GPO Box 4227 Sydney NSW 2001 Australia www.freehills.com DX 361 Sydney Sydney Melbourne Perth Brisbane Singapore Correspondent offices in Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City Jakarta

Exhibit 99.1(a)

Option Deed

		MLC Centre Xxxxxx Place Sydney NSW 2000 Australia		Telephone x00 0 0000 0000 Facsimile x00 0 0000 0000
		GPO Box 4227 Sydney NSW 2001 Australia		xxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx DX 361 Sydney
		Sydney Melbourne Perth Brisbane Singapore		Correspondent offices in Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City Jakarta

Contents

Table of contents
The deed			1
Operative part			2
1 Definitions and interpretation			2
1.1 Agreement components			2
1.2 Definitions			2
1.3 Interpretation			4
1.4 Business Day			5
1.5 Inclusive expressions			5
2 Call Option			6
2.1 Call Option			6
2.2 Exercise of the Call Option			6
2.3 Parties bound			6
2.4 Lapse of Call Option			6
3 Sale and purchase of Option Shares			7
3.1 Terms of Sale			7
3.2 Completion			7
4 Dealing in Option Shares			7
5 Voting			8
6 Warranties			8
6.1 Grantor warranties			8
6.2 Grantor undertaking			9
6.3 Coeur warranties			9
6.4 Survival of warranties			9
6.5 Reliance			10
6.6 Indemnity			10
7 Termination			10
8 Duties, costs and expenses			10
8.1 Stamp duty			10
8.2 Costs and expenses			11
9 Confidentiality and announcements			11
9.1 Confidentiality			11
9.2 Extent of obligation			11

Contents 1

Contents

10 Notices			11
10.1 How and where Notices may be sent			11
10.2 When Notices are taken to have been given and received			12
11 General			12
11.1 Governing law and jurisdiction			12
11.2 Invalidity and enforceability			12
11.3 Waiver			12
11.4 Variation			13
11.5 Assignment of rights			13
11.6 Further action to be taken at each party’s own expense			13
11.7 Entire agreement			13
11.8 No reliance			13
11.9 Damages			13
11.10 Counterparts			13
Option Notice			15
Notice details			16
Signing page			17

Contents 2

The deed

Deed

Date May 2007

Between the parties
		Xxxxxxx X Xxxxxxxx
Grantor		of c/- Investorlink Corporate Ltd GPO Box 4569 Sydney NSW 2000
		Coeur d’ Xxxxx Xxxxx Corporation
Coeur		of 000 Xxxxx Xxx, Xxxxx x’Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Background		1 The Grantor is the legal and beneficial owner of the Option Shares.
		2 The Company intends to propose the Scheme pursuant to which Coeur Australia will acquire all the ordinary shares in the Company.
		3 The Grantor has agreed to grant the Call Option to Coeur on the terms and conditions set out in this deed.
		4 The Grantor and Xxxxx intend that the Grantor will be able to vote the Option Shares at the Scheme and receive the benefits under the Scheme which are received by other shareholders of the Company and will not suffer any detriment compared to the benefits received by other shareholders of the Company under the Scheme.
This deed witnesses		that in consideration of the Option Fee paid by Xxxxx and, among other things, the mutual promises contained in this deed, the parties agree as set out in the Operative part of this deed.

page 1

Operative part

1 Definitions and interpretation

1.1		Agreement components
		This agreement includes any schedules.
1.2		Definitions
		The meanings of the terms used in this document are set out below.

Term		Meaning
1933 Act		United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
ASX		ASX Limited (ACN 008 624 691).
Break Fee		has the same meaning as in the Merger Implementation Agreement.
Business Day		a day on which banks are open for business in Sydney excluding a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday and any other day that ASX declares is not a business day.
Call Option		the option to purchase the Option Shares in the Company granted by the Grantor in favour of Coeur under clause 2.
Coeur Australia		Coeur d’Xxxxx Xxxxx Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 125 204 775), a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Coeur.
Coeur Share		a share of common stock of Coeur, par value US $1.00 per share.
Company		Bolnisi Gold NL (ACN 008 587 086).
Completion		completion of the transfer of the Option Shares under clause 3.2 of this deed to Coeur or its Nominee.

page 2

1 Definitions and interpretation

Term		Meaning
Completion Date		the day which is 10 Business Days after the Option Notice is given.
Encumbrance		an interest or power:
		1 reserved in or over an interest in any asset including but not limited to, any retention of title; or
		2 created or otherwise arising in or over any interest in any asset under a bill of sale, mortgage, charge, lien, pledge, trust or power,
		by way of, or having similar commercial effect to, security for the payment of a debt, any other monetary obligation or the performance of any other obligation, and includes, but is not limited to, any agreement to grant or create any of the above.
Exercise Price		0.682 Coeur Shares and $0.004.
Exercise Period		the period commencing on the earlier of :
		(a) the date 6 months after the date of this deed; and
		(b) the date on which it becomes likely that the Scheme will not become effective by the date six months from the date of this deed
		and ending on the Expiry Date.
Expiry Date		The earlier of:
		(a) the date 7 months from the date of this deed; and
		(b) the date of the implementation of the Scheme.
Government Agency		any government or governmental, administrative, monetary, fiscal or judicial body, department, commission, authority, tribunal, agency or entity in any part of the world.
Loss		any loss, liability, damage, cost, charge and expense
Merger Implementation Agreement		the implementation agreement dated 3 May 2007 between the Company and Coeur relating to the implementation of the Scheme.
Nominee		any party nominated by Coeur as purchaser of the Option Shares under clause 2.2(d).

page 3

1 Definitions and interpretation

Term		Meaning
Option Fee		the sum of $10.00 paid by Coeur to the Grantor.
Option Notice		a notice from Coeur to the Grantor substantially in the form set out in Schedule 1.
Option Shares		1,933,710 fully paid ordinary issued shares in the capital of the Company over which the Grantor has granted the Call Option.
Rights		all accretions, rights or benefits of whatever kind attaching or arising from the Option Shares directly or indirectly (including, but not limited to, voting rights, all dividends and all rights to receive them or rights to receive or subscribe for shares, notes, bonds, options or other securities declared, paid or issued by the Company or any of its subsidiaries).
Scheme		the proposed scheme of arrangement between the Company and its ordinary shareholders pursuant to which Coeur Australia will acquire all of the ordinary shares in the Company under the terms of the Merger Implementation Agreement.

1.3		Interpretation
		In this deed:
(a)		Headings and bold type are for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of this deed.
(b)		The singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular.
(c)		Words of any gender include all genders.
(d)		Other parts of speech and grammatical forms of a word or phrase defined in this deed have a corresponding meaning.
(e)		An expression importing a person includes any company, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation or other body corporate and any Government Agency as well as an individual.
(f)		A reference to a clause, party, schedule, attachment or exhibit is a reference to a clause of, and a party, schedule, attachment or exhibit to, this deed and a reference to this deed includes any schedule, attachment and exhibit.
(g)		A reference to any legislation includes all delegated legislation made under it and amendments, consolidations, replacements or reenactments of any of them.
(h)		A reference to a document includes all amendments or supplements to, or replacements or novations of, that document.

page 4

1 Definitions and interpretation

(i)		A reference to a party to a document includes that party’s successors and permitted assignees.
(j)		A promise on the part of 2 or more persons binds them jointly and severally.
(k)		A reference to an agreement other than this deed includes a deed and any legally enforceable undertaking, agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing.
(l)		A reference to liquidation or insolvency includes appointment of an administrator, compromise, arrangement, merger, amalgamation, reconstruction, windingup, dissolution, deregistration, assignment for the benefit of creditors, scheme, composition or arrangement with creditors, insolvency, bankruptcy, or any similar procedure or, where applicable, changes in the constitution of any partnership or person, or death.
(m)		No provision of this deed will be construed adversely to a party because that party was responsible for the preparation of this deed or that provision.
(n)		A reference to a body, other than a party to this deed (including an institute, association or authority), whether statutory or not:

	(1)		which ceases to exist; or
	(2)		whose powers or functions are transferred to another body,

is a reference to the body which replaces it or which substantially succeeds to its powers or functions.

(o)		A reference to any thing (including, but not limited to, any right) includes a part of that thing but nothing in this clause (o) implies that performance of part of an obligation constitutes performance of the obligation.
(p)		If an act prescribed under this agreement to be done by a party on or by a given day is done after 5.00pm on that day, it is taken to be done on the next day.
(q)		If a period of time is specified and dates from a given day or the day of an act or event, it is to be calculated exclusive of that day.
(r)		A reference to a day is to be interpreted as the period of time commencing at midnight and ending 24 hours later.
(s)		A reference to time is a reference to New South Wales Eastern Standard time.
(t)		A reference to “$” or “dollar” is to Australian currency.
1.4		Business Day
		Where the day on or by which any thing is to be done is not a Business Day, that thing must be done on or by the preceding Business Day.
1.5		Inclusive expressions
		Specifying anything in this deed after the words ‘including’, ‘includes’ or ‘for example’ or similar expressions does not limit what else is included.

page 5

2 Call Option

2		Call Option
2.1		Call Option
(a)		In consideration of the payment of the Option Fee, the Grantor irrevocably grants the Call Option to Coeur.
(b)		The Grantor acknowledges receipt of the Option Fee.
(c)		If Coeur exercises the Call Option then the Grantor must transfer all of the Option Shares to Coeur or the Nominee on the terms of this deed.
(d)		The Call Option confers on Coeur the right but not the obligation to give the Grantor the Option Notice.
2.2		Exercise of the Call Option
(a)		Coeur may only exercise the Call Option by delivering to the Grantor at any time within the Exercise Period a completed and executed Option Notice.
(b)		An Option Notice is irrevocable once given.
(c)		Coeur may exercise the Call Option only once in respect of all of the Option Shares.
(d)		Coeur may exercise the Call Option and create a contract for the sale and purchase of the Option Shares between the Grantor and:

	(1)		itself; or
	(2)		by duly completing the relevant part of the Option Notice, a Nominee.

2.3		Parties bound
(a)		If Coeur delivers an Option Notice under clause 2.2 then Coeur or the Nominee (as applicable), as buyer, and the Grantor, as seller, are immediately bound under a contract for the sale and purchase on the Completion Date of the Option Shares.
(b)		If the Nominee at any time fails or is unable to fulfil its obligations as transferee in respect of the purchase of any Option Share, then Coeur must immediately perform the obligations of the Nominee.
2.4		Lapse of Call Option
		The Call Option automatically lapses on the Expiry Date.

page 6

3 Sale and purchase of Option Shares

3 Sale and purchase of Option Shares

3.1		Terms of Sale
		If Coeur exercises the Call Option under clause 2.2 then:
(a)		Completion of the sale and purchase of the Option Shares must occur on the Completion Date at the time and place (being a place in Sydney, Australia) specified in the Option Notice or any other time and place that the Grantor and Coeur may agree;
(b)		the price for each Option Share is the Exercise Price; and
(c)		the Option Shares must be sold together with all Rights attaching to them at the time of Completion free and clear from all Encumbrances and other third party rights.
3.2		Completion
(a)		On Completion:

	(1)		(transfers) the Grantor must do all acts and things and execute and deliver to Coeur all documents (including documents which constitute a sufficient transfer of the Option Shares under Part 7.11 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and the Corporations Regulations 2001 (Cth)) as required to register and make Coeur or its nominee the legal and beneficial owner of the Option Shares; and
	(2)		(Exercise Price) Coeur must pay the Exercise Price in respect of each Option Share to the Grantor by bank cheque or an electronic funds transfer into an account nominated by the Grantor.

(b) Subject to Coeur complying with clause 3.2(a)(2), the Grantor grants to Coeur a power of attorney to exercise all documents and take any actions on Coeur’s behalf which are necessary to give effect to the transfer of the Option Shares.

4		Dealing in Option Shares
		The Grantor agrees that it will not on or before 5.00pm on the Expiry Date:
(a)		deal with, sell or otherwise part with possession of any Option Share; or
(b)		attempt to do anything listed in clause 4(a) in respect of any Option Share,
		other than in accordance with this deed or with the prior written consent of Coeur. For the avoidance of doubt, this clause 4 does not restrict the ability of the Grantor to:

	(1)		exercise the voting rights attaching to the Option Shares prior to the exercise by Coeur of the Call Option; or
	(2)		permit or suffer to exist an Encumbrance in respect of the Option Shares before the Completion Date.

page 7

5 Voting

5		Voting
		The parties agree that nothing in this deed restricts the ability of the Grantor to exercise the votes attaching to the Option Shares in the Grantor’s discretion before the Call Option is exercised.
6		Warranties
6.1		Grantor warranties
		The Grantor warrants that:
(a)		(Power and capacity) he has full power and capacity to enter into and perform his obligations under this deed.
(b)		(No legal impediment) the execution, delivery and performance of this deed does not constitute a breach of any law by which he is bound and which would prevent him from entering into and performing its obligations under this deed.
(c)		(Ownership) he is the legal and beneficial owner of the Option Shares.
(d)		(Option Shares validly issued and fully paid) the Option Shares have been validly issued, are fully paid and no money is owing to the Company in respect of them.
(e)		(Legal Advice) he has received legal advice about the effect of this deed or has had an adequate and reasonable opportunity to seek and receive legal advice about the effect of this deed.
(f)		(Coeur Shares) he is not a US person and understands that the Coeur Shares are being issued to him in an offshore transaction pursuant to Regulation S of the 1933 Act.
(g)		(Resale) he understands that the Coeur Shares are being offered in transactions not involving any public offering in the United States within the meaning of the 1933 Act, that the Coeur Shares have not been and will not be registered under the 1933 Act or any securities laws and that:

(1) if in the future he decides to offer, xxxxxx, pledge or otherwise transfer any of the Coeur Shares, such Coeur Shares may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only:

	(A)		to Coeur;
	(B)		pursuant to an effective registration statement under the 1933 Act;
	(C)		outside the United States in compliance with Rule 904 under the 1933 Act; or
	(D)		pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the 1933 Act (if available) or any other available exemption from registration under the 1933 Act; and

page 8

6 Warranties

(2) he will, and each subsequent holder is required to, notify any subsequent purchaser of Coeur Shares from it of the resale restrictions referred to in (g)(1) above;

(h)		(Transfer Agent) he understands that the transfer agent for the Coeur Shares will, until the expiration of the applicable holding period with respect to the Coeur Shares set forth in Rule 144(k) of the 1933 Act, unless otherwise agreed by Coeur and the holder thereof, be instructed to transfer the Coeur Shares only in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.1(g); and
(i)		(Ownership) on Completion Coeur or its nominee will acquire the full legal and beneficial ownership of the Option Shares, subject to registration of Coeur or its nominee in the register of shareholders of the Company.
6.2		Grantor undertaking
		The Grantor undertakes that on the Completion Date, the Option Shares:

	(1)		will be free and clear of all Encumbrances; and
	(2)		will be able to be sold and transferred free of any competing rights, including pre-emptive rights or rights of first refusal.

6.3		Coeur warranties
		Coeur warrants in respect of itself and any Nominee that:
(a)		(Power and capacity) it has full power and capacity to enter into and perform its obligations under this deed.
(b)		(Corporate Authorisations) all necessary authorisations for the execution, delivery and performance by Xxxxx and any Nominee of this deed in accordance with its terms have been obtained.
(c)		(No legal impediment) the execution, delivery and performance of this deed:

	(1)		complies with its constitution or other constituent documents (as applicable); and
	(2)		does not constitute a breach of any law or obligation, or cause or result in a default under any agreement, or Encumbrance, by which it is bound and which would prevent it from entering into and performing its obligations under this deed.

6.4		Survival of warranties
		The warranties given in this clause 6:
(a)		survive the execution of this deed; and
(b)		are regarded as repeated at Completion with regard to the facts and circumstances then subsisting.

page 9

7 Termination

6.5		Reliance
		Each party acknowledges that the other party has entered into this deed and agreed to take part in the transactions that it contemplates in reliance on the warranties made or repeated in this clause.
6.6		Indemnity
		Each party indemnifies the other party against any Loss suffered or incurred as a result of its breach of this deed.
7		Termination
(a)		This deed automatically terminates without any liability to either party if:

	(1)		any of the conditions precedent in clauses 3.1(c), 3.1(g), 3.1(i), 3.1(k), 3.1(m) or 3.1(o) of the Merger Implementation Agreement have not been satisfied or waived, provided that the cause of the relevant condition not being satisfied was not that the Scheme did not proceed due to material breach of the Merger Implementation Agreement by Bolnisi;
	(2)		clause 12 of the Merger Implementation Agreement has been breached by Coeur; or
	(3)		the Call Option lapses under clause 2.4.

(b) On termination:

	(1)		this agreement will become void and have no effect (without prejudice to accrued rights of the parties already existing under this deed) other than the provisions of clause 9 which will remain in force after termination;
	(2)		the Call Option will not be able to be exercised; and
	(3)		the Grantor is absolutely entitled to retain the Option Fee.

8 Duties, costs and expenses

8.1 Stamp duty

(a) Coeur must pay the stamp duty in respect of the execution, delivery and performance of:

	(1)		this deed; and
	(2)		any agreement or document entered into or signed under this deed.

(b) Coeur must pay any fine, penalty or other cost in respect of a failure to pay any stamp duty except to the extent that the fine, penalty or other cost is caused by an act or default on the part of the Grantor.

page 10

9 Confidentiality and announcements

(c)		Coeur indemnifies the Grantor against any amount payable under clause 8.1(a) or clause 8.1(b) or both.
8.2		Costs and expenses
		Each party must pay its own costs and expenses in relation to the negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery of this deed.
9		Confidentiality and announcements
9.1		Confidentiality
		Each party (recipient) must keep secret and confidential, and must not divulge or disclose any information relating to another party or its business (which is disclosed to the recipient by the other party, its representatives or advisers), this deed or the terms of the Call Option other than to the extent that:
(a)		the recipient is required to disclose the information by applicable law or the rules of any recognised stock exchange on which its shares or the shares of any of its related bodies corporate are listed or proposed to be listed, provided that the recipient has to the extent possible having regard to the required timing of the disclosure consulted with the provider of the information as to the form and content of the disclosure;
(b)		the disclosure is made by the recipient to its financiers or lawyers, accountants, investment bankers, consultants or other professional advisers to the extent necessary to enable the recipient to properly perform its obligations under this deed or to conduct their business generally, in which case the recipient must ensure that such persons keep the information secret and confidential and do not divulge or disclose the information to any other person; or
(c)		the party to whom the information relates has consented in writing before the disclosure.
9.2		Extent of obligation
		Each recipient must ensure that its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, financiers, advisers and related bodies corporate comply in all respects with the recipient’s obligations under clause 9.1.
10		Notices
10.1		How and where Notices may be sent
		A notice or other communication under this deed (Notice) must be in writing and delivered by hand or sent by prepaid post or fax to a party at the address or the fax number for that party in Schedule 2 or as otherwise specified by a party by a Notice.

page 11

11 General

10.2		When Notices are taken to have been given and received
(a)		A Notice sent by post is regarded as given and received on the second Business Day following the date of postage.
(b)		A fax is regarded as given and received on production of a transmission report by the machine from which the fax was sent which indicates that the fax was sent in its entirety to the recipient’s fax number, unless the recipient informs the sender that the Notice is illegible or incomplete within 4 hours of it being transmitted.
(c)		A Notice delivered or received other than on a Business Day or after 4.00pm (recipient’s time) is regarded as received at 9.00am on the following Business Day and a Notice delivered or received before 9.00am (recipient’s time) is regarded as received at 9.00am.
11		General
11.1		Governing law and jurisdiction
(a)		This deed is governed by the law in force in New South Wales.
(b)		Each party irrevocably submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of courts exercising jurisdiction in New South Wales.
11.2		Invalidity and enforceability
(a)		If any provision of this deed is invalid under the law of any jurisdiction the provision is enforceable in that jurisdiction to the extent that it is not invalid, whether it is in severable terms or not.
(b)		Clause 11.2(a) does not apply where enforcement of the provision of this deed in accordance with clause 11.2(a) would materially affect the nature or effect of the parties’ obligations under this deed.
11.3		Waiver
(a)		Failure to exercise or enforce, a delay in exercising or enforcing, or the partial exercise or enforcement of any right, power or remedy provided by law or under this agreement by any party does not in any way preclude, or operate as a waiver of, any exercise or enforcement, or further exercise or enforcement, of that or any other right, power or remedy provided by law or under this agreement.
(b)		Any waiver or consent given by any party under this agreement is only effective and binding on that party if it is given or confirmed in writing by that party.
(c)		No waiver of a breach of any term of this agreement operates as a waiver of another breach of that term or of a breach of any other term of this agreement.

page 12

11 General

11.4		Variation
		A variation of any term of this deed must be in writing and signed by the parties.
11.5		Assignment of rights
		Except as specifically contemplated in this deed, neither party may assign or novate this deed or any right, benefit, obligation under this deed or otherwise permit a third party to be substituted for it under this deed without the prior written consent of the other party (which consent may be withheld in the absolute discretion of that other party).
11.6		Further action to be taken at each party’s own expense
		Each party must, at its own expense, do all things and execute all documents necessary to give full effect to this deed and the transactions contemplated by it.
11.7		Entire agreement
		This deed states all the express terms of the agreement between the parties in respect of its subject matter. It supersedes all prior discussions, negotiations, understandings, arrangements and agreements, express or implied in respect of its subject matter.
11.8		No reliance
		Neither party has relied on any statement by the other party not expressly included in this deed.
11.9		Damages
		The Grantor acknowledges that monetary damages alone would not be adequate compensation to Coeur for breach by the Grantor of clause 2 and that Coeur is entitled to seek an injunction from a court of competent jurisdiction if:
(a)		the Grantor fails to comply or threatens to fail to comply with clause 2; or
(b)		Coeur has reason to believe the Grantor will not comply with clause 2.
11.10		Counterparts
		This deed may be executed in any number of counterparts.

page 13

Schedule 1

     Option Notice

     To:     Xxxxxxx X Xxxxxxxx

1		General
		Any term used in this Option Notice which is defined in the deed dated 3 May 2007 between Xxxxxxx X Xxxxxxxx (Grantor) and Coeur d’Xxxxx Xxxxx Corporation (Coeur) has the same meaning as in that deed.
2		Exercise
		Under clause 2 of the deed, Xxxxx gives notice that it exercises the Call Option and requires the Grantor to sell all the Option Shares to Coeur/[insert name of Nominee].
3		Completion
		The Completion Date is [insert date] and Completion is to take place at [insert time] on the Completion Date at the address set out below:

[Insert address at which completion will take place]

date

sign here4

print name

page 14

Schedule 2

Notice details

Grantor		Xxxxxxx X Xxxxxxxx
Address		c/- Investorlink Corporate Ltd GPO Box 4569 Sydney NSW 2000
Attention		Xxxxxxx X Xxxxxxxx
Phone		+ 00 0 0000 0000
Fax		x00 0 0000 0000
Email		xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Coeur		Coeur d’ Xxxxx Xxxxx Corporation
Address		000 Xxxxx Xxx, Xxxxx x’Xxxxx XX 00000
Attention		Company Secretary
Phone
Fax		x0 (000) 000 0000
Email
Nominee
Address
Attention
Phone
Fax
Email

page 15

Signing page

     Executed as a deed

Signed sealed and delivered by
Xxxxxxx X Xxxxxxxx

sign here4		/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
print name		Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
		in the presence of
sign here4		/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
		Witness
print name		Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx

Signed sealed and delivered by
Coeur d’ Xxxxx Xxxxx Corporation
by

sign here4		/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
		Chief Executive Officer
print name		Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx

page 16