Source Gold Corp. and Thunder Bay Minerals Inc. JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT regarding Twin Falls Claims
and
Thunder
Bay Minerals Inc.
regarding
Twin
Falls Claims
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
SCHEDULES:
Schedule A Accounting
Procedure
Schedule
B Description
of Subject Mineral Claims Twin Falls
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THIS AGREEMENT made the
__________
day of _____________, ________
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BETWEEN:
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Thunder
Bay Minerals Inc. a company duly incorporated under the laws of the
Province of Alberta and having its head office in BC at 1250, 000 – 0xx
Xxx. XX, Xxxxxxx, XX X0X
0X0
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(“Thunder
”)
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AND:
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Source
Gold Corp.,
a company incorporated pursuant to the laws of Nevada with an office at
Suite 100 – 00000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, X0X 0X0.
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(“Source”)
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1.0
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INTERPRETATION
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1.1 In
this Agreement the following words, phrases and expressions shall have the
following meanings:
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“Accounting Procedure”
means the procedure attached to this Agreement as
Schedule A.
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“Affiliate” shall have
the meaning attributed to it in the Alberta Business Corporations
Act, as amended.
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“Assets” means all
tangible and intangible goods, chattels, improvements or other items
including, without limiting generality, land, buildings, and equipment but
excluding the Property, acquired for or made to the Property under this
Agreement in connection with the Mining
Operations.
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“Completion Date” means
the date determined by the Management Committee on which it is
demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Management Committee that the
preparing and equipping of the Mine is complete and is the date on which
commercial production commences.
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“Construction” means
every kind of work carried out during the Construction Period by the
Operator in accordance with the Feasibility Report and Production Notice
related thereto, as approved by the Management
Committee.
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“Construction Period”
means, unless the Production Notice is subsequently withdrawn, the period
beginning on the date a Production Notice is given and ending on the
Completion Date.
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“Costs” means, except as
to Prior Exploration Costs, all items of outlay and expense whatsoever,
direct or indirect, with respect to Mining Operations, recorded by the
Operator in accordance with this Agreement and shall include all
obligations and liabilities incurred or to be incurred with respect to the
protection of the environment such as future decommissioning, reclamation
and long-term care and monitoring, even if not then due and payable so
long as the amounts can be estimated with reasonable accuracy, and whether
or not a mine reclamation trust fund has been
established. Without limiting generality, the following
categories of Costs shall have the following
meanings:
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(a)
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“Construction Costs”
means those Costs recorded by the Operator during the Construction Period,
including, without limiting generality, the Operator’s fee contemplated in
Section 11.0;
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(b)
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“Exploration Costs” means
those Costs recorded by the Operator during the Exploration Period,
including, without limiting generality, the Operator’s fee contemplated in
Section 11.0;
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(c)
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“Mine Costs” means
Construction Costs and Operating
Costs;
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(d)
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“Operating Costs” means
those Costs recorded by the Operator subsequent to the Completion Date,
including, without limiting generality, the Operator’s fee contemplated in
Section 11.0; and
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(e)
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“Prior Exploration Costs”
means the deemed Expenditures of the parties under
Section 7.9.
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“Exploration Period”
means the period beginning on the Operative Date and ending on the date
that a Production Notice is given and Construction Costs are fully
committed.
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“Feasibility Report”
means a detailed report, in form and substance sufficient for presentation
to arm’s length institutional lenders considering project financing and if
necessary, in accordance with applicable securities regulatory policies
and stock exchange rules, showing the feasibility of placing any part of
the Property into commercial production as a Mine and shall include a
reasonable assessment of the various categories of ore reserves and their
amenability to metallurgical treatment, a complete description of the
work, equipment and supplies required to bring such part of the Property
into commercial production and the estimated cost thereof, a description
of the mining methods to be employed and a financial appraisal of the
proposed operations and including at least the
following:
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(a)
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a
description of that part of the Property to be covered by the proposed
Mine;
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(b)
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the
estimated recoverable reserves of Minerals and the estimated composition
and content thereof;
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(c)
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the
proposed procedure for development, mining and
production;
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(d)
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results
of ore amenability treatment tests (if
any);
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(e)
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the
nature and extent of the facilities proposed to be acquired, which may
include mill facilities if the size, extent and location of the ore body
makes such mill facilities feasible, in which event the study shall also
include a preliminary design for such
mill;
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(f)
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the
total costs, including capital budget, which are reasonably required to
purchase, construct and install all structures, machinery and equipment
required for the proposed Mine, including a schedule of timing of such
requirements;
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(g)
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all
environmental impact studies and costs of
implementation;
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(h)
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the
period in which it is proposed that the Property shall be brought to
commercial production; and
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(i)
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such
other data and information as are reasonably necessary to substantiate the
existence of an ore deposit of sufficient size and grade to justify
development of a mine, taking into account all relevant business, tax and
other economic considerations including a cost comparison between
purchasing or leasing and renting of facilities and equipment required for
the operation of the Property as a
Mine.
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“Interest” means an
undivided beneficial percentage interest in the Property, the Assets and
any Mine, calculated, during the Exploration Period, according to
Section 7.0 and subsequent to the Exploration Period according to
Section 10.0.
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“Joint Operation” shall
have the meaning attributed to it in
Section 2.1.
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“Management Committee”
means the committee established pursuant to
Section 4.0.
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“Mine” means the workings
established and Assets acquired, including, without limiting generality,
development headings, plant and concentrator installations,
infrastructure, housing, airport and other facilities in order to bring
the Property into commercial production in accordance with the Production
Notice.
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“Minerals” means any and
all ores (and concentrates derived therefrom) and minerals, precious and
base, metallic and nonmetallic, in, on or under the Property which may
lawfully be explored for, mined and
sold.
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“Mining Operations” means
every kind of work done by the
Operator:
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(a)
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on
or in respect of the Property in accordance with a Program or Production
Notice or Operating Plan; or
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(b)
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if
not provided for in a Program or Production Notice or Operating Plan,
unilaterally and in good faith to maintain the Property in good standing,
to prevent waste or to otherwise discharge any obligation which is imposed
upon it pursuant to this Agreement and in respect of which the Management
Committee has not given it
directions;
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including,
without limiting generality, investigating, prospecting, exploring,
developing, property maintenance, preparing reports, estimates and
studies, designing, equipping, improving, surveying, construction and
mining, milling, concentrating, rehabilitation, reclamation, and
environmental protection.
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“Operating Plan” means
the annual plan of Mining Operations submitted pursuant to
Section 14.2.
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“Operative Date” means
the date upon which this Agreement becomes
effective.
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“Operator” means the
party appointed as the Operator in accordance with
Section 5.0.
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“Participant” means a
party that is contributing to Exploration Costs or Mine Costs, as the case
may be.
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“Party” or “Parties” means the
parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted
assigns which become parties pursuant to this
Agreement.
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“Prime Rate” means the
rate of interest stated by the Royal Bank, Main Branch, Calgary, Alberta,
as being charged by it on Canadian Dollar demand loans to its most
creditworthy domestic commercial
customers.
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“Production Notice” means
a notice which is given to each of the parties pursuant to
Section 9.2.
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“Program” means the work
plan and budget of Mining Operations conducted during the Exploration
Period and adopted pursuant to
Section 7.2.
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“Property” means the
mineral properties that become subject to this Agreement on the Operative
Date, which shall include the properties set forth in Schedule 'B' to this
Agreement and any additional mineral properties that become part of the
Property pursuant to this Agreement, the Minerals thereon, all information
obtained from Mining Operations and those rights and benefits appurtenant
to the Property that are acquired for the purpose of conducting Mining
Operations.
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“Proportionate Share”
means that share which is equal to a party’s percentage
Interest.
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“Simple Majority” means a
decision made by the Management Committee by more than 50% of the votes
represented and entitled to be cast at a meeting
thereof.
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“Special Majority” means
a decision made by the Management Committee by more than 75% of the votes
represented and entitled to be cast at a meeting
thereof.
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“$” means Canadian
Dollars.
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1.2 The
words “Section”, “herein” and “hereunder” refer to this
Agreement. The words “this Agreement” includes every
Schedule attached hereto.
1.3 The
captions and the emphases of the defined terms have been inserted for
convenience and do not define the scope of any provision.
2.0
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FORMATION
OF THE JOINT VENTURE
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2.1 The
parties hereby agree to associate and participate in a joint operation (herein
called the “Joint
Operation”) for the purpose of exploring the Property and, if deemed
warranted, bringing the Property or a portion thereof into commercial production
by establishing and operating a Mine.
2.2 Except
as expressly provided in this Agreement, each party shall have the right
independently to engage in and receive full benefits from business activities,
whether or not competitive with the Joint Operation, without consulting any
other party. The doctrines of “corporate opportunity” or “business
opportunity” shall not be applied to any other activity, venture or operation of
any party and no party shall have any obligation to another party with respect
to any opportunity to acquire any assets outside of the Property at any time, or
within the Property after the termination of this Agreement. Unless
otherwise agreed in writing, no party shall have any obligation to mill,
beneficiate or otherwise treat any Minerals or any other party’s share of
Minerals in any facility owned or controlled by such party.
3.0
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INTERESTS
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3.1 Except
as otherwise provided herein, the parties shall bear all Costs and all
liabilities arising under this Agreement and shall participate in this joint
venture, the Assets and any Mine all in proportion to their respective
Interests.
3.2 On
the Operative Date the respective Interests of the parties shall be as
follows:
Thunder 50%
Source 50%
4.0
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MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE
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4.1 A
Management Committee shall be established on or forthwith after the Operative
Date. Except as herein otherwise provided, the Management Committee
shall make all decisions in respect of Mining Operations.
4.2 Each
of Source and CPI shall forthwith appoint TWO representatives and one alternate
representative to the Management Committee. An alternate
representative may act for a party’s representative in his absence.
4.3 The
Operator shall call a Management Committee meeting at least once every
12 months and, in any event within 14 days of being requested to do so
by any representative.
4.4 The
Operator shall give notice, specifying the time and place of, and the agenda
for, the meeting to all representatives and the Observer at least
seven days before the time appointed for the meeting. Unless
otherwise agreed to by the Management Committee, all meetings of the Management
Committee shall be held in Calgary, Alberta. Each agenda for a
meeting shall include the consideration and approval of the minutes of the
immediately preceding meeting of the Management Committee.
4.5 Notice
of a meeting shall not be required if representatives of all of the parties are
present and unanimously agree upon the agenda.
4.6 A
quorum for any Management Committee meeting shall be present if a representative
of each of the parties holding an Interest is present in person or by
teleconference. If a quorum is present at the meeting, the Management
Committee shall be competent to exercise all of the authorities, powers and
discretions herein bestowed upon it hereunder. The Management
Committee shall not transact any business at a meeting unless a quorum is
present at the commencement of the meeting. If a quorum is not
present within 30 minutes following the time appointed for the commencement
of the Management Committee meeting, the meeting shall be automatically
re-scheduled for the same time of day and at the same place five business days
later, and the Operator shall be under no obligation to give any party notice
thereof. A quorum shall be deemed to be present at such re-scheduled
meeting for all purposes under this Agreement if at least one representative is
present, and a party or parties holding not less than 25% in Interest is or are
represented. A representative may attend and vote at a meeting of the
Management Committee by telephone conference call in which each representative
may hear, and be heard by, the other representatives.
4.7 The
Management Committee shall decide every question submitted to it by a vote with
each representative being entitled to cast that number of votes which is equal
to its party’s Interest percentage. Other than as is expressly set
out herein to the contrary, the Management Committee shall make decisions by
Simple Majority. In the event of a tied vote, the chairman shall have
a casting vote in addition to the votes to which the chairman is entitled to
cast as the representative of a party.
4.8 The
representative and alternate representative of the Operator shall be the
chairman and secretary, respectively, of the Management Committee
meeting.
4.9 The
secretary of the Management Committee meeting shall take minutes of that meeting
and circulate copies thereof to each representative and to the Observer within a
reasonable time following the termination of the meeting, and in any event no
later than the time of delivery of the notice of the next following meeting of
the Management Committee.
4.10 The
Management Committee may make decisions by obtaining the consent in writing of
the representatives of all parties. Any decision so made shall be as
valid as a decision made at a duly called and held meeting of the Management
Committee.
4.11 Management
Committee decisions made in accordance with this Agreement shall be binding upon
all of the parties.
4.12 Each
party shall bear the expenses incurred by its representative and alternate
representative in attending meetings of the Management Committee.
4.13 The
Management Committee may, by agreement of the representatives of all the
parties, establish such other rules of procedure, not inconsistent with this
Agreement, as the Management Committee deems fit.
4.14 Reference
in this Section to the “parties” shall apply during
the Exploration Period. After the date of a Production Notice this
Section shall be read as if the word “Participant” appeared wherever
the word “party”
appears.
5.0
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OPERATOR
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5.1 Thunder shall
act as Operator for so long as its Interest is 50% or more. If
Thunder ’s Interest is less than 50%, the Management Committee shall select a
party, if it so consents, to be the Operator.
5.2 The
party acting as Operator may resign as Operator on at least 90 days’ notice
to all the parties.
5.3 The
Management Committee may, by Special Majority, remove the party acting as
Operator, effective the date designated by the Management Committee
if:
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(a)
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that
party makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or consents to
the appointment of a receiver for all or substantially all of its
property, or files a petition in bankruptcy or is adjudicated bankrupt or
insolvent; or
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(b)
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a
court order is entered without that party’s
consent:
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(i)
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appointing
a receiver or trustee for all or substantially all of its property;
or
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(ii)
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approving
a petition in bankruptcy or for a reorganization pursuant to the
applicable bankruptcy legislation or for any other judicial modification
or alteration of the rights of creditors;
or
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(c)
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the
Operator is in default under this Agreement and fails to cure such
default, or to commence bona fide curative
measures, within 30 days of receiving notice of the default from a
non-Operator;
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(d)
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the
Operator fails to meet any of its obligations pursuant to
Section 6.4; or
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5.4 If
a party resigns or is removed as Operator, the Management Committee (the
representative of the former Operator being entitled to vote on the resolution)
shall thereupon select another party to become the Operator effective the date
established by the Management Committee.
5.5 The
new Operator shall assume all of the rights, duties, liabilities and status of
the previous Operator as provided in this Agreement. The new Operator
shall have no obligation to hire any employees of the former Operator resulting
from this change of Operator.
5.6 Upon
ceasing to be Operator, the former Operator shall forthwith deliver to the new
Operator custody of all Assets, Property, books, records, and other property
both real and personal which it prepared or maintained in its capacity as
Operator.
5.7 If
the Operator resigns or is removed and no other party consents to act as
Operator, the Joint Operation shall be terminated and the party which was the
Operator may, if it consents to act, continue to act as Operator to effect the
termination and the other parties shall be obligated to fund their respective
Proportionate Shares of the Costs incurred.
6.0
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RIGHTS,
DUTIES AND STATUS OF
OPERATOR
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6.1 The
Operator in its operations hereunder shall be deemed to be an independent
contractor. The Operator shall not act or hold itself out as agent
for any of the parties nor make any commitments on behalf of any of the parties
unless specifically permitted by this Agreement or directed in writing by a
party.
6.2 Subject
to any specific provision of this Agreement and subject to it having the right
to reject any direction on reasonable grounds by virtue of its status as an
independent contractor, the Operator shall perform its duties hereunder in
accordance with the directions of the Management Committee and in accordance
with this Agreement.
6.3 The
Operator shall manage and carry out Mining Operations substantially in
accordance with Programs, Feasibility Reports and Production Notices, Operating
Plans, Mine Maintenance Plans and Mine Closure Plans adopted by the Management
Committee and in connection therewith shall, in advance if reasonably possible,
notify the Management Committee of any change in Mining Operations which the
Operator considers material and if it is not reasonably possible, the Operator
shall notify the Management Committee so soon thereafter as is reasonably
possible.
6.4 The
Operator shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to manage and
carry out all Mining Operations in accordance herewith and to incur the Costs
required for that purpose. In so doing the Operator
shall:
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(a)
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comply
with the provisions of all agreements or instruments of title under which
the Property or Assets are held;
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(b)
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pay
all Costs properly incurred promptly as and when
due;
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(c)
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keep
the Property and Assets free of all liens and encumbrances (other than
those, if any, in effect on the Operative Date, those the creation of
which is permitted pursuant to this Agreement, or builder’s or mechanic’s
liens) arising out of the Mining Operations and, in the event of any lien
being filed as aforesaid, proceed with diligence to contest or discharge
the same;
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(d)
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with
the approval of the Management Committee, prosecute claims and, where a
defence is available, defend litigation arising out of the Mining
Operations, provided that any Participant may join in the prosecution or
defence at its own expense;
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(e)
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subject
to Section 20.6, perform such assessment work or make payments in
lieu thereof and pay such rentals, taxes or other payments and do all such
other things as may be necessary to maintain the Property in good
standing, including, without limiting generality, staking and restaking
mining claims, and applying for licenses, leases, grants, concessions,
permits, patents and other rights to and interests in the
Minerals;
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(f)
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maintain
books of account in accordance with the Accounting Procedure, provided
that the judgment of the Operator as to matters related to the accounting,
for which provision is not made in the Accounting Procedure, shall govern
if the Operator’s accounting practices are in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the mining industry in
Canada;
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(g)
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perform
its duties and obligations hereunder in a sound and workmanlike manner, in
accordance with sound mining and engineering practices and other practices
customary in the Canadian mining industry, and in substantial compliance
with all applicable federal, provincial, Territorial and municipal laws,
bylaws, ordinances, rules and regulations and this
Agreement;
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(h)
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prepare
and deliver the reports provided for in Section 21.2;
and
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(i)
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have
such additional duties and obligations as the Management Committee may
from time to time determine.
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7.0
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EXPLORATION
PROGRAMS
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7.1 The
Operator shall prepare draft Programs for consideration by the Management
Committee. Unless otherwise agreed to by a Special Majority, each
Program shall cover a calendar year. The draft Program shall contain
a statement in reasonable detail of the proposed Mining Operations, estimates of
all Exploration Costs to be incurred and an estimate of the time when they will
be incurred, and shall be delivered to each Participant by no later than
60 days prior to the period to which the draft Program
relates. Each draft Program shall be accompanied by such reports and
data as are reasonably necessary for each party to evaluate and assess the
results from the Program for the then current year and, to the extent not
previously delivered, from earlier Programs. During the first year of
this program expenditures for exploration by this Joint Venture will be planned
on a more short-term basis rather than annual. Certain expenditures
will be required to be made with dispatch in order to ensure that the mineral
claims are maintained. Accordingly, parties acknowledge and agree to
short notice periods of 30 days for notice and including advance of funds in the
time immediately subsequent to the commencement of this Joint
Venture.
7.2 The
Management Committee shall review the draft Program prepared and, if it deems
fit, adopt the Program with such modifications, if any, as the Management
Committee deems necessary. The Operator shall be entitled to an
allowance for a Cost overrun of 20% in addition to any budgeted Exploration
Costs and any Costs so incurred shall be deemed to be included in the Program,
as adopted.
7.3 The
Operator shall forthwith submit the adopted Program to the
parties. Each party may, within 30 days of receipt of the
Program, give notice to the Operator committing to contribute its Proportionate
Share of the Exploration Costs for that Program. A party which fails
to give that notice within the 30-day period shall be deemed to have elected not
to contribute to that Program.
7.4 If
any party elected not to contribute to a Program, the amounts to be contributed
by the parties who elected to contribute shall be increased pro rata, subject to the
right of any of them to elect, prior to the commencement of the Program, not to
contribute more than its Proportionate Share. If one or more party so
elects to contribute no more than its Proportionate Share and the other parties
do not elect to contribute pro
rata to the resulting shortfall, the Operator shall in good faith revise
the Program and Budget such that the technical objectives of the original
Program are retained to the extent that is reasonably practicable given the
reduced contributions to Costs. The Operator shall, within
15 days following the end of the 30-day period set out in Section 7.3,
deliver to each party a copy of the said revised Program which, if the budget
contemplates Costs of at least 80% of those contemplated in the original adopted
Program, shall then be deemed for all purposes under this Agreement to be the
adopted Program. If the budget for the revised Program contemplates
Costs of less than 80% of those contemplated in the original adopted Program,
the revised Program shall be re-submitted to the Management Committee as a draft
Program pursuant to Section 7.1, and the procedure set out in
Sections 7.1 to 7.4 inclusive shall be repeated.
7.5 The
Operator shall be entitled to invoice each Participant:
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(a)
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no
more frequently than monthly, for its Proportionate Share of Exploration
Costs incurred and paid by the Operator in carrying out a Program;
or
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(b)
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not
more than 60 days in advance of requirements, for an advance of that
Participant’s Proportionate Share of Exploration Costs estimated to be
incurred and paid by the Operator in carrying out a
Program.
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Each
invoice shall be signed by a financial officer of the Operator. Each
Participant shall pay to the Operator the amount invoiced within 30 days of
receipt of the invoice. If a Participant protests the correctness of
an invoice it shall nevertheless be required to make the payment.
7.6 If
any Participant, after having committed to contribute pursuant to
Section 7.3, fails to pay an invoice within the 30-day period referred to
in Section 7.5, the Operator may by notice demand payment. If no
payment is made within the period of 30 days next succeeding the receipt of
the demand notice, that Participant shall be deemed to have forfeited its right
to contribute to any further Costs under this Agreement and it shall be deemed
to have elected not to contribute to each Program subsequently conducted and to
any Production Notice, and accordingly, shall have its Interest reduced in the
manner contemplated in Sections 7.9 and 10.2(b).
7.7 The
Operator shall expend all monies advanced by a Participant ratably with the
advances of the other Participants. If the Operator suspends or
prematurely terminates a Program, any funds advanced by a Participant in excess
of that Participant’s Proportionate Share of Exploration Costs incurred prior to
the suspension or premature termination shall be refunded within 60 days of
the suspension or premature termination. Unless approved unanimously
by the Management Committee, the Operator shall be exclusively liable for the
payment of all Costs incurred in excess of 120% of any budgeted Exploration
Costs.
7.8 Unless
otherwise directed by the Management Committee, the Operator may suspend or
terminate prematurely any Program when the Operator, in good faith, considers
that conditions are not suitable for the proper continuation or completion of
the Program or the results obtained to that time eliminate or substantially
impair the technical rationale on which the Program was based. If any
Program is altered, suspended or terminated prematurely so that the Exploration
Costs incurred on that Program as altered, suspended or terminated are less than
80% of the Exploration Costs set out in the adopted Program, any party which
elected not to contribute to that Program shall be given notice of the
alteration, suspension or termination by the Operator and shall be entitled to
contribute its Proportionate Share of the Exploration Costs incurred on that
Program by payment thereof to the Operator within 30 days after receipt of
the notice, but shall not be entitled to review the results of the Program until
it has made full payment. If payment is not made by that party within the
30 days aforesaid it shall forfeit its right to contribute to that Program
without a demand for payment being required to be made thereafter by the
Management Committee. If payment is made by that party within the
30 days as aforesaid, the Operator shall distribute the payment to the
original Participants pro
rata according to their respective contributions to the Program, and
shall deliver to the new Participant copies of all data previously delivered to
the other Participants with respect to that Program
7.9 If
a party elected not to contribute to the Exploration Costs of any Program the
Interest of that party shall be decreased and the Interest of each Participant
contributing in excess of its Proportionate Share of the Exploration Costs shall
be increased so that at all times during the Exploration Period the Interest of
each party will be that percentage which is equivalent to its Exploration Costs
expressed as a percentage of the Exploration Costs of all
parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing but subject to
Section 7.10 hereof, the party whose Interest has been reduced (other than
a party who has forfeited the right to contribute pursuant to Section 7.6)
shall be entitled to receive details of and to contribute to future Programs to
the extent of its then Interest. On the Operative Date, the parties’
respective Interests and Prior Exploration Costs shall be deemed to be as
follows:
Prior Exploration Costs
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Interest
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Thunder
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$1,000,000
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50%
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Source
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$1,000,000
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50%
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7.10 If
the effect of the application of Section 7.9 is to reduce the Interest of
any party to less than 1%, such party shall then be deemed to have assigned and
conveyed its Interest to the Participants, if more than one then in proportion
to their respective Interests, and shall be entitled to receive as its sole
remuneration and benefit in consideration of that assignment and conveyance, a
cash payment of $25,000.00. This payment shall be made within 60 days
of it being due and so declared due by the Management Committee.
7.11 If
the Operator fails to submit a draft Program or a revised Program by the date
set out in this Agreement, the following shall apply:
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(a)
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the
Operator shall not be entitled to submit a draft Program or revised
Program for the subject period;
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(b)
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any
Participant other than the Operator whose Interest is not less than 20%
may, within 15 days following the date by which the Operator’s draft
Program or revised Program was due, submit a draft Program (the
“Non-Operator’s Program”) for the subject period for consideration by the
Management Committee;
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(c)
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the
Management Committee shall review the Non-Operator’s Program and, if it
deems fit (the Operator being entitled to vote with respect thereto),
adopt the Non-Operator’s Program with such modifications, if any, as the
Management Committee deems necessary; the adopted Program shall then be
submitted to the parties pursuant to
Section 7.3;
|
|
(d)
|
if
the Operator is a party and elects to contribute to the Non-Operator’s
Program, it shall remain as the Operator for the duration of the
Non-Operator’s Program;
|
|
(e)
|
if
the Operator is a party and elects not to contribute to the Non-Operator’s
Program, it shall cease to be the Operator for the duration of the
Non-Operator’s Program, and the Management Committee shall appoint another
party as Operator (the former Operator being entitled to vote with respect
thereto);
|
|
(f)
|
following
the completion of the Non-Operator’s Program the former Operator shall,
subject to the provisions of Section 5.1, automatically become the
Operator.
|
8.0
|
FEASIBILITY
REPORT
|
8.1 Except
as provided in Section 8.2, a Feasibility Report shall only be prepared
with the approval of the Management Committee. The Operator shall
provide copies of the completed Feasibility Report to each of the parties
forthwith upon receipt, together with copies of all of the latest technical data
and information generated or received by the Operator from the immediately
preceding Program and not contained in the Feasibility Report.
8.2 Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 8.1, if a party (the “Proponent”) is of the view
that a Feasibility Report should be prepared, such party shall give notice
thereof to the Operator and the Operator shall call a Management Committee
meeting to consider the matter. If the Management Committee fails to
approve the preparation of the Feasibility Report supported by the Proponent,
the Proponent may, either alone or with other parties, at its or their sole
cost, prepare a Feasibility Report. If such Feasibility Report
indicates that production from the Property would be profitable to the
Proponent, the Proponent shall deliver the Feasibility Report to the Operator
who shall then call a Management Committee meeting to consider the Proponent’s
Feasibility Report. If the Management Committee adopts the
Feasibility Report, the non-contributing parties may either pay the Proponent an
amount equal to 150% of their respective proportionate costs of the preparation
of the Feasibility Report, or shall suffer reduction of their respective
Interests pursuant to Section 7.9. Upon the adoption by the
Management Committee of the Proponent’s Feasibility Report, it shall become a
Feasibility Report for all purposes hereunder.
8.3 The
parties shall meet at reasonable intervals and times to review the Feasibility
Report and discuss whether the establishing and bringing of a Mine into
commercial production in conformity with the Feasibility Report is feasible or
desirable.
9.0
|
PRODUCTION
NOTICE
|
9.1 The
Operator shall call a Management Committee meeting to consider the Feasibility
Report for a date no sooner than three months and no later than six months after
the Feasibility Report was provided to each of the parties.
9.2 The
Management Committee shall consider the Feasibility Report prepared and may
approve the Feasibility Report, with such modifications, if any, as it considers
necessary or desirable, together with an estimate of Construction
Costs. If a Feasibility Report is approved as aforesaid the
Management Committee shall forthwith cause a Production Notice to be given to
each of the parties by the Operator stating that the Management Committee has
approved that a Mine be established and brought into production in conformity
with the Feasibility Report and estimated Construction Costs as so
approved.
10.0
|
ELECTION
TO CONTRIBUTE
|
10.1 Each
party with an Interest may, within 60 days of the receipt of the Production
Notice, give the Operator notice committing to contribute its Proportionate
Share of Construction Costs. A party which fails to give that notice
within the 60-day period shall be deemed to have elected not to contribute to
Construction Costs.
10.2 If
any party elects not to contribute to Construction Costs that party, subject to
its rights under Section 10.4, shall forfeit the right to contribute to any
further Costs under this Agreement, and those parties which elected to
contribute as aforesaid may thereupon elect to increase their contribution to
Construction Costs, if more than one party then in proportion to their
respective Interests, by the amount which any party has declined to
contribute. If elections are made so that Construction Costs are
fully committed:
|
(a)
|
the
Interest of each Participant shall be increased and that of each
non-Participant shall be decreased as Costs are incurred so that the
Interest of each party at all times is that percentage which is equivalent
to:
|
|
(i)
|
the
sum of its Exploration Costs, its Prior Exploration Costs and its
contribution to Construction Costs;
|
|
divided
by:
|
|
(ii)
|
the
sum of the total Exploration Costs, total Prior Exploration Costs and the
total Construction Costs of all the
parties;
|
|
multiplied
by:
|
|
(iii)
|
100;
|
|
(b)
|
then,
at the Completion Date, each non-Participant shall be deemed to have
assigned and conveyed its Interest to the Participants, if more than one
then in proportion to their respective Interests, and shall be entitled to
receive as its sole remuneration and benefit in consideration of that
assignment and conveyance, the sum of
$25,000.
|
|
(d)
|
notwithstanding
the provisions of Sections 10.2(b) and (c), if the effect of the
application of Section 10.2(a) reduces any party’s Interest to less
than 0.5% it shall forfeit its Interest to the Participants, if more than
one then in proportion to their respective Interests, and that party shall
have no further right or interest under this
Agreement.
|
10.3 If,
after the operation of Section 10.2, Construction Costs are not fully
committed, the Production Notice shall be deemed to be withdrawn, and shall not
be resubmitted, either in the same or a revised form, for a period of at least
six months following such withdrawal.
10.4 If,
after the operation of Section 10.2, Construction Costs are fully
committed, the Participants shall diligently proceed with bringing a Mine into
production in substantial conformity with the Feasibility Report. If
the Participants fail to commence the implementation of the Feasibility Report
within 12 months of Construction Costs being fully committed, for reasons
other than general economic conditions in the mining industry, any party which
forfeited the right to contribute to Construction Costs pursuant to
Section 10.2 shall have the right, exercisable in the 30 days
following the expiration of such 12-month period, to reacquire from the
Participants not less than all of its Interest as last held, by paying its
Proportionate Share of Construction Costs incurred to the end of such 12-month
period (together with interest at the Prime Rate plus 3%) to the Participants in
proportion to their respective Interests.
10.5 During
the 12-month period referred to in Section 10.4, neither the Operator nor
any Participant shall be obliged to provide any non-Participant with the results
of any work carried out on the Property, the Participants’ sole obligation
during such period being to provide any non-Participant, on the written request
of such non-Participant made only once during the said 12 months, with a
summary of the nature of the work carried out and the total Costs
thereof.
11.0
|
OPERATOR’S
FEE
|
11.1 The
Operator may charge the following sums in return for its head office overhead
functions which are not charged directly:
|
(a)
|
with
respect to Programs:
|
|
(i)
|
2% for each individual
contract which expressly includes an overhead charge by the party
contracted;
|
|
(ii)
|
5% for each individual
contract which exceeds $50,000 and is not subject to
Section 11.1(a)(i) hereof; or
|
|
(iii)
|
10% of all other Costs
not included in Sections 11.1(a)(i) and
11.1(a)(ii);
|
|
(b)
|
with
respect to Construction: 1% of all other such
Costs; and
|
|
(c)
|
subsequent
to the Completion Date: 3.5% of all Operating
Costs.
|
12.0
|
MINE
FINANCING
|
12.1 The
contributions of the Participants toward the Mine Costs shall be individually
and separately provided by them.
12.2 Any
party may pledge, mortgage, charge or otherwise encumber its Interest in order
to secure moneys borrowed and used by that party for the sole purpose of
enabling it to finance its participation under this Agreement or in order to
secure by way of floating charge as a part of the general corporate assets of
that party moneys borrowed for its general corporate purposes, provided that the
pledgee, mortgagee, holder of the charge or encumbrance (in this Section called
the “Chargee”) shall
hold the same subject to the provisions of this Agreement and that if the
Chargee realizes upon any of its security it will comply with this
Agreement. The Agreement between the party hereto, as borrower, and
the Chargee shall contain specific provisions to the same effect as the
provisions of this Section.
13.0
|
CONSTRUCTION
|
13.1 Subject
to Sections 10.2 and 10.3, the Management Committee shall cause the
Operator to, and the Operator shall, proceed with Construction with all
reasonable dispatch after a Production Notice has been
given. Construction shall be substantially in accordance with the
Feasibility Report subject to any variations proposed in the Production Notice,
and subject also to the right of the Management Committee to cause such other
reasonable variations in Construction to be made as the Management Committee, by
Special Majority, deems necessary and advisable.
14.0
|
OPERATION
OF THE MINE
|
14.1 Commencing
on the Completion Date, all Mining Operations shall be planned and conducted and
all estimates, reports and statements shall be prepared and made on the basis of
a calendar year.
14.2 With
the exception of the year in which the Completion Date occurs, an Operating Plan
for each calendar year shall be submitted by the Operator to the Participants
not later than November 1 in the year immediately preceding the calendar
year to which the Operating Plan relates. Each Operating Plan shall
contain the following:
|
(a)
|
a
description of the proposed Mining
Operations;
|
|
(b)
|
a
detailed estimate of all Mine Costs plus a reasonable allowance for
contingencies;
|
|
(c)
|
an
estimate of the quantity and quality of the ore to be mined and the
concentrates or metals or other products and by-products to be produced;
and
|
|
(d)
|
such
other facts as may be necessary to reasonably illustrate the results
intended to be achieved by the Operating
Plan.
|
Upon
request of any Participant, the Operator shall meet with that Participant to
discuss the Operating Plan and shall provide such additional or supplemental
information as that Participant may reasonably require with respect
thereto.
14.3 The
Management Committee shall adopt each Operating Plan, with such changes as it
deems necessary, by November 30 in the year immediately preceding the
calendar year to which the Operating Plan relates; provided, however, that the
Management Committee, by Special Majority, may from time to time and any time
amend any Operating Plan.
14.4 The
Operator shall include in the estimate of Mine Costs referred to in
Section 14.2(b) hereof the establishment of a trust or escrow fund
providing for the reasonably estimated costs of satisfying continuing
obligations that may remain after the permanent termination of Mining
Operations, in excess of amounts actually expended. Such continuing
obligations are or will be incurred as a result of the Joint Operation and shall
include such things as monitoring, stabilization, reclamation or restoration
obligations, severance and other employee benefit costs and all other
obligations incurred or imposed as a result of the Joint Operation which
continue or arise after the permanent termination of Mining Operations and the
termination of this Agreement and settlement of all accounts. The
payment of such continuing obligations shall be made on the basis of units of
production, and shall be in amounts reasonably estimated to provide over the
lifetime of proven and probable reserves funds adequate to pay for such
reclamation and long term care and monitoring. The Participants shall
contribute to the trust or escrow fund cash (or provide letters of credit or
other forms of security readily convertible to cash in form approved by the
Management Committee). The amount contributed from time to time for
the satisfaction of such continuing obligations shall be classified as Costs
hereunder but shall be segregated into a separate account.
15.0
|
PAYMENT
OF MINE COSTS
|
15.1 The
Operator may invoice each Participant, from time to time, for that Participant’s
Proportionate Share of Construction Costs or Operating Costs incurred to the
date of the invoice, or at the beginning of each month for an advance equal to
that Participant’s Proportionate Share of the estimated cash disbursements to be
made during the month. Each Participant shall pay its Proportionate
Share of the Construction Costs or Operating Costs or the estimated cash
disbursements aforesaid to the Operator within 30 days after receipt of the
invoice. If the payment or advance requested is not so made, the
amount of the payment or advance shall bear interest calculated monthly not in
advance from the 30th day
after the date of receipt of the invoice thereof by that Participant at a rate
equivalent to the weighted average Prime Rate for the month plus 3% until paid. The
Operator shall have a lien on each Participant’s Interest in order to secure
that payment or advance together with interest which has accrued
thereon.
15.2 If
any Participant fails to pay an invoice contemplated in Section 15.1 within
the 30-day period aforesaid, the Operator may, by notice, demand
payment. If no payment is made within 30 days of the Operator’s
demand notice, the Operator may, without limiting its other rights at law,
enforce the lien created by Section 15.1 by taking possession of all or any
part of that Participant’s Interest. The Operator may sell and
dispose of the Interest which it has so taken into its possession
by:
|
(a)
|
first
offering that Interest to the other Participants, if more than one then in
proportion to the respective Interests of the Participants who wish to
accept that offer, for that price which is the fair market value stated in
the lower of two appraisals obtained by the Operator from independent,
well recognized appraisers competent in the appraisal of mining
properties; and
|
|
(b)
|
if
the Participants have not purchased all or part of that Interest as
aforesaid, then by selling the balance, if any, either in whole or in part
or in separate parcels at public auction or by private tender (the
Participants being entitled to bid) at a time and on whatever terms the
Operator shall arrange, having first given notice to the defaulting
Participant of the time and place of the
sale.
|
As a
condition of the sale as contemplated in Section 15.2(b), the purchaser
shall agree to be bound by this Agreement and, prior to acquiring the Interest,
shall deliver notice to that effect to the parties, in form acceptable to the
Operator. The proceeds of the sale shall be applied by the Operator
in payment of the amount due from the defaulting Participant and interest as
aforesaid, and the balance remaining, if any, shall be paid to the defaulting
Participant after deducting reasonable costs of the sale. Any sale or
disposal made as aforesaid shall be a perpetual bar both at law and in equity by
the defaulting Participant and its successors and assigns against all other
Participants.
16.0
|
DISTRIBUTION
IN KIND
|
16.1 It
is expressly intended that, upon implementation of any Production Notice
hereunder, the association of the parties hereto shall be limited to the
efficient production of Minerals from the Property and related activities, and
that each of the parties shall be entitled to use, dispose of or otherwise deal
with its Proportionate Share of Minerals as it sees fit. Each
Participant shall take in kind, f.o.b. truck or railcar on the Property, and
separately dispose of its Proportionate Share of the Minerals produced from the
Mine. From the time of delivery, each Participant shall have
ownership of and title to its Proportionate Share of Minerals separate from, and
not as tenant in common with, the other Participants, and shall bear all risk of
loss of Minerals. Extra costs and expenses incurred by reason of the
Participants taking in kind and making separate dispositions shall be paid by
each Participant directly and not through the Operator or Management
Committee.
16.2 Each
Participant shall construct, operate and maintain, all at its own cost and
expense, any and all facilities which may be necessary to receive and store and
dispose of its Proportionate Share of the Minerals at the rate the same are
produced.
16.3 If
a Participant has not made the necessary arrangements to take in kind and store
its share of production as aforesaid the Operator shall, at the sole cost and
risk of that Participant store, in any location where it will not interfere with
Mining Operations, the production owned by that Participant. The
Operator and the other parties shall be under no responsibility with respect
thereto. All of the Costs involved in arranging and providing storage
shall be billed directly to, and be the sole responsibility of the Participant
whose share of production is so stored. The Operator’s charges for
such assistance and any other related matters shall be billed directly to and be
the sole responsibility of the Participant. All such xxxxxxxx shall
be subject to the provisions of Sections 15.1 and 15.2 hereof.
17.0
|
SURRENDER
OF INTEREST
|
17.1 Any
party not in default hereunder may, at any time upon notice, surrender its
entire Interest to the other parties by giving those parties notice of
surrender. The notice of surrender shall:
|
(a)
|
indicate
a date for surrender not less than three months after the date on which
the notice is given; and
|
|
(b)
|
contain
an undertaking that the surrendering party
will:
|
|
(i)
|
satisfy
its Proportionate Share, based on its then Interest, of all obligations
and liabilities which arose at any time prior to the date of
surrender;
|
|
(ii)
|
if
the Operator has not included in Mine Costs the costs of continuing
obligations as set out in Section 14.4 hereof, pay on the date of
surrender its reasonably estimated Proportionate Share, based on the
surrendering party’s then Interest, of the Costs of rehabilitating the
Mine site and of reclamation based on the Mining Operations completed as
at the date of surrender; and
|
|
(iii)
|
will
hold in confidence, for a period of two years from the date of surrender,
all information and data which it acquired pursuant to this
Agreement.
|
17.2 Upon
the surrender of its entire Interest as contemplated in Section 17.1 and
upon delivery of a release in writing, in form acceptable to counsel for the
Operator, releasing the other parties from all claims and demands hereunder, the
surrendering party shall be relieved of all obligations or liabilities hereunder
except for those which arose or accrued or were accruing due on or before the
date of the surrender.
17.3 A
party to whom a notice of surrender has been given as contemplated in
Section 17.1 may elect, by notice within 90 days to the party which
first gave the notice to accept the surrender, in which case Sections 17.1
and 17.2 shall apply, or to join in the surrender. If all of the
parties join in the surrender the Joint Operation shall be terminated in
accordance with Section 18.0.
18.0
|
TERMINATION
OF MINING OPERATIONS
|
18.1 The
Operator may, at any time subsequent to the Completion Date, on at least
30 days’ notice to all Participants, recommend that the Management
Committee approve that the Mining Operations be suspended. The
Operator’s recommendation shall include a plan and budget (in this
Section 18.0 called the “Mine Maintenance Plan”), in
reasonable detail, of the activities to be performed to maintain the Assets and
Property during the period of suspension and the Costs to be
incurred. The Management Committee may, by Special Majority, at any
time subsequent to the Completion Date, cause the Operator to suspend Mining
Operations in accordance with the Operator’s recommendation with such changes to
the Mine Maintenance Plan as the Management Committee deems
necessary. The Participants shall be committed to contribute their
Proportionate Share of the Costs incurred in connection with the Mine
Maintenance Plan. The Management Committee, by Special Majority, may
cause Mining Operations to be resumed at any time.
18.2 The
Operator may, at any time following a period of at least 90 days during
which Mining Operations have been suspended, upon at least 30 days’ notice
to all Participants, or in the events described in Section 18.1, recommend
that the Management Committee approve the permanent termination of Mining
Operations. The Operator’s recommendation shall include a plan and
budget (in this Section 18.0 called the “Mine Closure Plan”), in
reasonable detail, of the activities to be performed to close the Mine and
reclaim and rehabilitate the Property, as required by applicable law, regulation
or contract by reason of this Agreement. The Management Committee
may, by unanimous approval of the representatives of all Participants, approve
the Operator’s recommendation with such changes to the Mine Closure Plan as the
Management Committee deems necessary.
18.3 If
the Management Committee approves the Operator’s recommendation as aforesaid, it
shall cause the Operator to:
|
(a)
|
implement
the Mine Closure Plan, whereupon the Participants shall be committed to
pay, in proportion to their respective Interests, such Costs as may be
required to implement that Mine Closure
Plan;
|
|
(b)
|
remove,
sell and dispose of such Assets as may reasonably be removed and disposed
of profitably and such other Assets as the Operator may be required to
remove pursuant to applicable environmental and mining laws;
and
|
|
(c)
|
sell,
abandon or otherwise dispose of the Assets and the
Property.
|
The
disposal price for the Assets and the Property shall be the best price
reasonably obtainable and the net revenues, if any, from the removal and sale
shall be credited to the Participants in proportion to their respective
Interests.
18.4 If
the Management Committee does not approve the Operator’s recommendation
contemplated in Section 18.2, the Operator shall maintain Mining Operations
in accordance with the Mine Maintenance Plan as pursuant to
Section 18.1.
19.0
|
THE
PROPERTY
|
19.1 Title
to the Property shall be held in the name of Source solely. Source
holds this title in trust for the parties in proportion to their respective
Interests as adjusted from time to time. Each of the parties shall
have the right to receive, forthwith upon making demand therefore from the
Operator, such documents as it may reasonably require confirming its
Interest.
19.2 This
Agreement, or a memorandum of this Agreement, shall be maintained by each party
but shall not be recorded in the office of any governmental agency until such
time as an operating mine is proposed under an agreed feasibility
plan. Each party hereby covenants and agrees with any requesting
party to execute such documents as may be necessary confirm current Interest
from time to time.
20.0
|
AREA
OF COMMON INTEREST
|
20.1 The
area of common interest shall be deemed to comprise that area which is included
within the outermost boundary of the mineral properties which constitute the
Property as at the Operative Date.
20.2 If
at any time during the subsistence of this Agreement any party or the Affiliate
of any party (in this Section only called in each case the “Acquiring Party”) stakes or
otherwise acquires, directly or indirectly, any right to or interest in any
mining claim, license, lease, grant, concession, permit, patent, or other
mineral property located wholly or partly within the area of interest referred
to in Section 20.1, the Acquiring Party shall forthwith give notice to the
other parties of that staking or acquisition, the total cost thereof and all
details in the possession of that party with respect to the details of the
acquisition, the nature of the property and the known
mineralization.
20.3 The
Management Committee (the representative of the Acquiring Party being entitled
to vote with respect thereto) may, within 30 days of receipt of the
Acquiring Party’s notice, elect, by notice to the Acquiring Party, to require
that the mineral properties and the right or interest acquired be included in
and thereafter form part of the Property for all purposes of this
Agreement.
20.4 If
the election aforesaid is made, all the other parties shall reimburse the
Acquiring Party for that portion of the cost of acquisition which is equivalent
to their respective Interests.
20.5 If
the Management Committee does not make the election aforesaid within that period
of 30 days, the right or interest acquired shall not form part of the
Property and the Acquiring Party shall be solely entitled thereto.
20.6 Notwithstanding
Section 6.4(e), the Operator shall be entitled, at any time and from time
to time to surrender all or any part of the Property or to permit the same to
lapse, but only upon first either obtaining the unanimous consent of the
Management Committee, and
giving 60 days’ notice of its intention to do so to the other
parties. In this latter event, the parties, other than the Operator,
shall be entitled to receive from the Operator, on request prior to the date of
the surrender or lapse, pro
rata in accordance with
their respective Interests, a conveyance of that portion of the Property
intended for surrender or lapse, together with copies of any plans, assay maps,
diamond drill records and factual engineering data in the Operator’s possession
and relevant thereto. Any part of the Property so acquired shall
cease to be subject to this Agreement and shall not be subject to
Section 20.2. Any part of the Property which has not been so
acquired by any of the parties shall remain subject to
Section 20.2.
21.0
|
INFORMATION
AND DATA
|
21.1 At
all times during the subsistence of this Agreement the duly authorized
representatives of each Participant shall, at its and their sole risk and
expense and at reasonable intervals and times, have access to the Property and
to all technical records and other factual engineering data and information
relating to the Property which is in the possession of the
Operator.
21.2 During
the Exploration Period while Programs are being carried out, the Operator shall
furnish the Participants with once every four months progress reports and with a
final report within 60 days following the conclusion of each
Program. The final report shall show the Mining Operations performed
and the results obtained and shall be accompanied by a statement of Costs and
copies of pertinent plans, assay maps, diamond drill records and other factual
engineering data. During the Construction Period and during the
implementation of an Operating Plan the Operator shall provide monthly progress
reports to the Participants, which report shall include information on any
changes or developments affecting the Mine that the Operator considers are
material.
21.3 All
information and data concerning or derived from the Mining Operations shall be
kept confidential and, except to the extent required by law or by regulation of
any Securities Commission or Stock Exchange, shall not be disclosed to any
person other than an Affiliate without the prior consent of all the
Participants, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld.
21.4 The
text of any news releases or other public statements which a party intends to
make with respect to the Property or this Agreement shall, to the extent
practicable, be made available to the other parties prior to publication and the
other parties shall have the right to make suggestions for changes
therein.
22.0
|
LIABILITY
OF THE OPERATOR
|
22.1 Subject
to Section 22.2, each party shall indemnify and save the Operator harmless
from and against any loss, liability, claim, demand, damage, expense, injury or
death (including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, legal fees)
resulting from any acts or omissions of the Operator or its officers, employees
or agents.
22.2 Notwithstanding
Section 22.1, the Operator shall not be indemnified nor held harmless by
any of the parties for any loss, liability, claim, damage, expense, injury or
death, (including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, legal fees)
resulting from the negligence or willful misconduct of the Operator or its
officers, employees or agents.
22.3 An
act or omission of the Operator or its officers, employees or agents done or
omitted to be done:
|
(a)
|
at
the direction of, or with the concurrence of, the Management Committee;
or
|
|
(b)
|
unilaterally
and in good faith by the Operator to protect life or
property,
|
shall be
deemed not to be negligence or willful misconduct.
22.4 The
obligation of each party to indemnify and save the Operator harmless pursuant to
Section 22.1 shall be in proportion to its Interest as at the date that the
loss, liability, claim, demand, damage, expense, injury or death occurred or
arose. For greater certainty, it is hereby acknowledged and agreed
that the participation by a party as Operator shall not absolve such party from
their proportionate indemnification and contribution contemplated under this
Article 22.0.
22.5 The
Operator shall not be liable to any other party nor shall any party be liable to
the Operator in contract, tort or otherwise for special or consequential
damages, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, loss of
profits or revenues.
23.0
|
INSURANCE
|
23.1 Commencing
on the Operative Date, the Management Committee shall cause the Operator to
place and maintain with a reputable insurer or insurers such insurance, if any,
as the Management Committee in its discretion deems advisable in order to
protect the parties together with such other insurance as any Participant may by
notice reasonably request. The Operator shall, upon the written
request of any Participant, provide it with evidence of that
insurance.
23.2 Section 23.1
shall not preclude any party from placing, for its own account insurance for
greater or other coverage than that placed by the Operator.
24.0
|
RELATIONSHIP
OF PARTIES
|
24.1 The
rights, duties, obligations and liabilities of the parties shall be several and
not joint nor joint and several, it being the express purpose and intention of
the parties that their respective Interests shall be held as tenants in
common.
24.2 Nothing
herein contained shall be construed as creating a partnership of any kind or as
imposing upon any party any partnership duty, obligation or liability to any
other party hereto.
24.3 No
party shall, except when required by this Agreement or by any law, bylaw,
ordinance, rule, order or regulation, use, suffer or permit to be used, directly
or indirectly, the name of any other party for any purpose related to the
Property or this Agreement.
25.0
|
PARTITION
|
25.1 Each
of the parties hereto waives, during the term of this Agreement, any right to
partition of the Property or the Assets or any part thereof and no party shall
seek to be entitled to partition of the Property or the Assets whether by way of
physical partition, judicial sale or otherwise during the term of this
Agreement.
26.0
|
TAXATION
|
26.1 All
Costs incurred hereunder shall be for the account of the party or parties making
or incurring the same, if more than one then in proportion to their respective
Interests, and each party on whose behalf any Costs have been incurred shall be
entitled to claim all tax benefits, write-offs, and deductions with respect
thereto.
27.0
|
FORCE
MAJEURE
|
27.1 Notwithstanding
anything herein contained to the contrary, if any Participant is prevented from
or delayed in performing any obligation under this Agreement, and such failure
is occasioned by any cause beyond its reasonable control, excluding only lack of
finances, then, subject to Section 27.2, the time for the observance of the
condition or performance of the obligation in question shall be extended for a
period equivalent to the total period the cause of the prevention or delay
persists or remains in effect regardless of the length of such total
period.
27.2 Any
party hereto claiming suspension of its obligations as aforesaid shall promptly
notify the other parties to that effect and shall take all reasonable steps to
remove or remedy the cause and effect of the force majeure described in the said
notice insofar as it is reasonably able so to do and as soon as possible;
provided that the terms of settlement of any labour disturbance or dispute,
strike or lockout shall be wholly in the discretion of the party claiming
suspension of its obligations by reason thereof, and that party shall not be
required to accede to the demands of its opponents in any such labour
disturbance or dispute, strike, or lockout solely to remedy or remove the force
majeure thereby constituted. The party claiming suspension of its
obligations shall promptly notify the other parties when the cause of the Force
Majeure has been removed.
27.3 The
extension of time for the observance of conditions or performance of obligations
as a result of force majeure shall not relieve the Operator from its obligations
to keep the Property in good standing pursuant to Sections 6.4(a) and
6.4(e).
28.0
|
NOTICE
|
28.1 All
invoices, notices, consents and demands under this Agreement shall be in writing
and may be delivered personally, transmitted by fax (with transmission confirmed
in writing), or may be forwarded by first class prepaid registered mail to the
address for each party specified in this Agreement or to such addresses as each
party may from time to time specify by notice. Any notice delivered
or sent by fax shall be deemed to have been given and received on the business
day next following the date of delivery or transmission. Any notice
mailed as aforesaid shall be deemed to have been given and received on the fifth
business day following the date it is posted, provided that if between the time
of mailing and the actual receipt of the notice there shall be a mail strike,
slowdown or other labour dispute which affects delivery of the notice by mails,
then the notice shall be effective only if actually delivered.
29.0
|
WAIVER
|
29.1 No
waiver of any breach of this Agreement shall be binding unless evidenced in
writing executed by the party against whom charged. Any waiver shall extend only
to the particular breach so waived and shall not limit any rights with respect
to any future breach.
30.0
|
AMENDMENTS
|
30.1 This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof. An amendment or variation of
this Agreement shall only be binding upon a party if evidenced in writing
executed by that party.
31.0
|
TERM
|
31.1 Unless
earlier terminated by agreement of all parties having an Interest or as a result
of one party acquiring a 100% Interest in the Joint Operation, this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect for so long as any party has any right,
title or interest in the Property. Termination of this Agreement
shall not, however, relieve any party from any obligations theretofore accrued
but unsatisfied, nor from its obligations with respect to rehabilitation of the
Mine site and reclamation.
32.0
|
TIME
OF ESSENCE
|
32.1 Time
is of the essence of this Agreement.
33.0
|
ASSIGNMENT
¾
RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL
|
33.1 If
a party (hereinafter in this Section referred to as the “Owner”):
|
(a)
|
receives
a bona fide offer
from an independent third party (the “Proposed Purchaser”)
dealing at arm’s length with the Owner to purchase all or any part all of
the Owner’s Interest or its interest in this Agreement which offer the
Owner desires to accept; or
|
|
(b)
|
if
the Owner intends to sell all or any part of its Interest or its interest
in this Agreement.
|
The Owner shall first offer (the “Offer”) such interest in
writing to the other party upon terms no less favourable than those offered by
the Proposed Purchaser or intended to be offered by the Owner, as the case may
be. The Offer shall specify the price and terms and conditions of
such sale, the name of the Proposed Purchaser (which term shall, in the case of
an intended offer by the Owner, mean the person or persons to whom the Owner
intends to offer its interest) and, if the offer received by the Owner from the
Proposed Purchaser provides for any consideration payable to the Owner otherwise
than in cash, the Offer shall include the Owner’s good faith estimate of the
cash equivalent of the non-cash consideration. If within a period of
60 days of the receipt of the Offer, the other party notifies the Owner in
writing that it will accept the same, the Owner shall be bound to sell such
interest to the other party (subject as hereinafter provided with respect to
price) on the terms and conditions of the Offer. If the Offer so
accepted by the other party contains the Owner’s good faith estimate of the cash
equivalent consideration as aforesaid, and if the other party disagrees with the
Owner’s best estimate, the other party shall so notify the Owner at the time of
acceptance and the other party shall, in such notice, specify what it considers,
in good faith, the fair cash equivalent to be and the resulting total purchase
price. If the other party so notifies the Owner, the acceptance by
the other party shall be effective and binding upon the Owner and the other
party and the cash equivalent of any such non-cash consideration shall be
determined by binding arbitration under the Commercial Arbitration Act
(British Columbia) and shall be payable by the other party, subject to
prepayment as hereinafter provided, within 60 days following its
determination by arbitration. The other party shall in such case pay
to the Owner, against receipt of an absolute transfer of clear and unencumbered
title to the interest of the Owner being sold, the total purchase price which it
specified in its notice to the Owner and such amount shall be credited to the
amount determined following arbitration of the cash equivalent of any non-cash
consideration. If the other party fails to notify the Owner before
the expiration of the time limited therefor that it will purchase the interest
offered, the Owner may sell and transfer such interest to the Proposed Purchaser
at the price and on the terms and conditions specified in the Offer for a period
of 60 days, provided that the terms of this Section shall again apply to
such interest if the sale to the Proposed Purchaser is not completed within the
said 60 days. Any sale hereunder shall be conditional upon the
Proposed Purchaser delivering a written undertaking to the other party, in form
and content satisfactory to its counsel, to be bound by the terms and conditions
of this Agreement.
34.0
|
SUCCESSORS
AND ASSIGNS
|
34.1 This
Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto
and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
35.0
|
GOVERNING
LAW
|
35.1 This
Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of
the Province of British Columbia.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto
have executed this agreement as of the day and year first above
written.
THUNDER
BAY MINERALS INC.
per/s/Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, President
per/s/Xxxxx Bydgnes
Xxxxx
Bydgnes, President
SCHEDULE A
ACCOUNTING
PROCEDURE
1.0 INTERPRETATION
1.1 Terms
defined in the Agreement shall, subject to any contrary intention, have the same
meanings herein. In this Schedule the following words, phrases and
expressions shall have the following meanings:
|
“Agreement” means the
Agreement to which this Accounting Procedure is attached as
Schedule A.
|
|
“Count” means a physical
inventory count.
|
|
“Employee” means those
employees of the Operator who are assigned to and directly engaged in the
conduct of Mining Operations, whether on a full-time or part-time
basis.
|
|
“Employee Benefits” means
the Operator’s cost of holiday, vacation, sickness, disability benefits,
field bonuses, amounts paid to and the Operator’s costs of established
plans for employee’s group life insurance, hospitalization, pension,
retirement and other customary plans maintained for the benefit of
Employees and Personnel, as the case may be, which costs may be charged as
a percentage assessment on the salaries and wages of Employees or
Personnel, as the case may be, on a basis consistent with the Operator’s
cost experience.
|
|
“Field Offices” means the
necessary sub-office or sub-offices in each place where a Program or
Construction is being conducted or a Mine is being
operated.
|
|
“Government
Contributions” means the cost or contributions made by the Operator
pursuant to assessments imposed by governmental authority which are
applicable to the salaries or wages of Employees or Personnel, as the case
may be.
|
|
“Joint Account” means the
books of account maintained by the Operator to record all assets,
liabilities, costs, expenses, credits and other transactions arising out
of or in connection with the Mining
Operations.
|
|
“Material” means the
personal property, equipment and supplies acquired or held, at the
direction or with the approval of the Management Committee, for use in the
Mining Operations and, without limiting the generality, more particularly
“Controllable
Material” means such Material which is ordinarily classified as
Controllable Material, as that classification is determined or approved by
the Management Committee, and controlled in mining
operations.
|
|
“Personnel” means those
management, supervisory, administrative, clerical or other personnel of
the Operator normally associated with the Supervision Offices whose
salaries and wages are charged directly to the Supervision Office in
question.
|
|
“Reasonable Expenses”
means the reasonable expenses of Employees or Personnel, as the case may
be, for which those Employees or Personnel may be reimbursed under the
Operator’s usual expense account practice, as accepted by the Management
Committee; including without limiting generality, any relocation expenses
necessarily incurred in order to properly staff the Mining Operations if
the relocation is approved by the Management
Committee.
|
|
“Supervision Offices”
means the Operator’s offices or department within the Operator’s offices
from which the Mining Operations are generally
supervised.
|
A-1
2.0 STATEMENTS
AND XXXXXXXX
2.1 The
Operator shall, by invoice, charge each Participant with its Proportionate Share
of Exploration Costs and Mine Costs in the manner provided in Sections 7.0
and 15.0 of the Agreement respectively.
2.2 The
Operator shall deliver, with each invoice rendered for Costs incurred a
statement indicating:
|
(a)
|
all
charges or credits to the Joint Account relating to Controllable Material;
and
|
|
(b)
|
all
other charges and credits to the Joint Account summarized by appropriate
classification indicative of the nature of the charges and
credits.
|
2.3 The
Operator shall deliver with each invoice for an advance of Costs a statement
indicating:
|
(a)
|
the
estimated Exploration Costs or, in the case of Mine Costs the estimated
cash disbursements, to be made during the next succeeding
month;
|
|
(b)
|
the
addition thereto or subtraction therefrom, as the case may be, made in
respect of Exploration Costs or Mine Costs actually having been incurred
in an amount greater or lesser than the advance which was made by each
Participant for the penultimate month preceding the month of the invoice;
and
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|
(c)
|
the
advances made by each Participant to date and the Exploration Costs or
Mine Costs incurred to the end of the penultimate month preceding the
month of the invoice.
|
3.0 DIRECT
CHARGES
3.1 The
Operator shall charge the Joint Account with the following items:
|
(a)
|
Contractor’s
Charges:
|
|
All
costs directly relating to the Mining Operations incurred under contracts
entered into by the Operator with third
parties.
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(b)
|
Labour
Charges:
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(i)
|
The
salaries and wages of Employees in an amount calculated by taking the full
salary or wage of each Employee multiplied by that fraction which has as
its numerator the total time for the month that the Employees were
directly engaged in the conduct of Mining Operations and as its
denominator the total normal working time for the month of the
Employee;
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|
(ii)
|
the
Reasonable Expenses of the Employees;
and
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|
(iii)
|
Employee
Benefits and Government Contributions in respect of the Employees in an
amount proportionate to the charge made to the Joint Account in respect to
their salaries and wages.
|
A-2
|
(c)
|
Office
Maintenance:
|
|
(i)
|
The
cost or a pro
rata portion of the costs, as the case may be, of maintaining and
operating the Field Offices and the Supervision Offices. The
basis for charging the Joint Account for such maintenance costs shall be
as follows:
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(A)
|
the
expense of maintaining and operating Field Offices, less any revenue
therefrom; and
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|
(B)
|
that
portion of maintaining and operating the Supervision Offices which is
equal to:
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(1)
|
the
anticipated total operating expenses of the Supervision
Offices
|
|
divided
by:
|
|
(2)
|
the
anticipated total staff man days for the Employees whether in connection
with the Mining Operations or not;
|
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multiplied
by:
|
|
(3)
|
the
actual total time spent on the Mining Operations by the Employee expressed
in man days;
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|
(ii)
|
without
limiting generality, the anticipated total operating expenses of the
Supervision Offices shall include:
|
|
(A)
|
the
salaries and wages of the Operator’s Personnel which have been directly
charged to the Supervision Offices;
|
|
(B)
|
the
Reasonable Expense of the Personnel;
and
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|
(C)
|
Employee
Benefits; and
|
|
(iii)
|
the
Operator shall make an adjustment in respect of the Office Maintenance
cost forthwith after the end of each Operating Year upon having determined
the actual operating expenses and actual total staff man days referred to
in Section 3.1(c)(i)(B) of this
Schedule A.
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(d)
|
Material:
|
|
Material
purchased or furnished by the Operator for use on the Property as provided
under Section 4.0 of this
Schedule A.
|
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(e)
|
Transportation
Charges:
|
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The
cost of transporting Employees and Material necessary for the Mining
Operations.
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(f)
|
Service
Charges:
|
|
(i)
|
The
cost of services and utilities procured from outside sources other than
services covered by Section 3.1(h). The cost of consultant
services shall not be charged to the Joint Account unless the retaining of
the consultant is approved in advance by the Management Committee;
and
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(ii)
|
use
and service of equipment and facilities furnished by the Operator as
provided in Section 4.4 of this
Schedule A.
|
A-3
|
(g)
|
Damages and Losses to
Joint Property:
|
|
All
costs necessary for the repair or replacement of Assets made necessary
because of damages or losses by fire, flood, storms, theft, accident or
other cause. If the damage or loss is estimated by the Operator
to exceed $10,000, the Operator shall furnish each Participant with
written particulars of the damages or losses incurred as soon as
practicable after the damage or loss has been discovered. The
proceeds, if any, received on claims against any policies of insurance in
respect of those damages or losses shall be credited to the Joint
Account.
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(h)
|
Legal
Expense:
|
|
All
costs of handling, investigating and settling litigation or recovering the
Assets, including, without limiting generality, attorney’s fees, court
costs, costs of investigation or procuring evidence and amounts paid in
settlement or satisfaction of any litigation or claims; provided, however,
that, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Management Committee, no
charge shall be made for the services of the Operator’s legal staff or the
fees and expenses of outside
solicitors.
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(i)
|
Taxes:
|
|
All
taxes, duties or assessments of every kind and nature (except income
taxes) assessed or levied upon or in connection with the Property, the
Mining Operations thereon, or the production therefrom, which have been
paid by the Operator for the benefit of the
parties.
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(j)
|
Insurance:
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|
Net
premiums paid for:
|
|
(i)
|
such
policies of insurance on or in connection with Mining Operations as may be
required to be carried by law; and
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(ii)
|
such
other policies of insurance as the Operator may carry for the protection
of the parties in accordance with the Agreement;
and
|
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the
applicable deductibles in event of an insured
loss.
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(k)
|
Rentals:
|
|
Fees,
rentals and other similar charges required to be paid for acquiring,
recording and maintaining permits, mineral claims and mining leases and
rentals and royalties which are paid as a consequence of the Mining
Operations.
|
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(l)
|
Permits:
|
|
Permit
costs, fees and other similar charges which are assessed by various
governmental agencies.
|
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(m)
|
Other
Expenditures:
|
|
Such
other costs and expenses which are not covered or dealt with in the
foregoing provisions of this Section 3.1 of this Schedule A as
are incurred with the approval of the Management Committee for Mining
Operations or as may be contemplated in the
Agreement.
|
A-4
4.0 PURCHASE
OF MATERIAL
4.1 Subject
to Section 4.4 of this Schedule A the Operator shall purchase all
Materials and procure all services required in the Mining
Operations.
4.2 Materials
purchased and services procured by the Operator directly for the Mining
Operations shall be charged to the Joint Account at the price paid by the
Operator less all discounts actually received.
4.3 Any
Participant may sell Material or services required in the Mining Operations to
the Operator for such price and upon such terms and conditions as the Management
Committee may approve.
4.4 Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.0, the Operator, after having
obtained the prior approval of the Management Committee, shall be entitled to
supply for use in connection with the Mining Operations equipment and facilities
which are owned by the Operator and to charge the Joint Account with such
reasonable costs as are commensurate with the ownership and use
thereof.
5.0 DISPOSAL
OF MATERIAL
5.1 The
Operator, with the approval of the Management Committee may, from time to time,
sell any Material which has become surplus to the foreseeable needs of the
Mining Operations for the best price and upon the most favourable terms and
conditions available.
5.2 Any
Participant may purchase from the Operator any Material which may from time to
time become surplus to the foreseeable need of the Mining Operations for such
price and upon such terms and conditions as the Management Committee may
approve.
5.3 Upon
termination of the Agreement, the Management Committee may approve the division
of any Material held by the Operator at that date, which Material may be taken
by the Participants in kind or be taken by a Participant in lieu of a portion of
its Proportionate Share of the net revenues received from the disposal of the
Assets and Property. If the division to a Participant be in lieu, it
shall be for such price and on such terms and conditions as the Management
Committee may approve.
5.4 The
net revenues received from the sale of any Material to third parties or to a
Participant shall be credited to the Joint Account.
6.0 INVENTORIES
6.1 The
Operator shall maintain records of Material in reasonable detail and records of
Controllable Material in detail.
6.2 The
Operator shall perform Counts from time to time at reasonable intervals, and in
any event at the end of each calendar year. The independent external
auditor of the Operator shall be given reasonable notice of each Count, and
shall be given the opportunity to attend the Count.
6.3 Forthwith
after performing a Count, the Operator shall reconcile the inventory with the
Joint Account. The Operator shall not be held accountable for any
shortages of inventory except such shortages as may have arisen due to a lack of
diligence on the part of the Operator.
7.0 ADJUSTMENTS
7.1 Payment
of any invoice by a Participant shall not prejudice the right of that
Participant to protest the correctness of the statement supporting the payment;
provided, however, that all invoices and statements presented to each
Participant by the Operator during any calendar year shall conclusively be
presumed to be true and correct upon the expiration of 12 months following
the end of the calendar year to which the invoice or statement relates, unless
within that 12-month period that Participant gives notice to the Operator making
claim on the Operator for an adjustment to the invoice or
statement.
A-5
7.2 The
Operator shall not adjust any invoice or statement in favour of itself after the
expiration of 12 months following the end of the calendar year to which the
invoice or statement relates.
7.3 Notwithstanding
Sections 7.1 and 7.2 of this Schedule A, the Operator may make
adjustments to an invoice or statement which arise out of a Count of Material or
Assets within 60 days of the completion of the Count.
7.4 A
Participant shall be entitled upon notice to the Operator to request that the
independent external auditor of the Operator provide that Participant with its
opinion that any invoice or statement delivered pursuant to the Agreement in
respect of the period referred to in Section 7.1 of this Schedule A
has been prepared in accordance with this Agreement.
7.5 The
time for giving the audit opinion contemplated in Section 7.4 of this
Schedule A shall not extend the time for the taking of exception to and
making claims on the Operator for adjustment as provided in Section 7.1 of
this Schedule A.
7.6 The
cost of the auditor’s opinion referred to in Section 7.4 of this
Schedule A shall be solely for the account of the Participant requesting
the auditor’s opinion, unless the audit disclosed a material error adverse to
that Participant, in which case the cost shall be solely for the account of the
Operator.
7.7 Upon
not less than 10 business days’ notice to the Operator, and no more frequently
than twice during the currency of each Operating Plan, a Participant shall be
entitled to inspect the Joint Account , at the location(s) where such records
are normally kept. All costs incurred in carrying out such inspection
shall be borne by the Participant. All disagreements or discrepancies
identified by the Participant shall be referred to the independent external
auditor for final resolution.
A-6
SCHEDULE
B
Description
of Subject Mineral Claims Twin Falls