Exhibit No. 7
Exhibit
No. 7
Dated
June 25, 2008
Reference
is made to that certain Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement dated as of May
5, 2008 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified to the date hereof, the
“WPC Term Loan Agreement”), by and
among Wheeling-Pittsburgh Corporation, a Delaware corporation,
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “WPC Borrower”), Essar Steel
Holdings Limited, as administrative agent (the “WPC Administrative Agent”) and the
lenders a party thereto (the “WPC Lenders”) and to that certain
Term Loan Agreement dated as of May 2, 2008 (as amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified to the date hereof, the “Esmark Term Loan Agreement”;
together with the WPC Term Loan Agreement, the “Term Loan Agreements”), by and
among Esmark Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (“Esmark”), Esmark Steel Service
Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Esmark Borrower”; together with the
WPC Borrower, the “Borrowers”), Essar Steel
Holdings Limited, as administrative agent (the “Esmark Administrative Agent”;
together with the WPC Administrative Agent, the “Administrative Agents”) and
the lenders party thereto (the “Esmark Lenders”; together with
the WPC Lenders, the “Lenders”). Unless
otherwise defined herein, (i) terms used herein in relation to the WPC Term Loan
Agreement shall have the meanings given to them in the WPC Term Loan Agreement
and (ii) terms used herein in relation to the Esmark Term Loan Agreement shall
have the meanings given to them in the Esmark Term Loan
Agreement. The term “assign” as used herein means,
without limitation, assign, delegate, transfer and sell; and the terms
assignment and assigned have corresponding meanings.
WHEREAS,
Essar Steel Holdings Limited (the “Assignor”) holds 100% of the
Loans under the WPC Term Loan Agreement and 100% of the Loans under the Esmark
Term Loan Agreement and is the WPC Administrative Agent and the Esmark
Administrative Agent and desires to assign to OAO Severstal (the “Assignee”) all of the Loans
under the WPC Term Loan Agreement and all of the Loans under the Esmark Term
Loan Agreement and to transfer its administrative agent role under the WPC Term
Loan Agreement and its administrative agent role under the Esmark Term Loan
Agreement to the Assignee, and the Assignee desires to purchase all of the Loans
under the WPC Term Loan Agreement and all of the Loans under the Esmark Term
Loan Agreement and to assume the administrative agent role under the WPC Term
Loan Agreement and the administrative agent role under the Esmark Term Loan
Agreement;
NOW
THEREFORE, the Assignor and the Assignee agree as follows:
1. On
the Effective Date (as defined below), the Assignor irrevocably assigns to the
Assignee, without recourse to the Assignor except as expressly set forth below,
and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor,
without recourse to the Assignor except as expressly set forth below, as of the
Effective Date, all of Assignor’s rights and obligations under the WPC Term Loan
Agreement and the other Loan Documents (as defined in the WPC Term Loan
Agreement; as so defined, the “WPC Loan
Documents”).
2. On
the Effective Date, the Assignor irrevocably assigns to the Assignee, without
recourse to the Assignor except as expressly set forth below, and the Assignee
hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, without recourse to
the Assignor except as expressly set forth below, as of the Effective Date, all
of Assignor’s rights and obligations
under the
Esmark Term Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents (as defined in the
Esmark Term Loan Agreement; as so defined, the “Esmark Loan Documents”)
(together with Assignor’s rights and obligations under the WPC Term Loan
Agreement and the other WPC Loan Documents, the “Assigned
Interest”).
3. Pursuant
to, and in accordance with, Section 8.9 of the WPC Term Loan Agreement, the
Assignor has given notice of its resignation as Administrative Agent under the
WPC Term Loan Agreement (the Assignor, in its capacity as retiring WPC
Administrative Agent, is the “Retiring WPC Administrative
Agent”). Pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 8.9 of
the WPC Term Loan Agreement, the Assignee, as the successor Lender under the WPC
Term Loan Agreement hereby (x) appoints itself as the successor Administrative
Agent under the WPC Term Loan Agreement (in such capacity, the “Successor WPC Administrative
Agent”) and (y) notifies the WPC Borrower of such appointment and the
Assignee by its execution and delivery of this Assignment and Assumption accepts
such appointment, such appointment and acceptance to be effective on the
Effective Date. The WPC Borrower by its execution and delivery of
this Assignment and Assumption hereby waives the requirement under Section 8.9
of the WPC Term Loan Agreement of 30 days notice of the resignation of the
Assignor as Administrative Agent under the WPC Term Loan
Agreement. The Assignee, as the successor Lender under the WPC Term
Loan Agreement, hereby directs the Retiring WPC Administrative Agent to, and the
Retiring WPC Administrative Agent hereby agrees to, (i) on or prior to the
Effective Date, transfer, deliver, assign and convey to the Successor WPC
Administrative Agent, any and all sums, securities and all other items of
Collateral (as defined in the WPC Term Loan Agreement; as so defined, the “WPC Collateral”) in possession
of the Retiring WPC Administrative Agent pursuant to any WPC Loan Document
(including, without limitation, delivering all pledged stock certificates and
other instruments), and (ii) forthwith following the date hereof, at the expense
of the WPC Borrower, execute any and all instruments, agreements and other
documents, including but not limited to assignments of financing statements and
assignments of mortgages and deeds of trust, reasonably requested by the
Successor WPC Administrative Agent to properly transfer, assign or convey any
other WPC Collateral (collectively, the “WPC Transfer Documents”), and
deliver such information relating to the administration of the Loans to the
Successor WPC Administrative Agent as the Successor WPC Administrative Agent may
reasonably request.
4. Pursuant
to, and in accordance with, Section 8.09 of the Esmark Term Loan Agreement, the
Assignor has given notice of its resignation as Administrative Agent under the
Esmark Term Loan Agreement (the Assignor, in its capacity as retiring Esmark
Administrative Agent, is the “Retiring Esmark Administrative
Agent”). Pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 8.09 of
the Esmark Term Loan Agreement, the Assignee, as the successor Lender under the
Esmark Term Loan Agreement hereby (x) appoints itself as the successor
Administrative Agent under the Esmark Term Loan Agreement (in such capacity, the
“Successor Esmark
Administrative Agent”; together with the Successor WPC Administrative
Agent, the “Successor Administrative
Agents”) and (y) notifies the Esmark Borrower of such appointment and the
Assignee by its execution and delivery of this Assignment and Assumption accepts
such appointment, such appointment and acceptance to be effective on the
Effective Date. The Esmark Borrower by its execution and delivery of
this Assignment and Assumption hereby waives the requirement under Section 8.09
of the Esmark Term Loan Agreement of 30 days
notice of
the resignation of the Assignor as Administrative Agent under the Esmark Term
Loan Agreement. The Assignee, as the successor Lender under the
Esmark Term Loan Agreement, hereby directs the Retiring Esmark Administrative
Agent to, and the Retiring Esmark Administrative Agent hereby agrees to, (i) on
or prior to the Effective Date, transfer, deliver, assign and convey to the
Successor Esmark Administrative Agent, any and all sums, securities and all
other items of Collateral (as defined in the Esmark Term Loan Agreement; as so
defined, the “Esmark
Collateral”) in possession of the Retiring Esmark Administrative Agent
pursuant to any Esmark Loan Document (including, without limitation, delivering
all pledged stock certificates and other instruments), and (ii) forthwith
following the date hereof, at the expense of the Esmark Borrower, execute any
and all instruments, agreements and other documents, including but not limited
to assignments of financing statements and assignments of mortgages and deeds of
trust, reasonably requested by the Successor Esmark Administrative Agent to
properly transfer, assign or convey any other Esmark Collateral (collectively,
the “Esmark Transfer
Documents”), and deliver such information relating to the administration
of the Loans to the Successor Esmark Administrative Agent as the Successor
Esmark Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
5. On
or before the Effective Date, the Assignee shall pay the aggregate purchase
price indicated on Schedule 1 in immediately available funds (the “Purchase Price”) to the
Assignor and upon the receipt by the Assignor of the Purchase Price the
assignment of the Assigned Interest under paragraphs 1 and 2 above and the
transfer of the administrative agent roles under paragraphs 3 and 4 above shall
be effective and the purchase and acceptance by Assignee shall be fully
consummated as of the Effective Date without notice or further action by or to
any other Person. Assignor acknowledges that a portion of the
Purchase Price represents a payment in lieu of its exercise of its conversion
rights under Section 9.16 of the WPC Term Loan Agreement and Section 9.15 of the
Esmark Term Loan Agreement, that such conversion rights have been transferred to
Assignee and that, from and after the date hereof, only Assignee and its
successors and assigns shall have the right to exercise such conversion
rights. Assignor hereby waives any Event of Default under any of the
Term Loan Agreements that may result from the failure of Assignor to receive the
Purchase Price on the date of any actual or deemed Change of Control (as defined
in each Term Loan Agreement in connection with the execution and delivery of or
the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan Of Merger dated
June 25, 2008, by and among Assignee, the entity designated therein as the
Purchaser and Esmark Incorporated) in accordance with Section 2.6 WPC Term Loan
Agreement and 2.04 of the Esmark Term Loan Agreement, so long as such payment is
otherwise made in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
6. The
Assignor (a) represents and warrants that its name set forth on Schedule 1 is
its legal name, that it is the beneficial owner of the interests assigned by it
hereunder, and that such interests are free and clear of any adverse claim; (b)
makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect
to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with
the Term Loan Agreements or with respect to the execution, legality, validity,
enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Term Loan Agreements,
any other WPC Loan Document or Esmark Loan Document or any other instrument or
document furnished pursuant thereto, other than that the Assignor has not
created any adverse claim upon
the
interests being assigned by it hereunder and that such interests are free and
clear of any such adverse claim; and (c) makes no representation or warranty and
assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of Wheeling
Pittsburgh Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Wheeling Pittsburgh”), Esmark, the Borrowers,
any of their Affiliates or any other obligor or the performance or observance by
Wheeling Pittsburgh, Esmark, the Borrower, any of their Affiliates or any other
obligor of any of their respective obligations under either Term Loan Credit
Agreement or any other WPC Loan Document or Esmark Loan Document or any other
instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto. The Assignee shall
have no recourse to the Assignor under this Assignment and Assumption except to
the extent any representation and warranty made by such Assignor in this
paragraph 6 is not true and correct on the Effective Date.
7. The
Assignee (a) represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into
this Assignment and Assumption; (b) confirms that it has received a copy of the
Term Loan Agreements, together with copies of the financial statements delivered
pursuant to Section 3.1 of the WPC Term Loan Agreement and Section 3.04 of the
Esmark Term Loan Agreement and such other documents and information as it has
deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into
this Assignment and Assumption; (c) agrees that it will, independently and
without reliance upon the Assignor, any Administrative Agent or any Lender and
based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the
time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action
under the Term Loan Agreements, the other WPC Loan Documents and Esmark Loan
Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or
thereto; (d) appoints and authorizes (i) the Successor WPC Administrative Agent
to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and
discretion under the WPC Term Loan Agreement, the other WPC Loan Documents or
any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto as are
delegated to the Successor WPC Administrative Agent by the terms thereof,
together with such powers as are incidental thereto and (ii) the Successor
Esmark Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to
exercise such powers and discretion under the Esmark Term Loan Agreement, the
other Esmark Loan Documents or any other instrument or document furnished
pursuant hereto or thereto as are delegated to the Successor Esmark
Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are
incidental thereto; and (e) agrees that it will be bound by the provisions of
the Term Loan Agreements and will perform in accordance with its terms all the
obligations which by the terms of the Term Loan Agreements are required to be
performed by it as a Lender including, if it is organized under the laws of a
jurisdiction outside the United States, its obligation pursuant to Section
2.14(d) of the WPC Term Loan Agreement and Section 2.10(d) of the Esmark Term
Loan Agreement.
8. The
“Effective Date” of this Assignment and
Assumption shall be Thursday, June 26, 2008. On or before the
Effective Date (a) each of the WPC Borrower, the Esmark Borrower, the Assignor
and the Assignee, in each of their respective capacities, shall have duly
executed this Assignment and Assumption, (b) the Administrative Agents shall
have received the Purchase Price and (c) the Assignee shall have received
fully-executed copies of the Resignation of Administrative Agent (WPC),
Resignation of Administrative Agent (ESSG) and Notice of Successor TL Agent, in
the forms attached hereto as Exhibits A, B and C, respectively.
4
Assignment
and Assumption
9. Following
the execution of this Assignment and Assumption, it will be delivered to each
Successor Administrative Agent for acceptance by it and recording by such
Successor Administrative Agent pursuant to each applicable Term Loan Agreement,
effective as of the Effective Date.
10. From
and after the Effective Date, the Successor Administrative Agents shall make all
payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal,
interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignee.
11. From
and after the Effective Date, (a) the Assignee shall be a party to each of the
WPC Term Loan Agreement and the Esmark Term Loan Agreement and, to the extent
provided in this Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a
Lender thereunder and under the other WPC Loan Documents and Esmark Loan
Documents and shall be bound by the provisions thereof and (b) the Assignor
shall, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Assumption, relinquish its
rights and be released from its obligations under the Term Loan
Agreements.
12. Except
for claims based upon a breach of this Agreement, in consideration of the
promises contained in this Agreement and the payment set forth in paragraph 5
hereof, the Assignor, on behalf of itself and its respective subsidiaries,
affiliates and assigns, and each of their respective present and former
officers, directors, shareholders, representatives, agents, employees,
attorneys, and insurers, hereby releases and forever discharges Esmark, the
Esmark Borrower, Wheeling Pittsburgh, the WPC Borrower and the Assignee and
their respective parents and each of their respective subsidiaries, affiliates
and assigns, and each of their respective present and former officers,
directors, shareholders, representatives, agents, employees, attorneys and
insurers (hereinafter collectively and individually, the “Released Parties”) from any and all claims,
demands, rights, actions or causes of action, liabilities, damages, losses,
obligations, judgments, suits, fees, expenses, costs, matters, and issues of any
kind or nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, in law or equity,
contingent or absolute, suspected or unsuspected, disclosed or undisclosed,
matured or unmatured, which Assignor has or claims, or might hereafter have or
claim, against the Released Parties, from the beginning of the world through the
date of this Assignment and Assumption, based upon or arising out of or related
to, in any way whatsoever, the WPC Term Loan Agreement, the Esmark Term Loan
Agreement, this Assignment and Assumption, the Agreement and Plan of Merger
dated as of June 25, 2008 among OAO Severstal, the company designated therein as
the purchaser and Esmark, or relating to a tender offer for all of the shares of
capital stock of Esmark and the Memorandum of Agreement dated April 30, 2008
between the Assignor and Esmark or the transactions contemplated by any of the
foregoing.
The
releases contemplated by the Assignor as set forth in this paragraph 12 extend
to claims that any person or entity granting a release (the “Releasing Person”) does not know or suspect to
exist at the time of the release, which, if known, might have affected the
Releasing Person’s decision to enter into this release. The Releasing
Person will be deemed to relinquish, to the extent it is applicable, and to the
full extent permitted by law, the provisions, rights and benefits of §1542 of
the California Civil Code which provides:
5
Assignment
and Assumption
A GENERAL
RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO
EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN
BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE
DEBTOR.
In
addition, the Releasing Person will be deemed to relinquish, to the extent they
are applicable, and to the full extent permitted by law, the provisions, rights,
and benefits of any law of any state or territory of the United States, federal
law, or principle of common law, which is similar, comparable, or equivalent to
§1542 of the California Civil Code. The Releasing Persons acknowledge
that they may discover facts in addition to or different from those now known or
believed to be true, but that it is the intention of the Releasing Persons to
hereby completely, fully, finally, and forever compromise, settle, release,
discharge, and extinguish any and all claims, demands, rights, actions or causes
of action, liabilities, damages, losses, obligations, judgments, suits, fees,
expenses, costs, matters, and issues of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether
known or unknown, contingent or absolute, suspected or unsuspected, disclosed or
undisclosed, matured or unmatured, which now exist, or heretofore existed, or
may hereafter exist, and without regard to the subsequent discovery or existence
of additional or different facts. The Releasing Persons hereby
voluntarily waive the provisions, rights, and benefits of §1542 of the
California Civil Code and the provisions, rights, and benefits of any law of any
state or territory of the United States, federal law, or principle of common
law, which is similar, comparable, or equivalent to §1542 of the California
Civil Code.
13. This
Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York.
[Signature
pages to follow]
6
Assignment
and Assumption
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Assignment and Assumption
to be executed as of the date first above written by their respective duly
authorized officers.
Assignor: | ESSAR STEEL HOLDINGS LIMITED, as Lender under WPC Term Loan Agreement, as Lender under Esmark Term Loan Agreement, as Administrative Agent under WPC Term Loan Agreement and as Administrative Agent under Esmark Term Loan Agreement | |||
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By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Name: | ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |||
Signature
Page
Assignment and Assumption
Assignment and Assumption
Assignee: |
OAO
SEVERSTAL
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By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Name: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |||
Signature
Page
Assignment and Assumption
Assignment and Assumption
Accepted for Recordation in the Register: | |||
ESSAR
STEEL HOLDINGS LIMITED,
as
Retiring Administrative Agent under
WPC
Term Loan Agreement and as
Retiring
Administrative Agent under
Esmark
Term Loan Agreement
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By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Name: | ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | ||
OAO
SEVERSTAL,
as
Successor Administrative Agent under
WPC
Term Loan Agreement and as
Successor
Administrative Agent under
Esmark
Term Loan Agreement
|
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By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Name: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||
Signature
Page
Assignment and Assumption
Assignment and Assumption
Agreed and Consented: | |||
WHEELING-PITTSBURGH
STEEL
CORPORATION
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By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Name: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: | Vice President and Treasurer | ||
Signature
Page
Assignment and Assumption
Assignment and Assumption
Agreed and Consented: | |||
ESMARK
STEEL SERVICE GROUP, INC.
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By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Name: | ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: | Vice President and Secretary | ||
Signature
Page
Assignment and Assumption
Assignment and Assumption
Agreed and Consented: | |||
ESMARK
INCORPORATED
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By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Name: | ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
Title: | Chairman and CEO |
Signature
Page
Assignment and Assumption
Assignment and Assumption