AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN LA GENERALE DES CARRIERES ET DES MINES AND LUNDIN HOLDINGS LTD. TEMBO LTD. FARU LTD. MBOKO LTD. CHUI LTD. MOFIA LTD. DATED: 28 September 2005 CONFIDENTIAL
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
SHAREHOLDERS
AGREEMENT
BY
AND BETWEEN
LA
GENERALE DES CARRIERES ET DES MINES
AND
XXXXXX
HOLDINGS LTD.
TEMBO
LTD.
FARU
LTD.
MBOKO
LTD.
CHUI
LTD.
MOFIA
LTD.
DATED: 28
September 2005
CONFIDENTIAL
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Table of
Contents
1.
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DEFINITIONS
AND GENERAL PROVISIONS
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2
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1.1 Definitions
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2
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1.2 Currencies
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8
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1.3 Gender
and Plural
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8
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1.4 Schedules
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8
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1.5 Laws
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9
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1.6 Periods
of Time
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9
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1.7 General
Interpretation
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9
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1.8 No
Partnership
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9
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1.9 Other
Business Opportunities
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10
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1.10 Implied
Covenants
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10
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1.11 Accounts
and Financial Statements
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10
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2.
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OBJECT
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10
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2.1 Object
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10
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3.
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INITIAL
ARRANGEMENTS
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11
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3.1 Amendment
and Restatement of the Formation Agreement
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11
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3.2 Undertaking
to Pay the Transfer Bonus
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11
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3.3 Transfer
of Property; Delivery of Data; and Maintenance of Rights andtitles on the
property
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12
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3.4 By-Laws
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12
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3.5 Share
Capital Increase of T.F.M
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12
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4.
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FEASIBILITY
STUDY ARRANGEMENTS AND ADVANCES
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13
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4.1 Funding
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13
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4.2 The
Project
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13
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4.3 Collaboration
in the Preparation of the Feasibility Study
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14
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4.4 Delivery
of the Feasibility Study
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15
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5.
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INVESTMENT
FINANCING
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15
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5.1 Investment
Financing
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15
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5.2 Cooperation
in Financing
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15
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6.
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DURATION
OF AGREEMENT AND REMEDIES
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15
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6.1 Term
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15
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6.2 Early
Termination by Xxxxxx Holdings
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15
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6.3 Early
Termination by Gécamines
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16
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6.4 Liquidation
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16
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6.5 Breach
by Gécamines or the State
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16
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7.
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COVENANTS,
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
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17
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7.1 Covenants,
Representations and Warranties of the Xxxxxx Shareholdersand
Gécamines
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17
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7.2 Additional
Covenants, Representations and Warranties of Xxxxxx
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17
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7.3 Additional
Covenants, Representations and Warranties of Gécamines
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17
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7.4 Survival
of Covenants, Representations and Warranties
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20
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7.5 Trabeka
Dispute
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20
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8.
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[Intentionally
Left Blank]
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20
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9.
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IMPLEMENTATION
OF PROVISIONS CONCERNING SHAREHOLDERS
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20
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9.1 Effect
of Agreement
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20
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9.2 Conflict
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20
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9.3 Ratification
of this Agreement
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21
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9.4 Endorsement
upon Share Certificates
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21
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9.5 Subsequent
Shareholders Bound
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21
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9.6 Shares
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21
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10.
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ORGANIZATION
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21
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10.1 Management
and Control
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21
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10.2 Board
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21
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10.3 Management
Powers
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22
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10.4 Non-Arm’s
Length Transactions
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23
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11.
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DISTRIBUTION
OF PROFITS AND AUDIT
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23
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11.1 Distribution
of Profits
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23
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11.2 Advances
Against Distributions of Profits
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23
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11.3 Audits
of T.F.M
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24
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12.
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THE
MANAGING DIRECTOR
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24
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12.1 Appointment
and Remuneration of Managing Director
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24
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12.2 Powers
and Duties of Managing Director
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24 | |
12.3 Information
on Operations
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24 | |
12.4 Management
Team
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24 | |
12.5 Indemnity
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25 |
13.
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ADVISOR
AGREEMENT AND SERVICE CONTRACTS
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25
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13.1 Confirmation
of Advisor Agreement
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25
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13.2 Further
Gécamines Participation and Service Contracts
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25
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13.3 Renegotiation/Termination
of Advisor Agreement
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25
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14.
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PROGRAMS
AND BUDGETS
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26
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14.1 Operations
Pursuant to Programs and Budgets
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26
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14.2 Presentation
of Programs and Budgets
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26
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14.3 Review
and Approval or Modification of Proposed Programs and
Budgets
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26
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14.4 Notice
of Approved Program and Budget to Shareholders
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26
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14.5 Budget
Overruns; Program Changes
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26
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15.
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RESTRICTIONS
UPON TRANSFERS
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26
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15.1 Rules
Governing Transfers
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26
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15.2 Permitted
Encumbrances
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26
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15.3 Transfer
to Affiliates
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27
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15.4 Right
of Preemption
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27
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15.5 Failure
to Sell to the Offeror
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28
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15.6 Waiver
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28
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15.7 Terms
of Sale
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28
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15.8 Permitted
Transfers by Xxxxxx Holdings to Development Entities
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29
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15.9 Breach
of Restrictions Upon Transfers
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29
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16.
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DISPUTES
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29
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16.1 Amicable
Settlement
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29
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16.2 Arbitration
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29
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16.3 Disputes
with the State
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30
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16.4 Jurisdiction
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30
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16.5 Waiver
of Immunity of Execution
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30
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17.
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NOTICES
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30
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17.1 Notices
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30
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18.
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Force
Majeure
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32
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18.1 Force Majeure | 32 | |
19.
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CONFIDENTIALITY
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33
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19.1 Confidentiality
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33
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20.
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MISCELLANEOUS
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33
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20.1 Amendments
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33
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20.2 Assignment
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33
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20.3 Enurement
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33
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20.4 Severability
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33
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20.5 Waiver
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33
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20.6 Entire
Agreement
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33
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20.7 Further
Undertakings
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33
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20.8 Environment
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34
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20.9 Congolese
Cobalt Institute
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34
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20.10 Language
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34
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21.
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EFFECT
ON FORCE MAJEURE
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34
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21.1 Effect
on Force Majeure
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34
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22.
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ENTRY
INTO FORCE
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34
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Schedule
A: The
Property
Schedule
B: Form
of Amended and Restated By-Laws of T.F.M.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
This
AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”)
is made as of 28 September, 2005, by and among
LA GENERALE DES CARRIERES ET DES
MINES, a public company incorporated under the laws of the Democratic
Republic of Congo, having its registered office at 000, xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, X.X.
000, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx of Congo;
hereinafter
referred to as “Gécamines”
or “Class A
Shareholder”
OF
THE FIRST PART
- and
-
XXXXXX HOLDINGS LTD., a
company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda, having its registered office at
Xxxxx Xxxxx, 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX00, Xxxxxxx (“Xxxxxx
Holdings”); and
TEMBO LTD., a Bermuda company,
having its registered office at Canon’s Court, 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
XX00, Bermuda (“Tembo”);
and
FARU LTD., a Bermuda company,
having its registered office at Canon’s Court, 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
XX00, Bermuda (“Faru”);
and
MBOKO LTD., a Bermuda company,
having its registered office at Canon’s Court, 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
XX00, Bermuda (“Mboko”);
and
CHUI LTD., a Bermuda company,
having its registered office at Canon’s Court, 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
XX00, Bermuda (“Chui”);
and
MOFIA LTD., a Bermuda company,
having its registered office at Canon’s Court, 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
XX00, Bermuda (“Mofia”);
and
hereinafter
referred to as the “Xxxxxx
Shareholders” or “Class B
Shareholders”
OF
THE SECOND PART
1
RECITALS
A.
|
In
accordance with the Mining Convention dated November 30, 1996 (the “Original
Convention”), and pursuant to the “Agreement For The Formation Of
Tenke Fungurume Mining” between Gécamines and Xxxxxx Holdings, dated
November 30, 1996 (the “Formation
Agreement”), Tenke Fungurume Mining S.A.R.L. (“T.F.M.”) was
incorporated as a company limited by shares under the laws of the
Democratic Republic of Congo.
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B.
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Gécamines,
Xxxxxx Holdings and the Democratic Republic of Congo ( the “State”)
entered into the Original Convention for the purposes of developing the
deposits of copper, cobalt and all other minerals under mining concessions
granted at Tenke and Fungurume, in Katanga
Province.
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C.
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The
Shareholders, being all of the shareholders of T.F.M., desire to redefine
their mutual rights, interests, duties and obligations with respect to the
Shares of T.F.M., and with respect to certain other matters concerning the
ownership and operation of T.F.M.
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D.
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Upon
the entry into force of this Agreement, Xxxxxx Dodge Corporation, a New
York, USA company, will finalize the acquisition, itself or through an
Affiliate to be named, of an interest in the Project, by becoming a
majority shareholder of Xxxxxx Holdings. Gécamines is in favor
of Xxxxxx Dodge’s acquiring this interest either on its own or through an
Affiliate and agrees hereto to said
participation.
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AGREEMENT
The
Shareholders agree as follows:
1. Definitions and General
Provisions
1.1 Definitions. In
this Agreement, including its annexes, the following capitalized terms will have
the respective meanings ascribed thereto:
(a)
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“Advances”
means any and all monies advanced or to be advanced to T.F.M., or to third
Persons on behalf of T.F.M., (i) by Xxxxxx Holdings or its Affiliates and
(ii) unless specified in this Agreement or in the Amended and Restated
Mining Convention as being the individual responsibility or at the sole
expense of such Person, by any other Class B Shareholder; including,
without limitation, to fund Expenditures, but excluding any loans directly
contracted by T.F.M. with third
parties.
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(b)
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“Advisor
Agreement” means the Advisor Agreement between T.F.M. and Xxxxxx
Holdings, dated November 30, 1996, as amended from time to
time.
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(c)
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“Affiliate”
means, with respect to a
Shareholder:
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|
(i)
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subsidiary: a
company in which the Shareholder holds directly or indirectly more than
half of the voting rights, excluding the shares without voting rights and
the
|
2
|
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shares
which will confer voting rights in the future, or the power to appoint at
least half of the directors of the
company;
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|
(ii)
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parent
company: a company which holds, in the Shareholder,
directly or indirectly, more than half of the voting rights as said above,
or the power to appoint at least half of the directors of the Shareholder;
and
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(iii)
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sister
company: a subsidiary of the parent company of the
Shareholder, other than the Shareholder, in which the parent company
holds, directly or indirectly, more than half of the voting rights as said
above, or the power to appoint at least half of the directors of the
sister company.
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(d)
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“Agreement”
means this amended and restated shareholders agreement and all Appendices
hereto, as amended from time to
time.
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(e)
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“Amended and
Restated Mining Convention” is defined as the Amended and Restated
Mining Convention of even date
herewith.
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(f)
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“Arm’s
Length” and “Acting at
Arm’s Length” refer to transactions with parties who are not
Affiliates, or to transactions with Affiliates on market terms and
conditions, and “Non-Arm’s
Length” and “Not Acting
at Arm’s Length” refer to transactions with parties who are
Affiliates on non-market terms and conditions that benefit the
Affiliate.
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(g)
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“Board”
means the board of directors of T.F.M. as duly constituted from time to
time.
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(h)
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“Budget”
means a detailed estimate and schedule of all expenditures to be made by
T.F.M. with respect to a Program.
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(i)
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“Buildings
and Fixtures” means all the buildings and fixtures, considered as
unmovable by nature or by intended purpose, which are on the Property and
which relate to the Operations, including all buildings and fixtures
considered as unmovable by nature or by intended purpose, which formerly
belonged to S.M.T.F.
|
(j)
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“Business
Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or statutory holiday
in the Democratic Republic of Congo or in Phoenix, Arizona, United States
of America.
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(k)
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“By-Laws”
means the By-Laws of T.F.M. amended and restated as per the form attached
hereto as Schedule
B for purposes of implementation of this
Agreement.
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(l)
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“Capital
Expenditures” means all “capital expenditures” within the meaning
of the International Financial Reporting Standards, incurred by or for the
benefit of T.F.M. after the Election Date, less any Exploration
Expenditures that may otherwise be considered as “capital expenditures”
under the International Financial Reporting
Standards.
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(m)
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“Claims”
means any and all debts, claims, actions, lawsuits, causes of action,
demands, duties and obligations of whatsoever nature and howsoever
incurred.
|
3
(n)
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“Class A
Shareholders” means Shareholders of T.F.M. who at any time own
Class A Shares.
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(o)
|
“Class B
Shareholders” means Shareholders of T.F.M. who at any time own
Class B Shares.
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(p)
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“Data”
means all information, records and reports relating to the Property in the
possession or under the control and direction of
Gécamines.
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(q)
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“Date of
Commencement of Commercial Production” means the date upon which
the Mining facility comprising the Revised Project constructed during
Phase 3 of the Project, as defined in article 5 of the Amended and
Restated Mining Convention, first achieves 90% of the designed rate of
production of Products, for a period of 3 consecutive
months. Such date to be notified to the Shareholders by the
Managing Director, but no later than 180 days after the date of the first
shipment of Product, it being understood that any monthly production will
be shipped.
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(r)
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“Development”
means all preparation for the extraction of minerals and recovery of
Products, including the construction or installation of a mill,
metallurgical processing plant, or any other improvements to be used for
the Operations and the preparation of financing
plans.
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(s)
|
“Effective
Date” means the date that the Amended and Restated Mining
Convention enters into force pursuant to section 40
thereof.
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(t)
|
“Election
Date” means the date on which the Class B Shareholders notifies the
State and the Class A Shareholders of their decision to commence Phase 3
of the Project as described in article 4.2 of this
Agreement.
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(u)
|
“Encumbrances”
means any and all mortgages, pledges, liens, charges, security interests,
adverse claims, rights of representation or conveyance, demands, defects
in registration, rights to possess or occupy, claims or future claims of
rights to possess or occupy, rights impeding access or use and
encumbrances of whatsoever nature and howsoever
incurred.
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(v)
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“Expenditures”
means any and all expenditures made by T.F.M. in connection with the
Property and Operations including, without limitation, all Exploration
Expenditures, Capital Expenditures and Operating
Expenditures.
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(w)
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“Exploration”
means any activity pursuant to which the holder of a mineral or quarry
exploration right attempts, based on indications of the existence of a
mineral deposit, and by means of surface or underground works, in
particular using geological, geophysical and geochemical techniques,
including various methods such as remote sensing, to identify the
existence of a mineral deposit, to demarcate it, and to evaluate the
quality and the quantity of the reserves as well as the technical and
commercial possibilities of exploiting
them.
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(x)
|
“Exploration
Expenditures” means all expenses, obligations and liabilities of
whatever kind or nature borne or incurred with respect to Exploration on
the Property from and
|
4
after the date of the Formation Agreement and both before and
after the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production including, without
limitation, expenses paid for or incurred in connection with any program of
surface or underground prospecting, geological, geophysical and geochemical
surveying, drilling, raising and other underground work, assaying and
metallurgical testing, environmental studies, preparing and completing the
Feasibility Study and any additional or updated feasibility studies required in
connection with any upgrading or increase in production capacity from the
Property; the fees, wages, salaries, traveling expenses and benefits in kind
(whether or not required by law) of all persons engaged in work with respect to
such Exploration, including the food, lodging and other reasonable needs of such
persons, and including any amounts that are considered to be “capital
expenditures” within the meaning of the International Financial Reporting
Standards, that have been incurred by or on behalf of T.F.M. prior to the
Election Date.
(y)
|
“Feasibility
Study” means the study to demonstrate the feasibility of the
Revised Project, as described in Article 4.2, in
such form as is normally required by substantial, internationally
recognized financial institutions for the purpose of deciding to loan
funds for the Development of mineral deposits; this report will include at
least the following information:
|
(i) A
description of that part of the Property which will be placed into
production.
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(ii)
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The
reserves based on proven and probable material classification that meet
internationally acceptable reporting
standards.
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|
(iii)
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A
capital cost estimate prepared generally in accordance with international
standards for mining project feasibility
studies.
|
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(iv)
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The
results of ore processing tests and of the profitability studies relating
to the Operations.
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(v)
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The
quality and specifications of the products to be produced, as well as all
intermediary or other products for which a market can be
found.
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(vi)
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An
accurate representation of the facilities proposed to be built, including
the general arrangement and supporting process flow
sheets.
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(vii)
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The
total costs, including a capital cost budget, which are reasonably
required to purchase, construct and install all structures, machinery and
equipment required for the proposed facilities including a schedule of
timing of such requirements.
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(viii) All
necessary environmental impact studies and the costs thereof.
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(ix)
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The
estimated Date of Commencement of Commercial
Production.
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|
(x)
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Such
other data and information as is reasonably necessary to substantiate the
existence of deposits of sufficient size and grade to justify Development
of a mine taking into account all relevant business, tax and other
economic considerations
|
5
including those with respect to funding of costs and repatriation
of capital and profits.
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(xi)
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Working
capital requirements for the initial 4 months of operation of the Property
as a mine or such longer period as may be reasonably justified in the
circumstances.
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|
(xii)
|
Chapters
with respect to geology and geological surveys, geotechnic, hydrogeology,
evaluation of the capacities in drinking water and in industrial water,
metallurgical processing schemes and descriptions of the installations,
electrical supply and distribution and sitting of the project
infrastructure, labor and staff, impact on social environment (development
of schools, roads, hospitals, entertainment and cultural centers and so
forth), import and export routes and Marketing
procedures.
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(xiii) Projected
cash flows and an economic forecast for the life of the mine.
(z)
|
“Fiscal
Year” means the calendar
year.
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(aa)
|
“Force
Majeure” is defined in Article
18.1.
|
(bb)
|
“Formation
Agreement” means the “Agreement for the Formation of Tenke
Fungurume Mining” between Gécamines and Xxxxxx Holdings, dated November
30, 1996, including all schedules
thereto.
|
(cc)
|
“Gécamines”
has the meaning set forth in the heading to this
Agreement.
|
(dd)
|
“Revised
Project” is defined in Article 4.2. It
is understood that Revised Project as defined in this Agreement reflects a
revision from the “Initial Project” as defined in the Original
Convention.
|
(ee)
|
“International
Financial Reporting Standards” means those accounting principles
generally accepted in the international Mining
industry.
|
(ff)
|
“Xxxxxx
Holdings” has the meaning set forth in the heading to this
Agreement.
|
(gg)
|
“Class B
Shareholders” means Xxxxxx Holdings, Tembo, Faru, Mboko, Chui and
Mofia, and their respective successors and permitted
assigns.
|
(hh)
|
“Managing
Director” means the individual appointed by the Board to perform
the day-to-day management of T.F.M. and any replacement from time to
time.
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(ii)
|
“Marketing”
means the commercial marketing and sale of the
Products.
|
(jj)
|
“Marketing
Services Fee” means the fee for marketing services provided to
T.F.M. by Xxxxxx Holdings, as established under the Advisor Agreement.
|
6
(kk)
|
“Mining”
means mining, extracting, producing, treating, handling, milling,
smelting, refining and other processing of Products and rehabilitation of
mine sites.
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(ll)
|
“Operating
Expenditures” means all costs and expenses within the meaning of
the International Financial Reporting Standards incurred by or on behalf
of T.F.M. after the Election Date,
excluding:
|
|
(i)
|
all
Exploration Expenditures made by or on behalf of T.F.M. after the Election
Date;
|
|
(ii)
|
all
Capital Expenditures;
|
|
(iii)
|
all
depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses of T.F.M., together with
reductions in value, within the meaning of the International Financial
Reporting Standards, incurred or charged after the Election
Date;
|
|
(iv)
|
all
income taxes of T.F.M. incurred after the Election
Date;
|
|
(v)
|
the
Marketing Services Fee;
|
|
(vi)
|
interest
on Advances paid by T.F.M. pursuant to Article 4.1 of this
Agreement.
|
(mm)
|
“Operations”
means Exploration, Development, Mining, Transportation and Marketing, and
all other activities necessary or desirable for the successful
accomplishment of the objectives of the Amended and Restated Mining
Convention.
|
(nn)
|
“Original
Convention” is defined in Recital
A.
|
(oo)
|
“Party”
means each of the Shareholders, and “Parties”
means all or any combination of them, as the context may
require.
|
(pp)
|
“Pay-Back
Date” means the date upon which all Advances, together with
interest thereon, have been repaid by
T.F.M.
|
(qq)
|
“Person”
means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency or political subdivision of any
government.
|
(qq’)
|
“Xxxxxx
Dodge” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement
and shall include Affiliates.
|
(rr)
|
“Prime
Rate” means the LIBOR interest rate at one
year.
|
(ss)
|
“Products”
means the end products derived from
Mining.
|
(tt)
|
“Program”
means a description in reasonable detail of Operations to be conducted and
objectives to be accomplished during a given period, prepared by the
Managing Director after consultation with the Shareholders and approved by
the Board.
|
7
(uu)
|
“Project”
means all Operations undertaken on the Property, and all activities in
connection therewith, pursuant to and in accordance with the Amended and
Restated Mining Convention.
|
(vv)
|
“Property”
means the Mining Concession n° 198 called Tenke (renumbered n° 123 by the
Cadastre Xxxxxx
Certificat d’Exploitation n° CAMI/CE/940/2004 dated 3
November 2004, and the Mining Concession n° 199 called Fungurume
(renumbered n° 159 by the Cadastre Xxxxxx Certificat
d’Exploitation n° CAMI/CE/941/2004 dated 3 November
2004), both located in the Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of Congo,
described in Schedule
A of this Agreement, including all stock of already extracted ore,
Buildings and Fixtures.
|
(ww)
|
“Rights and
Titles on the Property” means all certificates, licenses,
registrations, permits, consents and qualifications required by the State
or any governmental or administrative authority in the Democratic Republic
of Congo to hold the Property and to conduct the
Operations.
|
(xx)
|
“Shareholders”
means the Class A Shareholders and the Class B Shareholders and, in
singular, any one of them, and their respective successors and permitted
assigns with respect to the Shares.
|
(yy)
|
“Shares”
means the 200 fully paid up shares, with no par value, each representing
1/200th
of the share capital of T.F.M. and divided into 35 Class A Shares and 165
Class B Shares.
|
(zz)
|
“State”
has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this
Agreement.
|
(aaa)
|
“T.F.M.”
has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this
Agreement.
|
(bbb)
|
“Transfer
Bonus” means an amount of US$250,000,000 reduced to US$100,000,000,
comprised of (i) US$50,000,000 already paid by Xxxxxx Holdings to
Gécamines, and (ii) the additional US$50,000,000 to be paid by
Xxxxxx Holdings to Gécamines, as provided in Article 4, all
as consideration for the transfer of the Property to
T.F.M.
|
(ccc)
|
“Transportation”
means transportation or shipment of Products in connection with Marketing
activities.
|
(ddd)
|
“Service
Contracts”
means a contract for services between Gécamines and Xxxxxx Holdings
pursuant to Article 13.2.
|
1.2 Currencies. All
references in this Agreement to any currency, unless otherwise specified, refer
to the United States dollar.
1.3 Gender and
Plural. In this Agreement, all references to the masculine
gender include the feminine gender and vice-versa and all references to the
singular include the plural and vice-versa.
1.4 Schedules. The
following schedules will be deemed to be a part of this Agreement and are
attached hereto and are incorporated herein by reference:
8
Schedule
A Description
of the Property
Schedule
B Form
of amended and restated By-Laws of T.F.M.
If any
Schedule is inconsistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the
terms and conditions of this Agreement will prevail.
1.5 Laws. This
Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
Democratic Republic of Congo supplemented by the principles of international
commercial law.
1.6 Periods of
Time. When calculating the period of time within which or
following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement,
the date which is the reference date in calculating such period will be excluded
and the last day of such period will be included. If the last day is
not a Business Day, the period in question will end on the next following
Business Day.
1.7 General
Interpretation. In this Agreement, unless otherwise expressly
stated:
|
(a)
|
This
Agreement. The words “herein” and “hereof” and other
words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular article, section or other
subdivision.
|
|
(b)
|
Headings. The
headings are for convenience only and do not form a part of this Agreement
and are not intended to interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or
intent of this Agreement or any provision
hereof.
|
|
(c)
|
Law. Any
reference to a law includes the executory measures made pursuant thereto,
all amendments made to such law or executory measures and any law or
executory measures that may be passed which have the effect of
supplementing or superseding such law or executory
measures.
|
|
(d)
|
International
Financial Reporting Standards. Any financial
determination required to be made hereunder will be performed in
accordance with International Financial Reporting
Standards.
|
1.8 No
Partnership. Nothing contained in this Agreement will be
deemed to constitute any Shareholder the partner of the other nor, except as
otherwise herein expressly provided, to constitute any Shareholder the agent or
legal representative of any other Shareholder nor to create any fiduciary
relationship between or among any Shareholders. It is not the
intention of the Shareholders to create, nor will this Agreement be construed to
create, any mining, commercial or other partnership. No Shareholder
will have any authority to assume any obligation or responsibility on behalf of
any of the other Shareholders except as otherwise expressly provided
herein. The rights, duties, obligations and liabilities of the
Shareholders will be several and not joint or collective. Each
Shareholder will indemnify, defend and hold harmless each other Shareholder, its
directors, officers, employees, agents and attorneys from and against any and
all Claims arising out of any act or any assumption of liability by the
indemnifying Shareholder or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents
and attorneys done or undertaken or apparently done or undertaken on behalf of
the indemnified Shareholder except
9
pursuant
to the authority expressly granted herein or as otherwise agreed in writing
among the Shareholders.
1.9 Other Business
Opportunities. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement,
each Shareholder will have the right independently to engage in and receive full
benefits from other business activities whether or not competitive with the
Operations without consulting the other Shareholders.
1.10 Implied
Covenants. There are no implied covenants contained in this
Agreement other than those of good faith and fair dealing.
1.11 Accounts and Financial
Statements.
(a) The
accounts and financial statements of T.F.M. will be kept and established
according to the Congolese General Accounting Plan. They will also
have to take into account, and comply with, the rules and procedures generally
accepted in the international mining industry.
(b) The
accounts will be kept, and the financial statements of T.F.M. established, in
U.S. dollars, and converted into Congolese Francs at the closure of the accounts
period for purposes of publication, registration or for the purpose of making
declarations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, by using the official rate in
force on the last Business Day of the concerned Fiscal Year.
2.
Object
2.1 Object
(a) This
Agreement has as its object the redefinition of certain terms and conditions of
the Exploration, Development and Mining undertaken on the Property, and the
modification of the respective rights and obligations of the Parties as
shareholders of T.F.M. as set forth in the Formation Agreement.
(b) T.F.M.
shall effect a restructuring of its share capital into 200 Shares and a change
of class of the Shares where appropriate, and Xxxxxx Holdings and Gécamines
shall redistribute the Shares or causes the redistribution of the Shares
presently held by the present shareholders of T.F.M., in such manner as shall
result in the following Shareholders and respective holdings of the
Shares:
Xxxxxx
Holdings
-- 160
Class B Shares;
Tembo -- 1 Class B
Share;
Faru --
1 Class B Share;
Mboko
-- 1
Class B Share;
Chui
--
1 Class B Share;
10
Mofia --
1 Class B Share; and
Gécamines
-- 35
Class A Shares representing 17.5% non-dilutable of the share
capital.
Except
with respect to any obligation to make Advances and with respect to nomination
of the members of the Board, there shall be no differences in the rights,
privileges or obligations attaching to the Class A Shares and the Class B
Shares. When transferred, Class A Shares and Class B Shares shall
retain their respective classifications.
All
provisions of this Agreement and the By-Laws of T.F.M. regarding restrictions on
the transfer of Shares, to the extent otherwise applicable, are hereby waived
for purposes of the transfers required to achieve the foregoing
shareholdings.
3. Initial
Arrangements
3.1
|
Amendment and
Restatement of the Formation
Agreement.
|
This
Agreement hereby amends and restates in its entirety the Formation
Agreement.
3.2 Undertaking to Pay the
Transfer Bonus.
The
Parties agree that Xxxxxx Holdings shall complete payment of the Transfer Bonus
to Gécamines in accordance with the terms set forth hereafter. For
avoidance of doubt:
(a)
|
Gécamines
acknowledges that US$50,000,000 of the Transfer Bonus was duly paid by
Xxxxxx Holdings and received by Gécamines in May, 1997;
and
|
(b)
|
The
remainder of the Transfer Bonus, US$50,000,000, shall be paid by Xxxxxx
Holdings to Gécamines, as follows: 1
|
|
(i)
|
US$[15],000,000,
upon the later to occur of (x) effective date of
this Agreement and (y) the effective date
of the By-Laws (including approval by Presidential Ordinance or Decree
where appropriate). The payment will be made pursuant to Section 3.2(c)
below, and the foregoing dates will be deemed to be the date of a receipt
signed by T.F.M. of a certified and conformed copy from the chief of
cabinet of H.E. the President of the Republic of the Presidential Decrees;
a copy will be sent to T.F.M to Gécamines and Xxxxxx Holdings pursuant to
Article 17.1.
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|
(ii)
|
US$[5],000,000,
upon the later to occur of (x) T.F.M. having all
Rights and Title on the Property, free from any Encumbrances, and has full
and free enjoyment of the Property (such that all adverse claims to the
Property have been finally
|
1 If the signed Amended and Restated
Mining Convention, the T.F.M. Shareholders Agreement and the amended By-Laws of
T.F.M. do not enter into force by the end of September 2005 (including approval
by Presidential Ordinance or Decree where appropriate), the two payments of sub
paragraphs (i) and (ii) will amount to US$10 million each instead of,
respectively, US$15 and US$5 million.
11
resolved,
that all land titles are registered to the extent required to meet the
requirements of this Agreement and the Amended and Restated Mining Convention,
and that all mining rights required under applicable law have been duly issued,
validated, conformed or renewed where applicable, so as to enable T.F.M. to
undertake the Project) and (y) approval of the final
Feasibility Study by the Board of Directors. The payment will be made
pursuant to Section
3.2(c) below, and the foregoing dates will be deemed to be the date upon
which T.F.M. notifies Gécamines and Xxxxxx Holdings of the satisfaction of such
events pursuant to the terms and conditions of Article
17.1.
|
(iii)
|
US$10,000,000,
upon the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production consistent with the
terms set forth in Section 3.2(c)
below,;
|
|
(iv)
|
US$10,000,000,
on the first anniversary of the Date of Commencement of Commercial
Production consistent with the terms set forth in Section 3.2(c)
below,; and
|
|
(v)
|
US$10,000,000,
on the second anniversary of the Date of Commencement of Commercial
Production consistent with the terms set forth in Section 3.2(c)
below,.
|
(c)
|
Subsequent
to the payment dates referred to above, before each payment, Xxxxxx will
request from Gécamines, in writing, that it provide to Xxxxxx a written
demand for payment, including the bank and account number to which the
payment must be made. Xxxxxx Holdings shall have 5 Business
Days to make the requested payment.
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3.3 Transfer of Property;
Delivery of Data; and Maintenance of Rights and Titles on the
Property.
Gécamines
confirms and the Class B Shareholders recognize that, in consideration of Xxxxxx
Holdings’ assumption of the obligation to pay the Transfer Bonus, Gécamines has
transferred to T.F.M. all Rights and Titles on the
Property. Gécamines also confirms that it has delivered to T.F.M. all
data, information, records and reports relating to the Property in the
possession or under the control and direction of Gécamines (the “Data”).
3.4 By-Laws. Upon
execution of this Agreement, the Shareholders shall enter into an agreement with
the State amending and restating the existing Mining Convention and thereafter
shall convene an extraordinary shareholder meeting in order to modify the
By-Laws and conform them to the form attached hereto as Schedule B in substitution of
the then-existing by-laws of T.F.M.
3.5 Share Capital Increase of
T.F.M. Within three months after the entry into force of the
By-Laws, the share capital will be increased by the amount of fifteen million US
Dollars ($15,000,000) by contribution in kind of a receivable of that amount by
Xxxxxx Holdings Ltd., that will be deducted from the Advances. As a
result of such increase in share capital, the share capital of T.F.M. will
amount to fifteen million fifty thousand US Dollars ($15,050,000), of which
Gecamines be attributed a 17.5% nondilutable share.
12
4. Feasibility Study
Arrangements and Advances
4.1 Funding.
(a) As
of the date of this Agreement, the Shareholders and T.F.M. acknowledge that
Xxxxxx Holdings or its Affiliates have made Advances, including to finance the
Feasibility Study and to maintain the site.
(b) Class
B Shareholders will continue to make Advances, or cause funds to be advanced by
third parties on normal commercial terms, to T.F.M. to enable T.F.M. to meet
Exploration Expenditures with a view to identifying deposits, to meet all other
Expenditures required to complete the Feasibility Study, and to otherwise fund
Operations.
(c) All
Advances will bear interest at an annual rate equal to Prime Rate plus 2%
calculated half-yearly in arrears. Such interest shall accrue on all
and any Advances made to T.F.M., i.e.,
not only the Advances made in connection with the Feasibility Study but also all
Advances whatsoever made to T.F.M. within the framework of this
Agreement.
(d) For
greater certainty and without limitation, it is understood and agreed that Class
B Shareholders shall have responsibility for making Advances in proportion to
their respective holdings of Class B Shares at the time such Advances are
required to be made. No Class A Shareholder shall have any
responsibility for providing Advances unless and until it acquires Class B
Share(s).
4.2 The
Project.
It is the
intent of the Parties that T.F.M. develop the Project as agreed with the State
and Gécamines. Initially, the Project will initially be designed to
produce at least 40,000 tonnes of copper with associated cobalt per year (the
“Revised
Project”). The activities required to develop the Revised
Project and subsequent Development of the Property shall be conducted in phases
as summarized below:
(a) Phase 1
-- Finalization of Primary Documentation
Phase 1
involves finalization, approval and signature by all of the Parties, and
authorization, as the case may be by ministerial arrête or letter and
presidential decrees of this Agreement, the Amended and Restated Mining
Convention and the By-Laws.
(b) Phase 2 -- Final Feasibility
Study
The
Feasibility Study based on the Revised Project will be prepared to normal
industry standards, based on current costs and infrastructure
conditions. Phase 2 will also include putting in place the
re-establishment of SNEL power, SNCC rail, international sulfur supply and other
transport contracts that were substantially in place between T.F.M. and third
parties prior to 1999. Basic design level engineering will be
conducted and detailed logistic planning for the Revised Project plant will be
performed such that immediately upon Board approval, the
13
construction
phase of the Revised Project will commence. Phase 2 is expected to
take approximately 13 months following completion of Phase 1.
|
(c)
|
Phase 3 -- Revised
Project Plant Construction
|
Upon the
decision of the Class B Shareholders to commence construction of the Revised
Project, site preparation and construction of the Revised Project plant will
commence and is expected to take approximately 26 months. Copper production
could come on stream in less than 22 months, with cobalt production to follow
shortly thereafter. Such decision of the Class B Shareholders shall
be notified to the State and Gécamines in accordance with Section
17.1.
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(d)
|
Phase 4 -- Expansion
Study
|
Within 90
days following the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production, a feasibility
study will be started for an expansion of the Revised Project mine and
processing facilities. Subject to feasibility determinations, the
actual size of this first expansion will be based on exploration or research
results, expansion project economics, the strength of copper and cobalt metal
markets, country conditions and financing factors.
|
(e)
|
Phase 5 -- First Major
Expansion
|
Timing,
design and construction of the first major expansion to the Revised Project
facilities will be based on the expansion feasibility study produced in Phase
4.
|
(f)
|
Phase 6 -- Subsequent
Expansions
|
It is the
intent of the Parties to develop the Property to its fullest extent subject to
normal feasibility determinations, and in a similar manner that shareholders of
Xxxxxx Holdings have developed other major operations around the
world. Decisions on all expansions will be made taking into account
the total resource potential, specific expansion economics, metals market
fundamentals, and financing considerations. Any subsequent plant
expansion will also take cobalt market supply and demand into consideration in
addition to copper production strategies. The Parties mutually
recognize the desire to reach a production level of 130,000 tonnes per year of
copper with associated cobalt, subject to feasibility study considerations, at
the end of the fifth year following the Date of Commencement of Commercial
Production. Similarly, the Parties mutually recognize the desire to
reach a production level of 400,000 tonnes per year of copper with associated
cobalt in the eleventh year following the Date of Commencement of Commercial
Production.
4.3 Collaboration in the
Completion of the Feasibility Study. Xxxxxx Holdings will assume primary
responsibility for completion of the Feasibility Study on behalf of T.F.M.
Gécamines will be entitled to appoint, in agreement with the Class B
Shareholders, five representatives to take part in the preparation of the
Feasibility Study (without having any decision making power with respect
thereto). The remuneration of such representatives will be included
in the costs of the Feasibility Study and will form part of the Exploration
Expenditures. Furthermore, the Class B Shareholders will consult with
the management committee of Gécamines at the beginning and
14
at least
quarterly during the completion of the Feasibility Study as design criteria and
cost estimates are being assessed, and may request Gécamines to provide other
specific services at a price to be agreed upon, subject to the availability of
the services requested from Gécamines, and the cost of such services shall be
included as Exploration Expenditures.
4.4 Delivery of the Feasibility
Study. Xxxxxx Holdings will deliver the final Feasibility Study to the
Board and to Gécamines at least 10 days prior to the Board meeting at which
T.F.M. will determine whether to go forward with Phase 3.
5.
Investment
Financing
5.1 Investment
Financing.
(a) Xxxxxx
Holdings will exercise commercially reasonable efforts to arrange, in the name
of and for the account of T.F.M., the necessary financing for the investments to
fund Operations contemplated on the basis of the Feasibility
Study. This financing will take place by means of Advances made by
the Class B Shareholders and/or by means of loans entered into by T.F.M. with
third parties. Pending completion of such arrangements, the Class B
Shareholders shall fund investments to undertake Operations contemplated on the
basis of the Feasibility Study by way of Advances.
(b) Gécamines,
as a Class A Shareholder, will have no responsibility with regard to the
obtaining of the financing. It will however be informed of the
modalities thereof and may give advice thereon, if need be. It may, in addition,
be required, as a Shareholder, to cooperate in guaranteeing the financing,
pursuant to Article
5.2.
5.2 Cooperation in
Financing. Gécamines is informed that Xxxxxx Holdings or T.F.M. is
intending to secure partial financing for the Project from international
agencies and banks and Xxxxxx Holdings confirms its ability to do
so. Gécamines agrees to co-operate fully with Xxxxxx Holdings and
T.F.M. in facilitating the obtaining of such financing, including signing any
such documents and giving any such assurances as may reasonably be required to
conclude such financing; provided, however, this is
without financial commitment on the part of Gécamines.
6. Duration of Agreement and
Remedies
6.1 Term. Unless
terminated in accordance with any of the provisions of this Article 6, this
Agreement will continue in full force until:
(a) the
Property is no longer exploitable; or
|
(b)
|
the
Shareholders mutually agree to terminate this Agreement, whereupon the
provisions of Article 6.4
will apply.
|
6.2 Early Termination by Xxxxxx
Holdings. Xxxxxx Holdings may terminate this Agreement on 30
calendar days’ prior written notice to Gécamines, the other Shareholders and
T.F.M. In such event, and to give full force and effect to such
termination, the Class B Shareholders will transfer their Shares to Gécamines
for nil consideration, and will cause their nominees to resign as President,
Vice-President, Directors and Managing Director and Xxxxxx Holdings will cause
15
T.F.M. to
terminate the Advisor Agreement. In addition, any and all Advances to
such date due and owing to Xxxxxx Holdings and/or its Affiliates by T.F.M. will
be deemed to have been acquired by T.F.M., the debt of T.F.M. towards Xxxxxx
Holdings and/or its Affiliates will be cancelled and the Feasibility Study (in
its then current state) will remain the property of T.F.M. Xxxxxx
Holdings will have no obligation from the date of giving such notice to make
Advances to fund any Expenditures, to make any capital contributions, and/or to
pay to Gécamines any of the Transfer Bonus payments, and Xxxxxx Holdings will
not be liable to any Person for damages. Any Transfer Bonus amounts
already paid by Xxxxxx Holdings to Gécamines will remain finally acquired by the
latter.
6.3 Early Termination by
Gécamines. In the event a breach of any material provision of
this Agreement by the Class B Shareholders continues for a period of 30 days
following receipt by the Class B Shareholders from Gécamines of notice of such
breach, Gécamines may, pursuant to the resolution of dispute provision in Article 16, ask
for the rescission of this Agreement and/or claim compensation for damages;
provided, however, that if the
breach is not of such a nature as to be curable within 30 days, then Gécamines
shall not be entitled to take such action if a cure is initiated by the Xxxxxx
Shareholders within such period of 30 days, and thereafter the Class B
Shareholders diligently pursue such cure and such cure is effected within a
reasonable time. The Parties shall consider, without limitation,
Articles 3, 4,
5 and 7
as material provisions.
6.4 Liquidation.
If the
Shareholders mutually agree to the winding up or liquidation of T.F.M., the
liquidation provisions of the By-Laws of T.F.M. will be applicable in accordance
with the laws of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
6.5 Breach by Gécamines or the
State. In the event of a breach of any material provision of
this Agreement by Gécamines or of the Amended and Restated Mining Convention by
Gécamines or by the State (including all covenants, representations and
warranties), Xxxxxx Holdings may suspend the performance of its obligations
pursuant to this Agreement, including for greater certainty and without
limitation, the obligation to deliver the Feasibility Study, to make any capital
contributions, to make any of the Transfer Bonus payments, to make Advances and
to assist with securing financing, until such breach is remedied. In
this case, any time limits agreed upon for the performance of these obligations
will be extended by a period equal to that of the breach. In the
event a breach of any material provision by Gécamines or the State, as referred
to above, continues for a period of 30 days following receipt by Gécamines from
Xxxxxx Holdings of notice of such breach, Xxxxxx Holdings may, pursuant to the
resolution of dispute provision in Article 16, ask
for the rescission of this Agreement and/or claim compensation for damages;
provided, however, that if the
breach is not of such a nature as to be curable within 30 days, then Xxxxxx
Holdings shall not be entitled to take such action if a cure is initiated by
Gécamines or the State within such period of 30 days, and thereafter Gécamines
or the State, diligently pursues such cure and such cure is effected within a
reasonable time. The Parties shall consider, without limitation,
Articles 3, 4,
5 and 7
as material provisions.
16
7.
Covenants,
Representations and Warranties
7.1 Covenants, Representations
and Warranties of the Xxxxxx Shareholders and Gécamines. Each
of the Xxxxxx Shareholders and Gécamines hereby covenants, represents and
warrants to the other Shareholders and to T.F.M. that:
|
(a)
|
Incorporation. It
is a company duly incorporated under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation and it is duly organized and validly subsisting under such
laws and it is qualified to carry on business in the jurisdictions in
which it carries on business.
|
|
(b)
|
Power and
Authority. It has full power and authority to carry on
its business and to enter into this Agreement and any agreement or
instrument referred to or contemplated by this Agreement and to perform
all of its obligations and duties pursuant to this
Agreement.
|
|
(c)
|
Authorizations. It
has duly obtained all corporate and regulatory authorizations for the
signature, delivery and performance of this Agreement and any agreement or
instrument referred to or contemplated by this Agreement and such
execution, delivery and performance: (i) will not conflict with or
result in a breach of any provision of its by-laws or of any shareholders’
or directors’ resolution or of any agreement, covenant, contract or
undertaking whatsoever to which it is a party or by which it is bound, and
will not give rise to any Encumbrance by virtue of these same deeds; and
(ii) does not contravene any applicable
laws.
|
|
(d)
|
Due
Signature. This Agreement has been duly signed and
delivered by it and is valid, binding and enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms.
|
7.2 Additional Covenants,
Representations and Warranties of Xxxxxx. The Class B
Shareholders hereby covenant, represent and warrant to Gécamines and T.F.M. as
follows:
|
(a)
|
Financial
Capacity. Xxxxxx Holdings has the financial capacity to
raise the funds necessary for undertaking the Project. As
indicated in Section D of
the Preamble Xxxxxx Dodge shall acquire a majority interest in the share
capital of Xxxxxx Holdings.
|
|
(b)
|
Arms Length
Transactions with Affiliates. Xxxxxx Holdings undertakes
to inform Gécamines whenever it enters into a contract with an
Affiliate.
|
7.3 Additional Covenants,
Representations and Warranties of Gécamines. Gécamines hereby
covenants, represents and warrants to the Class B Shareholders and
T.F.M.:
(a) Rightholder.
Subject
only to Section
7.5, prior to the transfer of the Property to T.F.M.
(i)
Gécamines was the sole holder of all and any rights, titles and interest in and
to the Property;
17
(ii)
Gécamines had the right to transfer its interest in the Property to T.F.M., free
and clear of any and all Encumbrances;
(iii)
Gécamines held any and all authorizations necessary to proceed with Operations
on the Property including without limitation all surface rights with respect to
the Property and access, under conditions to be agreed upon with the providers
of the services in question, to all infrastructures (water, electricity, rail,
roads, airport and so forth) necessary for Operations;
(iv)
There were no matters that affected the rights, title and interest of Gécamines
in the Property, or that could materially impair the ability of T.F.M. to carry
on Operations.
Gécamines
shall continue to insure that T.F.M. shall have completely free and unencumbered
title and quiet enjoyment of the Property. In the event any third
party claims or proves any right, title or interest in or to the Property
claimed to have existed prior to entry into force of the Formation Agreement,
Gécamines undertakes, at its cost, to immediately do all such acts and things
necessary to completely clear the Property of such third party right, title or
interest, or claim thereto, and shall at all times indemnify T.F.M. and the
other Shareholders and hold them harmless from any Claims, damages, costs or
liabilities in connection therewith.
(b) Third Party
Rights
Prior to
the transfer of the Property to T.F.M., no Person other than Gécamines had any
right or title to the Property and no Person is entitled to any royalty or other
payment whatsoever in the nature of rent or royalty on any minerals, metals or
concentrates or any other Products whatsoever deriving from the Property other
than as provided in this Agreement.
(c) Validity of Rights and
Titles over the Property
Except as
specified in Article
7.5, as of the effective date of the Formation Agreement all of the
rights and titles relating to the Property were validly recorded in accordance
with the laws of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The prospecting
work, processes and other operations carried on or conducted by or on behalf of
Gécamines in respect of the Property have been carried on or conducted in a
sound and workmanlike manner and in compliance with sound geological and
geophysical Exploration and Mining, engineering and metallurgical
practices. All such work and Operations are in compliance with all
laws, statutes, decrees, ordinances, permits, rules, regulations, judgments, and
orders or decisions rendered by any ministry, department or administrative
entity, judiciary or any other judicial body having competent jurisdiction or
any regulatory agency. In respect of the matters specified in Article 7.5, and to
the extent it may be determined at any time in the future to be otherwise
necessary, Gécamines shall take any remedial measures and otherwise assist
T.F.M. in taking required action, or in obtaining any waivers, to ensure
compliance with such requirements.
(d) Work
Orders
As of the
date of the effective date of the Formation Agreement, there were no outstanding
work orders or actions required or reasonably anticipated to be required to be
taken in respect of the
18
rehabilitation
or restoration of the Property or relating to environmental matters in respect
of the Property or any Operations thereon.
(e)
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Taxes
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All
taxes, contributions, duties, fees and assessments imposed, levied or charged
upon or against the Property, as at the date of entry into force of the
effective date of the Formation Agreement, were paid in full and the Property is
in good standing in accordance with the laws of the Democratic Republic of
Congo.
(f) Actions
Except as
specified in Section
7.5, there are no outstanding or threatened actions or suits which, if
successful, would or could affect the Property, the Agreement with the Banque
Centrale du Congo, this Agreement, the Formation Agreement, or the Amended and
Restated Mining Convention.
(g) Contractual and
Quasi-Contractual Obligations
Gécamines
is not in default under any contractual or quasi-contractual obligations
whatsoever towards third parties relating to the Property, nor will the
execution or performance of this Agreement constitute such a
default.
(h) Rights and Titles held by
T.F.M.
As of the
date of the Formation Agreement, T.F.M. had quiet enjoyment of the Property and
held all Rights and Titles
on the Property. Gécamines acknowledges that, as of the date of the
transfer of the Property from Gécamines to T.F.M., all Rights and Titles on the
Property are warranted by Gécamines to be, valid and existing and in good
standing and do not contain, and are warranted by Gécamines not to contain, any
unusual burdensome provision, condition or limitation.
(i) Material
Information
Gécamines
has made available to T.F.M. and to the Category B Shareholders all material
information in its possession or control relating to the Property.
(j) Law and
Judgments
The
signature, delivery and performance of this Agreement does not, and will not in
the future, violate any legal rule whatsoever, nor any judicial or similar
decisions whatsoever.
(k) Authorization for the
Agreement for the Formation of T.F.M.
The
Portfolio Minister had the authority to authorize, in the name of the State, the
signature by Gécamines of this Agreement, and T.F.M. has been duly constituted
in accordance therewith.
19
(l) Environmental
Matters.
Gécamines
warrants that, as of the date of the transfer of the Property from Gécamines to
T.F.M., no contaminant has been released, spilled, leaked, discharged, disposed
of, or pumped on the Property contrary to any applicable environmental law; that
no oral or written notification of the release of a contaminant has been filed
in connection with the Property which would or could subject T.F.M. to
corrective or responsive action or any other liability under any applicable
environmental laws; that no part of the Property has been located within an
environmentally sensitive area or dump regulated areas; that there have been no
environmental charges, privileges or Encumbrances resulting from substances
poured, emitted, emptied, injected, leached, dumped or allowed to escape at, on
or under or relating to the Property and no actions have been taken or are in
process or pending which could subject the Property to such environmental liens;
and that neither of them knows of any facts or circumstances related to
environmental matters with respect to the Property that could lead to any
environmental obligations or responsibilities.
7.4 Survival of Covenants,
Representations and Warranties. The correctness and
performance of each covenant, representation and warranty is a condition upon
which each Party is entering into this Agreement. Each of such
covenants, representations and warranties may be waived in whole or in part
solely by the Party in whose favor the covenant, representation and warranty is
made and all such covenants, representations and warranties will survive the
execution, delivery and termination of this Agreement as contemplated herein, as
long as T.F.M. continues to exist. Each Party agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the other Parties from and against all Claims arising out of any
breach of any covenant, representation or warranty whatsoever contained in this
Agreement.
7.5 Trabeka
Dispute
The
company Xxxxxxx Béton au Katanga S.P.R.L., abbreviated “TRABEKA” has secured
judgments against Gécamines and T.F.M. with respect to certain claimed interests
in the Buildings and Fixtures. Gécamines shall take all appropriate
steps to satisfy such judgments or otherwise resolve such Claims, without cost
to T.F.M., and shall indemnify T.F.M. and the non-Gécamines Shareholders and
hold them harmless from any Claims, damages, costs or liabilities of any nature
in connection with such judgment and claims.
8. [Intentionally Left
Blank]
9.
Implementation of
Provisions Concerning Shareholders
9.1 Effect of
Agreement. Each Shareholder will vote or cause to be voted its
Shares in such a way as to fully implement the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and the Amended and Restated Mining Convention.
9.2 Conflict. In
the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the
By-Laws, the provisions of this Agreement will govern to the extent permitted by
law. Each Shareholder agrees to vote or to cause to be voted the
Shares owned by it as necessary so as to
20
cause the
By-Laws to be amended to resolve any such conflict in favor of the provisions of
this Agreement.
9.3 Ratification of this
Agreement. The Shareholders shall meet to amend and restate
the By-Laws pursuant to Article 3.4 of this Agreement and shall also expressly
ratify this Agreement. By this Agreement, the Shareholders guarantee
that T.F.M. will ratify this Agreement.
9.4 Endorsement upon Share
Certificates. Any share certificate issued or to be issued by
T.F.M. for Shares will be endorsed on its face with the following
statement:
“The
right of the shareholders of T.F.M. to sell, encumber, alienate or realize their
shares are restricted by the terms of the Shareholders Agreement among the
shareholders of T.F.M.”
9.5 Subsequent Shareholders
Bound. Any Shareholder transferring Shares to a
non-Shareholder shall require as a condition of such transfer that the
transferee who by virtue of such transfer becomes a shareholder of T.F.M. will
be bound by the terms of this Agreement and will signify assent to the terms
hereof by signing this Agreement or by delivering to the Parties an instrument
in writing declaring such Person’s intention to be bound by the terms hereof and
setting out an address where notices under this Agreement can be made to such
Person. Each of the Parties covenants and agrees that whenever a
transferee has so assented to the terms of this Agreement, each of them
remaining as a Shareholder will be bound to each
and every such transferee and, in like manner, each and every such transferee
will be bound to each Party remaining as a Shareholder.
9.6 Shares. The
provisions of this Agreement relating to Shares will apply mutatis mutandis to any
shares or securities into which Shares may be converted, changed, re-classified,
re-divided, re-designated, redeemed, subdivided or consolidated, to any shares
or securities whatsoever that are received by the Shareholders as a stock
dividend or distribution payable in shares or securities of T.F.M. and to any
shares or securities of T.F.M. or of any successor or continuing company to
T.F.M. that may be received by the Shareholders on a reorganization,
amalgamation, consolidation or merger, statutory or otherwise.
10.
Organization
10.1 Management and
Control. The Shareholders agree that management and control of
T.F.M. will be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as well as
to the By-Laws of T.F.M.
10.2 Board
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(a)
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Composition. The
Board will consist of eleven members, of which two shall be selected by
the Class A Shareholders and nine shall be selected by the Class B
Shareholders. The Class A Shareholders and the Class B
Shareholders, respectively, will vote or cause their Shares to be voted,
so that nominees are
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21
appointed to the Board in accordance with the terms of this Article 10.2 and
any vacancies on the Board are filled by the appointment of a nominee of the
Shareholders whose nominee formerly occupied the vacant position. The
Class A Shareholders and the Class B Shareholders may at any time request the
dismissal of a Director whom such Shareholders caused to be
appointed. In the case of vacancy of a Director following his
resignation, dismissal or otherwise, the Shareholders who nominated such
Director will present a candidate for this mandate.
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(b)
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Quorum. A
quorum shall be reached when at least half of the Directors are present in
person or by proxy and where both the Class A Shareholders and the Class B
Shareholders are represented, in person or by proxy, by at least half of
the Directors elected among their nominees. If a quorum is not
present at the opening of a meeting, the Directors present may not
transact any business except in compliance with Article 17.A of the
By-Laws.
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|
(c)
|
Nomination of
President. The Class B Shareholders will be entitled to
nominate the president of T.F.M. (the “President”),
who will be a Director. The Class A Shareholders undertake that
the Directors representing them on T.F.M.’s Board will vote for the
candidate to be President to T.F.M. presented by the Class B
Shareholders. The President shall not be involved in the day to
day management of T.F.M.
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(d)
|
Nomination of
Vice-Presidents. The Class A Shareholders will be
entitled to nominate the Vice-President of T.F.M. (the “Vice-President”),
who will be a Director. The Class B Shareholders undertake that
the Directors representing them on T.F.M.’s Board will vote for the
candidate to be Vice-President to T.F.M. presented by the Class A
Shareholder. The Vice-President shall not be involved in the
day to day management of T.F.M.
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|
(e)
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Notice and Written
Resolutions. Save in case of special agreement of all
the Directors, all meetings of the Board shall be convoked, upon proposal
of the Managing Director, by the President or, in case of unavailability
or failure of the President, by the Vice-President, with at least one
week’s notice, except in case of urgency. Any Director will
have the right to request that he be allowed to attend by means of
conference telephone or to appoint a proxy-holder. If all the
Directors agree, a written resolution may be executed in respect of any
matter falling within the competence of the Directors provided that all of
the Directors approve and sign said written
resolution.
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10.3 Management
Powers.
(a) In
addition to what is provided for in the By-Laws of T.F.M., the Shareholders
agree that the management and control of T.F.M. will also be governed by the
applicable provisions of this Agreement which they undertake to fully and at all
times comply with, as if these provisions were an integral part of the By-Laws
of T.F.M.
22
(b) The
Class B Shareholders will present a candidate for the function of Managing
Director, who will be in charge of day-to-day management, at the head of the
list of candidates referred to in Article 18.b) of the By-Laws. The Class A
Shareholders undertake that the Directors representing them on the T.F.M. Board
will vote for the candidate appearing at the head of this list.
10.4 Non-Arm’s Length
Transactions. All transactions between T.F.M. and any
Shareholder or Affiliate of the same must be approved in advance by the general
meeting of the Shareholders deciding under the same conditions as for an
amendment to the By-Laws.
11.
Distribution of Profits and
Audits
11.1 Distribution of
Profits.
(a) The
Shareholders expressly confirm, and T.F.M. acknowledges, that it is the
intention of the Shareholders that T.F.M. will repay all Advances made before
the Date of Commercial Production together with interest thereon as set out
herein prior to making any other advances or distributions whatsoever to
Shareholders, including without limitation distribution of profits pursuant to
Article
11.1(b). Following the repayment of all Advances made before
the Date of Commercial Production together with the interest thereon, and until
the Pay-Back Date, funds that are available for distribution from T.F.M. will be
applied 75% to repayment of Advances made after the Date of Commercial
Production, together with the interest thereon, and 25% as distributions to the
Shareholders pro rata in accordance with their respective shareholdings of
T.F.M.
(b) From
the Pay–Back Date and at the end of each Fiscal Year of T.F.M., and subject to
obligations pursuant to loans, all profits of T.F.M. will be distributed to the
Shareholders pro rata in accordance with their respective shareholdings of
T.F.M. in a manner to be determined by the Board, provided that T.F.M. will
retain a reserve for adequate working capital and will be entitled to establish
a sinking-fund for the purpose of providing funds for future expansion and
Capital Expenditures, for environmental protection and reclamation and
contingencies. Subject to the obligations resulting from the loans
concluded by T.F.M., at least 25% of the profits of each Fiscal Year will be
distributed to the Shareholders.
11.2 Advances Against
Distributions of Profits.
(a) Subject
to Article
11.1, from the Pay-Back Date each Shareholder will receive quarterly, as
an advance against all such annual distributions of profits, an amount equal to
its pro rata share of the estimated profits (net of an adequate reserve for loan
payments, working capital and sinking-fund) relating to the last applicable
quarter of T.F.M. Such advances, as the distributions, will be paid
in U.S. dollars and credited to the account in the Democratic Republic of Congo,
or abroad, as indicated by each Shareholder. Such quarterly advances
will be offset annually against the dividend due and owing to each Shareholder
of T.F.M. at the end of the Fiscal Year. If the quarterly advances
paid to the Shareholders exceed the actual amount of the annual dividends to
which they are entitled, the amount of the overpayment to each Shareholder of
T.F.M. will be deemed to be a loan to each Shareholder of T.F.M., which will be
forthwith due and payable as at the date of determination of the excess payment
without interest.
23
(b) The
Shareholders’ general meeting may unanimously decide to distribute the dividends
wholly or partly in kind (in the form of Products) in accordance with the
methods also decided unanimously by such meeting.
11.3 Audits of
T.F.M. The Board will select an independent firm of auditors
of international reputation which will audit the accounts of T.F.M. and such
appointment will be in accordance with the By-Laws of T.F.M. The
audit, along with all accounting required by virtue of the present Agreement,
will be undertaken in accordance with the Congolese general accounting plan, to
the extent required by Congolese law, and in accordance with the International
Financial Reporting Standards.
12.
The
Managing Director
12.1 Appointment and Remuneration
of Managing Director. The Board will elect as Managing
Director the candidate for this function presented by the Class B
Shareholders. The Board will determine the remuneration of the
Managing Director, taking into account remuneration normally paid in the
international mining sector for equivalent functions.
12.2 Powers and Duties of
Managing Director. Subject to the terms and provisions of this
Agreement and under the control and direction of the Board, the Managing
Director will manage, direct and control the Operations in accordance with the
adopted Programs and Budgets.
12.3 Information on
Operations.
(a) The
Managing Director will keep the Board advised of all Operations and will
therefore submit to the Board in writing:
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(i)
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Quarterly
progress reports which include statements of Expenditures and comparisons
of such Expenditures to the adopted
Budget;
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(ii) Periodic
summaries of data acquired;
(iii)
Copies of reports concerning Operations;
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(iv)
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A
detailed final report within 60 days of the completion of each Program and
Budget which will include comparisons between actual and budgeted
expenditures and comparisons between the objectives and results of
Programs;
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(v)
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Such
other reports as the Board may reasonably
request.
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(b) At
all reasonable times the Managing Director will provide the Board and each
Shareholder access to and the right to inspect and copy at their own sole cost
and expense all maps, drill logs, core tests, reports, surveys, assays,
analyses, production reports, operations, technical, accounting and financial
records and other information acquired in Operations.
12.4 Management Team. The
Managing Director shall appoint all members of the management team and will have
the power and authority to hire and fire such employees. Two
24
members
of the management team shall be seconded from candidates employed and
recommended by the Class A Shareholder. In any event, however, the
Managing Director shall have the right to (x) refuse the secondment of
the candidate recommended by Gécamines or (y) require the Class A
Shareholder to end the secondment in question with 30 calendar days advance
written notice. In such cases, the Class A Shareholder will submit
another recommendation to replace such candidate. The Class A
Shareholder shall hold T.F.M. and the Managing Director harmless and shall
indemnify them against any Claim brought against them by any rejected candidate
or any employee of Gécamines whose secondment is terminated.
12.5 Indemnity. Subject to
the limitations of applicable law, T.F.M. will indemnify each Director or
officer or former Director or officer and his heirs and legal representatives
against all Claims and expenses, reasonably incurred by him, in respect of any
civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which he is made a
party by reason of being or having been a Director or officer or having
undertaken any liability on behalf of T.F.M. if:
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(a)
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Honesty. He
acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of
T.F.M., and
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(b)
|
Reasonable
Grounds. In the case of a criminal or administrative
action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, he had
reasonable grounds for believing that his conduct was
lawful.
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13.
Advisor Agreement and
Service Contracts
13.1 Confirmation of Advisor
Agreement. Xxxxxx Holdings and T.F.M. confirm, and
Gécamines acknowledges, that the Advisor Agreement entered by Xxxxxx Holdings
and T.F.M. on November 30, 1996, was duly entered in accordance with the
requirements of article 14 of the Formation Agreement, is in full force and
effect as of the Effective Date, and shall remain in effect in accordance with
and subject to its terms and conditions.
13.2 Further Gécamines
Participation and Service Contracts. Xxxxxx Holdings
recognizes that Gécamines has considerable experience with the State, and this
experience, along with Gécamines technical mining and processing expertise,
should be relied on to help optimize the operation of the
Project. Therefore, in addition to the role that Gécamines will play
in the decision-making process as a shareholder of, and on the Board of T.F.M.,
Xxxxxx Holdings may also ask employees of Gécamines to participate as
seconded employees working full-time within T.F.M. on special purpose teams or
on technically focused task forces. Gécamines may also seek to
participate in the Project by bidding on, and if selected, by providing services
to T.F.M. through contract service agreements that are bid out to qualified
third parties. Following the Date of Commencement of Commercial
Production, Xxxxxx Holdings and Gécamines agree that T.F.M. will retain
Gécamines to provide a minimum of $60,000 worth of general consulting services
monthly. This consultancy fee will be reviewed annually as
appropriate.
13.3 Renegotiation/Termination of
Advisor Agreement. Fifteen years after the Date of
Commencement of Commercial Production Xxxxxx Holdings and Gécamines will enter
into good faith negotiations to revise the Advisor Agreement with respect to
changed circumstances.
25
In any
event, the Advisor Agreement will terminate no later than the termination of
this Agreement.
14.
Programs and
Budgets
14.1 Operations Pursuant to
Programs and Budgets. Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, Operations will be conducted and Expenditures will be incurred only
pursuant to approved Programs and Budgets.
14.2 Presentation of Programs and
Budgets. Proposed Programs and Budgets will be prepared by the
Managing Director after consultation with the Shareholders for any period as
considered reasonable by the Managing Director. Each adopted Program
and Budget, regardless of length, will be reviewed at least once a year at a
meeting of the Board. During the period encompassed by any Program
and Budget and at least 3 months prior to its expiration, a proposed Program and
Budget for the following period will be prepared by the Managing Director and
submitted to the Board.
14.3 Review and Approval or
Modification of Proposed Programs and Budgets. Within 15 days
after submission of a proposed Program and Budget, the Board will approve or
modify the proposed Program and Budget.
14.4 Notice of Approved Program
and Budget to Shareholders. Within 15 days after the Board has
approved a proposed Program and Budget, with or without modification, the Board
will deliver written notice of such approved Program and Budget to each
Shareholder together with a copy of the approved Program and
Budget.
14.5 Budget Overruns; Program
Changes. The Managing Director will seek approval of the Board
in advance of any material departure from an adopted Program or
Budget.
15.
Restrictions Upon
Transfers
15.1 Rules Governing
Transfers. Except as set forth below, no transfer shall be
permitted before the end of Phase 3 of the project as such is defined in Section
4.2. Any transfer of Shares shall be in conformity with the
By-Laws of T.F.M. and this Agreement and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be
authorized, without prejudice to the provisions of Sections 15.3 and
15.8, any
successions of interest resulting from a death, merger, a split, a liquidation
or any other operation relevant to an operation of corporate law.
15.2 Permitted
Encumbrances. A Shareholder may assign by way of guarantee,
mortgage, pledge, charge or otherwise encumber all or any potion of its Shares
only in favor of any bank, trust company, mortgage company, insurance
company, pension fund, or other lending or financial institution
(including indirect lenders and loan participants) providing debt, equity,
lease, and/or bond financing or financial services, or credit support or other
credit enhancement for the Project. The Parties shall execute such
documents as may be reasonably requested by any such lender or financing entity
to evidence and acknowledge consent to and the effectiveness of any such
assignment by way of guarantee, mortgage,
26
pledge,
charge or other encumbrance; provided, however,
that such documents shall provide that such assignment by way of
guarantee, mortgage, pledge, charge or other encumbrance, and the interest of
the lender or financing entity in the Shares, is subject to this Agreement and
the rights of the other Shareholders under this Agreement including, without
limitation, the provisions of Article
15.4.
15.3 Transfer to
Affiliates. A Shareholder may transfer all but not less than
all of its Shares to an Affiliate without the consent of the other Shareholders
if the Shareholder and the Affiliate covenant to the other Shareholders
that:
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(a)
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The
Affiliate will remain an Affiliate so long as it holds the
Shares;
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(b)
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Prior
to the Affiliate ceasing to be an Affiliate, it will transfer the Shares
back to the Shareholder of which it was an Affiliate or to another
Affiliate of that Shareholder that provides a similar covenant to the
other Shareholders;
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(c)
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The
Affiliate will otherwise be bound by the provisions of this
Agreement;
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(d)
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The
Shareholder will remain jointly and severally liable with the Affiliate
for any obligations arising out of this
Agreement.
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The
Shareholder which transfers its Shares to an Affiliate will first of all inform
the other Shareholder, providing due proof of the transferee’s status as
Affiliate.
15.4 Right of
Preemption
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(a)
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Third Party
Offer. A Shareholder (the “Transferor”)
may Transfer all or any portion of its Shares to a Person if it has
received a firm offer in writing (the “Third Party
Offer”) from a bona fide Arm’s Length Person (the “Offeror”)
to purchase all or any portion of the Shares of the Transferor (the Shares
so offered to be purchased are herein referred to as the “Transferor’s
Shares”), this Offer being subject only to conditions precedent
that are reasonable and if the Transferor has received satisfactory
assurances that the Offeror is financially capable of carrying out the
terms of the Third Party Offer. The Offeror must also covenant
to enter into an agreement with the other Shareholders (the “Other
Shareholders”) identical to this Agreement (other than changes in
this Agreement required because the Transferor has ceased to be a
Shareholder). The Third Party Offer will be irrevocable for a
period of at least 80 days.
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(b)
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Transferor’s
Offer. Within 10 days of the receipt of the Third Party
Offer, the Transferor will deliver a copy of the same to the Other
Shareholders together with its own offer to sell the Transferor’s Shares
to the Other Shareholders, on the same terms and conditions (the “Transferor’s
Offer”), proportionally to their respective shareholding in T.F.M.,
calculated without taking into account the Shares
offered.
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(c)
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Right of
Preemption. The Other Shareholders will have a right of
preemption to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Transferor’s
Shares so offered to them, such right to be exercised within 30 days of
the date of the Transferor’s Offer
by
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27
notice in
writing to the Transferor, it being understood that the Other Shareholders may
freely transfer among them their right of preemption.
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(d)
|
Acceptance of Third
Party Offer. If within the said 30 days the Other
Shareholders have not accepted or have merely partially accepted the
Transferor’s Offer, such Offer will be considered as rejected as a whole
and the Transferor may accept the Third Party Offer and complete the
transfer with the Offeror and the Shareholders and T.F.M. will take all
steps and proceedings requisite to have the Offeror entered on the books
of T.F.M. as a shareholder of T.F.M. and to execute and deliver a
shareholders’ agreement in replacement of this
Agreement.
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(e)
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Transfers not
Affected. Nothing in this Article 15 will
prohibit or affect the unrestricted transfer of the shares of any company
that directly or indirectly holds shares in Xxxxxx
Holdings.
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15.5 Failure to Sell to the
Offeror. If the transfer between the Transferor and the
Offeror is not completed within 40 days after the refusal or deemed refusal (in
case of partial acceptance) by the Other Shareholders of the offer contained in
the Transferor’s Offer then the Transferor may sell all or any portion of its
Shares to a third Person only if all of the requirements of this Article 15 are again
complied with, including the right of preemption provided for in this Article
15.
15.6 Waiver. Any
Shareholder may at any time by written notice to T.F.M. waive the right to be
offered the Shares pursuant to this Article 15, either
generally or for a specified period of time.
15.7 Terms of
Sale. Unless other terms of sale are agreed to by the
Shareholders, the terms and conditions of sale as between the Shareholders under
this Article 15
will be as follows:
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(a)
|
Purchase
Price. The purchase price will be payable in full by
certified check on the date of closing of the transaction (or if
applicable, by delivery of share certificates engrossed in the appropriate
name, representing stock of a company) against transfer of the Shares
sold, free and clear of all Encumbrances
whatsoever.
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(b)
|
Closing. The
closing of the transaction will occur at 10:00 a.m. at the registered
office of T.F.M. on the 40th day following the acceptance by the Other
Shareholders of the offer contained in the Transferor’s
Offer.
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(c)
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Resignations. At,
and as of the date of, the closing of the transaction, the Transferor
will, if it has transferred all its Shares, cause the resignation of its
nominees on the Board. It will also cause the resignation of,
as the case may be, the President, its Vice-President, the Directors and
the Managing Director, if it had presented them or if it has assumed
itself these functions. The Transferee will assume and acquire
all the rights and obligations of the Transferor, including without
limitation the right to nominate, as the case may be, the President, its
Vice-President, the Directors and the Managing
Director.
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(d)
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Payment into
Bank. If the Transferor refuses or neglects to complete
the sale for any reason, the Other Shareholders will have the right, upon
payment of the
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28
purchase
price to the credit of the Transferor in any approved bank in the Democratic
Republic of Congo, to execute and deliver for and on behalf of and in the name
of the Transferor, such transfers, resignations and other documents as may be
necessary or desirable in order to complete the transfer.
15.8
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Permitted Transfers by
Xxxxxx Holdings to Development Entities. Without
prejudice to Article 9.5,
and notwithstanding any provision of this Article 15 to
the contrary, Xxxxxx Holdings may transfer Shares, constituting
in the aggregate a minority interest in T.F.M., to any multilateral
development entities, including, without limitation, International Finance
Corporation, Industrial Development Corporation (South-Africa) and CDC
Group plc, for purposes of facilitating financing for the
Project. Any such transfer shall not be subject to the
preemption rights of other Shareholders set forth in this Article 15 or
in the By-Laws. In such event, T.F.M. will notify Gécamines in advance
pursuant to Article
5.1(b).
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15.9
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Breach of Restrictions
Upon Transfers. Any Shareholder that acquires Shares in
breach of the restrictions upon transfers contained in this Agreement
shall be barred by T.F.M. from exercising any rights in respect of such
Shares, such as voting rights and rights to dividends or distributions of
any kind.
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16.
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Disputes
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16.1 Amicable
Settlement. In the case of a dispute between the Parties
resulting from or concerning this Agreement or related to a breach hereof, the
Parties in question undertake, before beginning any arbitral or judicial
procedure, and except in the case of urgency, to meet in an attempt to reach an
amicable settlement. To this effect, the president of the Parties in
question (or their agents) will meet within 15 days of the date of a written
invitation sent by registered post by the most diligent Party to the other
Parties involved. If this meeting does not take place within this
time limit or if the dispute is not resolved by a written agreement signed by
all the Parties involved within 15 days of the meeting, any Party involved may
submit the dispute to arbitration or may take it to court in accordance with the
following provisions of this Article
16.
16.2 Arbitration
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(a)
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Binding
Arbitration. All disputes, controversies or Claims
arising out of or related to this Agreement or the breach hereof, which
are not resolved in accordance with Article 16.1
above, shall be settled in accordance with the Rules of Arbitration of the
International Chamber of Commerce by 3 arbitrators appointed in accordance
with such Rules. The arbitration shall be held in Geneva,
Switzerland. The arbitration will be held in the French and
English languages. The arbitral award shall be in writing and in the
French and English languages, and shall be final and binding on the
Parties. Judgment on the award rendered may be entered in any
court having jurisdiction or application may be made to such court for a
judicial acceptance for the award and an order of enforcement, as the case
may be.
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29
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(b)
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Decision. The
decision of the arbitrators will be final and binding upon the Parties as
soon as it is notified to each of the Parties pursuant to Article
17. The decision must state clearly how the arbitrators
have ruled with respect to each issue submitted to
them.
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(c)
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Fees. Each
Party will pay all fees and costs of the arbitrator designated by it and
of its counsel and witnesses and all other expenses associated with the
preparation and presentation of its case. All other costs and
expenses of the arbitration will be shared equally by the Parties unless
the decision of the arbitrators will specify a different apportionment of
any or all of such costs and
expenses.
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16.3 Disputes with the
State. If one Party considers that a dispute between Parties
is connected to a dispute between one or more Parties and the State under the
Amended and Restated Mining Convention, it must first of all submit the question
of such connection to arbitration pursuant to Article
16.2. If the arbitration tribunal in an arbitration proceeding
pursuant to Article
16.2 confirms the connection, the latter must declare itself
incompetent. In this case, the most diligent Party may, in accordance
with articles 25 and 26 of the Amended and Restated Mining Convention, jointly
submit the two disputes which have been recognized as connected, to the
International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, and Gécamines
hereby submits itself to the jurisdiction of the International Centre for the
Settlement of Investment Disputes for such purpose. If the
arbitration tribunal in an arbitration proceeding pursuant to Article 16.2 judges
that there is no connection, the two disputes will be treated separately in
accordance with the respective procedures provided in Article 16.2 with
respect to the dispute under this Agreement, and articles 25 and 26 of the
Amended and Restated Mining Convention with respect to the dispute
thereunder.
16.4 Jurisdiction.
(a) Judgment
on the arbitral award rendered may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
or application may be made to such court for a judicial acceptance for the award
and an order of enforcement, as the case may be.
(b) All
disputes, controversies or Claims arising out of or related to this Agreement,
or the breach thereof, for which the arbitration tribunal referred to in Article 16.2 or Article 16.3 (and
Article 6.6)
declares itself not competent (except if, with respect to the arbitration
tribunal referred to in Article 16.2 the
latter has declared itself incompetent because of connection pursuant to Article 16.3, in
which case the arbitration tribunal referred to in Article 16.3 will be
competent), will be of the sole competence of the courts of Geneva,
Switzerland.
16.5 Waiver of Immunity of
Execution. Gécamines hereby expressly waives any right of
immunity of execution in respect of the resolution of disputes procedures
contained in this Article
16.
17. Notices
17.1. Notices. All
notices, requests, demands and other communications to be made by virtue of this
Agreement, will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given, if
telegraphed or mailed by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, or
delivered in person at the addresses
30
indicated
hereafter or to such other address as the party to be notified will have
furnished to the other parties in writing. All notices will be
given: (i) by personal delivery to the Party; or (ii) by electronic
communication, with a confirmation sent by registered or certified mail return
receipt requested; or (iii) by registered or certified mail return receipt
requested. All notices will be effective and will be deemed
delivered: (i) if by personal delivery on the date of delivery if
delivered during normal business hours, and, if not, on the next Business Day
following delivery; (ii) if by electronic communication on the next Business Day
following receipt of the electronic communication, and (iii) if by mail, on the
next Business Day after actual receipt, provided that in the event of mail
strike, all notice will be given by personal delivery or by electronic
communication as herein provided.
The
addresses concerned are
If
to Gécamines to:
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La
Générale des Carrières et des Mines
000,
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
X.X.
000,
Xxxxxxxxxx
(Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx of Congo)
And a copy to:
La
Générale des Carrières et des Mines
xxxxxxxxx
xx Xxxxxxxxx 00-00
X-0000
Xxxxxxxxx
Attention: Monsieur
l’Administrateur-Délégué Général
Fax
No.: 00 00 0 000 00 00
Tel.
No.: 00 00 0 000 00 00
E-mail:
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If
to the Xxxxxx Shareholders:
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Xxxxxx
Holdings Ltd.
Xxxxx
Xxxxx, 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
XX00
Xxxxxxx
Fax
No.: 00 0 000 000 0000
Tel.
No.: 00 0 000 000 0000
E-mail:
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With
a copy to:
Tenke
Fungurume Mining SARL
Enceinte
du Golf Club
Lubumbashi
Katanga
République
Démocratique du Congo
Attention:
the Managing Director
Fax
: 00 000 00 00000
Phone
: 00 000 00 00 00000
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31
E-mail:xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
and
Xxxxxx Dodge Corporation
0 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx of America
Attention: President, Xxxxxx Dodge Corporation
Fax No.: x0.000.000.0000
Tel. No.: x0.000.000.0000
18.
Force
Majeure
18.1 Force
Majeure.
(a) In
case of Force Majeure (as such term is hereinafter defined) the Party materially
affected or which could be materially affected by the Force Majeure (the “Affected
Party”) shall give to the other Parties prompt written notice describing
such event of Force Majeure.
(b) As
from the occurrence of an event of Force Majeure, the obligations of the
Affected Party shall be suspended during the whole continuance of such event of
Force Majeure and for an additional period, sufficient to permit the Affected
Party, acting with all required diligence, to place itself in the same situation
as before the occurrence of such event of Force Majeure.
(c) All
time periods and all dates subsequent to the date of occurrence of the event of
Force Majeure shall be adjusted to take into account the extension and delay
arising out of such event of Force Majeure.
(d) The
Affected Parties shall use all diligence reasonably possible to eliminate such
event of Force Majeure as quickly as possible, but such requirement shall not
entail the settlement of strikes or other industrial disputes against the
judgment of the Affected Party.
(e) For
the purpose of this Article 18, the term
Force Majeure (“Force
Majeure”) means any sudden or unforeseen or insurmountable event, outside
the control of the Affected Party, excluding lack of funds, but including
without limitation: strikes, lockouts or other industrial disputes;
acts of a public enemy, riots, acts of public violence, pillage, rebellion,
revolt, revolution, civil war, coup d’etat or any event of a political character
which materially affects or could materially affect the success of the Project;
fire, storm, flood, explosion, government restriction, failure to obtain any
approval required from public authorities including environmental protection
agencies.
32
(f) In
case of Force Majeure, the Parties will consult with each other at least twice
yearly as to how to limit the damage caused by the Force Majeure and to pursue
the realization of the objectives of the Project.
19.
Confidentiality
19.1 Confidentiality. All
data and information provided to or received by the Parties with respect to this
Agreement, the other Parties and/or the Property, will be treated as
confidential and will not be disclosed without the prior written consent of the
other Parties (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) to any other
Person whatsoever, except to Affiliates, or as required to effect a third party
sale, as required to procure financing or as required by law or any regulatory
authority whatsoever having jurisdiction. Where disclosure is
required by law or a regulatory authority having jurisdiction, a copy of the
information required to be disclosed including without limitation any press
release, will be provided to the other Parties within as reasonable a time limit
as possible before such disclosure. No Party will be liable to the
other Parties in respect of any interpretation, opinion, conclusion or other
non-contractual information included by the Party in any report or other
document provided to the receiving Person whether included by negligence or
otherwise.
20.
Miscellaneous
20.1 Amendments. This
Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument executed by
all of the Parties or by their respective successors and permitted
assigns.
20.2 Assignment. This
Agreement may not be assigned by any Party hereto without the consent of the
other Parties, which may not be unreasonably withheld. No assignment
may occur before the completion of Phase 3.
20.3 Enurement. This
Agreement will enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Parties and their
respective successors and permitted assigns, nothing in this Agreement, express
or implied, being intended to confer upon any other Person any rights or
remedies hereunder.
20.4 Severability. The
unlawfulness or invalidity of any provision of this Agreement or of any covenant
herein contained on the part of any Party will not affect the validity or
enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement or the covenants
contained therein.
20.5 Waiver. Failure
by any Party hereto to insist in any one or more instances upon the strict
performance of any one of the covenants contained herein will not be construed
as a waiver of such covenant. Any waiver by any Party to a provision
of this Agreement will be valid only if expressly made in writing.
20.6 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of
the Parties with respect to the subject matter thereof and supersedes all prior
agreements among the Parties relating to the same.
20.7 Further
Undertakings. Each of the Parties undertakes that at any time,
and in particular after the Effective Date, upon the request of any other Party,
it will do, execute, acknowledge
33
and
deliver all such further acts, documents and undertakings as may be reasonably
required for the better performance of all the terms of this
Agreement.
20.8 Environment. T.F.M.
will perform its activities in accordance with environmental standards
internationally recognized as good mining practice.
20.9 Congolese Cobalt
Institute. In the event of the creation, at the initiative of
Gécamines, of a Congolese Cobalt Institute having as its purpose the study and
the promotion of the international market for cobalt, T.F.M. will become one of
the founding members of it.
20.10
Language. This
Agreement is made in the English and in the French languages, both languages
being equally valid, it being understood that in the event of a contradiction in
meaning with respect to the interpretation of any provision herein, the actual
intention of the parties will prevail as determined by the arbitration tribunal
or in any other court of competent jurisdiction.
21.
Effect on Force
Majeure.
21.1 Effect on Force
Majeure. Xxxxxx Holdings and T.F.M. recognize that the
circumstances as they exist on the date first above written in the Province of
Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the renegotiated terms and
conditions of this Agreement, permit (i) the resumption of activities and (ii)
the termination of Force Majeure as was declared by Xxxxxx Holdings and T.F.M.
on 23 February 1999 in connection with the Revised Project as defined in Article
4.2. Gécamines acknowledges the foregoing.
22.
Entry into
Force
This
Agreement shall enter into force on the date of entry into force of the Amended
and Restated Mining Convention pursuant to article 40 thereof.
[SIGNATURE
PAGE FOLLOWS]
34
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF the Parties have duly executed this Amended and Restated
Shareholders Agreement as of the date first above written, in _8
original copies, _4__ in English and
_4__ in
French.
LA
GENERALE DES CARRIERES ET DES MINES
/s/ Signed_________________________
XXXXXX
HOLDINGS LTD.
_/s/ Signed_________________________
TEMBO
LTD.
_/s/ Signed_________________________
FARU
LTD.
_/s/ Signed_________________________
MBOKO
LTD.
_/s/ Signed_________________________
CHUI
LTD.
_/s/ Signed_________________________
MOFIA
LTD.
_/s/ Signed_________________________
FOR
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
TENKE
FUNGURUME MINING S.A.R.L.
_/s/ Signed_________________________
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