FAWN & BUCK OPTION AND JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT
FAWN
& BUCK OPTION AND JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT
This
Agreement is made as of October 15, 2009
BETWEEN:
NORTH BAY
RESOURCES INC., a corporation existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, United States of America and having an address at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
(“North
Bay”),
AND:
SILVER
QUEST RESOURCES LTD., a corporation existing under the laws of British
Columbia and having its head office at Suite 1410, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, X0X 0X0
(“Silver
Quest”).
WHEREAS:
A.
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North
Bay holds a 100% interest in four mineral claims covering a total of
406.7845 hectares located in the Omineca Mining Division, British Columbia
(the “Property”) , as more particularly described in Schedule “A” hereto;
and
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B.
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North
Bay has agreed to grant Silver Quest the sole and exclusive right and
option to acquire an undivided seventy-five percent (75%) right, title and
interest in and to the Property whereupon a Joint Venture shall
automatically be formed between the parties in accordance with the terms
and conditions of this Agreement.
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For
valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:
SECTION 1.
- INTERPRETATION.
1.1 Definitions. In
this Agreement terms and expressions given a defined meaning in any Schedule
shall have the corresponding meaning in this Agreement and:
(a)
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“Affiliate”
has the meaning given to that term in the Securities Act (British
Columbia);
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(b)
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“Agreement”
means this Agreement, including the recitals and the Schedules, all as
amended, from time to time;
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(c)
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“Claims”
means the mineral claims set forth in Schedule “A” and any amended or
relocated mineral claims therefore;
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(d)
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“Commercial
Production” means, and is deemed to have been achieved, when the
concentrator processing ores, for other than testing purposes, has
operated for a period of 60 consecutive production days at an average rate
of not less than 80% of design capacity or, if a concentrator is not
erected on the Property, when ores have been produced for a period of 60
consecutive production days at the rate of not less than 80% of the mining
rate specified in a feasibility study recommending placing the Property in
commercial production;
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(e)
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“Diluted
Interest Royalty” means the royalty retained by North Bay or Silver Quest,
as the case may be, in accordance with Section 2.2 of Schedule “B” and
calculated as more fully described in Schedule
“C”;
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(f)
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“Effective
Date” means the date of the Bulletin issued by the TSX Venture Exchange
stating that the Venture Exchange has accepted this Agreement for
filing;
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(g)
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“Expenditures”
means, without duplication, all costs and expenses actually and directly
incurred by a party on the Property including without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, monies expended in doing geophysical,
geochemical and geological surveys, drilling, drifting and other
underground work, assaying and metallurgical testing and engineering, in
acquiring Facilities, equipping the Property for and commencing Commercial
Production, in paying the fees, wages, salaries, travelling expenses, and
fringe benefits (whether or not required by law) of all persons engaged in
work with respect to and for the benefit of the Property and which are
attributable to such person’s work on the Property, in paying for the
food, lodging and other reasonable needs of such persons while engaged in
such work at the Property and including all costs at prevailing charge out
rates for any personnel who from time to time are engaged directly in work
on the Property, such rates to be in accordance with industry
standards;
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(h)
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“Facilities”
means all buildings, facilities, structures, fixtures and improvements
brought onto or erected upon or attached to the
Property;
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(i)
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“Joint
Venture” means the joint venture which may be formed pursuant to Section
7;
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(j)
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“Joint
Venture Assets” means, after the formation of the Joint Venture, the
Property and all other assets of the Joint
Venture;
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(k)
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“Joint
Venture Interest” means the percentage undivided interest of each of North
Bay and Silver Quest in the Joint Venture, which interest shall, at all
times, correspond with and represent their respective percentage undivided
interest in the Property and vice
versa;
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(l)
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“Letter
of Intent” means the letter from North Bay to Silver Quest respecting the
rights and obligations set out herein dated October 2,
2009;
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(m)
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“Lien”
means any lien, security interest, mortgage, charge, encumbrance, or other
claim of a third party, whether registered or unregistered, and whether
arising by agreement, statute or
otherwise;
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(n)
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“Management
Committee” means the committee established by the parties on the formation
of the Joint Venture as described in Section 3 of Schedule
“B”;
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(o)
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“MEMPR”
means the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources of the
Government of the Province of British
Columbia;
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(p)
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“MTO”
means “Mineral Titles Online”, the web-based system of mineral titles
administered and maintained by
MEMPR;
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(q)
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“Operator”
means the party responsible for carrying out, or causing to be carried
out, all work in respect of the Property during the Option Period and the
Joint Venture;
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(r)
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“Option”
means the option granted to Silver Quest by North Bay in accordance with
Section 3.1;
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(s)
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“Party”
means a party to this Agreement and “Parties” means all parties to this
Agreement;
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(t)
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“Permitted
Encumbrances” means:
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(i)
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liens
for taxes, assessments and governmental charges which are not due or the
validity of which is being diligently contested in good faith by or on
behalf of the affected Party,
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(ii)
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liens
incurred or created in the ordinary course of business as security in
favor of the person(s) who is/are providing financing or conducting the
development or operation of the Property to which such liens relate for
either Party’s proportionate share of the costs and expenses of such
development or operation,
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(iii)
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mechanics',
builders' and materialmen's liens in respect of services rendered or goods
supplied for which payment is not
due,
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(iv)
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easements,
rights of way, servitudes and other similar rights in land (including
without limitation rights of way and servitudes for highways and other
roads, railways, sewers, drains, gas and oil pipelines, gas and water
mains, electric light, power, telephone, telegraph and cable television
conduits, poles, wires and cables) which do not materially impair the use
of the Property affected thereby,
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(v)
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the
right reserved to or vested in any municipality or government or other
public authority by the terms of any lease, license, franchise, grant or
permit or by any statutory provision, to terminate any such lease,
license, franchise, grant or permit or to require annual or other periodic
payments as a condition of the continuance
thereof,
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(vi)
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rights
of general application reserved to or vested in any governmental authority
to levy taxes on the Property or the income therefrom, and governmental
requirements and limitations of general application as to production rates
on the operations of the Property,
and
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(vii)
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statutory
exceptions to title, and the reservations, limitations, provisos and
conditions in any original grants from the Crown of any of the minerals
within, upon or under the Property;
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(u)
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“Program” means a written description,
prepared by the Operator, outlining all Expenditures which the Operator
contemplates incurring on the Property including a detailed description of
all work which the Operator proposes to carry out on the Property pursuant
to such Program;
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(v)
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“Property”
has the meaning set forth in Recital A, together with any and all
substitute or successor title
thereto;
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(w)
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“Representative”
means the individual appointed from time to time by a Party to act as such
Party’s representative on the Management
Committee;
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1.2 Extended
Meanings. Unless otherwise specified, words importing the
singular include the plural and vice versa. The term
“including” means “including, without limitation.”
1.3 Headings. The
division of this Agreement into sections and the insertion of headings are for
convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction or
interpretation of this Agreement.
1.4 Severability. If
any term of this Agreement is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable, that
term shall not affect the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining
terms of this Agreement.
1.5 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties with respect to the subject matter herein and supersedes all
prior arrangements, negotiations, discussions, undertakings, representations,
warranties and understandings, whether written or verbal.
1.6 Time. For every
provision in this Agreement, time is of the essence.
1.7 Governing Law. This
Agreement shall be governed by and shall be construed and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of British Columbia and the laws of Canada applicable
in British Columbia. The Parties irrevocably attorn and submit to the
exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of British Columbia and the
courts of appeal therefrom in respect of all matters arising out of or in
connection with this Agreement.
1.8 Currency. All dollar amounts
referred to herein are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise
indicated.
1.9 Statutory
References. Each reference to a statute in this Agreement
includes the regulations made under that statute, as amended or re-enacted from
time to time.
1.10 Schedules. The
following Schedules are incorporated herein by reference as though contained in
the body hereof. Wherever any term or condition of such schedules
conflicts or is at variance with any term or condition in the body of this
Agreement, such term or condition in the body of this Agreement shall
prevail:
Schedule
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Description
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Schedule
“A”
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Description
of the Property
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Schedule
“B”
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Joint
Venture
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Schedule
“C”
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Diluted
Interest Royalty
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SECTION
2 - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
2.1 North
Bay hereby represents and warrants to Silver Quest that:
(a)
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it
is a corporation duly incorporated and organised and validly existing
under the laws of the State of
Delaware;
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(b)
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it
has full corporate power, authority and capacity to enter into this
Agreement and to carry out its obligations under this
Agreement;
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(c)
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it
has been duly authorized to enter into, and to carry out its obligations
under, this Agreement and no obligation of it in this Agreement conflicts
with or will result in the breach of any term
in:
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(i) its
articles or by-laws; or
(ii) any
other agreement to which it is a party;
(d)
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it
has duly executed and delivered this Agreement, which binds it in
accordance with its terms;
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(e)
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with
respect to the Claims:
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(i)
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to
the best of its knowledge and belief the Claims were properly applied for
and confer upon North Bay exclusive prospecting rights to the
Property;
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(ii)
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to
the best of its knowledge and belief all required location and validation
work was properly performed;
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(iii)
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to
the best of its knowledge and belief location notices and certificates
were properly recorded and filed with the appropriate governmental
agencies;
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(iv)
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to
the best of its knowledge and belief all assessment work required to hold
the Claims has been performed and all applicable governmental fees have
been paid;
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(v)
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to
the best of its knowledge and belief all affidavits of assessment work,
evidence of payment of applicable governmental fees, and other filings
required to maintain the Claims in good standing have been properly and
timely recorded or filed with appropriate governmental agencies;
and
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(vi)
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to
the best of its knowledge and belief there are no conflicting mineral
dispositions;
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(f)
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there
are no outstanding agreements or options to acquire or purchase the
Property or any interest in or any portion thereof and no person, firm or
corporation has any proprietary or possessory or royalty interest in the
Property other than Silver Quest pursuant to this
Agreement;
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(g)
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the
Property is properly and accurately described in Schedule “A”
hereto;
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(h)
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North
Bay has a 100% registered and beneficial interest in the Property and
North Bay is in exclusive possession of the mineral rights for the
Property and has the exclusive right to explore and exploit the
Property;
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(i)
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to
the best of its knowledge and belief the Property is free and clear of all
Liens, defects in title and third party interests other than any royalties
created by statute in favour of the Crown or any agency of the
Crown;
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(j)
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to
the best of its knowledge and belief there has been no known spill,
discharge, deposit, leak, emission or other release of any contaminant,
pollutant, dangerous or toxic substance, hazardous waste or material
substance on, into, under or affecting the Property and no such
contaminant, pollutant, dangerous or toxic substance, hazardous waste or
material substance is stored in any type of container on, in or under the
Property;
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(k)
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to
the best of its knowledge and belief there are no pending or threatened
actions, suits, claims or proceedings regarding North Bay or the Property
and there are no outstanding notices, orders, assessments, directives,
rulings or other documents issued in respect of the Property by any
governmental authority;
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(l)
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to
the best of its knowledge and belief no reclamation, rehabilitation,
restoration or abandonment obligations exist with respect to the Property;
and
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(m)
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North
Bay has delivered to Silver Quest all information concerning title to the
Property in its possession or
control.
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2.2
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Silver
Quest hereby represents and warrants
that:
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(a)
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it
is a corporation duly incorporated and organised and validly existing
under the Business
Corporations Act (British
Columbia);
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(b)
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it
has full corporate power, authority and capacity to enter into this
Agreement and to carry out its obligations under this Agreement. It is
qualified to carry on business in British
Columbia;
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(c)
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it
has been duly authorized to enter into, and to carry out its obligations
under, this Agreement and no obligation of it in this Agreement conflicts
with or will result in the breach of any term
in:
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(i) its
articles or by-laws; or
(ii) any
other agreement to which it is a party;
(d)
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it
has duly executed and delivered this Agreement, which binds it in
accordance with its terms and
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(e)
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there
is no action, suit, litigation, arbitration, investigation, inquiry or
other proceeding in progress, or, to the best of Silver Quest’s knowledge,
pending or threatened against or relating to Silver Quest or its material
assets and there is no circumstance, matter or thing known to Silver Quest
which might give rise to any such proceeding or to any governmental
investigation relative to Silver Quest and there is not outstanding
against Silver Quest any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of
any court, government department, commission, agency or
arbitrator.
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2.3 Each
Party’s representations and warranties set out above, will be relied on by the
other Party in entering into the Agreement and shall survive the execution and
delivery of the Agreement. Each Party shall
indemnify and hold harmless the other Party for any loss, cost, expense, claim
or damage, including legal fees and disbursements, suffered or incurred by the
other Party at any time as a result of any misrepresentation or breach of
warranty arising under the Agreement.
SECTION
3 - OPTION.
3.1 For
and in consideration of the payment by Silver Quest to North Bay of twenty-five
thousand ($25,000) dollars and the issuance of 50,000 shares in the capital of
Silver Quest (“Shares”) within five (5) business days after the Effective Date,
North Bay hereby grants to Silver Quest the sole and exclusive right and option
to acquire an undivided 75% Joint Venture Interest in the Property pursuant to
the Option as set out herein.
3.2 In
order to maintain the Option in good standing and to earn an undivided 75% Joint
Venture Interest in the Property, Silver Quest must incur at least two hundred
fifty thousand ($250,000) dollars in Expenditures on or before the first
anniversary of the Effective Date and make subsequent cash payments, share
issuances and Expenditures as follows:
On
or before
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Cash
Payments
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Silver
Quest
Shares
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Cumulative
Expenditures
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First
anniversary of the Effective Date
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$25,000
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50,000
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$250,000
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Second
anniversary of the Effective Date
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$25,000
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50,000
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$675,000
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Third
anniversary of the Effective Date
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$25,000
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Nil
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$1,100,000
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Fourth
anniversary of the Effective Date
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$Nil
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Nil
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$1,500,000
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3.3 Expenditures
in excess of the amounts stipulated in Section 3.2 may be carried forward and
credited against Expenditures required in subsequent years.
3.4 Silver
Quest will have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time up to the date
of exercise of the Option by giving notice in writing of such termination to
North Bay, and in the event of such termination, this Agreement will, except for
the provisions of Section 5.2, be of no further force and effect save and
except for any obligations of Silver Quest incurred prior to the effective date
of termination. If Silver Quest fails to incur the Expenditures set
out in Section 3.2 within the time provided therein the Option will terminate
and Silver Quest’s only obligations will be as set out in Section
5.2.
3.5 Once
Silver Quest has exercised the Option, Silver Quest will be deemed to have
acquired an undivided seventy-five percent (75%) Joint Venture Interest subject
to this Agreement.
3.6 The
Option is an option only and except as specifically provided otherwise, nothing
herein contained will be construed as obligating Silver Quest to do any acts or
make any payments hereunder except as otherwise set forth, and any act or acts
or payment or payments as may be made hereunder will not be construed as
obligating Silver Quest to do any further act or make any further payment or
payments.
3.7 During
the term of the Option, record title to the Property will be held by Silver
Quest, it being understood that such transfer of legal and recorded title to the
Property will be for administrative convenience only and that Silver Quest will
hold such title in trust for the Parties in accordance with their interests
under this Agreement and that a beneficial interest in the Property will pass to
Silver Quest only upon exercise of the Option in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement.
3.8 During
the term of the Option, Silver Quest shall provide documentation to North Bay
not less than 30 days prior to the expiry date of any of the Claims constituting
the Property showing that the expiry date of said Claim(s) has been extended as
the result of filing assessment work or payment of cash-in-lieu.
3.9 To
give effect to Section 3.7, North Bay shall, upon receipt of notice from Silver
Quest that the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted the Agreement for filing,
initiate the transfer of the Claims to Silver Quest (Free Miner Certificate #
110051596, Client #144280) by completing the “Xxxx of Sale – Initiation”
documentation and filing such documentation on the MEMPR MTO system and shall
forthwith thereafter advise Silver Quest by telephone or email that such
transfer was initiated.
3.10 Forthwith
after being advised by North Bay pursuant to Section 3.9, Silver Quest shall
accept and complete the transfer of the Claims by completing the “Xxxx of Sale –
Completion” documentation and filing such documentation on the MEMPR MTO
system. Silver Quest shall forthwith thereafter make the payment and
issue the shares pursuant to Section 3.1.
XXXXXXX
0 - XXXXXXXXX XX XXXXX XXX.
4.1 During
the Option, North Bay will:
(a)
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make
available to Silver Quest and its representatives all available relevant
technical data, geotechnical reports, maps, digital files and other data
with respect to the Property in North Bay’s possession or control,
including soil samples, and all records and files relating to the Property
and permit Silver Quest and its representatives at their own expense to
take abstracts therefrom and make copies
thereof;
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(b)
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promptly
provide Silver Quest with any and all notices and correspondence from
government agencies in respect of the
Property;
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(c)
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cooperate
fully with Silver Quest in obtaining any surface and other rights on or
related to the Property as Silver Quest deems
desirable;
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(d)
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grant
to Silver Quest, its employees, agents and independent contractors, the
sole and exclusive right and option
to:
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(i)
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enter
upon the Property;
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(ii)
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have
exclusive and quiet possession
thereof;
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(iii)
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do
such prospecting, exploration, development or other mining work thereon
and thereunder as Silver Quest in its sole discretion may consider
advisable;
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(iv)
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bring
and erect upon the Property such equipment and facilities as Silver Quest
may consider advisable; and
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(v)
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remove
from the Property and dispose of material for the purpose of testing;
and
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(e)
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except
to the extent agreed to be done by Silver Quest, hereunder, comply with
all requirements and obligations of the Property and not take any action
which may adversely affect the interest of Silver Quest in the
Property.
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SECTION
5 - COVENANTS OF SILVER QUEST.
5.1
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During
the Option Silver Quest shall:
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(a)
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comply
with the provisions of Section 3.1
hereof;
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(b)
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keep
the Property free and clear of all Liens arising from its operations
hereunder (except liens for taxes not yet due, other inchoate liens or
liens contested in good faith by Silver Quest) and proceed with all
diligence to contest or discharge any Lien that is
filed;
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(c)
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pay
or cause to be paid all workers and wage earners employed by it or its
contractors on the Property, and pay for all materials, services and
supplies purchased or delivered in connection with its activities on or
with respect to the Property;
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(d)
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permit
North Bay, or its representatives duly authorized by it in writing, at its
own risk and expense, access to the Property at all reasonable times and
to all exploration information and data, all maps, drill logs, assay
results and program budgets, records and reports, in paper or electronic
form, if any, prepared by Silver Quest in connection with work done on or
with respect to the Property, and furnish North Bay within sixty (60) days
of the completion of a Program (for greater certainty, a Program will not
be completed until Silver Quest has received all exploration data and
reports generated by service companies conducting the Program), with a
report with respect to the work carried out by Silver Quest pursuant to
such Program and material results
obtained;
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(e)
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conduct
all work on or with respect to the Property in a careful and minerlike
manner and in compliance with all applicable federal, provincial and local
laws, rules, orders and regulations, and indemnify and save North Bay
harmless from any and all claims, suits, demands, losses and expenses
including, without limitation, with respect to environmental matters, made
or brought against it as a result of work done or any act or thing done or
omitted to be done by Silver Quest on or with respect to the
Property;
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(f)
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at
the completion of each work program Silver Quest shall submit a Statement
of Work to the MEMPR via MTO to apply the work expenditures towards the
Claims to maintain them in good standing;
and
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(g)
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maintain
adequate insurance coverage in accordance with normal industry standards
and practice .
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5.2 In
the event of termination of the Option for any reason other than through the
exercise thereof, Silver Quest will:
(a) leave
the Property:
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(i)
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in
good standing with respect to the filing of assessment work for a period
of twenty-four (24) months from the date of termination, and free and
clear of all Liens arising from its operations
hereunder,
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(ii)
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in
a safe and orderly condition, and
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(iii)
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in
a condition which is in compliance with all rules and orders of
governmental authorities with respect to reclamation and rehabilitation of
all disturbances resulting from Silver Quest’s use and occupancy of the
Property;
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(b)
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deliver
to North Bay, within ninety (90) days of a written request therefor, a
report on all work carried out by Silver Quest on the Property (limited to
factual matters only) together with copies of all sample location maps,
drillhole assay logs, assay results and other technical data compiled by
Silver Quest with respect to the
Property;
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(c)
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within
two business days of the termination date, initiate the transfer of record
title to the Property to North Bay (Free Miner Certificate # 110043840,
Client # 204090) by completing the “Xxxx of Sale – Initiation”
documentation and filing such documentation on the MEMPR MTO system and
shall forthwith thereafter advise North Bay by telephone or email that
such transfer was initiated; and
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(d)
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have
the right (and, if requested by North Bay within ninety (90) days of the
effective date of termination, the obligation) to remove from the Property
all facilities erected, installed or brought upon the Property by or at
the instance of Silver Quest.
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SECTION
6 - MUTUAL COVENANTS
6.1 During
the currency of this Agreement, the Parties shall:
(a)
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not
do any other act or thing which would or might in any way adversely affect
the rights of the Parties
hereunder,
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(b)
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promptly
provide all Parties with any and all notices and correspondence received
from government agencies in respect of the Property;
and
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(c)
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cooperate
fully with each other in conducting exploration and in obtaining any
surface and other rights on or related to the Property as is reasonably
required.
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SECTION
7 -THE JOINT VENTURE.
7.1 If
Silver Quest exercises the Option as set out in Section 3, then a Joint Venture
will be automatically formed between North Bay and Silver Quest with respect to
the Property in accordance with Section 7.2 and the Property shall automatically
become a Joint Venture Asset.
7.2 If
a Joint Venture is formed pursuant to Section 7.1, the initial terms of the
Joint Venture agreement shall be as set out in Schedule “B” attached to
this Agreement. Any issues that arise in the course of the Joint
Venture activities prior to completion of a formal joint venture agreement in
substantially the form referenced in the Continuing Legal Education of British
Columbia Mining Law Materials of June 1999 (“CLE JV”) which are not
covered by Schedule “B” shall be governed by the terms contained in the form of
the CLE JV, however, the terms of Schedule “B” shall prevail in the event
of any inconsistency with the form of the proposed CLE JV until the CLE JV
is completed and executed.
7.3 Cumulative
Expenditures, if any, in excess of $1,500,000, up to a maximum of $100,000,
which have been committed or incurred by Silver Quest at the time of formation
of the Joint Venture will be deemed to have been approved as Joint Venture
programs under the Joint Venture and North Bay will pay or reimburse Silver
Quest its pro rata share of such excess Expenditures.
7.4 North
Bay acknowledges that Silver Quest holds other mineral rights in the vicinity of
the Property, and further, has an active and on-going program to acquire
additional mineral rights in the vicinity of the Property, including mineral
rights in the vicinity of the Property. North Bay agrees that there
is no “Area of Interest” concept applicable to the Property, this Agreement or
the Joint Venture and that it has no right to acquire an interest in any mineral
rights now held or subsequently acquired by Silver Quest, whether by staking,
joint venturing, purchasing or otherwise, that are contiguous to or in the
vicinity of the Property.
SECTION
8 – DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATING AGREEMENT.
8.1 If
a feasibility study conducted on the Property indicates that mine development
work and Commercial Production are warranted, the Parties will negotiate in good
faith to settle and execute a development and operating agreement for the
purpose of developing and exploiting the Property or any part(s) thereof and
bringing same into Commercial Production, failing which this Agreement will
continue to govern the relations between them.
SECTION
9 – CONFIDENTIALITY.
9.1 All
matters concerning the execution and contents of this Agreement, the Joint
Venture, and the Property shall be treated as and kept confidential by the
parties and there shall be no public release of any information concerning the
Property without the prior written consent of the other party, such consent not
to be unreasonably withheld; except as required by applicable securities laws,
the rules of any stock exchange on which a party’s shares are listed or other
applicable laws or regulations. Notwithstanding
the foregoing the Parties are entitled to disclose confidential information to
prospective assignees, investors or lenders, who shall be required to keep all
such confidential information confidential.
9.2 Prior
to making any required disclosure that is permitted pursuant to Section 9.1, the
disclosing Party shall provide the other Party with a draft copy of any proposed
news release for review and shall allow such Party 24 hours to provide comments
on the draft release before disseminating the news release.
SECTION
10 – NOTICES
10.1 The
addresses for service and the fax numbers of the Parties shall be as
follows:
|
North
Bay –
|
|
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxx
|
|
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000 XXX
|
|
Attn:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|
Fax
No.: 000-000-0000
|
|
Silver
Quest -
|
000 Xxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X0X 0X0
|
Attn:
Mr. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
|
|
Fax
No.: 000-000-0000
|
10.2 All
notices, communications and statements required, permitted or contemplated
hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be delivered as follows:
(a)
|
by
personal service on a Party at the address of such Party set out above, in
which case the item so served shall be deemed to have been received by
that Party when personally served;
|
(b)
|
by
facsimile transmission to a Party to the fax number of such Party set out
above, in which case the item so transmitted shall be deemed to have been
received by that Party when transmitted;
or
|
(c)
|
except
in the event of an actual or threatened postal strike or other labor
disruption that may affect mail service, by mailing first class registered
post, postage prepaid, to a Party at the address of such Party set out
above, in which case the item so mailed shall be deemed to have been
received by that Party on the fifth day following the date of
mailing.
|
10.3 A
Party may from time to time change its address for service or its fax number or
both by giving written notice of such change to the other Party.
SECTION
11- INDEMNITIES FOR REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
11.1 North
Bay shall be liable to Silver Quest for and shall, in addition, indemnify Silver
Quest from and against, all losses, costs, claims, damages, expenses and
liabilities suffered, sustained, paid or incurred by Silver Quest which would
not have been suffered, sustained, paid or incurred had all of the
representations and warranties contained in Section 2.1 been accurate and
truthful, provided however that nothing in this Section 11.1 shall be construed
so as to cause North Bay to be liable to or indemnify Silver Quest in connection
with any representation or warranty contained in Section 2.1 if and to the
extent that Silver Quest did not rely upon such representation or
warranty.
11.2 Silver
Quest shall be liable to North Bay for and shall, in addition, indemnify North
Bay from and against, all losses, costs, claims, damages, expenses and
liabilities suffered, sustained, paid or incurred by North Bay which would not
have been suffered, sustained, paid or incurred had all of the representations
and warranties contained in Section 2.2 been accurate and truthful, provided
however that nothing in this Section 11.2 shall be construed so as to cause
Silver Quest to be liable to or indemnify North Bay in connection with any
representation or warranty contained in Section 2.2 if and to the extent that
North Bay did not rely upon such representation or warranty.
11.3 Notwithstanding
any other provision in this Agreement, North Bay shall not be liable to or be
required to indemnify Silver Quest in respect of any losses, costs, claims,
damages, expenses and liabilities suffered, sustained, paid or incurred by
Silver Quest in respect of which Silver Quest is liable to and has indemnified
North Bay pursuant to Section 11.2.
SECTION
12– DISPOSITION AND RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL
12.1 Any
sale, assignment or transfer by a Party of all or any part of its rights or
obligations hereunder shall include a provision whereby the purchaser, successor
or permitted assignee, as the case may be, shall agree to assume the rights and
be subject to all the liabilities and obligations of the transferring Party
under this Agreement.
12.2 If
either Party elects to sell its interest that Party must first offer its
interest to the other Party stating the cash consideration and other terms the
offering Party is prepared to accept, which consideration must be accepted
within 60 days of the offer, failing which the offered Party shall be deemed to
have rejected the offer and the offering Party shall be permitted to sell such
interest for a period of 90 days on terms (including the cash consideration)
that are no more favourable to the buyer than those offered to the other
Party. Failing a sale closing in said 90 day period, the Right of
First Refusal shall be revived.
12.3 The
right of first refusal shall survive the termination of this Agreement, if such
termination is the result of Silver Quest exercising its Option and acquiring
the 75% undivided interest.
SECTION
13 - GENERAL
13.1 Neither
Party may assign this Agreement or any rights hereunder or in the Property
without the prior written consent of the other, such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld. Any sale, assignment or
transfer by a Party of all or any part of its right or obligations hereunder
shall include a provision whereby the purchaser, successor or assignee, as the
case may be, shall agree to assume the rights and be subject to all the
liabilities and obligations of the transferring Party under this
Agreement.
13.2 This
Agreement inures to the benefit of and binds the Parties and their respective
successors and permitted assigns.
13.3 Each
Party shall from time to time promptly execute and deliver all further documents
and take all further action reasonably necessary or desirable to give effect to
the terms and intent of this Agreement.
13.4 No
waiver of any term of this Agreement by a Party is binding unless such waiver is
in writing and signed by the Party entitled to grant such waiver. No failure to
exercise and no delay in exercising, any right or remedy under this Agreement
shall be deemed to be a waiver of that right or remedy. No waiver of any
breach of any term of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a waiver of any
subsequent breach of that term.
13.5 No
amendment, supplement or restatement of any term of this Agreement is binding
unless it is in writing and signed by each Party.
13.6 Notwithstanding
any term in this Agreement, if a Party is at any time delayed from carrying out
any action under this Agreement due to circumstances beyond the reasonable
control of such party (other than any requirement to keep the Property in good
standing with all bodies having jurisdiction over such matters, and aside from
circumstances arising from the financial difficulty of such Party), acting
diligently, the period of any such delay shall be excluded in computing, and
shall extend, the time within which such party may exercise its rights and/or
perform its obligations under this Agreement.
13.7 Any
payment made under this Agreement from one party to the other may be made by
cheque by personal delivery, by overnight courier to the appropriate address set
out in Section 10, by electronic funds transfer, or by wire
transfer.
13.8 This
Agreement may be executed by facsimile and in any number of counterparts, no one
copy of which need be executed by all the Parties. A valid and
binding contract in accordance with the terms hereof shall arise if and when
counterpart execution pages are executed and delivered by each Party to the
other.
13.9 This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and replaces and
supersedes all prior agreements, memoranda, correspondence, communications,
negotiations and representations, whether verbal or written, express or implied,
statutory or otherwise between the parties with respect to the subject matter
herein including, without limitation, the Letter of Intent.
13.10 Time
is of the essence in the performance of this Agreement.
13.11 Should
Silver Quest default under this Agreement then North Bay will provide written
notice to Silver Quest with specific details of such defaults or
failures. After receiving said notice, Silver Quest shall have 60
days to remedy such default. Should Silver Quest fail to initiate efforts to
remedy the default within the 60 day period and thereafter fail to diligently
pursue such efforts, Silver Quest shall forfeit any rights it has to the
Property and this Agreement shall be terminated.
13.12 Neither
North Bay nor any of its principals, affiliates, or employees is a “Qualified
Person” as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and therefore are not qualified
to make any judgments on the economic viability of the Claims or minerals
contained there-in, and as such will be held harmless for any information
provided both verbal and written, expressed or implied, with regard to the
economic, technical, or geological aspects of the Property. Any
conclusions drawn from the information provided are the product of Silver
Quest’s own due diligence, for which it bears sole responsibility.
The
parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date and year first written
above.
NORTH
BAY RESOURCES
INC. SILVER
QUEST RESOURCES LTD.
By: /s/Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Authorized
Signing
Representative
Authorized Signing Representative
SCHEDULE
“A”
DESCRIPTION
OF THE FAWN AND BUCK PROPERTY
OMINECA
MINING DIVISION, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Tenure
Number
|
Type
|
Claim Name
|
Good Until
|
Area (ha)
|
598000
|
Mineral
|
XXXX
|
00000000
|
38.74
|
606724
|
Mineral
|
XXXX
|
00000000
|
174.2886
|
606728
|
Mineral
|
MALAPUT
E-W
|
20100627
|
96.8958
|
617183
|
Mineral
|
BUCK
2
|
20100810
|
96.8601
|
SCHEDULE
“B” - JOINT VENTURE
1. RELATIONSHIP
OF PARTIES.
The
relationship of the Parties in the Joint Venture shall not be, and shall not be
construed to be, a partnership relationship, an agency or legal representative
relationship or a fiduciary relationship. Except as
otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the rights, privileges, powers,
duties, liabilities and obligations of the Parties shall be as joint venturers
and shall be several and not joint or joint and several.
2. CALCULATION
OF JOINT VENTURE INTERESTS.
2.1 Initial
Calculation. On the date that the Joint Venture is formed,
North Bay and Silver Quest are deemed to have the following Joint Venture
Interests:
North Bay
|
Silver Quest
|
|
Deemed
Expenditures:
|
$500,000
|
$1,500,000
|
Joint
Venture Interest
|
25%
|
75%
|
Calculation on Ongoing
Basis. North Bay’s and Silver Quest’s, as the case may be,
Joint Venture Interest, calculated at any time and from time to time, shall be
determined in accordance with the formula:
A =
B x
100%, where:
C
(a) A
is North Bay’s or Silver Quest’s, as the case may be, Joint Venture
Interest;
(b)
|
B
is an amount equal to North Bay’s or Silver Quest’s, as the case may
be,
|
(c)
|
C
is an amount equal to the Parties’ total deemed Expenditures under
Section 2.1 of this Schedule “B”, plus all of the Parties’
Expenditures made after the formation of the Joint
Venture.
|
2.2 Conversion of Joint Venture
Interest. If either Party’s Joint Venture Interest is reduced
to less than 10%, then that Party’s Joint Venture Interest shall be
automatically converted to a Two Percent (2.0%) Diluted Interest Royalty
calculated in accordance with Schedule “C” attached hereto. The Joint
Venture is automatically terminated upon such conversion and the surviving Party
shall become the sole owner of a 100% interest in the Property, subject to the
Diluted Interest Royalty.
2.3 No Obligation to
Produce. If a Party’s Joint Venture Interest is converted to
the Diluted Interest Royalty pursuant to Section 2.2, any decision to place the
Property or any portion thereof into production shall be at the sole discretion
of the other Party and if the Property is in or is placed into production, such
other Party shall have the unfettered right to suspend, curtail or terminate any
such operation as it in its sole discretion may determine.
3. MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE.
3.1 Establishment. Promptly
upon the formation of the Joint Venture, the Parties shall establish the
Management Committee. One
Representative and one alternate shall be appointed in writing by each Party and
re-appointed from time to time.
3.2 Powers and
Obligations. Except as expressly provided otherwise in this
Agreement, the Management Committee is empowered to make all strategic and
planning decisions regarding the Joint Venture. Accordingly, the Management
Committee is responsible for revising, as deemed appropriate, Programs submitted
by the Operator, for approving all Programs and for evaluating the results of
all Programs.
3.3 Calling of
Meetings. Meetings of the Management Committee shall be held
in Vancouver, British Columbia at such place, time, and date as may be
determined by the Operator on at least 20 days’ notice or as may be determined
by the non-Operator on at least 30 days’ notice. The Representatives may
waive the notice period required for any meeting. Any notice must include the
time, date, place and agenda of each meeting. On receipt of any such
notice, the receiving Party may add any item to the agenda, if the receiving
Party notifies the other Party of the addition at least 10 days before the
meeting. No
item that is not on the agenda may be discussed without the consent of the
Representatives.
Individuals other than the Representatives and the alternate may attend
meetings of the Management Committee with the consent of the
Representatives.
3.4 Attendance at Meeting by
Phone. Any Representative may attend a meeting of the
Management Committee by telephone or video conference call and such
Representative is deemed to be present at such meeting.
3.5 Quorum at
Meetings. The quorum for any meeting of the Management
Committee is one Representative from each of the Parties. If a quorum is not present
at the time and place set for a meeting, then the meeting shall be adjourned to
the same place and time on the next week. At the continuation of the
adjourned meeting the Management Committee may conduct business, if a notice
regarding the continuation of the adjourned meeting was sent to the Party whose
Representative did not attend the first portion of the meeting. In no other circumstance may
business be transacted at a meeting of the Management Committee without a quorum
being present.
3.6 Chairman and Secretary of
Meetings. The initial chairman of the Management Committee
(the “Chairman”) shall be determined by Silver Quest and thereafter designated
annually by the Parties with the greatest Joint Venture Interest. The Chairman
shall appoint a secretary to act as a secretary of the Management Committee at
the beginning of each meeting of the Management Committee. Such secretary shall carry
out the duties of the secretary of the Management Committee until such
secretary’s replacement is appointed. The secretary shall prepare
and maintain minutes of each meeting of the Management Committee. The secretary shall
distribute to the Representatives such minutes, as soon as practicable following
each meeting, but not later than 30 days after the meeting. The secretary shall also
maintain, and distribute to the Representatives, copies of all correspondence
and instruments received, sent or signed by the Management Committee or the
Representatives (when acting in the capacity of a Representative).
3.7 Making
Decisions. All decisions of the Management Committee shall be
by majority vote by the two voting Representatives, who shall each have the
number of votes equal to such Representative’s respective Party’s Joint Venture
Interest from time to time.
In the event of an equality of votes, the Operator’s Representative shall
have an additional and casting vote. Alternatively, the
Management Committee may transact any business by a written instrument signed by
a Representative of each Party. Each decision of the
Management Committee shall be final and binding on the Parties.
3.8 Consent of Management Committee
Required. Notwithstanding any term in this Agreement, the
Operator shall not take any of the following actions without obtaining the prior
written unanimous consent of the Parties:
(a)
|
create,
or permit to remain, any material Liens, upon any Joint Venture Asset,
except for any Liens which are customary in the circumstances of a mining
joint venture;
|
(b)
|
abandon,
sell or otherwise dispose of the Property, or any material part thereof,
other than the Operator’s right to dispose of or allow Claims to lapse
pursuant to Section 8;
|
(c)
|
settle
any suit, claim or demand with respect to the Joint Venture involving an
amount in excess of $500,000;
|
4. THE
OPERATOR, ITS POWERS AND OBLIGATIONS.
4.1 Initial
Operator. Upon the formation of the Joint Venture, Silver
Quest shall be the first Operator.
4.2 Resignation and
Replacement. The Operator may resign as Operator upon
notifying the non-Operator in writing of its resignation at any time after a
Program has been approved by the Management Committee but before the
commencement of the implementation of such Program, or at any time if no Program
is being carried out at that time. The Operator shall be
deemed to have resigned if:
(a)
|
the
Operator materially defaults in its obligations as operator hereunder and
fails to commence and diligently prosecute measures to remedy such default
within thirty (30) days after the non-Operator shall have given written
notice to the Operator of such default specifying in such notice the
nature of the default;
|
(b)
|
the
Joint Venture Interest of the Operator becomes less than fifty percent
(50%); or
|
(c)
|
pursuant
to Section 5.1 of this Schedule “B”, the Operator fails to submit a
Program requiring minimum Expenditures of at least Fifty Thousand Dollars
($50,000) to the Management Committee within six (6) months of the
completion of the previous Program;
|
(d)
|
an
attachment in respect to any material liability of the Operator is made on
the Property which is not related to the business of the Joint
Venture,
|
(e) the
Operator:
(f)
|
admits
in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due other than
indebtedness (“non-recourse financing”) for money borrowed or guaranteed
where the recourse of the holder thereof is restricted to realization upon
specific assets none of which consist of any Interest, and where failure
to pay the indebtedness does not result in the creation of an unsecured
obligation of the Operator,
|
(g) makes
an assignment for the benefit of creditors,
(h)
|
consents
to the appointment of a receiver (other than a receiver appointed under
non-recourse financing) for all or a substantial part of its
assets,
|
(i)
|
files
a petition in bankruptcy or for a reorganization or an arrangement under
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or creditors’ relief laws, or otherwise
seeks the relief therein provided,
or
|
(j) is
adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent; or
(k)
|
a
Court order is pronounced in respect of the Operator, appointing a
receiver or trustee for all or a substantial part of its property (except
for property, other than the Property, securing non-recourse financing),
or approving a petition in bankruptcy or for a reorganization under
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or creditors’ relief laws or for any
judicial modification or alteration of the rights of
creditors.
|
In the
event of the occurrence of (c) above, the non-Operator shall have the right
within a period of ninety (90) days of the occurrence of such event to prepare
and deliver to the Management Committee a Program requiring minimum Expenditures
of at least Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) and the provisions of this
Section 4.2 and Section 5 shall for all purposes of this Agreement apply
mutatis mutandis as if for such Program the non-Operator was the Operator. Provided further
that notwithstanding the foregoing, Silver Quest so long as it retains at least
a fifty percent (50%) interest in the Joint Venture, shall continue to have the
right to retain its position as Operator in accordance with this
Section 4.2 following completion of a Program by the
non-Operator.
On any
change or replacement of the Operator, the retiring Operator shall transfer all
data, documents, reports, records, accounts, samples and assays in its
possession or control, and relating to the Mining Operations or the Property, to
the incoming Operator.
4.3 Powers and
Obligations. Subject to the approval of each Program by the
Management Committee and to funds being advanced by the Parties who have elected
to contribute to such Program, the powers and obligations of the Operator shall
be as follows:
(a)
|
to
manage the Joint Venture and conduct, or cause to be conducted, all work
performed under a Program in a good and workmanlike manner in accordance
with good exploration, engineering, mining and accounting practice and in
accordance with the terms of this
Agreement;
|
(b)
|
to
submit each Program to the Management Committee for approval by delivering
the Program to the Representatives at least 30 days in advance of the
meeting of the Management Committee at which such Program is to be
considered;
|
(c)
|
subject
to Section 3.8 of this Schedule “B”, to keep the Property in good
standing and to pay all applicable payments, fees and taxes, and other
similar governmental charges lawfully levied or assessed in respect of the
Property, except that the Operator shall not be obliged, however, to make
any such payment as long as such payment is being contested in good faith
and the non-payment thereof does not adversely affect the
Property;
|
(d)
|
subject
to Sections 6, 7 and 8 of this Schedule “B”, to provide, purchase, lease
or rent all plant, buildings, machinery, equipment, tools, appliances,
materials, supplies and services required for a Program and to dispose of
the same when no longer required or useful for the purposes of the
Property and the Joint Venture;
|
(e)
|
to
maintain and keep the Joint Venture Assets, or to cause the Joint Venture
Assets to be maintained and kept, in good operating condition and repair
in accordance with good exploration and mining
practice;
|
(f)
|
to
comply with all applicable statutes, regulations, by-laws, laws, orders
and judgements and all directives, rules, consents, permits, orders,
guidelines, approvals and policies of any applicable governmental
authority affecting the Joint
Venture;
|
(g)
|
to
obtain and maintain such types and levels of property and liability
insurance with respect to the Joint Venture as the Operator shall consider
necessary from time to time, such coverage to include the non-Operator as
a named insured to the extent of the non-Operator’s undivided interest in
the Joint Venture from time to
time;
|
(h)
|
to
require the Operator’s contractors and subcontractors to take out and
maintain such types and levels of property and liability insurance as the
Operator shall consider necessary or advisable from time to time and to
comply with the requirements of all applicable unemployment insurance and
workers’ compensation legislation with respect to work or services to be
provided by such contractors or
subcontractors;
|
(i)
|
to
advise the non-Operator of any accident or occurrence resulting in any
material damage to or destruction of any Joint Venture Assets or material
harm or injury to any individual;
|
(j)
|
to
keep adequate data, information and records of the Operator’s management
of the Joint Venture and to keep suitable accounts which reflect all
financial aspects of the Joint Venture and once per year to make such
available to the non-Operator, at the place designated by the Operator,
within 10 days of receipt of a written request for disclosure by the
non-Operator and to permit the non-Operator at reasonable times and upon
notice in writing to the Operator to audit the Operator’s accounts and
records relating exclusively to the operations of the Joint Venture for
any calendar year within 12 months following the end of such calendar year
at the non-Operator’s expense;
|
(k)
|
to
provide the non-Operator with monthly reports on activities on the
Property, including a report of expenditures in comparison to the budget,
during periods of active field work or when mine operations are active,
quarterly reports and a detailed annual report on the Operator’s
management of the Joint Venture, including an accounting of all
Expenditures made by the Operator under the current or previous
Program;
|
(l)
|
to
permit the non-Operator, at the non-Operator’s sole risk and expense and
with prior notice to the Operator, access to the Property during normal
working hours for the purpose of examining activities and work thereon and
access to, and the right to inspect and copy all geological, geochemical,
geophysical, engineering and environmental data, maps, available drill
core, drill logs, surveys, analyses and other technical information
acquired with respect to the Property in the course of the work of the
Joint Venture, so long as such access shall not materially interfere with
or impair such activities and work;
and
|
(m)
|
to
have all powers necessary to carry out, or cause to be carried out, all of
the Operator’s obligations set out in this Agreement and to otherwise
carry out, or cause to be carried out, all Programs approved by the
Management Committee.
|
4.4 Emergencies. In an
emergency, the Operator, without the consent of the non-Operator, may take such
immediate actions and make such immediate Expenditures as the Operator deems
necessary to keep the Property in good standing or for the protection of
individuals and/or property and/or the environment. The Operator
shall promptly report such emergency actions and Expenditures to the
non-Operator by delivering an invoice to the non-Operator. The non-Operator
shall pay its share of the Expenditures to the Operator in accordance with
Section 5.4 of this Schedule “B”.
4.5 Closure Fund. The
Operator may establish and administer a closure fund to be applied by the
Operator to satisfy any legal obligations of the Parties respecting a mine
maintenance plan or mine closure plan, including obligations for severance pay,
pensions, rehabilitation and reclamation work. Each Party shall
contribute its proportionate share of such fund based on such Party’s Joint
Venture Interest at the time of the establishment of the fund (or at the time of
the contribution, in respect of subsequent contributions). The Operator shall
invest any unused portion of such fund and all income thereon shall accrue in
such fund. If the
Operator determines that such fund, or any portion thereof, is no longer
necessary, the Operator shall make payments to the Parties in proportion to
their contribution to such closure fund on the date of such
payments.
5. PROGRAMS.
5.1 Contents of
Program. The Operator shall prepare a Program and submit such
Program budget to the Management Committee for approval at least sixty (60) days
before the beginning of each calendar year. The Management Committee
must approve each Program prior to implementation. Each Program shall cover
a period of up to 12 months or such other period as the Parties may agree. Each Program must
contain:
(a)
|
a
reasonably detailed outline of all work which the Operator contemplates
carrying out on the Property under such Program detailing the areas on the
Property to be subject to such work and the time frame for each of the
major elements of such work;
|
(b)
|
a
reasonably itemised budget, broken down by month, of the projected
Expenditures under the Program;
|
(c)
|
the
budget shall include a contingency provision for costs not specifically
itemized in the budget for the Program, which contingency provision shall
be, at the Operator’s sole discretion, either a lump-sum dollar amount for
the entire Program, or a dollar amount calculated as a percentage of the
budgeted total cost for the itemized items and in either case need not be
broken down by month, and
|
(d)
|
the
estimated amount and date of each payment that the non-Operator would have
to make to the Operator.
|
5.2 Election by
Representatives. If the Operator proposes a Program which is
approved by the Management Committee:
(a)
|
for
less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), the Representatives shall then
have 30 days to elect whether or not to participate in the Program;
or
|
(b)
|
for
more than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), the Representatives shall then
have 30 days to elect to participate in the Program, and a further 30 days
to raise their share of the funding
required.
|
5.3 Approved
Programs. The Operator shall carry out each Program approved
by the Management Committee provided the Parties who have elected to contribute
to such Program provide the Operator with their proportionate share of the
funding in respect of the Program.
5.4 Payments to
Operator. If a Representative elects to participate in a
Program on behalf of a Party, the Operator will submit an invoice to such
Representative on or between the first and 20th day of the month immediately
preceding a month in which Expenditures are to be made under a Program. The invoice must
set out the estimated Expenditures under the Program for the immediately
following month, multiplied by the Joint Venture Interest of such Party. Within 30 days of
receipt of such invoice, such Party shall pay the Operator the invoice
amount. The
Operator may also submit other invoices relating to reconciliations, bills,
accounts or other requests for payment in respect of any Expenditures made by
the Operator under a Program or otherwise in accordance with this
Agreement. Such
invoice must set out the total amount involved, multiplied by the participating
Party’s Joint Venture Interest. Within 30 days of
receipt of such invoice, such Party shall pay the Operator the invoice
amount. If
such Party fails to make any payment to the Operator under this Section 5.4
of this Schedule “B” within any applicable 30 day payment period, after
previously having elected to do so, such Party shall make such payment together
with an interest payment, calculated at the rate equal to the annual rate of
interest announced from time to time by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
as its reference rate then in effect for determining interest rates on Canadian
dollar commercial loans in Canada (commonly known as its prime rate), plus 10%,
for the period commencing on the expiry of such 30 day payment period and
terminating on the date that full payment is made. If such Party
fails to make full payment, including in respect of interest, to the Operator
within 60 days of the expiry of the applicable 30 day payment period,
Section 5.6 of this Schedule “B” applies.
5.5 Failure to
Participate. If a Party does not elect to participate in a
Program, its Joint Venture Interest shall be diluted in accordance with
Section 2.1 of this Schedule “B”.
5.6 Failure to Make Payment by
non-Operator. If a Party which has elected to participate in a
Program fails to make a required payment within the 60 day period referred to in
Section 5.4 of this Schedule “B”, such Party’s Joint Venture Interest shall
be diluted at a rate of two times normal dilution.
5.7 Failure to Spend at Least 80% of
Budget. If a Party does not elect to participate in a Program
and the Operator does not make Expenditures under the Program at least equal to
80% of budgeted Expenditures, the non-participating Party shall not have its
Joint Venture Interest reduced in accordance with Section 2.1 of this
Schedule “B” if the non-participating Party promptly pays the Operator,
following receipt of notice from the Operator of the completion of such Program
at less than 80% of budgeted Expenditures, an amount equal to the total
Expenditures made under such Program, multiplied by the non-participating
Party’s Joint Venture Interest, determined at the commencement of such
Program.
5.8 Expenditures More Than 10% Above
Budget. Expenditures made by the Operator exceeding the
Expenditures contemplated by the Program by less than 10% will be funded by the
Parties in proportion to their Joint Venture Interests. Expenditures made
by the Operator exceeding the Expenditures contemplated by the Program by more
than 10% will be funded solely by the Operator, unless otherwise agreed by the
Parties in writing. Unless otherwise
agreed by the Parties in writing, any such payments exceeding the Expenditures
contemplated by the Program by more than 10% which are made by either the
Operator or the non-Operator will not form part of the calculations used to
determine the Joint Venture Interests of the Parties in accordance with
Section 2 of this Schedule “B”.
5.9 Return of Surplus
Monies. If, after completion of any Program, the Operator is
in possession of any moneys contributed by the Parties and which are not
required for the discharge of obligations relating to such Program, the Operator
shall repay such moneys to the contributing Parties.
5.10 Failure to Submit Program to
Management Committee. If the Operator does not submit a
Program involving Expenditures of at least $50,000 to the Management Committee
for approval within a period of at least 6 months from the date of completion of
the last Program (being when the report is complete and delivered to the
non-Operator), then the non-Operator may propose a Program to the Management
Committee for an amount not less than $50,000. If the
non-Operator makes such a proposal and the Program is approved by the Management
Committee, the Operator shall carry out such Program and fund its proportionate
share. If the
Management Committee does not approve such Program, the non-Operator may,
notwithstanding Section 4.2 of this Schedule “B”, become the Operator and
carry out the Program. Following the completion
of such Program Section 4.2 of this Schedule “B” shall apply once
again.
6. DEALINGS
WITH AFFILIATES.
Any Joint
Venture Assets that the Operator may purchase, lease or rent from an Affiliate
shall be purchased, leased or rented at not more than fair market value. The cost of all work
which the Operator may contract to an Affiliate shall be not more than the fair
market value of such work. Any Joint Venture Assets
that the Operator may sell or otherwise dispose of to an Affiliate shall be sold
or otherwise disposed of at not less than fair market value. The Operator shall pay
the net proceeds received in respect of such Joint Venture Assets, if any, to
the Parties in proportion to their respective Joint Venture Interests. The Operator shall give
the non-Operator written notice of any significant transaction with an Affiliate
and the non-Operator may, at any time within 12 months after it has received
such notice, dispute whether such transaction was at fair market
value.
7. USE
OF SURPLUS JOINT VENTURE ASSETS.
Subject
to Section 5.9 of this Schedule “B”, the Operator may use any Joint Venture
Assets which are no longer required for the Joint Venture for such other
purposes and on such terms as the Operator may from time to time determine. The Operator
shall pay the net proceeds received in respect of such Joint Venture Assets, if
any, to the Parties in proportion to their respective Joint Venture
Interests. If
such surplus Joint Venture Assets are used by the Operator, outside the scope of
the Joint Venture, or are used by an Affiliate of the Operator, outside the
scope of the Joint Venture, then the net proceeds in respect of such use shall
be deemed to be an amount equal to what could be obtained from an arms-length
third party.
8. DISPOSITION
OF JOINT VENTURE ASSETS.
Subject
to Section 3.8 of this Schedule “B”, and except as set out below, the
Operator may from time to time sell or otherwise dispose of such part of the
Joint Venture Assets as are no longer required for Joint Venture operations. The Operator
shall pay the net proceeds received in respect of such Joint Venture Assets, if
any, to the Parties in proportion to their respective Joint Venture
Interests.
The
Operator may dispose of or allow to lapse any of the Claims that comprise the
Property, by providing to the non-Operator 120 days prior written notice (the
“Disposition Notice”) of its intention to do so. Upon receipt of the Disposition
Notice, the non-Operator shall have the option, exercisable by providing written
notice of such (the “Exercise Notice”) to the Operator within 14 days of the
Disposition Notice, to require the Operator to transfer the Claims that are the
subject of the Disposition Notice to the non-Operator, and in such event, the
Operator shall transfer such Claims to the non-Operator as soon as reasonably
possible after receipt of the Exercise Notice. Once the Claims have
been transferred to the non-Operator, such Claims shall no longer form part of
the Property or be subject to this Agreement.
9. INSURANCE
PROCEEDS.
The
Operator shall apply, to the extent determined by the Operator, any insurance
proceeds received by the Operator in respect of any loss or damage to Joint
Venture Assets towards the repair or replacement of the lost or damaged Joint
Venture Assets. The Operator
shall pay the remaining proceeds received in respect of such Joint Venture
Assets, if any, to the Parties in proportion to their respective Joint Venture
Interests.
10. SETTLEMENT
PAYMENTS.
Subject
to Section 3.8(c) of this Schedule “B”, all losses, costs, expenses, claims
or damages, including legal fees and disbursements, net of any insurance
proceeds, incurred and paid by the Operator in settlement of any loss, cost,
expense, claim, damage, judgement or similar matter (including a payment made,
or an action taken, by the Operator as a result of an action of a governmental
agency) shall constitute an Expenditure made by the Operator under the
applicable Program. In addition, the
non-Operator, in proportion to its Joint Venture Interest calculated on the date
that the initial liability was incurred which gives rise to this indemnification
obligation, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Operator for any loss, cost,
expense, claim or damage, including legal fees and disbursements, suffered or
incurred by the Operator in respect of a third party claim (including an action
of a governmental agency which results in a payment made, or an action taken, by
the Operator), except to the extent that such claim arose from the gross
negligence or wilful misconduct of the Operator.
11. LIABILITY
OF OPERATOR.
The
Operator shall not be liable to the non-Operator for any loss, cost, expense,
claim or damage, including legal fees and disbursements, (including a payment
made, or an action taken, by the Operator as a result of an action of a
governmental agency) except to the extent that such loss, cost, expense, claim
or damage is attributable to the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the
Operator. In
no event (including fundamental breach) shall the Operator be liable to the
non-Operator for any indirect, special or consequential damages (including for
loss of goodwill, loss of actual or anticipated profits or other economic loss),
even if the Operator has been advised of the potential for such
damages.
12. GST.
At the
request of the Operator, the Parties shall promptly execute all documents and
take all other actions required to make (and file, if necessary) the election
referred to in section 273 of the Excise Tax Act (Canada), with
a view to authorizing the Operator to pay, from time to time, on behalf of the
other Party, all taxes which relate to the Joint Venture and which may become
due and payable under Part IX of the Excise Tax Act (Canada). This Section 12
of this Schedule “B” shall apply, with such changes as are required in the
circumstances, in respect of any similar applicable provincial
legislation.
13. NO
PARTITION.
Subject
to Section 3.8 of this Schedule “B”, no Party may seek or obtain partition
of any of the Joint Venture Assets, including the Property, or any interest
therein whether by way of physical partition, sale or otherwise. No statute,
regulation or law providing for partition, or partition and sale, shall apply to
any of the Joint Venture Assets.
14. NO
RESTRICTION ON OTHER ACTIVITIES.
Each
Party has the unrestricted right to engage in, and receive the full benefit of,
any activity outside the scope of the Joint Venture, without consulting with, or
accounting to, the other party, or permitting the other party to participate in
such activity.
15. TERMINATION.
If the
Parties agree to terminate the Joint Venture, the Operator may take any actions
necessary or desirable to wind up the Joint Venture. All costs,
charges and expenses of winding up the Joint Venture (including in respect of
any reclamation) shall be for the account of the Joint Venture and the Parties
shall divide the net Joint Venture Assets in proportion to their Joint Venture
Interests, although any loans advanced to the Joint Venture by a Party shall be
satisfied before any other distribution of assets is made to the Parties. Once the said
costs, charges and expenses have been paid in full, the Operator may sell the
Joint Venture Assets (with the prior approval of the non-Operator, where Joint
Venture Assets are sold for a total amount of in excess of $100,000) or
distribute the Joint Venture Assets to the Parties in kind.
16. WITHDRAWAL
FROM JOINT VENTURE.
16.1 Right
of Withdrawal and Mechanics. Either Party may,
at any time during the Joint Venture, voluntarily withdraw from the Joint
Venture (the “Withdrawing Party”) and forfeit its interest in and to the
Property and its rights under this Agreement by giving written notice of such
withdrawal to the other Party (the “Remaining Party”). The notice must
indicate an effective date for such withdrawal which may not be earlier than 90
days after receipt of such notice. The effects of
the delivery of such notice are set out below.
(a) The
Withdrawing Party shall:
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(i)
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remain
liable for its share, based on its Joint Venture Interest, of all costs,
expenses and obligations arising out of operations conducted before the
effective date of the withdrawal;
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(ii)
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secure
by way of a letter of credit, or otherwise to the satisfaction of the
Remaining Party, its share, based on its Joint Venture Interest, of the
costs of reclaiming the Property, as estimated at the effective date of
the withdrawal considering all applicable statutes, regulations, by-laws,
laws, orders and judgements and with all directives, rules, consents,
permits, orders, guidelines, approvals and policies of any governmental
authority;
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(iii)
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continue,
for a period of three years after the effective date of the withdrawal, to
be bound by Section 10;
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(iv)
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execute
and deliver such documents as may be necessary to transfer the Property to
the Remaining Party;
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(v)
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remove,
within 12 months of the effective date of the withdrawal, all buildings,
machinery, equipment and supplies brought upon the Property by the
Withdrawing Party that are not Joint Venture Assets;
and
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(vi) not
be entitled to any royalty under this Agreement.
(b)
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The
Remaining Party shall become the owner of a 100% of the Withdrawing
Party’s interest in and to the Property as of the effective date of the
withdrawal.
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(c)
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The
Joint Venture shall be terminated and the Management Committee shall be
terminated, as of the effective date of the
withdrawal.
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16.2 Right of Remaining Party to
Withdraw. Upon receipt by the Remaining Party of a notice of
withdrawal, the Remaining Party may give notice to the Withdrawing Party prior
to the effective date of the withdrawal electing to join in the withdrawal
(“Joint Withdrawal”). In such case, the
Joint Venture shall be terminated in accordance with Section 15 of this Schedule
“B”.
17. GOVERNMENTAL
ASSISTANCE.
Any grant
or other form of governmental financial assistance received by a Party with
respect to Mining Operations shall be shared by the Parties, in the proportion
of their respective Joint Venture Interests at the time that such grant or
financial assistance is received.
18. RIGHTS
TO MINERAL PRODUCTS
18.1 Each
Party shall own and have the right, privilege and power to take in kind and
separately dispose of a portion of all Mineral Products produced from the
Property, in accordance with its Joint Venture Interest. The Operator
shall designate and notify the Parties of the points of delivery situated on the
Property for the Parties respective Joint Venture shares of such Mineral Product
and all costs in respect of such Mineral Products shall be for the account of
the Joint Venture, until such Mineral Products are delivered to such points. After such
Mineral Products are delivered to such points each Party shall pay its own costs
in respect of such Mineral Products. The Operator
shall use its best efforts to ensure that each Party receives product of like
quality.
18.2 The
Operator shall have no obligation in respect of the Parties’ Mineral Products
after delivery of such Mineral Products to the point of delivery provided,
however, that if a Party is prepared to sell its Mineral Products at the same
time and on the same terms and conditions as the Operator is selling its own
Mineral Products and so advises the Operator the Operator may, but is not
obligated to, act as an agent for the Non-Operator in relation to the sale of
the Non-Operator’s Mineral Products on the terms and conditions that are
equivalent to the terms and conditions obtained for its own Mineral
Products. If
the Operator elects to act as agent for the Non-Operator, it may discontinue
such agency at any time upon giving the Non-Operator 30 days advance notice. If the Operator,
while acting as the Non-Operator’s agent, is of the opinion that 100% of its own
Mineral Products and 100% of the Non-Operator’s Mineral Products available for
sale cannot be sold at the same time for revenue deemed acceptable by the
Operator, the Operator shall arrange for sales of a lesser amount of each
Party’s Mineral Products on a pro rata basis. In the event that
the Operator acts as an agent for the Non-Operator, the Operator shall be
entitled to sale commissions equal to prevailing rates charged by other agents
for effecting similar sales. In the event of a
non-arm’s length sale of Mineral Products, such sale shall be at commercially
competitive rates.
19. REPLACEMENT
JOINT VENTURE
19.1 If
either Party so desires at any time the Parties will expeditiously work to
settle a more detailed Joint Venture Agreement in substantially the form
referenced in the Continuing Legal Education Society of British
Columbia Mining Law Materials of June 1999 (“CLE JV”). Until
the CLE JV is completed and executed the initial terms of the joint
venture agreement shall be as set out in this Schedule “B”. Any issues that
arise in the course of the joint venture activities prior to completion of the
CLE JV which are not covered by this Schedule “B” shall be governed by the terms
contained in the form of the CLE JV, however, the terms of this
Schedule “B” shall prevail in the event of any inconsistency with the form
of the proposed CLE JV until the CLE JV is completed and
executed.
SCHEDULE
“C” – DILUTED INTEREST ROYALTY
Pursuant
to Section 2.2 of Schedule “B” – Joint Venture Terms of the attached Agreement,
a Party (the “Payee”) may become entitled to a Diluted Interest
Royalty. Such royalty shall be calculated in accordance with this
Schedule “C”. Unless
specifically provided otherwise, any terms or expressions given a defined
meaning in this Schedule “C” shall have a corresponding meaning in the Agreement
of which this Schedule “C” forms a part, and any terms or expressions given a
defined meaning in the Agreement shall have a corresponding meaning in this
Schedule “C”.
1.
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The
Diluted Interest Royalty payable to a former Joint Venture Participant
whose Joint Venture Interest was converted pursuant to Section 2.2 of
Schedule “B” (a “Payee”) will, subject to reduction under paragraph 9, be
equal to Two Percent (2.0%) of Net Returns and will be paid by the
remaining Participant (the “Payor”) in accordance with the terms of this
Schedule “C”.
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2.
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Net
Returns will be calculated on a calendar quarterly basis and will be equal
to Gross Revenue (as hereinafter defined) less Permissible Deductions (as
hereinafter defined) for such
quarter.
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3.
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In
this Schedule, the following words have the following
meanings:
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(a)
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“Gross
Revenue” means the aggregate of the following amounts (without
duplication) accruing in each quarterly period following commencement of
Commercial Production:
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(i)
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subject
to paragraph 8(a), the revenue received by the Payor from arm’s length
purchasers of all Mineral Products;
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(ii)
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the
fair market value of all Mineral Products sold by the Payor in such a
period to persons not dealing at arm’s length with the Payor;
and
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(iii)
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any
proceeds of insurance on Mineral
Products;
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(b)
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“Mineral
Products” means all ores, concentrates, minerals, diamonds, compounds or
refined or semi-refined products produced from the
Property;
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(c)
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“Permissible
Deductions” means the aggregate of the following charges (to the extent
that they are not deducted by any purchaser in computing payment) that are
incurred with respect to the Mineral Products in each quarterly
period:
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(i)
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sales
charges levied by any sales agent on the sale of Mineral
Products;
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(ii)
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transportation
costs for Mineral Products from the Property to the place of
beneficiation, processing or treatment, if applicable, and thence to the
place of delivery of Mineral Products to a purchaser thereof, including
shipping, freight, handling and forwarding
expenses;
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(iii)
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all
costs, expenses and charges of any nature whatsoever which are either paid
or incurred by the Payor in connection with beneficiation or refining of
Mineral Products after leaving the Property, including all smelter and
refinery charges and all weighing, sampling, assaying, representation and
storage costs, deductions from gross metal content and umpire charges, and
any penalties charged by the processor, smelter, or
refinery;
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(iv)
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all
costs, expenses and charges of any nature whatsoever which are either paid
or incurred by the Payor in connection with any valuation of Mineral
Products or marketing of Mineral
Products;
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(v)
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all
insurance costs on Mineral Products and any government royalties,
production taxes, severance taxes and sales and other taxes levied on
Mineral Products or on the production value thereof (other than income
taxes of the Payor); and
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(vi)
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all
amounts payable pursuant to the Underlying
Royalty.
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4.
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For
greater certainty, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
all charges deducted by an arm’s length purchaser of ores or concentrates
whether for smelting, treatment, handling, refining, storage or any other
operation on or service relating to the Mineral Products that occurs after
the point of sale shall be considered to be legitimate deductions in
arriving at the Net Returns amount.
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5.
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The
Diluted Interest Royalty will be calculated and paid within 60 days after
the end of each calendar quarter. Smelter settlement sheets, if
any, and a statement setting forth calculations in sufficient detail to
show the payment’s derivation (the “Statement”) must be submitted with the
payment.
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6.
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In
the event that final amounts required for the calculation of the Diluted
Interest Royalty are not available within the time period referred to in
Section 5 of this Schedule “C”, then provisional amounts will be estimated
and the Diluted Interest Royalty paid on the basis of this provisional
calculation. Positive or negative adjustments will be made to
the Diluted Interest Royalty payment payable for the succeeding
quarter.
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7.
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Subject
to the adjustment provisions of this Schedule “C”, all Diluted Interest
Royalty payments will be considered final and in full satisfaction of all
obligations of the Payor with respect thereto, unless the Payee delivers
to the Payor a written notice (“Objection Notice”) describing and setting
forth a specific objection to the calculation thereof within sixty (60)
days after receipt by the Payee of the Statement. If the Payee
objects to a particular Statement as herein provided, Payee will, for a
period of sixty (60) days after the Payor’s receipt of such Objection
Notice, have the right, upon reasonable notice at a reasonable time, to
have the Payor’s accounts and records relating to the calculation of the
Diluted Interest Royalty in question audited by the auditors of the
Payor. If such audit determines that there has been a
deficiency or excess in the payment made to the Payee, such deficiency or
excess will be resolved by adjusting the next quarterly Diluted Interest
Royalty payment due hereunder. The Payee will pay all the costs
and expenses of such audit unless a deficiency of five (5%) or more of the
amount due is determined to exist in which case the Payor will pay the
costs and expenses of such audit. All books and records used
and kept by the Payor to calculate the Diluted Interest Royalty due
hereunder will be kept in accordance with Canadian generally accepted
accounting principals. Failure on the part of the Payee to make
claim against the Payor for adjustment within such sixty (60) day period
by delivery of an Objection Notice will conclusively establish the
correctness and sufficiency of the Statement and Diluted Interest Royalty
payments for such quarter, and forever preclude the filing of exceptions
thereto or making of claims for adjustment thereon by the
Payee. Nothing herein will limit the Payee’s rights arising out
of fraud.
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8.
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All
profits and losses resulting from the Payor engaging in any commodity
futures contract, forward sales contract, product loan, options contract,
or any other type of derivatives contract or any combination thereof, and
any other hedging transactions with respect to Mineral Products
(collectively, “Hedging Transactions”) are specifically excluded from
calculations of the payments on account of the Diluted Interest Royalty
pursuant to this Schedule “C” (it being the intent of the parties that the
Payee will not have any right to participate in such Hedging Transactions
or to share in any profits or losses therefrom). All Hedging
Transactions by the Payor and all profits or losses associated therewith,
if any, will be solely for the Payor’s account. The amount of
Gross Revenue derived from all Mineral Products subject to Hedging
Transactions will be determined pursuant to the provisions of this
paragraph 8, as set forth below and not by paragraph
3(a)(i):
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(a)
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the
Gross Revenue for Mineral Products that are subject to Hedging
Transactions will be determined using the price (the “Price”) that
is:
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(A)
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for
gold, the average price of gold, which will be calculated by dividing the
sum of all London Bullion Market Association P.M. Gold Fix prices reported
for the quarterly period in question by the number of days for which such
prices were quoted; and
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(B)
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for
all other Mineral Products, the spot price or average price or a
valuation, as applicable, estimated by a mutually agreeable trade
association or marketing group or entity recognized within the applicable
industry as being knowledgeable with respect to current marketing
conditions for the applicable Mineral
Products;
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multiplied
by the quantity of Mineral Products that are subject to that particular Hedging
Transaction;
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(b)
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unless
otherwise specified above, the reference spot price to be used for a
particular Hedging Transaction will be determined using the reference spot
price published for the week containing the date that the Mineral Products
subject to that Hedging Transaction are deemed to be
sold;
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(c)
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Mineral
Products subject to Hedging Transactions will be deemed to be sold, and
revenues received therefrom, only on the date of final settlement of the
amount of refined Mineral Products allocated to the account of the Payor
by a third party refinery in respect of such transactions,
and
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(d)
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the
Payor will have no obligation to fulfill any Hedging Transaction which the
Payor or any of its Affiliates may hold with Mineral
Products.
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9.
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The
Payee hereby irrevocably grants to the Payor the right to purchase for
cancellation (the “Buy-Down Option”) One-half (1/2) of the Diluted
Interest Royalty. The purchase price shall be One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000). The Buy-Down Option may be exercised at
any time prior to, or within Ninety (90) days following the commencement
of Commercial Production on the
Property.
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10.
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If
the Payor determines that it would be advantageous to the efficient
operation of a processing plant to process Ore by commingling Ore with ore
from other properties, then prior to doing so, the Payor shall give the
Payee sixty (60) days notice of its intention, and shall deliver to the
Payee a detailed description of the commingling plan under which the
commingling shall be conducted.
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