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EXHIBIT 10(b)
LOAN AGREEMENT
This Loan Agreement was signed on 24/1/1979 between:
The Government of Saudi Arabia, represented by His Excellency the
Minister of Finance and National Economy, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Aba Xx Xxxxx (First
Party) and,
National Mining Company, a limited Saudi company with headquarters in
Jeddah, represented by His Highness Prince Kaled bin Abdullah bin Xxxxx Xxxxxx
in accordance with resolution of the Board no. 78/1, dated 20/12/1978 and,
Arabian Shield Development Company, a public stock company with head-
quarters at 00000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx, U.S.A., represented
by Xx. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx El-Khalidi, U.S. citizen, in accordance with Power of
Attorney dated 10 October, 1978. The two above will be referred to as (Second
Party).
Introduction
Whereas the Second Party has procured two exploration licenses for
minerals in the areas of Wadi Qatan and Al Masane in accordance with Council of
Ministers Resolution no. 264 adated 28/3/1391, or 22/5/71, and another
exploration license in the Jabal Xxxx area in accordance with Ministerial
resolution no. 35/16/4368 dated 1/9/1397.
And whereas the field operations performed by the Second Party has
proven the existence of nickel minerals in Wadi Qatan and the minerals of
copper, zinc, silver and gold in the Al Masane area, and the Second Party then
brought two consulting companies and they are Xxxxxxxxx Research of British
Nationality, and Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx and XxXxxx of Canadian Nationality to
economically evaluate these minerals, and make feasibility studies on them.
These companies did the above studies and they recommended in their report to
begin Phase I of the development program which was estimated to cost 11 million
U.S. dollars.
These reports were also studied by the Technical experts of the
Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources who concluded that the deposits of
the Al Masane area could be economically exploited.
It is understood that that period for the implementation of this
Phase I of this mining program is estimated to be sixteen months as shown by the
reports presented by the consultants to the Directorate General of Mineral
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Resources. This period starts from the date of the obtaining of the loan of
this agreement.
And whereas the High Order (from the Prime Minister) no. 14672 dated
9/7/1398 delegating the Minister of Finance and National Economy as the
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources to implement what is necessary for
the issuance of financial aid to the Second Party. The two Ministers met and
agreed to give the Second Party a loan of 11 million U.S. dollars to help the
Second Party in implementing its Phase I program on condition that the
implimentation shall be under the supervision of the Directorate General of
Mineral Resources as shown in the minutes of the meeting of the two Ministers
on 12/9/1398.
And whereas National Mining Company and Arabian Shield Development
Company are agreeable to a joint undertaking to benefit from this loan to
implement the above mentioned program. Thus the two parties have agreed to the
following:
Article I The introduction above shall be considered as an integral
part of this agreement.
Article II The First Party agrees to loan jointly to the Second Party,
11 million dollars to help him implement Phase I of the development and
exploitation of minerals in the Al Masane area.
Article III (1) The Second Party agrees to spend this loan for the
implementation of the program referred to in the Introduction of this
agreement, and that is under the supervision of the Directorate General of
Mineral Resources. (2) Second Party agrees to keep records and books whereby
all equipment purchased by this loan can be identified, also all expenses
incurred. (3) The Directorate General of Mineral Resources shall have access at
all times to the records of the Second Party, and the right to audit all Second
Party's accounts and documents, and that is for insuring that the funds are
being correctly spent.
Article IV The loan funds shall be payed to the Second Party as
follows: (a) The First Party shall immediately upon the signing of this
agreement deposit the full amount of this loan in a special account in the name
of the Second Party in the Saudi Dutch Bank in Jeddah. (b) The Second Party
shall have the right to draw from this account to open letters of credit to buy
and pay for equipment and instruments and others which are necessary for the
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implementation of Phase I of the mining program. The Second Party shall also
have the right to draw from this account to pay for the general administrative
expenses. The consultants' fees, operating expenses, salaries of personnel,
fuel, and other expenses of operation and administration. In both cases the
drawing of funds shall be in accordance with periodic statements of accounts
authorized by the joint financial committee of the Second Party and a
representative of the Directorate General of Mineral Resources. (c) Second
Party shall give certified copies of all shipment records and the periodic
statements of account to the Directorate General of Mineral Resources, also a
certified copy of the budget of Phase I, and the final statement of account
audited by an authorized Auditor. (d) First Party shall have the right to stop
the withdrawal of funds from this account by Second Party if conditions arise
for the stoppage of the project before completion, or if Second Party did not
comply with the Articles of this Agreement.
Article V The period of repayment of this loan is 10 years which
starts from the date of deferral specified as five years after the signing of
this Agreement.
Article VI The Second Party agree jointly to repay the loan to the
First Party in U.S. dollars in ten equal yearly installments, and without any
interest, and each yearly installment shall be due at the end of the month of
December of every year following the period of exemption described in Article V
of this Agreement.
Article VII The Petroleum and Mineral Association (PETROMIN) shall have
the right to participate in the mineral exploitation of the Al Masane area in
accordance with PETROMIN's agreement with the Second Party dated 6/6/1391. And
in that case and upon PETROMIN's signing an agreement to that effect with the
Second Party, then this loan shall be considered as part of the participation
of PETROMIN in the capital of the joint company that will be formed for that
purpose in accordance with the agreement referred to. The resolution of the
loan shall then be in accordance with an agreement to be made between the two
parties.
Article VIII As security for this loan the Second Party shall put all
its movable and immovable assets in the country in lien to the First Party,
also its equipment and other things tabulated in Attachment (I) of this
Agreement. And the Second Party cannot sell or bequeath or dispose of this
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equipment and other things in any manner during the period of this loan, and
until it is fully repaid or considered part of PETROMIN's contribution to the
capitalization of the proposed company as described in the previous article.
Article IX No member of the second Party can withdraw from this Loan
Agreement or transfer it to others except by prior written agreement of the
First Party.
Article X This agreement comes under the jurisdiction of the laws and
regulations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Article XI In case of dispute between the two parties about the
interpretation or its implementation, then the Saudi Office of Appeal shall be
the final arbitrator in any such dispute, and its decision binding on both
parties.
Article XII This agreement has been prepared in five copies in Arabic
and was signed on the above date after reading and understanding it, and the
Second Party received a copy to take action in accordance with it.
First Party
Xxxxxxxx Aba Al Khail
Minister of Finance and National Economy
Second Party jointly
For National Mining Company
Prince Khaled bin Abdullah bin Xxxxx Xxxxxx
For Arabian Shield Development Company
Hatem El-Khalidi
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