EXHIBIT 10.1
GUARANTEE FEE AGREEMENT
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THIS AGREEMENT dated as of the 19th day of April , 2005.
B E T W E E N:
JSC KARAKUDUKMUNAY, a joint stock company of closed
type organized and existing under the laws of
Kazakhstan
("KKM")
OF THE FIRST PART
- and -
XXXXXX RESOURCES LIMITED, a limited liability company
organized under the laws of Bermuda
("Xxxxxx")
OF THE SECOND PART
WHEREAS by a credit facility agreement (the "Credit Facility Agreement") dated
March 24, 2005 between KKM, BNP Paribas (Suisse) SA, BNP Paribas New York
Branch, KBC Bank N.V., BNP Paribas SA and the Banks listed in Schedule 1
thereto, the said Banks agreed to make available to KKM a credit facility in the
authorized amount of US$40,000,000 (the "Credit Facility") upon the terms and
conditions contained in the Credit Facility Agreement;
AND WHEREAS it is condition of the availability of the Credit Facility that
Xxxxxx issue a performance and financial guarantee (the "Guarantee") in support
of all amounts owing pursuant to the Credit Facility;
AND WHEREAS as consideration for Xxxxxx issuing the Guarantee, the parties have
agreed to enter into this Agreement providing for a guarantee fee payable by KKM
to Xxxxxx upon the terms and conditions set out herein;
NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH THAT in consideration of the premises
and other good and available consideration (the receipt and adequacy whereof is
hereby acknowledged), the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
1. KKM agrees to pay to Xxxxxx a guarantee fee (the "Fee") in the amount of 2.5%
per annum calculated on the US$40,000,000 authorized principal amount of the
Credit Facility during the Availability Period and on the daily outstanding
principal balance under the Credit Facility during the period the Term Loan is
outstanding. The Fee is payable as follows:
(a) US$1,000,000 at the time of the initial advance of the Credit Facility
in respect of the first year the Credit Facility is outstanding; and
(b) on each anniversary date of the initial advance of the Credit Facility
an amount equal to 2.5% of the principal amount of the Credit Facility
outstanding or, if the Availability Period has been extended and has not yet
expired, authorized, whichever is greater, on the respective anniversary date in
respect of the following twelve months (or such lesser amount as Xxxxxx has
advised KKM in writing if the Projected Maturity Date is within the following
twelve months).
If the Fee paid by KKM hereunder in advance for a particular twelve month period
(the "Applicable Year") is more or less than the fee which is ultimately owing
based on the aforesaid 2.5% per annum rate calculated daily, KKM shall provide
notice to Xxxxxx (with a copy to BNP Paribas (Suisse) SA to be delivered by KKM
in accordance with Clause 33 of the Credit Facility Agreement) of the amount of
such difference within 30 days of the end of the Applicable Year. If the amount
of the Fee previously paid in respect of the Applicable Year is less than the
amount owing hereunder, KKM shall pay such difference to Xxxxxx forthwith upon
receipt of such notice. If the amount of the Fee previously paid in respect of
the Applicable Year is more than the amount owing hereunder, Xxxxxx shall pay
such difference to KKM forthwith following Xxxxxx'x issuance of such notice.
2. Any and all payments made by KKM hereunder shall be made, in accordance with
this Section 2, free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present
or future Taxes, excluding any Taxes imposed on or measured by the income of
Xxxxxx. If KKM shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect
of any sum payable hereunder (excluding any Taxes imposed on or measured by the
income of Xxxxxx), (i) the sum payable shall be increased as much as shall be
necessary so that after making all required withholdings and deductions
(including withholdings and deductions applicable to additional sums payable
under this Section 2) Xxxxxx receive an amount equal to the sum that it would
have received had no such withholdings or deductions been made, (ii) KKM shall
make such deductions and pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxing or
other authority in accordance with applicable law. Within 30 days after the date
of any payment of Taxes, KKM shall furnish to Xxxxxx the original or a certified
copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof.
The "Guarantee Fee" for the purposes of the Credit Facility Agreement shall
be the amount of the Fee owing to Xxxxxx pursuant to Section 1 as increased by
any amount by which KKM is obliged to increase such amount pursuant to Section 2
herein.
3. KKM shall pay on demand all costs and expenses (including legal fees)
incurred by Xxxxxx in enforcing or attempting to enforce all its rights
hereunder, including its rights to monies owing hereunder, and all proceedings
taken in relation hereto.
4. All monies due but unpaid hereunder shall bear interest at the rate then
provided for in connection with the Credit Facility (or the last interest date
applicable to the Credit Facility if there is then no indebtedness or
obligations owing in connection with the Credit Facility).
5. If any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement should be
determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall
not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
6. All capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the
respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit Facility Agreement.
7. Each notice or other communication to be given under this Agreement shall be
given in writing in English and, unless otherwise provided, shall be made by
fax, electronic mail or letter. Any notice or other communication to be given by
one party to another under this Agreement shall (unless one party has by 15
day's notice to the other party specified another address) be given to that
other party at the following respective addresses and fax numbers:
(a) JSC Karakudukmunay:
Republic of Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, 000000, 3 micro district
Xxxx 00
Xxxxxxxxx: General Director
Fax: x00000 000 000
E-mail: xxxxx@xxx.xx
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with a copy to:
JSC Karakudukmunay
c/o Commonwealth & British Services Ltd.
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X0X 0XX
Xxxxxxx
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Fax: x00 (00) 0000 0000
Email: xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx
(b) Xxxxxx Resources Limited:
Address:
Chancery Hall
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx XX00
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx:
Fax:
Email:
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx Resources Limited
Address:
c/o Commonwealth & British Services Ltd.
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X0X 0XX
Xxxxxxx
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Fax: x00 (00) 0000 0000
Email: xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx
Any notice or other communication given hereunder shall be deemed to have been
received:
(a) if sent by fax, with a confirmed receipt of transmission from the
receiving machine, on the day on which transmitted;
(b) in the case of a notice given by hand, on the day of actual delivery;
(c) in the case of electronic mail, on the day on which the confirmation of
delivery of that e-mail is received; and
(d) if posted, on the fifth Business Day following the day on which it was
despatched by airmail postage prepaid,
provided that a notice given in accordance with the above but received on a
day which is not a Business Day or after normal business hours in the place
of receipt shall be deemed to have been received on the next Business Day.
8. This Agreement shall enure to the benefit and be binding upon the parties
hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
9. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of such counterparts
taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement.
10. This Agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with
English law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Agreement has been executed by the parties hereto this
19 day of April, 2005.
JSC KARAKUDUKMUNAY: )
)
SIGNED by )
duly authorized for and )
on behalf of ) /s/ P. Ties
JSC KARAKUDUKMUNAY ) ----------------------------------------
) Authorized Signatory/ies
)
XXXXXX RESOURCES LIMITED: )
)
SIGNED by )
duly authorized for and )
on behalf of )
XXXXXX RESOURCES LIMITED )
) /s/ X. Xxxxxx
) ----------------------------------------
) Authorized Signatory/ies