Exhibit 10.2
JOINT VENTURE
CONTRACT
1. General Principles
THIS CONTRACT is made by and between
YUNNAN NONFERROUS GEOLOGY AND MINING LTD OF YUNNAN PROVINCE and
LUNA GOLD (CHINA) CORP. for the establishment of Xinan Mineral
Resources Co. Ltd. and the joint exploration and if successful
mining of viable deposits discovered in the Dongchuan and its
surrounding area, approximately **** km 2 (hereinafter
referred to as the " Dongchuan Project " or the " Project
Area ") in Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China ("PRC")
and other agreed projects in the PRC in accordance with the "Laws
of the People's Republic of China on Chinese-Foreign Cooperative
Enterprises" and other applicable relevant PRC laws and
regulations, based on the principle of equality and mutual benefits
and through friendly consultations. Unless the terms or context of
this CONTRACT otherwise provide, the words and phrases set out in
Appendix 1 shall have the meanings set out in that Appendix when
used in this CONTRACT and the Appendices hereto.
2. Parties to this CONTRACT
2.1 The parties to
this CONTRACT (hereinafter referred to jointly as the
"Parties" and individually as a
"Party" ) are
Yunnan Nonferrous Geology and
Mining Ltd. of Yunnan Province ( "Party A" ), a company
registered in Yunnan Province, PRC with its place of business at
"No. 93 Remin East Road, Kunming, Yunnan Province 650051, P.R.C.
"
Fax: 86-871-3177670
Legal Representative: Lang Zhijun
Position: Chairman
Nationality: Chinese
Luna Gold (China) Corp. (
"Party B" ), a subsidiary of Luna Gold Corp., or its
associated company, registered in British Virgin Islands with its
place of business at Suite 1600, 777 Dunsmuir Street, P.O. Box
10425, Pacific Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V7Y
1K4
Fax: (1-604) 688-0094 with copy to
Fax: (612) 9983 1682
Legal Representative: Lee Mun-Kit
Position: Chairman
Nationality: Australian
3. Establishment of Joint
Venture
3.1 Establishment of
Joint Venture
In accordance with the "Law of PRC on
Chinese-Foreign Co-operative Enterprises" and other applicable PRC
laws and regulations, Party A and Party B hereby
agree to establish a Sino-foreign cooperative joint venture company
in Yunnan Province, PRC.
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3.2 Name and
Address
The Chinese name of the Company
shall be: (tentative)
The English name of the Company
shall be Xinan Mineral Resources Co. Ltd. (Tentative)
The legal address of the
Company shall be: No.93 Ren Min Dong Rd., Kunming, Yunnan
Province, PRC.
3.3 Law
The Company shall be subject to the
jurisdiction and protection of the laws and regulations of PRC. All
activities shall be in compliance with the laws and regulations of
PRC.
3.4 Limited
Liability
The Company is a limited
liability company. The liability of Party A and Party
B shall be limited to the amount of their respective
contributions.
3.5 Formation of the
Company
The Company shall be established on
the date of the issuance of its business license.
3.6 Prior Act and
Indemnification
3.6.1 Subject to Article
3.6.2 below, neither Party shall be liable to the other
Party for any loss or damages claimed by any third party
arising from acts or events which occurred prior to and after the
date of the establishment of the Company . Subject to the
provisions in Article 3.4 above, the Company shall indemnify
each Party against any and all losses, damages or
liabilities suffered by each Party in respect of third party
claims arising out of the operation of the Company .
3.6.2 The Company
and Party B shall not be liable for any acts or omissions
that have occurred in the activities of the Project Area
prior to the assignment of the current Exploration Rights to
the Company , such acts or omissions to include, without
limitation, environmental pollution; and the Company and Party B
shall not be liable for any acts or omissions that might occur in
the future as a result of any actions by Party A including
without limitation any and all liabilities for environmental
pollutions . In case of any claim against the Company
and/or Party B for the liabilities for the foresaid acts and
omissions, Party A shall use its best endeavours to hold the
Company and/or Party B harmless from such claims and
shall indemnify the Company and Party B against any damages
and loss caused by such claims.
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3.7 Change of
Law
In the event that after the execution
of this CONTRACT and any Appendices hereto, the issuance,
amendment, supplement or rescission by government or any
subdivision or agency thereof of any applicable tax, customs,
foreign exchange or other laws, rules, regulations, policies or
changes of any interpretations thereof may allow treatment to the
Company or either of the Parties different to that
agreed in this CONTRACT, both Parties shall take appropriate
actions:
3.7.1 in case of a
favourable change to enable the Company or that Party
to receive that favourable treatment; or
3.7.2 in case of a
detrimental change, the Parties shall meet to resolve how to
deal with such changes but with the intent that the profit sharing
arrangements and the management and the control of the
Company shall not be altered from that provided in this
CONTRACT. If agreement cannot be reached, then the relevant issues
shall be determined in accordance with Article 17 of this
CONTRACT.
4. Purpose, Scope and Scale of Business
Operations
4.1 Purpose
The purpose of the Company is
initially to conduct prospecting and exploration work on the
Project Area (the "Pre-bankable Feasibility Study" ) and
thereafter, if Party B considers the results of the
Pre-bankable Feasibility Study justify it, to conduct a
bankable feasibility study in respect to the Project Area (
the "Bankable Feasibility Study" ) to investigate the
viability of mining the metals including but not limited to gold
and silver ores, copper, lead and zinc ores and iron ores in the
Project Area (the Pre-bankable Feasibility Study and
the Bankable Feasibility Study hereinafter shall
collectively be referred to as the "Bankable FS" ). If the
Board has determined to proceed with the Dongchuan Project
based on the Bankable FS , the Company shall
thereafter conduct the mining operations within the Project
Area , including without limitation, ongoing exploration,
development, production and sale of gold, gold concentrate, other
metals and minerals mined in any such mine or the Project
Area , by adopting advanced and appropriate technologies and
scientific management methods in order to achieve business results
satisfactory to both Parties .
4.2 Business Scope of
the Company
4.2.1 The Company
shall engage in prospecting, exploration, mining, development,
production and sale of gold, gold concentrates, other metals and
minerals (the "Products" ).
4.2.2 The
Products shall be sold by the Company as stipulated
by the prevailing PRC laws based on the international prices. IT
BEING THE INTENT that the Company shall obtain an
international marketing price permit as early as possible.
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4.2.3 After the
Parties agree that the activities of the Company may
be extended to include other projects in the PRC, subject to the
approval of the Board , Party A agrees to assist the
Company in every way possible to achieve all agreed new
activities.
4.3 Scale of Business
Operations
The actual production scale and the
total amount of the investment required to develop, mine and
produce Products from the Dongchuan Project shall be decided by the
Board based on the results of the Bankable Feasibility
Study and the then prevailing market conditions.
4.4 Project
Area
4.4.1 The Project
Area is defined by the map in Appendix 2 and covers an area
approximately 1,500 square kilometres. Party A currently
holds three Exploration Rights, namely a. Laohuoshan (101.46 sq.
km); b. Jiduosikeshu (100.68 sq. km) and c. -Xicha - Daliangzi
(40.48 sq km); and two Exploration Rights Application a. Budo (95.2
sq. km) and b. Lumuo (122.28 sq. km) within the Project Area
. The Exploration Rights and Exploration Right Applications are
detailed in Appendix 3 attached hereto. The Exploration Rights are
currently registered under the name of Party A subsidiary
entity Yunnan Non-ferrous Geology & Exploration Institute and
the Exploration Rights Applications have been submitted to relevant
governmental authority by Yunnan Non-ferrous Geology &
Exploration Institute.
4.4.2 Party A
shall provide all information on geology, past exploration and
mining activities it or any of its related units has at its or any
of its related unit's disposal to the Company so as to
enable the Company to select new areas and apply for or accept the
transfer of exploration and or mining rights in addition to the
existing exploration right currently being held by Party A
as included in the Appendix 2 and Appendix 3.
4.4.3 Party A
shall transfer all the exploration rights and/or any mining rights
it or any of its related units currently holds within the
Project Area to the Company upon the Company's
request. With the Company's written consent as approved by
the Board , Party A may, in its discretion, dispose
of any of the rights that are not selected by the Company
provided however that Party A is solely responsible for any
liabilities associated with any rights that it may decide to
dispose of in accordance with this Article 4.4.3
4.4.4 If either
Party or its related unit wishes to apply for exploration or
mining right for any particular area within the Project Area
, it must notify the Company first and grant the
Company the first right of refusal to apply for exploration
or mining right for such area. If the Company elects to file
such application and apply for such exploration or mining right
then the Company does not have to pay for such right. If the
Company elects not to proceed with such application, then
with the written consent of the Company , such Party
or its related unit may act freely, including act jointly with a
third party, provided that such Party shall be solely responsible
for any liabilities associated therewith.
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4.4.5 The Company
may, at any time during the term of this Contract, relinquish part
of the Project Area or may decide to relinquish the entire area
comprising the Project Area . Either Party has the
right to apply for exploration or mining right for the relinquished
area, provided that such Party shall be solely responsible
for any liabilities associated therewith. Upon either
Party's request, the Company will assist such
Party to do so.
5. Registered Capital, Total Amount of
Investment and Profit Distribution Ratio
5.1 Registered
Capital
5.1.1 The initial
registered capital of the Company shall be US$3.1 million
which is the amount estimated by Party B required to
complete the initial exploration work program in the Project
Area.
(A) Party B shall
be responsible for subscribing for the initial US$3.1 million worth
of registered capital according to the schedule in Article
6.2.2.
(B) Any additional
contribution to and increase of the Company registered capital
shall be done in accordance with Article 6.5.2, Article 6.8 and
Article 11.
5.2 Total amount of
investment
The total amount of investment by the
Company shall be US$ 6.2 million. The Company may satisfy
the difference between its registered capital and its total amount
of investment by procuring loans.
5.3 Profit
Distribution Ratio
Subject to Article 12, the profit
generated by the Company shall be distributed to the
Parties in proportion to their respective equity interest
percentage, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with this
Contract.
6. Provision of Cooperative
Conditions
6.1 Cooperative
Conditions to be Provided by Party A
6.1.1 Party A
shall provide the following as its initial cooperative condition
(the " Initial Cooperative Conditions ") to the
Company at the establishment of the Company :
(A) the Laohuoshan and
the Jiduosikeshu exclusive Exploration Rights (the Laohuoshan
Exploration License No. 5300000420019 and the Jiduosikeshu
Exploration License No.: 5300000310199) including any rights that
any of its related units currently hold in the Project Area.
Party A shall first acquire the above Exploration Rights in
its own name at its own cost and, then,apply to the relevant
government agency to transfer these Exploration Rights to the
Company and submit all documents required by such transfer
within 30 days of the Company being granted its business
licence and shall make its best endeavours to complete the transfer
within the shortest period possible. Party A shall provide to Party
B a copy of all abovementioned documents the soonest possible.
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(B) Party A
shall, immediately after the issuance of the Company's
business license, provide the Company with legal access to all part
of the Project Area for the purpose of undertaking exploration work
and preparing a geological report.
(C) all reports prepared
in respect of, the Project Area to enable the Company
to carry out initial exploration and complete the Bankable
FS.
(D) all data and plans
with respect to the geology, exploration and mining within the
Project Area at its or any of its related unit's disposal or
obtainable as provided in Article 4.4.2.;
(E) Party A will
provide technical staff and facilities to the Company at the
request of the Company or the General Manager as long
as the costs of such technical staff and facilities are competitive
in accordance with industry standards and approved by the
Company or the General Manager ; and [Comment: why
delete this?]
(F) Party A will
have priority to be contracted to perform exploration work by
Company as long as the contract charges will not be higher
than any other contractors and they can satisfy the Company
and the General Manager that the contract is carried out in
a professional and business like manner and meet the standards
required by the Company and the General Manager. Each
contract will be negotiated and signed by Party A or its
associated unit as the Contractor and the Company as
the client.
(G) If the Board
has determined to proceed with the development, mining and
production of the Dongchuan Project based on the results of the
Bankable FS, then Party A shall:
a. assist the
Company to apply for the exclusive Mining Right in the
Project Area in accordance with PRC laws;
b. assist the
Company to apply or secure for any land use rights required
and requested by the Company.
c. Provide additional
funding in accordance with Article 11;
d. assist the Company in
obtaining any other approvals, licenses or registration necessary
for mining operations.
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6.2 Cooperative
Conditions to be Provided by Party B
6.2.1 Party B
shall, subject to Article 6.7.1 and Article 18.3.2, provide the
following assets as its initial Cooperative Conditions:
(A) Cash in an amount of
US$ 3.1 million as contribution to the Company registered
capital.
(B) Any additional
funding required by the Company in accordance with Article 11.
(C) the technical and
management expertise necessary for the management of the business
of the Company .
6.2.2 Party B
shall pay the above US$ 3.1 million into the Company in accordance
with the following time schedule after Party A has completed its
contribution as provided in Article 6.1.1 (A) and (B):
|
Timing from Issuance
of Business License
|
Paid-in
registered
capital
|
|
Within three months
|
US$ 0.465 million
|
|
Within first year
|
US$0.135 million
|
|
Within second year
|
US$1.00 million
|
|
Within third year
|
US$1.50 million
|
|
Total
|
US$ 3.10 million
|
Within 45 days after the signing of
this CONTRACT, Party B will remit to Party A a sum of
US$0.10 million. This amount is an advance for expenses for
pre-operating expenses to obtain government approvals, business
licence and registration fees for the Company . This amount
shall be credited as part of Party B contribution to the
Company as in Article 6.2.1 (A). If this amount of
US$0.10million is not remitted within the 45 days, this CONTRACT
will be terminated without incurring any liability for breach of
contract on Party B unless Party A agrees to extend this 45
day period.
In the event that Party A fails to
perform any part of its contribution obligations, Party B shall
have the right to suspend its capital contribution until Party A's
failure has been rectified to Party B's satisfaction.
6.3 Representations
and Warranties
6.3.1 Party A
hereby represents and warrants that
(A) it has lawfully
obtained all permits required for exploring the reserves in the
Project Area from the appropriate governmental
authorities.
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(B) It is a company duly
established, validly existing and in good standing in accordance
with PRC laws;
(C) It holds all
necessary power and authorization and all necessary licenses and
permits to execute and perform this Contract and be bound by the
terms and conditions hereof. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Contract will not violate any provisions of its
Articles of Association, any obligations assumed by it under other
contracts to which it is a party and PRC laws;
(D) From the date hereof
to the date of transfer to the Company , the Exploration
Rights will be solely owned by Party A and free from any
third party's interests, and Party A is the only person
conducting exploration and mining activities within the Project
Area ;
(E) On the date of
contribution, there is no activity by any person within the spaces
and areas covered by the Exploration Rights to be
contributed or transferred by it to the Company, which may hinder
the transfer of the said rights to the Company, and there is no
disputes, potential or present, which may hinder the said transfer
and contribution to the Company under this Contract; and
(F) its representative
whose signature is affixed to this Contract has been duly
authorized to execute this Contract.
6.3.2 Party B
hereby represents and warrants that:
(A) Party B is a
company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of British Virgin Islands;
(B) Party B holds
all necessary power and authorization and all necessary licenses
and permits to execute and perform this Contract and be bound by
the terms and conditions hereof. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Contract by Party B will not violate any
provisions of Party B 's Articles of Association, any
obligations assumed by it under other contracts to which it is a
party and the laws of British Virgin Islands; and
(C) Party B 's
representative whose signature is affixed to this Contract has been
duly authorized to execute this Contract.
6.4 Schedule of
Provisions of Cooperative Conditions
6.4.1 Both
Parties shall, provide their respective cooperative
conditions to the Company in accordance with the applicable
PRC laws.
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6.4.2 Party B
shall, subject to the provisions of Articles 18.3.2, progressively
over the period as in schedule in Article 6.2.2 contribute its
cooperative conditions up to initial Registered Capital of US$3.1
million in accordance with Article 5.1.1 and based upon the needs
of the actual operations and requirements of the Company, as
determined by the Board , and as required by the PRC
laws.
6.5 Proportions of
Equity
The proportions of the equity of the
Company shall be decided by the cooperative conditions
contributed by the Parties as follows:
6.5.1 When both
Parties have made their initial Cooperative Conditions as
required under this CONTRACT, Party A shall hold 30% of the
shareholdings of the Company and Party B shall hold
70% of the shareholdings of the Company .
6.5.2 Party B
shall have the right to increase its shareholding in the Company
from 70% to 90% and reduce the shareholding of Party A from 30% to
10%, by investing an additional US$3.9 million into the Company
registered capital on a schedule as determined by the Board and by
paying a share transfer price or compensation fee to Party A
at a rate of 53.85% of this additional investment made by Party
B as such additional investment is being made but no more than
a total of US$2.1 million; both Parties agree that upon Party B
request to increase its shareholding ratio and its investment into
the Company registered capital as provided in this Article 6.5.2,
they shall make their best endeavours to make the directors they
respectively appoint to the Board of Directors to vote in favour of
Party B request and shall cooperate with each other in achieving
the increase of Party B shareholding ratio as provided herein.
6.5.3 When additional
capital contribution is required for the Bankable FS and the
completion of the Dongchuan Project as so decided by the
Board after Party B has completed its total capital
contribution (including its initial capital contribution and the
capital contribution provided in the preceding Art. 6.5.2), either
Party proportion of equity shall be determined in accordance with
Article 11.
6.6 Verification and
Certification
When any Party has completed
its total cooperative contribution, an accounting firm registered
in the PRC shall be engaged by the Company to verify such
contributions and issue a verification report to such effect. The
Company shall within 14 days thereafter provide an
investment certificate to that Party . Each certificate
shall bear the name of the Company , the date of its
establishment, the name of the Party and its cooperative
conditions required and the date of the issuance of the
contribution.
6.7 Operation
Unprofitable
6.7.1 Notwithstanding
any provisions herein, if the Board decides, at any time
during the term of this Contract, that, based upon the results of
the exploration work on the Project Area or based on the results of
the Pre-Bankable Feasibility Study or the Bankable FS
that the operation of the Dongchuan Project is unprofitable
then,
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neither Party has the
obligation to make any contribution in whatever form to the Company
other than those that have been already contributed to the
Company in respect to the Dongchuan Project.
6.7.2 In the event of
the Board decision under Article 6.7.1, unless the Parties
have agreed to enter into any other project or projects in respect
of the Dongchuan Project, the Parties shall terminate this
CONTRACT and dissolve the Company as provided in Articles
18.3.2 and Party B shall have no further interest in, or
liability with respect to the Dongchuan Project and the Company
shall return all materials, Exploration Rights and Mining Rights
with the exception that when Party B is entitled to a
residual interest as in Article 18.4.2.
6.8 Change of
Registered Capital of the Company
6.8.1 The Company
may increase, decrease, assign or otherwise change the registered
capital of the Company in light of its business needs in
accordance with the terms with this CONTRACT as well as the
approval of the Board and the original approval authority.
Once the Company has decided to make such changes, both
Parties shall consent and cooperate with the Company
to seek approval from the relevant government authorities.
6.8.2 Both Parties agree
that the increase of the Company registered capital shall be based
on the need to provide additional funding to the Bankable BF or to
the mining, construction, production and development within the
Project Area and that only Party B has the right to propose the
increase of the registered capital. Upon Party B proposal, both
Parties shall use their best endeavours to make the directors they
appointed to the Board to vote in favour of such increase and to
assist the Company in obtaining necessary approval by the original
approving authority for such increase. The increased registered
capital shall be contributed by both Parties in the ratio as
provided in Article 11, unless otherwise provided in Article
6.5.2.
7. Acquisition of Exploration Rights by the
Company
7.1 Existing
Exploration Rights
7.1.1 Party A shall,
within 30 days, submit the applications to competent approving
authorities for transferring to the Company Xicha -Daliangzi
Exploration Right (Exploration License No. 5300000310810); Budo
Exploration Right Application and Lumuo Exploration Right
Application, after so requested in writing by the Company
and shall do its best endeavours to complete the transfer within
the shortest period possible.
7.1.2 In consideration
of the transfer of the Exploration Rights as specified in the
preceding paragraph, the Company shall pay to Party A the purchase
price in accordance with the following time schedule and formula
after the Company has obtained the Exploration Licenses issued by
the competent authorities in respect of the Exploration Rights
transferred as specified in the preceding Article 7.1.1:
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|
Timing from the
issuance of the Business License
|
Amount paid to Party
A
equal to
|
|
Within 12 months
|
Paid-in registered capital within this period X 35% but no more
than US$ 210,000 *
|
|
Within 12 to 24 months
|
Paid-in registered capital within this period X 35% but no more
than US$ 350,000
|
|
Within 24 to 36 months
|
Paid-in registered capital within this period X 35% but no more
than US$ 525,000
|
7.1.3 The payment of the
transfer price as stipulated in Article 7.1.2 is condition upon the
Company has been provided fully and legal access to all parts of
the Project Area to conduct exploration work and Bankable BF. If
for whatever reason, the above condition (i), and (ii) is not
fulfilled, the Company shall have the right to suspend the payment
of purchase price to Party A until such unfulfillment is rectified
to the satisfaction of the Company and Party B.
8. Responsibilities of the
Parties
8.1 Responsibilities
of Party A
8.1.1 Party A
shall be responsible for
(A) fulfilling its
cooperative conditions in accordance with the terms and conditions
as provided under this CONTRACT;
(B) obtaining in the
Company's name all approvals, permits, licenses and
registrations from and with the PRC authorities for the due
establishment, the good standing and the normal operation of the
Company , including but not limited to obtaining favourable
tax treatment and filing of the international loan agreement with
the appropriate administration for exchange control in order to
repay any obligation or liability arising out thereof;
(C) assisting the
Company in obtaining all necessary credits or funds from
financial institutions inside or outside PRC for the business
operation of the Company as approved by the
Board;
(D) providing the
Company with all necessary documents for the purpose of
financing of the Dongchuan Project.
(E) assisting the
Company in applying for exploration licenses or mining
permits, in other areas not included within the Project Area
as directed from time to time by the Board;
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(F) assisting the
Company with the import of machinery, equipment, materials
and supplies required by the Company , and assisting with
the transportation thereof within the PRC as directed by the
Board ;
(G) assisting the
Company in obtaining Chinese machinery, equipment, external
water supply, transportation, communications and other items
required for the Company's operation at competitive prices
in accordance with local industry standards as approved by the
Board ;
(H) assisting the
Company in recruiting qualified Chinese employees and
obtaining all entry visas and work permits for the Company's
foreign staff and employees in accordance with applicable laws and
regulations, arranging lodging of the foreign staff and providing
office, local transportation and medical emergency; and
(I) assisting the
Company in handling other matters entrusted to it by the
Company from time to time.
8.2 The
Responsibilities of Party B
8.2.1 Party B
shall be responsible for:
(A) fulfilling its
cooperative conditions in accordance with the t