AGREEMENT
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This Agreement is made and entered into, effective as of the 27/th/
day of February, 2002 ("Effective Date"), by and between NKK Steel
Engineering, Inc. ("Contractor") and National Steel Corporation, Great Lakes
Division ("National").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, Contractor and National are parties to a certain No. 1
Continuous Galvanizing Line Turnkey Engineering And Construction Contract
dated as of October 23, 1998, as amended from time to time to date (the
"Contact"), pursuant to which Contractor and National agreed to certain
rights and obligations as set forth in the Contract in connection with the
supply of a continuous galvanizing facility at National's Ecorse, Michigan
Plant (the "Project");
WHEREAS, Contractor and National desire to address and resolve, in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, various issues and matters as
part of the close-out of the Project.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the exchange of the promises
herein, whose sufficiency as consideration hereby is acknowledged, and with
the express intent to be legally bound, Contractor and National agree as
follows:
1. Contractor shall pay to National the sum of $5,471,000 (U.S.) (the
"Close-Out Sum"), in accordance with and subject to the following terms and
conditions:
(a) Promptly after the Effective Date, Contractor and National
shall take all actions and sign all documents, including the execution and
delivery of any documents reasonably requested by Contractor and/or by Bank
of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd ("Issuer") as issuer of an Irrevocable Letter of
Credit No. T-001-9834211R, dated June 20, 2000, in the amount of
$3,023,700 (U.S.) ("First Letter of Credit") to amend the First Letter of
Credit to reduce its amount from $3,023,700 to (U.S.) to $1,326,313 (U.S.).
The First Letter of Credit as so amended to the reduced amount of $1,326,313
(U.S.) is referred herein as the Amended First Letter of Credit;
(b) Immediately after the Document Delivery (as defined in
paragraph 3 below), National shall be entitled to make a draw and demand for
payment in the amount of $1,326,313 under the Amended First Letter of Credit
and also shall be entitled to make a draw and demand for payment in the
amount of $3,944,687 (U.S.) under an Irrevocable Letter of Credit No.
T-001-9834210R of Issuer, dated June 20, 2000, in the amount of $3,944,687
(U.S.) ("Second Letter of Credit");
(c) National also shall be entitled to withhold payment
("Contract Balance Withholding") of $200,000 (U.S.) ("Contract Balance")
alleged by Contract to be due and owing to Contractor pursuant to Paragraph
5.1 of the Contract. Such Contract Balance is part of a total outstanding
balance of $201,840.15 (U.S.) referred to on Contractor's invoice Nos.
010014 and 010025 ("Contract Balance Invoice"). The $1,840.15 (U.S.)
difference shall be paid by National to Contractor at the time of the
Document Delivery. For purposes of this Agreement, the Contract Balance
Withholding shall be deemed to be a payment by Contractor of the Contract
Balance as part of the Close-Out Sum and, upon completion by National of the
Document Delivery, National shall be forever released and discharged from
all liability and obligation to pay the Contract Balance to Contractor.
Promptly after the time of Document Delivery, Contractor shall cancel the
Contractor Balance Invoice;
(d) National shall be entitled, under subparagraphs 1(a), 1(b) and
1(c) above, to a total payment under the Amended First Letter of Credit, the
Second Letter of Credit and the Contract Balance Withholding in the amount
of the Close-Out Sum and Contractor will cooperate fully in National's
receipt of such total payment of the Close-Out Sum under the Amended First
Letter of Credit, the Second Letter of Credit and the Contract Balance
Withholding, and, in the event Issuer refuses to make payment in full under
the Amended First Letter of Credit and Second Letter of Credit, Contractor
shall promptly pay to National the unpaid balance of the Close-Out Sum and
the Amended First Letter of Credit and Second Letter of Credit shall become
null and void and of no further force or effect immediately upon such
payment by Contractor; and
(e) Contractor and National acknowledge and agree that the
Close-Out Sum includes payment by Contractor of the full amount of
Liquidated Damages provided under paragraph 6.4 of the Contract.
2 Contractor shall deliver to National at the time of the Document
Delivery a properly executed Full Unconditional Waiver of Lien properly
executed by Contractor, and also every Full Unconditional Waiver of Lien (if
any) executed by any subcontractor of Contractor which is in Contractor's
possession on the Effective Date and previously has not been delivered to
National, pursuant to paragraph 20.3 of the Contract.
3. Within two(2) business days after the Effective Date, National
shall deliver to Contractor:
(a) an unqualified and unconditional Final Completion Certificate
pursuant to paragraph 15.1(vi) of the Contract and as properly executed by
National;
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(b) a letter properly signed by National withdrawing its January 3,
2002 notice of termination of the parties' November 29, 2000 Tolling and
Forbearance Agreement ("Tolling Agreement"); and
(c) a letter properly signed by National representing and agreeing
that no letters of credit provided by or on behalf of Contractor pursuant to
the Contract or otherwise relating to the Project with National as
beneficiary presently exist or remain in force and effect, except only the
Amended First Letter of Credit, Second Letter of Credit, and the letter of
credit in the amount of $3,125,000 ("Lawsuits Letter of Credit") provided by
or on behalf of Contractor pursuant to the May 9, 2001 letter agreement
between National to Contractor ("Lawsuits Letter of Credit Agreement") and
to the parties' July 17, 2000 Amendment to the Contract ("July 17, 2000
Contract Amendment").
The delivery by National to Contractor of all documents as required in
subparagraphs 3(a)-3(c) above is referred to herein as the "Document
Delivery".
4. National hereby acknowledges and agrees that, effective as of and
after its receipt of the Close-Out Sum:
(a) the Guaranty is deemed amended so that the term "Guaranteed
Obligations" is revised to relate only to obligations by Contractor within
the scope of the National Preserved Claims (as defined in paragraph 5
below);
(b) all letters of credit, including the Amended First Letter of
Credit and Second Letter of Credit which are to be drawn upon pursuant to
paragraphs l(a)-l(b) above, issued at any time by or on behalf of Contractor
or NKK with respect to the Contract or the Project are cancelled, void and
of no further force or effect, and no draw or demand for payment thereunder
will be made by National, except only the Lawsuits Letter of Credit which
shall remain in effect in accordance with the terms of the Lawsuits Letter
of Credit Agreement and shall be subject to possible future draw or demand
for payment solely with respect to the Claims referred to in the July 17,
2000 Contract Amendment; and
(c) the Tolling Agreement shall continue in force and effect in
accordance with its terms, except that both parties by their execution of
this Agreement agree that the last sentence of paragraph 1 and also
paragraphs 6-7 thereof are deleted as moot in light of this Agreement and
are of no further force and effect.
5. Effective upon receipt by National of the Close-Out Sum and completion
by National of the Document Delivery, each of the parties hereto, for itself
and its successors and assigns, hereby releases and discharges the other,
and its successors and assigns, of and from any and all claims or causes of
action
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existing at any time prior to and including the Effective Date which arise under
the Contract or otherwise relate to the Project ("Released Claims"), except only
that the Released Claims do not include any claim by National: (i) under
paragraph (3), (4) or (5) of the July 17, 2000 Contract Amendment; (ii) under
the Lawsuits Letter of Credit Agreement; (iii) under the Lawsuits Letter of
Credit (as defined in the Lawsuits Letter of Credit Agreement); (iv) arising
after the Effective Date of the type described in paragraph 54 of the Contract
which survives termination of the Contract; and (v) concerning its pending
request for defense/indemnity with respect to Sedoryk, et ux. v, National Steel
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Corp., et al., Case No. 02-200623 (Cir. Ct., Xxxxx Cty., Mich.). Such claims by
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National referred to in subsection (i)-(v) in the previous sentence are referred
to collectively as the "National Preserved Claims." Contractor acknowledges that
the Released Claims include any and all claims by it for payment for its work on
the Project, including for original scope work and for extra work or changes.
National acknowledges and agrees that the Released Claims include any and all
claims by it for liquidated damages for delay and performance under paragraphs
6.4 and 34.12 of the Contract, for punch list or warranty breach items, and/or
otherwise for any alleged failure to properly and fully complete the work.
6. National, for itself and its successors and assigns, hereby releases
and discharges NKK, and its successors and assigns, of and from any and all
past, present and future claims or causes of action arising under the Guaranty,
except only with respect to the National Preserved Claims.
7. The parties agree that paragraph 54 of the Contract remains in force
and effect in accordance with its terms.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
Effective Date.
NKK Steel Engineering, Inc.
By:
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Its:
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National Steel Corporation,
Great Lakes Division
By:
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Its:
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