster
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
CASCADE   KELLY HOLDINGS LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/Daphne   H. Foster
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   Treasurer
    

 

35Exhibit 4.18

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Dated March 26, 2013

 

among

 

STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.,

 

as Issuer,

 

the Guarantors named herein

 

and

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
 J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

 

as representatives of the several Initial Purchasers

 

 

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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into March 26, 2013, among STEEL DYNAMICS, INC., an Indiana corporation (the “Company”), the subsidiaries of the Company listed on Schedule I hereto (the “Guarantors”) and MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED, GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. and J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC, as representatives of the several initial purchasers set forth on Schedule II hereto (the “Initial Purchasers”).

 

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated March 12, 2013, among the Company, the Initial Purchasers and the Guarantors (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of an aggregate of $400,000,000 principal amount of the Company’s 51⁄4% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “Securities”).  The Securities will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Guarantors.  In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement.  The execution of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.

 

In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.             Definitions.

 

As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“1933 Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

“1934 Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

“Closing Date” shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Company’s successors.

 

“DTC” The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York.

 

“Exchange Offer” shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

 

“Exchange Offer Registration” shall mean a registration under the 1933 Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

 

“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all

 

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amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

“Exchange Securities” shall mean securities issued by the Company and guaranteed by the Guarantors under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities (except that (i) interest thereon shall accrue from the last date on which interest was paid on the Securities or, if no such interest was paid, March 26, 2013 (ii) the Exchange Securities will not contain restrictions on transfer, and (iii) the Exchange Securities are not entitled to Additional Interest) and to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

 

“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used by the Company in connection with the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Securities.

 

“Guarantors” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include any Guarantor’s successor.

 

“Holder” shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture; provided that for purposes of Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement, the term “Holder” shall include Participating Broker-Dealers (as defined in Section 4(a)).

 

“Indenture” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities dated as of March 26, 2013, among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, and as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

“Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

“Issuer Information” shall mean material information about the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective securities that has been provided by or on behalf of the Company and/or the Guarantors.

 

“Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) (other than the Initial Purchasers or subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities if such subsequent holders are deemed to be such affiliates solely by reason of their holding of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount.

 

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“Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

“Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

“Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities and the guarantee thereof by the Guarantors; provided, however, that the Securities and the guarantee shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when such Securities are exchanged for Exchange Securities, (ii) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities and the guarantee shall have been declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities and the guarantee shall have been disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, or (iii) when such Securities and the guarantee shall have otherwise ceased to be outstanding.

 

“Registration Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Company and the Guarantors with this Agreement, including without limitation:  (i) all SEC, stock exchange or Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements and other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the Guarantors and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Majority Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Initial Purchaser) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors, including the expenses of any special audits or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.

 

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“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Company and the Guarantors that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

“SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.

 

“Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b) of this Agreement which covers all of the Registrable Securities on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

“Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.

 

“Underwriter” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof.

 

“Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a registration in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.

 

2.             Registration Under the 1933 Act.

 

(a)           To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering the offer by the Company and the Guarantors to the Holders to exchange all of the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and to have such Registration Statement remain effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer.  The Company and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC and use its reasonable best efforts to have the Exchange Offer consummated not later than 60 days after such effective date.  The Company and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing the related exchange offer Prospectus and accompanying documents to each Holder, through DTC or otherwise, stating in such Prospectus or accompanying documents, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law:

 

(i)            that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Registration Rights Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn will be accepted for exchange;

 

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(ii)           the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 business days from the date such notice is mailed) (the “Exchange Dates”);

 

(iii)          that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any rights under this Registration Rights Agreement;

 

(iv)          that Holders electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender such Registrable Security, together with the enclosed letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and

 

(v)           that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by sending to the institution and at the address (located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Securities exchanged.

 

As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Company shall:

 

(i)            accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and

 

(ii)           deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and mail to each Holder, an Exchange Security equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities surrendered by such Holder.

 

The Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer.  The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC.  The Company shall inform the Initial Purchasers of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial Purchasers shall have the right, subject to applicable law, to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.

 

If the Company and the Guarantors effect the Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors shall be entitled to close the Exchange Offer twenty (20) business days after such commencement (provided that the Company and the Guarantors have accepted all the Securities theretofore validly tendered and not withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer).

 

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Each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer shall be required to represent to the Company and the Guarantors in writing that at the time of the consummation of the Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have no arrangements or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the 1933 Act) of the Exchange Securities and (iii) such Holder is not affiliate of either the Company or any of the Guarantors within the meaning of Rule 405 under the 1933 Act, (iv) if such Holder is not a broker dealer, that it is not engaged in and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a broker dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities that were acquired as a result of market making activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with the resale of such Exchange Securities.

 

(b)           In the event that (i) the Company and the Guarantors determine that the Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available or may not be consummated as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because it would violate applicable law or the applicable interpretations of the Staff of the SEC, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason consummated by March 26, 2014 or (iii) the Exchange Offer has been completed and in the opinion of counsel for the Initial Purchasers a Registration Statement must be filed and a Prospectus must be delivered by the Initial Purchasers in connection with any offering or sale of Registrable Securities, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such determination, date or notice of such opinion of counsel is given to the Company, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the sale by the Holders of all of the Registrable Securities and to have such Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC.  In the event the Company and the Guarantors are required to file a Shelf Registration Statement solely as a result of the matters referred to in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Company and the Guarantors shall use their reasonable best efforts to file and have declared effective by the SEC both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) with respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by the Initial Purchasers after completion of the Exchange Offer.  The Company and the Guarantors agree to use their reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the second anniversary of the Closing Date or such shorter period that will terminate when all of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors further agree to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company and the Guarantors for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the 1933 Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration or if reasonably requested by a Holder with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use its reasonable best efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective and such Shelf Registration Statement to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable.  The Company and the Guarantors agree to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.  To the extent that the Company and the Guarantors are required to include any Registrable Securities in a Shelf

 

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Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors may include such Registrable Securities on any other shelf registration statement otherwise filed by the Company with respect to any of its other securities.

 

(c)           The Company and the Guarantors shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b).  Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(d)           An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC; provided, however, that, if, after it has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement will be deemed not to have become effective during the period of such interference until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally resume.  In the event the Exchange Offer is not consummated and the Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to March 26, 2014 (and in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, thereafter ceases to be effective as provided in the preceeding sentence), the interest rate on the Securities will be increased by 0.5% per annum until the Exchange Offer is consummated or the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC.

 

(e)           Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Company and the Guarantors acknowledge that any failure by the Company or the Guarantors to comply with their obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s  or the Guarantors’ obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.

 

3.             Registration Procedures.

 

In connection with the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors with respect to the Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Company and the Guarantors shall as expeditiously as possible:

 

(a)           prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (x) shall be selected by the Company and the Guarantors and (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith, and use their reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with Section 2 hereof;

 

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(b)           prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; to keep each Prospectus current during the period described under Section 4(3) and Rule 174 under the 1933 Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities;

 

(c)           in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for the Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder or Underwriter may reasonably request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities; and the Company and the Guarantors consent to the use of such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;

 

(d)           use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, to cooperate with such Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any Guarantor shall be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) file any general consent to service of process or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject;

 

(e)           in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of Registrable Securities who has provided contact information to the Company, counsel for the Holders and counsel for the Initial Purchasers promptly and, if requested by any such Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (i) when a Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if,

 

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between the effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company or any Guarantor contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to the offering cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company or any Guarantor receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event during the period a Shelf Registration Statement is effective which makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (vi) of any determination by the Company or any Guarantor that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate;

 

(f)            make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder of the withdrawal of any such order;

 

(g)           in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested);

 

(h)           in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) and registered in such names as the selling Holders may reasonably request at least one business day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;

 

(i)            in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use its reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The Company and the Guarantors agree to notify the Holders to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and the Holders hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company and the Guarantors have amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission;

 

(j)            a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a

 

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Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) and make such of the representatives of the Company and the Guarantors as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel) available for discussion of such document, and shall not at any time file or make any amendment to the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus, of which the Initial Purchasers and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Initial Purchasers or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel) shall object;

 

(k)           obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement;

 

(l)            cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”), in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA and execute, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;

 

(m)          in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by a representative of the Holders of the Registrable Securities, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants designated by the Holders, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all financial and other records, pertinent documents and properties of the Company and the Guarantors, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company and the Guarantors to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement;

 

(n)           in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company or any Guarantor are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders, to the extent such Registrable Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements;

 

(o)           use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Securities, as the case may be, to continue to be rated by two nationally recognized

 

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statistical rating organizations (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) under the 1934 Act);

 

(p)           if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Holder as such Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such filing; and

 

(q)           in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (i) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties to the Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when requested, (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and the Guarantors (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in connection with underwritten firm commitment offerings, (iii) obtain “cold comfort” letters from the independent certified public accountants of the Company and the Guarantors (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant of any subsidiary of the Company or any Guarantor, or of any business acquired by the Company or any Guarantor for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with underwritten firm commitment offerings, and (iv) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement.

 

In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company and the Guarantors such information regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Company and the Guarantors may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

 

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In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company and the Guarantors of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof, and, if so directed by the Company and the Guarantors, such Holder will deliver to the Company and the Guarantors (at its expense) all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.  If the Company and the Guarantors shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors shall extend the period during which the Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions.  The Company and the Guarantors may give any such notice only twice during any 365-day period and any such suspensions may not exceed 30 days for each suspension and there may not be more than two suspensions in effect during any 365-day period.

 

The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering.  In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers (the “Underwriters”) that will administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of the Registrable Securities included in such offering.

 

4.             Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer.

 

(a)           The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that any broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”), may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the 1933 Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

 

The Company and the Guarantors understand that it is the Staff’s position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the 1933 Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the 1933 Act.

 

(b)           In light of the above, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors agree that the provisions of this Agreement as they relate to a Shelf Registration shall also apply to an Exchange Offer Registration to the extent, and with such reasonable modifications thereto as may be, reasonably requested by the Initial

 

13

 

Purchasers or by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers, in each case as provided in clause (ii) below, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited in Section 4(a) above; provided that:

 

(i)            the Company and the Guarantors shall not be required to amend or supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as would otherwise be contemplated by Section 3(i), (A) after the Participating Broker-Dealers shall have disposed of the Registrable Securities or (B) for a period exceeding 180 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement) and Participating Broker-Dealers shall not be authorized by the Company and the Guarantors to deliver and shall not deliver such Prospectus after such period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4; and

 

(ii)           the application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer Registration, to the extent not required by the positions of the Staff of the SEC or the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, will be in conformity with the reasonable request to the Company and the Guarantors by the Initial Purchasers or with the reasonable request in writing to the Company and the Guarantors by one or more broker-dealers who certify to the Initial Purchasers and the Company and the Guarantors in writing that they anticipate that they will be Participating Broker-Dealers; and provided  further that, in connection with such application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in Section 3 to an Exchange Offer Registration, the Company and the Guarantors shall be obligated (x) to deal only with one entity representing the Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated unless it elects not to act as such representative, (y) to pay the fees and expenses of only one counsel representing the Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be counsel to the Initial Purchasers unless such counsel elects not to so act and (z) to cause to be delivered only one, if any, “cold comfort” letter with respect to the Prospectus in the form existing on the last Exchange Date and with respect to each subsequent amendment or supplement, if any, effected during the period specified in clause (i) above.

 

(c)           The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the Company, any Guarantor or any Holder with respect to any request that it may make pursuant to Section 4(b) above.

 

5.             Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)           Each of the Company and the Guarantors agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless the Initial Purchasers and each Holder, their respective affiliates, directors and officers  and each Person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchasers or any Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, or is under common control with, or is controlled by, any Initial Purchasers or any Holder, from and against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or

 

14

 

other expenses reasonably incurred by the Initial Purchaser, any Holder and their respective affiliates, directors and officers or any such controlling or affiliated Person in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to which Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities were registered under the 1933 Act, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company and the Guarantors shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), any Free Writing Prospectus or any Issuer Information filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the 1933 Act, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to the Initial Purchasers or any Holder furnished to the Company or the Guarantors in writing through Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or any selling Holder expressly for use therein.  In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Company and each of the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their affiliates, officers and directors and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any Issuer Information.

 

(b)           Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Guarantors, the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, and each of their respective directors, officers who sign the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, the Guarantors, any Initial Purchaser and any other selling Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Guarantors to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company and the Guarantors in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Free Writing Prospectus.

 

(c)           In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above, such Person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying  party”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.  In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such

 

15

 

counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them or (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action.  It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for (a) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Initial Purchasers and all Persons, if any, who control any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, (b) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Company and the Guarantors, their directors, their officers who sign the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company or the Guarantors within the meaning of either such Section and (c) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Holders and all Persons, if any, who control any Holders within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred.  In such case involving the Initial Purchasers and Persons who control the Initial Purchasers, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Initial Purchasers.  In such case involving the Holders and such Persons who control Holders, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders.  In all other cases, such firm shall be designated by the Company.  The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but, if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party for such fees and expenses of counsel in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which such indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (ii) does not include any statements as to or any findings of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d)           If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of this Section 5 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the

 

16

 

one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of the Company, the Guarantors and the Holders shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Guarantors or by the Holders and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The Holders’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5(d) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Registrable Securities of such Holder that were registered pursuant to a Registration Statement.

 

(e)           The Company, the Guarantors and each Holder agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro  rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, no Holder shall be required to indemnify or contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which Registrable Securities were sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

 

The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers, any Holder or any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company, the Guarantors, their officers or directors or any Person controlling the Company or the Guarantors, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.

 

6.             Miscellaneous.

 

(a)           No Inconsistent Agreements.  Neither the Company nor the Guarantors have entered into, and on or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into, any agreement which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.  The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s or the Guarantors’ other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.

 

17

 

(b)           Amendments and Waivers.  The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company and the Guarantors have obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent; provided, however, that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder.

 

(c)           Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and (ii) if to the Company or the Guarantors, initially at the Company’s address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c).

 

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given:  at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five  business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

 

Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the address specified in the Indenture.

 

(d)           Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement.  If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.  The Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have no liability or obligation to the Company or the Guarantors with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.

 

(e)           Purchases and Sales of Securities.  The Company and the Guarantors shall not, and shall use their best efforts to cause their affiliates (as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) not to, purchase and then resell or otherwise transfer any Securities.

 

18

 

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

 

(g)           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(h)           Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

(i)            Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

 

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

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

19

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

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

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

	
 
    	
SWVA, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
MARSHALL   STEEL, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
STEEL   VENTURES, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
THE   TECHS INDUSTRIES, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
JACKSON   IRON & METAL COMPANY, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
OMNISOURCE   CORPORATION
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
OMNISOURCE   INDIANAPOLIS, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   OMNISOURCE CORPORATION, SOLE MEMBER
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   A. Poinsatte
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

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

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

	
Confirmed   and accepted as of the date first above written:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
INCORPORATED
    	
 
    
	
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
    	
 
    
	
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Acting on behalf of themselves and as   representatives of the several Initial Purchasers
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By: MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
INCORPORATED
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/Mark   W. Kushemba
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Mark   W. Kushemba
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By: 
    	
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/Michael   Hickey
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Michael   Hickey
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/David   A. Dwyer
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
David   A. Dwyer
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Managing   Director
    	
 
    
					

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

SCHEDULE I

 

Guarantors

 

	
NAME
    	
 
    	
JURISDICTION
    
	
OMNISOURCE SOUTHEAST, LLC
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
STEEL DYNAMICS SALES NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    	
 
    	
Indiana
    
	
NEW MILLENNIUM BUILDING SYSTEMS, LLC
    	
 
    	
Indiana
    
	
ROANOKE ELECTRIC STEEL CORPORATION
    	
 
    	
Indiana
    
	
NEW MILLENNIUM BUILDING SYSTEMS, INC.
    	
 
    	
South Carolina
    
	
CAROLINAS RECYCLING GROUP, LLC
    	
 
    	
South Carolina
    
	
STEEL OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
STEEL VENTURES, INC.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
SWVA, INC.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
MARSHALL STEEL, INC.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
THE TECHS INDUSTRIES, INC.
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
OMNISOURCE CORPORATION
    	
 
    	
Indiana
    
	
JACKSON IRON & METAL COMPANY, INC.
    	
 
    	
Michigan
    
	
OMNISOURCE INDIANAPOLIS, LLC
    	
 
    	
Indiana
    
	
OMNISOURCE, LLC
    	
 
    	
Indiana
    
	
OMNISOURCE TRANSPORT, LLC
    	
 
    	
Indiana
    
	
SUPERIOR ALUMINUM ALLOYS, LLC
    	
 
    	
Indiana
    

 

 

SCHEDULE II

 

Initial Purchasers

 

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

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