Form 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
From: October 14, 2009
IVANHOE MINES LTD.
(Translation of Registrants Name into English)
Suite 654 999 CANADA PLACE, VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA V6C 3E1
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of
Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)
Form 20-F- o Form 40-F- þ
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this form
is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)
Yes: o No: þ
(If Yes is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with
Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- .)
Enclosed:
Material Change Report
Shareholders Agreement
Investment Agreement
Treasury Bill Purchase Agreement
Form 51-102F3
Material Change Report
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REPORTING ISSUER |
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Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (Ivanhoe or the Company)
654 999 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1 |
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DATE OF MATERIAL CHANGE |
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October 6, 2009 |
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PRESS RELEASE |
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The press release was issued on October 6, 2009 and was disseminated through the facilities
of recognized newswire services. |
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SUMMARY OF MATERIAL CHANGE |
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The Company, its subsidiary, Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Inc. LLC (IMMI) and Rio Tinto
International Holdings Limited (Rio Tinto) have entered into an Investment Agreement with
the Government of Mongolia (the Investment Agreement) to define and regulate a
relationship among the parties for the construction and development of the Oyu Tolgoi copper
and gold mining project (the OT Project). The Investment Agreement provides for, among
other things, a framework for maintaining a stable tax and operational environment for the
OT Project, protection of the parties investment in the OT Project, the amount and term of
the parties investment in the OT Project, the right to realize the benefits of such
investment, the undertaking of mining activities with minimum damage to the environment and
human health, the rehabilitation of the environment, the social and economic development of
the Southern Gobi region and the creation of new jobs in Mongolia. |
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Concurrent with the execution of the Investment Agreement, IMMI and two indirect,
wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company, through which the Company holds its interest in
IMMI, entered into a Shareholders Agreement (the Shareholders Agreement) with Erdenes MGL
LLC (Erdenes), a company wholly-owned by the Government of Mongolia. The Shareholders
Agreement contemplates the basis upon which the Government of Mongolia will, through
Erdenes, acquire an initial 34% equity interest in the OT Project through a shareholding in
IMMI and provides for the respective rights and obligations of the parties as shareholders
of IMMI. |
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IMMI also entered into a Treasury Bill Purchase Agreement with the Government of Mongolia
(the T-Bill Agreement) pursuant to which IMMI has agreed to purchase from the Government,
in instalments, three discounted Treasury Bills with an aggregate face value of US$287.5
million for an aggregate purchase price of US$250 million. |
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FULL DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL CHANGE |
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The Company, its subsidiary, IMMI and Rio Tinto have entered into an Investment Agreement
with the Government of Mongolia to define and regulate a relationship among the parties for
the construction and development of the OT Project. The Investment Agreement provides for,
among other things, a framework for maintaining a stable tax and operational environment for
the OT Project, protection of the parties investment in the OT Project, the amount and term
of the parties investment in the OT Project, the right to realize the benefits of such
investment, the undertaking of mining activities with minimum damage to the environment and
human health, the rehabilitation of the environment, the social and economic development of
the Southern Gobi region and the creation of new jobs in Mongolia. |
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Concurrent with the execution of the Investment Agreement, IMMI and two indirect,
wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company, through which the Company holds its interest in
IMMI, entered into the Shareholders Agreement with Erdenes. The Shareholders Agreement
contemplates the basis upon which the Government of Mongolia will, through Erdenes, acquire
an initial 34% equity interest in the OT Project through a shareholding in IMMI and provides
for the respective rights and obligations of the parties as shareholders of IMMI. |
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IMMI also entered into the T-Bill Agreement with the Government of Mongolia pursuant to
which IMMI has agreed to purchase from the Government, in instalments, three discounted
Treasury Bills with an aggregate face value of US$287.5 million for an aggregate purchase
price of US$250 million. |
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The following is a summary of the material terms of the Investment Agreement, the
Shareholders Agreement and the T-Bill Agreement. This summary is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the specific terms of the Investment Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement
and the T-Bill Agreement, copies of which have been filed on SEDAR. |
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Investment Agreement |
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The material terms and conditions of the Investment Agreement are as follows: |
Effective Date
The Investment Agreement will become effective as of the date (the Effective Date) that
all conditions precedent to its effectiveness have been satisfied or waived. The conditions
to the effectiveness of the Investment Agreement include the following:
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completion and registration of a revised charter for IMMI; |
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review and approval of a feasibility study of the OT Project in accordance with
the laws of Mongolia within a period of 150 days from the date of submission; |
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confirmation by Mongolian taxation authorities of losses and capitalized
expenses of IMMI for depreciation purposes available for future deduction and any
outstanding tax liabilities or credits; |
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determination of the quantum of funds advanced by the Company, Rio Tinto or
their respective affiliates to IMMI in relation to the OT Project prior to the
Effective Date as mutually agreed by the parties or, failing agreement, as
determined by an independent third party; |
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completion of a corporate restructuring of IMMI to separate from IMMI any assets
that are unrelated to the OT Project; |
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establishment of a standing working committee of representatives of the
Mongolian Government and of IMMI to facilitate and expedite permits, customs
clearance or general government administration during the pre-commercial production
phase of the OT Project; |
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transfer of all rights of the Company in respect of certain exploration licenses
held indirectly by Entrée Gold LLC to IMMI and the conversion of such exploration
licenses into mining licenses; |
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restructuring of the ownership of IMMI to a country subject to a double-taxation
treaty with Mongolia; and |
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Rio Tinto having increased its ownership interest in the Company to at least
19%. |
The parties to the Investment Agreement have agreed to take all reasonable action to ensure
that each of the conditions precedent to the Investment Agreement is satisfied within six
months of the execution of the Investment Agreement.
Term
The Investment Agreement has an initial term of duration of 30 years from the Effective Date
(the Initial Term). IMMI has the right, exercisable by notice given not less than 12
months prior to the expiry of the Initial Term and subject to the fulfillment of certain
conditions, to extend the Initial Term of the Investment Agreement for a further duration of
20 years (the Renewal Term).
In order to exercise its right to obtain the Renewal Term, IMMI must have performed the
following obligations during the Initial Term:
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IMMI must have demonstrated that the OT Project has been operated to industry
best practice in terms of national and community benefits, environment and health
and safety practices; |
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IMMI must have made capital expenditures in respect of the OT Project of at
least US$9 billion; |
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IMMI must have complied in all material respects with its obligations to pay
taxes under the laws of Mongolia, as stabilized under the terms of the Investment
Agreement; |
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IMMI must have commenced commercial production from the OT Project within (i)
seven years of the Effective Date or (ii) five years from the date of having
obtained access to project financing sufficient to fully construct the OT Project
in accordance with the feasibility study submitted to the Government of Mongolia,
whichever is earlier; |
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if, as part of the development of the OT Project, IMMI has constructed, or is
constructing, a copper smelter, IMMI must have constructed, or be constructing,
such smelter in Mongolia; |
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if the development and operation of the OT Project has caused any unanticipated
and irreversible ecological damage to natural resources in Mongolia, IMMI must have
paid compensation based on the value of any such permanently damaged natural
resources in accordance with the applicable laws of Mongolia; and |
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IMMI must have, within four years of having commenced commercial production at
the OT Project, secured the total power requirements for the OT Project from
sources within the territory of Mongolia. |
Licenses and Permits
The Investment Agreement provides that IMMI has the right to apply for and obtain from
competent authorities in accordance with relevant laws and regulations of Mongolia all
leases, licenses, permits, work visas, customs clearance, easements and rights of way
(permits for land to be used for road corridors and road facilities), approvals of competent
authorities and other similar consents required in connection with the OT Project
(Permits) and the Government of Mongolia has agreed to provide support if and when
requested by IMMI in respect thereof in accordance with relevant laws and regulations of
Mongolia.
Investment Protection
The Investment Agreement confirms IMMIs rights to market, sell and export mineral products
from the OT Project at international market prices and to freely expend and repatriate its
sale proceeds in Mongolian togrogs and foreign currencies.
The Investment Agreement confirms that investments made by IMMI and its affiliates within
the territory of Mongolia are entitled to the legal protection guaranteed by the Mongolian
Constitution, the Foreign Investment Law, other Mongolian laws and regulations and the
international treaties to which Mongolia is a party. IMMI and its affiliates are entitled to
conditions no less favourable than the conditions granted to domestic Mongolian investors
regarding the right to own, utilize and spend its investment.
The capital, property and assets of IMMI and its affiliates is not to be expropriated except
for public purposes or interest, and only in accordance with due process of law on a
non-discriminatory basis, and with the condition of full compensation by the Government of
Mongolia according to applicable Mongolian laws and any international treaties to which
Mongolia is a party. Unless otherwise provided in international treaties to which Mongolia
is a party, the amount of compensation for any property expropriated is to be determined on
the basis of the value of the property expropriated prior to the expropriation, or notice of
the expropriation becoming public, and must be promptly paid in full.
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Taxes, Royalties and Fees
Throughout the Initial Term and the Renewal Term, if any, all taxes payable by IMMI will
remain stabilized unless a particular tax is lowered in which case IMMI will have the right
to enjoy the benefit of the lower rate of tax.
The annual corporate income tax will be stabilized at 10% on all sums earned up to three
billion togrogs (approximately US$2.1 million). All taxable income earned in excess of
three billion togrogs will be taxed at the rate of 25%. In addition to corporate income
tax, the following taxes have been stabilized:
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excise tax (except on gasoline and diesel fuel purchases), |
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mineral exploration and mining license payments; and |
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immovable property tax and/or real estate tax. |
The existing Windfall Profits Tax will be eliminated with effect as of January 1, 2011.
The specific rates of the other forms of taxation imposed on IMMI are as follows:
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income from royalties 10%; |
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income from disposal of an immovable property 2%; |
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income from interest 10%; |
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income from sale of rights 30%. |
The Investment Agreement further provides that if value-added tax payments, which are
currently non-refundable, become refundable in the future, the availability of the
investment tax credit will cease from that point; however, past earned investment tax
credits will still be applied.
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IMMI is also entitled to an investment tax credit equal to 10% of its investment in
depreciable non-current assets related to the OT Project until the earlier of seven years
after the Effective Date or the date upon which commercial production commences.
IMMI is obliged to pay a royalty to the Government of Mongolia equal to 5% of the sales
value of all extracted mineralization from the OT Project that is sold, shipped for sale, or
used by IMMI. The royalty rate will be stabilized during the Initial Term and the Renewal
Term, if any.
The annual fee payable by IMMI for the OT Project mining licenses is stabilized during the
Initial Term and the Renewal Term, if any, at a rate of US$15 per hectare.
Project Financing and Commercial Production
IMMI has agreed to secure (or have made available to it), within two years of the Effective
Date, sufficient financing facilities on terms, including in respect of guarantees, security
or other support, reasonably acceptable to it, to enable the full and complete construction
of the OT Project as described in the feasibility study submitted to the Government of
Mongolia.
IMMI is required to achieve commencement of commercial production from the OT Project within
five years of having secured (or having made available to it) the financing necessary to
enable the full and complete construction of the OT Project. Commencement of commercial
production will be evidenced by the achievement of 70% of planned concentrator throughput
based on design capacity at that stage of construction for the OT Project, for a continuous
period of 30 days.
Infrastructure
All roads, pipelines and other transportation infrastructure funded or constructed by IMMI
or its affiliates in connection with implementation of the OT Project are required to be
constructed to a standard necessary to meet the specific requirements of the OT Project
only. IMMI may provide the public, the Government of Mongolia and third parties access to
certain infrastructure and/or services, provided such access does not interfere with the
operation of the OT Project. In addition, IMMI may recover costs by way of payments or
collection of tolls from those persons or entities using such infrastructure and/or
services.
IMMI is permitted to construct a road between the OT Project site and Gashuun Sukhait border
crossing with China. IMMI may deduct the road construction expenses from its annual taxable
income. The Government of Mongolia will be responsible for the maintenance of the road and
the collection of road use fees from any third party users. IMMI will be exempt from any
such road user fees.
IMMI has the right to access, and to use, self-discovered water resources for any purpose
connected with the OT Project during the life of the OT Project, including construction,
commission, operation and rehabilitation of the OT Project. IMMI is required to pay fees
for its water use but such fees must be no less favourable than those payable from time to
time by other domestic and international users, must take into account the quantity and
quality of the water removed and consumed, and will be treated as a deductible expense from
IMMIs taxable income.
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Smelter
IMMI has agreed that, within three years of commencing commercial production from the OT
Project, it will, if requested by the Government of Mongolia, prepare a research report on
the economic viability of constructing and operating a copper smelter in Mongolia to process
the mineral concentrate derived from the OT Project. If IMMI builds a smelter in Mongolia
which is required if the smelter is built for the OT Project it will be obligated to
offer all gold bullion produced at such smelter to the Mongol Bank, subject to reasonable
commercial terms and prevailing international prices.
Power Supply
During the construction period of the OT Project and until the fourth anniversary after the
OT Project attains commercial production, IMMI will have the right to import electric power
from sources outside Mongolia, including China. Within four years of having commenced
commercial production, IMMI will be required to secure all of its power requirements for the
OT Project from one or more of the following sources within Mongolia selected by IMMI:
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one or more coal-fired power plants developed or funded by IMMI; |
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one or more coal-fired power plants developed or funded by a third party; or |
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the Mongolian electricity grid. |
If the Government of Mongolia supplies power to IMMI, the supply must be on commercial and
non-discriminatory terms and must be a stable, reliable and uninterrupted power supply in a
quantity sufficient for the OT Project.
IMMI also has the option of developing supplemental power from alternative energy sources,
such as wind, solar and geothermal.
Local Communities
IMMI has agreed that it will conduct, implement, and update, from time to time,
socio-economic impact assessments, socio-economic risk analyses, multi-year community plans,
community relations management systems, policies, procedures and guidelines, and mine
closure plans, all of which shall be produced with community participation and input and be
consistent with international best practices.
IMMI will enter into participation agreements with local communities and local authorities,
in accordance with Mongolias Minerals Law. These agreements may contemplate the
establishment of community development and participation funds, community participation
committees, and community environmental monitoring committees. IMMI will also consult with
local communities on resettlement issues for
herder families impacted by the OT Project and will provide appropriate compensation to such
families.
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IMMI will prioritize the training, recruiting and employment of citizens from local
communities for the OT Project, giving specific preference to the citizens of Umnugovi
Aimag. Once the OT Project attains commercial production, 90% of the OT Project workforce
must be Mongolian nationals. IMMI must use its best endeavours to ensure that:
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within five years of the OT Project attaining commercial production, at least
50%; and |
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within ten years of the OT Project attaining commercial production, at least
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of the engineers employed at the OT Project are Mongolian nationals.
IMMI will also be required to establish a graduate scholarship program to assist in the
education of Mongolian nationals in mining related disciplines, with an emphasis on
engineering. The scholarship program will support, over a six-year period, the education
and living expenses of 150 qualified undergraduate students, with 30 of the scholarships
used for studies undertaken at international universities. The scholarship program will
cover tuition fees and necessary living expenses.
Environmental Protection
IMMI is responsible for implementing an annual environmental protection plan (EPP) and an
environmental monitoring and analysis program for the OT Project. Every three years, IMMI
must provide the Government of Mongolia with a report, prepared by an independent certified
professional firm, addressing the implementation of the EPP. The EPP and the independent
reports will be available to the public on request. IMMI will also provide local
communities with sufficient information with respect to the EPP and regularly consult with
those communities on the impact of its operations on the local environment.
IMMI must also provide a guarantee to implement, in all material respects, its EPP
obligations by depositing funds equivalent to one half of its environmental protection
budget for the particular year, prior to start of that year, into a bank account established
by the Mongolian administrative entity in charge of environment. Upon completion of the
annual EPP obligations, any remaining deposited funds will be returned to IMMI.
Dispute Resolution
Any dispute that is not resolved through negotiation will be resolved by binding arbitration
in accordance with the procedures under the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations
Commission on International Trade Law (the UNCITRAL Rules) as in force at the time of the
dispute. In any such arbitration proceeding:
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the number of arbitrators will be fixed at three; |
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the three arbitrators will be appointed in accordance with rules 7 and 8 of the
UNCITRAL Rules; |
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the language of the arbitration will be English; |
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the arbitrators will apply the laws and regulations of Mongolia to the
interpretation of the Investment Agreement; |
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the place of arbitration will be in London, United Kingdom; and |
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the arbitral proceedings will be administered under the UNCITRAL Rules by the
London Court of International Arbitration. |
The arbitral award will be final and binding on the parties and judgment on such award may
be entered by any court having competent jurisdiction, provided that an arbitral award must
first be presented in an appropriate court of Mongolia for execution and enforcement. If
such execution and enforcement has not occurred within 30 (thirty) days of presentation, the
award may be presented in any other court having competent jurisdiction.
Shareholders Agreement
The material terms and conditions of the Shareholders Agreement are as follows:
Ownership of IMMI
Under the terms of the Shareholders Agreement, as of the Effective Date, IMMI will issue to
Erdenes a number of common shares of IMMI that, upon issuance, represent 34% of the then
issued and outstanding common shares of IMMI. If IMMI exercises its right under the
Investment Agreement to obtain the Renewal Term, Erdenes shall have the option to acquire
additional common shares of IMMI to increase its shareholding in IMMI to 50%. Erdenes
shareholding of IMMI may not be diluted by the issue of new share capital without its
consent.
Management of OT Project
IMMIs board of directors will engage a management team for the OT Project, which may
include the Company, Rio Tinto or one or more affiliates of the Company or Rio Tinto. This
management team will be responsible for the day to day operations of IMMI and the OT Project
and will report to IMMIs board of directors on a quarterly basis. A management services
payment will be payable to the management team equal to 3% of the OT Projects operating and
capital costs incurred prior to the commencement of commercial production and 6% thereafter.
This management services payment will be shared, as to 50%, by the Company and its
affiliates and, as to 50%, by Rio Tinto and its affiliates.
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Election of Directors
Commencing as of the Effective Date, those subsidiaries of the Company that are shareholders
of IMMI (the Company Shareholder Subsidiaries) will have the right to nominate six (6)
directors and Erdenes will be entitled to nominate three (3) directors. Thereafter, each
shareholder of IMMI holding 10% or more of IMMIs share capital is entitled to directly
nominate and replace from time to time, that number of directors that is equivalent to its
shareholding of IMMI divided by ten (10). Fractions in the aforementioned quotient will be
disregarded in the director calculation. The Company has the right to appoint the Chairman
of the board of directors and such Chairman will have the casting vote on any matter in
which the directors are deadlocked.
Budgets and Financial Information
Within 35 days after the Effective Date, the management team shall submit to IMMIs board of
directors the first operating program and budget for IMMI in respect of the remainder of the
then current financial year. The management team will also be responsible for submitting to
the board of directors the operating program and budget for each financial year thereafter.
Domestic Procurement Obligations
IMMI shall be required, on a priority basis, to purchase and utilize services supplied by
Mongolian citizens and/or legal entities, and equipment, raw materials, materials and spare
parts manufactured in Mongolia. In addition, a specific preference is to be given to
Mongolian suppliers of freight and transportation services required for the OT Project and
businesses operating within the Umnugovi Aimag, to the extent practicable.
Existing Shareholder Loans and Cash Calls
All funds advanced to IMMI prior to the Effective Date by the Company, Rio Tinto or any of
their respective affiliates in relation to the OT Project, including interest thereon, as
determined by the parties to the Investment Agreement or, failing agreement, by an
independent third party (collectively, the Existing Shareholder Loans), are repayable
prior to any dividend distributions to the shareholders of IMMI, as discussed below.
The management team of IMMI may request that the shareholders of IMMI contribute funds
(Called Sums) in proportion to their respective share ownership interests in IMMI to meet
the projected cash requirements of IMMI under the OT Project programs and budgets approved
by the board of directors. The Company Shareholder Subsidiaries have agreed to fund
Erdenes portion of Called Sums (the Government Debt), with interest accruing as set out
below, unless Erdenes is able to fund its portion of the Called Sum from external sources.
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During the period commencing on the 21st day after the Effective Date and ending
three years after the commencement of commercial production from the OT Project (the
Funding Period), the Company Shareholder Subsidiaries will be responsible for all
contributions of Called Sums, including those otherwise payable by Erdenes. The Company
Shareholder Subsidiaries will determine what method or methods of finance
will apply in respect to those contributions, including by way of a combination of debt,
redeemable preference shares (Preferred Equity) and/or common shares, provided the debt to
equity ratios fall within a 3:1 ratio, as required by applicable Mongolian law. The Company
Shareholder Subsidiaries will, however, be required to consult with Erdenes prior to the
effecting any financing plan.
After the Funding Period, Erdenes has the option of contributing to any required funding but
is not obligated to do so. Regardless of whether or not Erdenes contributes funding, its
shareholding in IMMI cannot be diluted. If Erdenes elects not to fund its proportionate
share, the Company Shareholder Subsidiaries have the right to meet the full funding
requirement in a similar manner as to the initial funding and Erdenes proportionate share
of the requested funding will be added to the Government Debt.
Each of the Government Debt and the Existing Shareholder Loans will attract an interest at
the rate of 9.9% adjusted, on a quarterly basis, by the percentage of the variation in the
United States Consumer Price Index during each period (the Escalation Terms). If
Preferred Equity is issued, the applicable coupon rate will be 9.9% and will also carry the
Escalation Terms.
Payment of Dividends
All principal and interest outstanding on Government Debt, the Existing Shareholder Loans,
outstanding coupon payments on Preferred Equity and the face value of the Preferred Equity
must be paid in full prior to the payment of any dividends to the shareholders of IMMI.
Subject to the foregoing, if IMMI has profits available for distribution in respect of any
completed financial year, IMMIs board of directors will declare that at least 50% of those
profits must be distributed by way of cash dividends (the Dividends) within 3 months after
the end of that financial year, subject to the retention of reasonable and proper reserves
for IMMIs future cash requirements (including potential expansions, working capital, and
the maintenance of funds for capital costs and other actual or contingent liabilities).
Transfer of Shares of IMMI to Third Parties
No shareholder of IMMI (the Offeror Holder) may dispose of any of their shares to a third
party without first offering such shares to the other shareholders of IMMI (the Offeree
Holders) on equivalent commercial terms (the Offer) as those offered by the relevant
third party. The Offeree Holders will have a period of 50 business days (the Notice
Period) in which to decide whether or not to accept the Offer. If the Offeree Holders do
not accept the Offer, upon expiry of the Notice Period, the Offeror Holder shall have a
period of 90 days to complete the original transaction with the third party.
Dispute Resolution
Any dispute under the Shareholder Agreement will be resolved in the same manner as provided
in the Investment Agreement.
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T-Bill Agreement
The material terms and conditions of the T-Bill Agreement are as follows:
Purchase and Sale
IMMI has agreed to purchase three (3) Treasury Bills (the T-Bills) from the Government of
Mongolia, having an aggregate face value of US$287.5 million, for the aggregate sum of
US$250 million. The effective rate of interest on the T-Bills is 3.8%. Each T-Bill will
mature on the fifth anniversary from the date of its respective issuance.
Purchase Instalments
The T-Bills will be purchased in three separate instalments, with each purchase triggered by
the attainment of a defined milestone. The initial T-Bill, with a face value of US$115
million, will be purchased on October 20, 2009. The purchase price will be US$100 million.
A second T-Bill, with a face value of US$57.5 million, will be purchased within 14 days of
the Effective Date. The purchase price will be US$50 million. The final T-Bill, having a
face value of US$115 million, will be purchased within 14 days of IMMI having fully drawn
down the financing necessary to enable the full and complete construction of the OT Project
or June 30, 2010, whichever is earlier. The purchase price will be US$100 million.
Repayment
The T-Bills will become immediately repayable to IMMI upon the occurrence of any of the
following events:
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the Government of Mongolia or Erdenes fail to fulfil any of their obligations
under the Investment Agreement or Shareholders Agreement for a period of six
months; |
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the termination of the Investment Agreement or Shareholders Agreement; |
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if the conditions precedent to the effectiveness of the Investment Agreement are
not satisfied or waived by the required time, or |
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the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance of each T-Bill; |
(each, a Repayment Date).
Upon the occurrence of a Repayment Date, the face value of the T-Bills will be due and
payable to IMMI. If there remains any outstanding balance after the Repayment Date, such
balance will carry an interest rate of 9.9% per annum (calculated on the basis of 360 day
year) and IMMI, at its discretion, may offset such sum owing to it against any taxes
assessed to IMMI by the Government of Mongolia. Prior to the occurrence of a Repayment Date,
the Government of Mongolia will be entitled to repay the amounts owing under the T-Bills, in
whole or in part, at any time.
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RELIANCE ON SUBSECTION 7.1(2) OR (3) OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 51-102 |
Not applicable.
No information has been intentionally omitted from this form.
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EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
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The name and business number of the executive officer of Ivanhoe who is knowledgeable of the
material change and this report is: |
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Beverly A. Bartlett
Vice President & Corporate Secretary |
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Telephone: (604) 331-9803 |
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9. |
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DATE OF REPORT |
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DATED at Vancouver, B.C. this 14th day of October, 2009. |
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Shareholders Agreement
Erdenes MGL LLC
and
Ivanhoe Oyu Tolgoi (BVI) Ltd
and
Oyu Tolgoi Netherlands B.V.
and
Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Inc LLC
6 October 2009
Shareholders Agreement
Date October 6, 2009
Parties
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Erdenes MGL LLC, a State owned company, duly incorporated
under the Company Law of Mongolia (SHC). |
|
|
2. |
|
Ivanhoe Oyu Tolgoi (BVI) Ltd, a body corporate, duly
incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands and
having an office at 9 Columbus Centre Building, Road Town,
Tortola, British Virgin Islands (IVN). |
|
|
3. |
|
Oyu Tolgoi Netherlands B.V., a body corporate, duly
incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands and having an
office at Prins Bernhardplein 200, 1097 JB, Amsterdam, The
Netherlands (OTN). |
|
|
4. |
|
Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Inc LLC, a body corporate, duly
incorporated under the Company Law of Mongolia (the Company). |
Recitals
IVN and OTN are the Shareholders in the Company at the date of
this Agreement. After the date of this Agreement, IVN and OTN
intend to restructure their shareholding in the Company. SHC
will become a Shareholder in the Company on the Completion
Date, and SHC, IVN and OTN wish to enter into this Agreement
in order to regulate their rights and obligations as
Shareholders of the Company on and from that date.
On the date of this Agreement, the Government of Mongolia and
the Company, Ivanhoe Mines Ltd and Rio Tinto International
Holdings Limited entered into an Investment Agreement, to
regulate the terms and conditions under which the development
and operation of the OT Project will occur.
The definitions set out in clause 24 shall apply in this Agreement.
This Agreement and the obligations of the Parties under this Agreement (other than this
clause 2 and clauses 3.3(d) (Completion obligations), 16 (Representations and warranties),
22 (Dispute resolution) and 23 (Miscellaneous)) do not become binding on the Parties unless
and until the Effective Date occurs.
Page 1
Shareholders Agreement
3. |
|
Equity structure of Company |
|
3.1 |
|
Government Issue Shares 34% |
On the Completion Date, SHC, on behalf of the Government of Mongolia, shall hold 34% of the
Companys Shares free from all Pledges on the terms set out in this Agreement. Such
Percentage Interest of SHC shall not be diluted without its consent, by the issue of any
new Shares.
|
(a) |
|
As consideration for the contribution to be made by the Government of Mongolia
to the OT Project under the Investment Agreement, upon the Investment Agreement being
signed by and on behalf of the Government of Mongolia (in accordance with the
Resolution and the Minerals Law), the Company agrees to issue the Government Issue
Shares to SHC in accordance with this Agreement. |
|
(b) |
|
The Company shall issue the Government Issue Shares to SHC on the Completion
Date on the terms set out in this Agreement. All existing Shareholders agree not to
exercise their right to pre-empt the issue of the Government Issue Shares issued in
accordance with this clause 3. |
3.3 |
|
Completion obligations |
|
(a) |
|
Within not later than fourteen (14) days after the Effective Date, the Company
must authorise the issue to SHC of the Government Issue Shares on the Completion Date. |
|
(b) |
|
The Company must do all things necessary to issue to SHC the Government Issue
Shares on the Completion Date. |
|
|
(c) |
|
On the Completion Date, in Ulaanbaatar, the Company must: |
|
(i) |
|
record in its books the issue of the Government Issue
Shares to SHC; |
|
(ii) |
|
deliver to SHC the share certificate in respect of the
Government Issue Shares; and |
|
(iii) |
|
lodge with the State Registration Agency and the Foreign
Investment and Foreign Trade Agency documents recording the issue to SHC of
the Government Issue Shares. |
|
(d) |
|
Before the Completion Date, SHC and the Ivanhoe Shareholders shall deliver
written notice to the Company and each other nominating its Directors under clause
4.3(a). The nominated Directors will be considered as appointed on the Completion
Date. |
3.4 |
|
Percentage Interest of SHC as at Completion Date |
Immediately after the issue of the Government Issue Shares to SHC, the Percentage Interest
of SHC in the Company will be 34%.
Page 2
Shareholders Agreement
4. |
|
Business and management of Company |
|
4.1 |
|
Scope of Company business |
The Company may conduct any activities not prohibited by law and shall exercise rights and
incur obligations necessary to conduct such activities as are related to Core Operations.
4.2 |
|
Authority of Board of Directors |
The Board of Directors shall exercise authority with respect to all matters in connection
with the Company, except for those matters reserved to the exclusive authority of a meeting
of Shareholders under clause 4.10(a).
|
(a) |
|
The Parties acknowledge that, for the purpose of appointing members of the
Board of the Directors on the Completion Date, SHC is entitled to nominate three
Directors and the Ivanhoe Shareholders are entitled to nominate six Directors, in
accordance with clause 4.3(b). |
|
(b) |
|
Subject to clause 4.3(c), each Shareholder having a Percentage Interest of 10%
or more is entitled to directly nominate and replace from time to time, a number of
Directors equivalent to the number of percentage points of its Percentage Interest
divided by ten (10). Fractions in the number of Directors are to be disregarded in
this calculation. |
|
(c) |
|
For the purpose of determining a Shareholders Percentage Interest under clause
4.3(b), the shareholding of the Shareholder and its Related Corporations will be
aggregated and such aggregate Percentage Interest will confer upon such Shareholders
collectively (acting through one or more of such Shareholders) the rights set out in
clause 4.3(b). |
|
(d) |
|
The Directors nominated in accordance with clause 4.3(b) from time to time
shall be appointed at the next meeting of Shareholders in accordance with clause
4.10(b), at which meeting each Shareholder agrees to vote in favour of the other
Shareholders nominated Directors. |
|
(e) |
|
Each Director may appoint any person to act as an alternate Director in the
Directors place, either for a stated period or until the happening of a specified
event, whenever by temporary absence or illness or otherwise the Director is unable to
attend to duties as a Director. The appointment must be in writing and signed by the
appointing Director and a copy of the appointment must be given to the Company. |
|
(f) |
|
With notification to the other Shareholders, a Shareholder may replace an
appointed Director, and such appointment will be confirmed at a Shareholders meeting. |
4.4 |
|
Voting |
|
|
|
Each Director is entitled to one vote. |
Page 3
Shareholders Agreement
Provided that a Director acts in good faith in the best interests of the Company as a
whole, a Director appointed by a Shareholder may take into account the interests of that
Directors appointor and may act on the wishes of that appointor in performing any of his
or her duties or exercising any power, right or discretion as a Director in relation to the
Company.
4.6 |
|
Meetings of Board of Directors |
|
(a) |
|
The Directors must meet quarterly or more frequently as requested by any three
Directors (provided that three Directors cannot require a meeting to be held within 30
days of the most recent meeting, except in the case of an emergency). Unless otherwise
agreed by resolution of the Board of Directors: |
|
(i) |
|
each meeting of the Board of Directors must be held in
Ulaanbaatar; and |
|
(ii) |
|
at least 21 days notice must be given to each Director
of all meetings of the Board of Directors. |
The Board of Directors by its resolution may hold its meeting using video
conferencing or similar instantaneous communication technology, provided such
meeting is held in Ulaanbaatar.
|
(b) |
|
Each notice of meeting must contain, among other things, an agenda specifying
in reasonable detail the matters to be discussed at the relevant meeting and must be
accompanied by any relevant papers for discussion at that meeting. Unless otherwise
agreed by each of the Directors, a meeting of the Board of Directors may only resolve
matters specifically described in the agenda. |
|
(c) |
|
Each Shareholder must bear all travelling and other expenses incurred by any
Director appointed by it in attending and returning from meetings of the Board of
Directors and performing his or her duties as a Director. The Company will supply or
provide transport to and from Ulaanbaatar, accommodation and meals for Directors in
respect of a meeting of the Board of Directors held at the OT Project site. |
|
(d) |
|
A quorum for a meeting of the Board of Directors is constituted by the
attendance (in person or by alternate) of an Overwhelming Majority of the Directors
(which must include at least one Director appointed by the Ivanhoe Shareholders and one
Director appointed by SHC). No business is to be transacted at a meeting of the Board
of Directors meeting unless a quorum is present, except for the adjournment of the
meeting. |
|
(e) |
|
If there is not a quorum at a meeting of Directors within 30 minutes after the
time specified in the notice of meeting, the meeting will stand adjourned for two days.
No changes may be made in the agenda for the adjourned meeting. There shall be a
quorum at the adjourned meeting if an Overwhelming Majority of members of the Board of
Directors are present. |
Page 4
Shareholders Agreement
|
(a) |
|
The Ivanhoe Shareholders may appoint one of the Directors appointed by them to
be the Chair of the Board of Directors. |
|
(b) |
|
If the Chair of the Board of Directors is not present at any meeting of the
Board of Directors, the Ivanhoe Shareholders may appoint one of their Directors to act
as Chair for the purpose of that meeting. |
|
(c) |
|
The Chair of the Board of Directors has a casting vote in the event that there
is a tied vote cast by the Directors on any matter. |
4.8 |
|
Board of Directors decisions |
Any resolution or decision of the Board of Directors must be made at a meeting of Directors
by the affirmative vote of an Overwhelming Majority of votes of the Directors of the
Company who are present (in person or by alternate) at the meeting and entitled to vote.
4.9 |
|
Board of Directors committees |
The Board of Directors may constitute one or several committees of the Board of Directors
which may be entrusted with any matter(s) which the Board of Directors determines to be
appropriate.
4.10 |
|
Shareholder approvals |
|
(a) |
|
All matters in connection with the Company are within the authority of the
Board of Directors in accordance with clause 4.2, other than the matters set out below
in this clause 4.10(a), which matters are within the authority of a meeting of
Shareholders to consider and decide: |
|
(i) |
|
amendments to the Charter or the adoption of a new
version of the Charter; |
|
(ii) |
|
reorganization of the Company by consolidation, merger,
division or transformation; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
an exchange of the Companys debts for Shares; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
reorganization of the Company by transformation; |
|
(v) |
|
liquidation of the Company and the appointment of a
liquidation commission; |
|
|
(vi) |
|
a split of or consolidation of the Companys Shares; |
|
(vii) |
|
subject to clause 5 of this Agreement, the completion of
any conflict of interest transaction specified in Chapter 12 of the Company
Law; |
|
(viii) |
|
election of members of the Board of Directors and termination of their
powers prior to the expiration of their terms; |
|
(ix) |
|
election of members of the Supervisory Board and
termination of their powers prior to the expiration of their terms; |
|
(x) |
|
subject to clauses 3.2, 9.2, 9.3 and 10.1, whether the
Shareholders shall have the pre-emptive rights to acquire the Companys
shares or other securities as provided for in Article 39 of the Company Law; |
Page 5
Shareholders Agreement
|
(xi) |
|
consideration and approval of reports prepared by the
Board of Directors with respect to the Companys annual operations and
financial statements; |
|
(xii) |
|
approval of any major transactions specified in Chapter
11 of the Company Law; |
|
(xiii) |
|
approval of any acquisition of its shares by the Company pursuant to the
Company Law; |
|
(xiv) |
|
approving the amount of salaries and bonuses to be given
to the members of the Board of Directors unless otherwise provided in the
Companys Charter; |
|
(xv) |
|
other matters submitted to the meeting by the Board of
Directors; and |
|
(xvi) |
|
other matters required to be submitted to a shareholder
meeting for approval as provided in the Company Law or in the Companys
Charter. |
|
(b) |
|
Matters that require shareholder approval under clause 4.10(a)(i) to clause
4.10(a)(vii) (inclusive) will be made by the affirmative vote of the representatives of
a Shareholder or Shareholders holding an Overwhelming Majority of the total voting
rights present at a meeting of Shareholders. All other matters under clause 4.10(a)
will be made by the affirmative vote of the representatives of a Shareholder or
Shareholders holding a majority of the total voting rights present at a meeting of
Shareholders. |
|
(c) |
|
A resolution by the Board of Directors to convene a Shareholders meeting must
include that the Shareholders be given at least two (2) weeks prior notice of the
Shareholders meeting. |
|
(d) |
|
A quorum for a meeting of Shareholders is constituted by the presence of one
representative of SHC, and one representative of the Ivanhoe Shareholders. No business
may be transacted at any meeting of Shareholders unless a quorum is present at the
commencement of the meeting, except for the adjournment of the meeting. |
|
(e) |
|
If there is not a quorum at a meeting of Shareholders within 30 minutes after
the time specified in the notice of meeting, the meeting will stand adjourned to the
same day in the following week at the same time and place. No changes may be made in
the agenda for the adjourned meeting. If there is not a quorum at the adjourned
meeting within 30 minutes after the time for that meeting, the meeting will stand
adjourned again to the same day in the following week at the same time and place. No
changes may be made in the agenda for the adjourned meeting. There shall be a quorum at
the second adjourned meeting if a representative or representatives of a Shareholder or
Shareholders entitled to vote, and holding at least twenty percent (20%) of the Shares
of the Company, are present. |
4.11 |
|
Voting by Shareholders |
Each Shareholder is entitled to that number of votes which is equivalent to the number of
Shares held by it.
Page 6
Shareholders Agreement
4.12 |
|
Domestic procurement obligation |
The Company shall, on a priority basis, purchase and utilize services supplied by Mongolian
citizens and/or legal entities, and equipment, raw materials, materials and spare parts
manufactured in Mongolia, with preference to businesses operating in the Umnugovi Aimag, to
the extent such services and materials are available on a competitive time, cost, quantity
and quality basis, and shall give preference to Mongolian suppliers of freight and
transportation services required for the OT Project.
5. |
|
Conflict of interest transactions |
|
5.1 |
|
Application of Chapter 12 of the Company Law |
Except in the circumstances described in clause 5.2, the provisions of the Company Law of
Mongolia relating to conflict of interest transactions including Chapter 12 of the Company
Law shall apply with respect to the Company.
5.2 |
|
Relevant Transactions |
In accordance with Article 86.4 of the Company Law of Mongolia, the Companys Charter shall
state that Chapter 12 of the Company Law shall not apply to any transaction between the
Company (on the one hand) and any Shareholder or Related Corporation of any Shareholder (on
the other hand). In respect of Relevant Transactions, the following provisions apply:
|
(a) |
|
The Company is permitted, without the prior approval of the Shareholders, to
enter into Relevant Transactions, provided that each Relevant Transaction must be: |
|
(i) |
|
at a competitive market price; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
on commercial terms comparable to what would be agreed
between unrelated parties; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
promptly disclosed to the Shareholders. |
|
(b) |
|
Each Director shall vote on any Relevant Transaction. If a Shareholder
considers that a Relevant Transaction does not meet the criteria of clause 5.2(a), then
it may give notice to the Company and the other Shareholders, and the following
provisions shall apply: |
|
(i) |
|
The notice shall be given within 30 days of the Relevant
Transaction being disclosed to the Shareholder and shall include reason(s)
why the Shareholder believes the Relevant Transaction does not meet the
criteria of clause 5.2(a). |
|
(ii) |
|
The Relevant Transaction shall be discussed at the next
meeting of the Board of Directors. |
|
(iii) |
|
If a Shareholder is not satisfied with the discussion on
the Relevant Transaction at that meeting of the Board of Directors, it shall
give notice to the other Shareholders and the Board of Directors within 7
days after that meeting, and the Shareholders shall then jointly appoint a
suitably qualified independent expert to assess whether or not the Relevant
Transaction meets the criteria in clause 5.2(a). |
Page 7
Shareholders Agreement
|
(iv) |
|
If the Shareholders cannot agree on an independent expert
within 15 days of the notice under clause 5.2(b)(iii), the independent
expert shall be chosen by an internationally recognised and reputable audit
and accounting firm jointly agreed upon by the Shareholders. |
|
(v) |
|
If the independent expert finds that the Relevant
Transaction does not meet the criteria in clause 5.2(a), that Relevant
Transaction shall not be void, however, the Shareholder that is a party to
the Relevant Transaction (or whose Related Corporation is a party to the
Relevant Transaction) shall be liable for any loss caused to the Company as
a result of the departure from the criteria in clause 5.2(a). |
|
(vi) |
|
Notwithstanding the finding of the independent expert,
the Company shall bear all the costs of the independent expert. |
|
(c) |
|
At the request of a Shareholder, the Company and the other Shareholders will
provide that Shareholder with information reasonably necessary to satisfy that the
Relevant Transaction meets the criteria in clause 5.2(a). |
6. |
|
Executive body and Management Team |
|
6.1 |
|
Executive body |
The executive body of the Company shall comprise the Companys senior management and shall
be responsible for the Companys day-to-day activities.
|
(a) |
|
The Board of Directors shall engage IVN or OTN, or one or more Related
Corporations of IVN or OTN, to act individually, or collectively as a group (the
Management Team). The Management Team shall provide services and support to the
executive body described in clause 6.1 in respect to the Companys operations and
activities, including the Core Operations. |
|
(b) |
|
The Ivanhoe Shareholders may, from time to time, nominate a replacement
Management Team and the Board of Directors shall resolve to appoint the nominated
replacement Management Team. |
|
(c) |
|
The services and support provided by the Management Team to enable the
executive body to fulfil the Companys day-to-day activities may include engineering,
operational, planning and evaluation, environmental, marketing, procurement, legal,
commercial, treasury and financial services, and any other services that are reasonably
considered to be necessary for the efficient conduct of Core Operations. |
6.3 |
|
Management Team functions |
|
(a) |
|
The Management Team shall have all rights and authorities required to provide
services and support to the executive body described in clause 6.1 in respect to the
Companys operations and activities, including the Core Operations. |
Page 8
Shareholders Agreement
|
(b) |
|
The Board of Directors shall monitor the activities of and liaise with the
Management Team as necessary or appropriate. The Management Team shall report on a
quarterly basis in writing to the Board of Directors in relation to the Companys
operations and activities. The individual responsible for the Management Team (or in
his or her absence, their representative) will attend each quarterly meeting of the
Board of Directors under clause 4.6(a). Each report shall be given to the Board of
Directors within 30 days after the end of a quarter. |
6.4 |
|
Management Services Payment |
|
(a) |
|
The Company must pay to the Management Team the Management Services Payment. |
|
(b) |
|
The Management Services Payment will be calculated and payable quarterly in
arrears and within 10 Working Days of the end of that quarter. |
|
(c) |
|
The amount of the Management Services Payment will be: |
|
(i) |
|
3% of all Capital Costs and Operating Costs incurred in
the period from the Effective Date up to the Commencement of Production; and |
|
(ii) |
|
6% of all Capital Costs and Operating Costs incurred
after the Commencement of Production. |
|
(d) |
|
As soon as practicable after the audited financial statements for the Company
for a Financial Year are available, which audit shall be conducted by an
internationally recognised and reputable audit and accounting firm appointed by the
Board of Directors, the Shareholders will reconcile the Capital Costs and Operating
Costs shown in those statements against the Capital Costs and Operating Costs used in
the calculation of the Management Services Payment in respect of that Financial Year.
If there is a discrepancy, then the Company or the Management Team (as the case may be)
shall promptly make a payment to the other in order to adjust the Management Services
Payment that has been paid in respect of that Financial Year. |
|
(e) |
|
The Management Team may sub-contract or assign part of its service and support
functions to a Related Corporation of IVN or OTN. If the Management Team does so, then
the Company shall directly pay to that Related Corporation of IVN or OTN (as
applicable) the part of the Management Services Payment relating to such functions (as
may be specified by the Management Team). The Management Team may also direct the
Company in writing to directly pay to any member of the Ivanhoe Group or the Rio Tinto
Group the whole or any part of the Management Services Payment. |
|
(f) |
|
During the final calendar quarter of each Financial Year, the Board of
Directors will conduct an annual review of the Management Teams performance of its
functions during that Financial Year. |
|
(g) |
|
Either or both of the Ivanhoe Shareholders may enforce this Agreement for and
on behalf of the Management Team (including by the issue of a notice of dispute under
clause 22). |
Page 9
Shareholders Agreement
7. |
|
Budgets & financial information |
|
7.1 |
|
Annual plans & budgets |
|
(a) |
|
Within 10 Working Days after the Completion Date, the Company (or the
Management Team) shall submit to the Board of Directors the first operating program and
budget for the Company in respect of the remainder of the Financial Year and the Board
of Directors shall meet in order to consider and vote on that program and budget. |
|
(b) |
|
Before the commencement of each Financial Year thereafter, the Company (or the
Management Team) must prepare and submit to the Board of Directors, for approval, a
draft operating program and budget for the Company for that Financial Year. |
|
(c) |
|
The Board of Directors must consider and vote on each program and budget at
least 30 days before the commencement of the Financial Year. Approval of a program and
budget constitutes authority for the Company and Management Team to undertake all
relevant action and incur all approved expenditure for that program and budget. |
|
(d) |
|
The Company (or the Management Team) may, if circumstances require it, prepare
a revised or supplementary program and budget and submit it to the Board of Directors
for approval. |
7.2 |
|
Financial information |
The Company must provide to each Director and Shareholder:
|
(a) |
|
after the end of each calendar month, unaudited management accounts; |
|
(b) |
|
after the end of each Financial Year, copies of the audited financial
statements of the Company; and |
|
(c) |
|
any other information the Shareholders or a Director may at any time reasonably
require. |
The Company shall maintain its management accounts in conformity with GAAP or IFRS, and
applicable Mongolian accounting standards.
8. |
|
Financing of Company |
|
8.1 |
|
Called Sums |
The Company (or on its behalf, the Management Team) may by notice in writing request the
Shareholders to contribute funds in accordance with their Percentage Interests to meet the
projected cash requirements of the Company under the programs and budgets approved by the
Board of Directors (each a Called Sum). At the Ivanhoe Shareholders request, Called Sum
notices will be issued to one or more Ivanhoe Shareholders for the whole or any part of
their combined Called Sums in the proportions directed by the Ivanhoe Shareholders (for
example, to OTN for the whole amount of the OTN and IVN combined Called Sums, in which case
IVN would not be issued a Called Sum notice).
Page 10
Shareholders Agreement
8.2 |
|
Financing of Called Sums |
The Parties intend that Called Sums shall be discharged by the methods (or by a combination
of methods) determined by the Board of Directors from time to time, including:
|
(a) |
|
by way of common equity (via the issue of Shares); |
|
(b) |
|
by way of preferred equity (via the issue of preferred shares (including
Funding Shares)); and |
|
(c) |
|
by debt (via Shareholder Debt), |
|
|
and during the Funding Period clauses 10, 11 and 12 shall apply. |
|
8.3 |
|
Contributions to Called Sums |
|
(a) |
|
The Parties agree that an Ivanhoe Shareholders obligations to contribute to
Called Sums may be discharged in whole or in part by the IVN Provider or another
Ivanhoe Shareholder or Ivanhoe Shareholders (for example, OTN may discharge the whole
of IVNs obligation and OTNs obligation to contribute to a Called Sum, in which case
IVN would not contribute its Called Sum). |
|
(b) |
|
All contributions of Called Sums must be in USD unless required otherwise by
the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors so resolves, then the Parties must
make contributions in the currency or currencies specified in any notice of a Called
Sum given under clause 8.1. |
8.4 |
|
Periods covered by Called Sums |
|
(a) |
|
On and from the Completion Date, requests for contributions under clause 8.1
may be made for each calendar quarter and delivered to the Shareholders before the
start of each calendar quarter. |
|
(b) |
|
The first request for contributions may be made in respect of the program and
budget approved in accordance with clause 7.1(a) immediately after that program and
budget is approved. |
8.5 |
|
When Called Sums are due |
A Called Sum will be due and payable to the Company within 30 days of receipt of the
request under clause 8.1.
8.6 |
|
Application of Clause 8 |
The Company shall not issue Called Sums after the commencement of the liquidation of the
Company pursuant to clause 4.10(a)(v) or Article 26.1 of the Company Law.
8.7 |
|
Interest on Existing Shareholder Loans |
Interest on the Existing Shareholder Loans shall accrue on and from the Effective Date.
Page 11
Shareholders Agreement
9. |
|
Financing arrangements |
|
9.1 |
|
Contributions during Funding Period |
The Parties agree that, during the Funding Period, the IVN Provider shall contribute the
whole of all Called Sums (except as otherwise expressly provided for in clause 10.1), and
the Ivanhoe Shareholders shall determine what method or methods of finance set out in
clause 8.2 will apply in respect to those contributions (subject to the thin
capitalisation restrictions contained in the Investment Agreement).
|
(a) |
|
At any time after the Funding Period, where the Company requests Shareholders
to contribute to a Called Sum, if SHC elects not to contribute to a Called Sum, then
the Ivanhoe Shareholders may elect (but are not obliged) to contribute the whole of the
Called Sum, in which case the Ivanhoe Shareholders shall determine which of the
financing methods described in clauses 10, 11 and 12 shall apply to any such
contribution by the Ivanhoe Shareholders, and SHC and the Company must accept such
contribution. |
|
(b) |
|
After the Funding Period, Shares in the Company must be issued to each
Shareholder: |
|
(i) |
|
in proportion to the Called Sums which relate to each
Shareholders Percentage Interest; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
on the same terms and conditions. |
|
(c) |
|
For the avoidance of doubt, if SHC elects not to contribute to a Called Sum,
its Percentage Interest cannot be diluted and if, after the Funding Period, Shares are
issued to the IVN Shareholders because the Ivanhoe Shareholders have elected to fund
under or in a manner similar to clause 10 then Shares must also be issued in proportion
to SHCs Percentage Interest on the same terms and conditions. |
|
(d) |
|
Nothing in this clause 9.2 restricts the rights of SHC to fund a SHC Called Sum
in accordance with clause 10.1(b)(ii) and the Company must accept such contribution. |
9.3 |
|
Financing arrangements |
The Shareholders agree not to exercise any rights of pre-emption which are inconsistent
with the common and preferred equity financing arrangements set out in clauses 10 and 11.
10. |
|
Common equity funding |
|
10.1 |
|
Carry of SHC Called Sums to be made by way of common equity during Funding Period |
|
(a) |
|
During and after the Funding Period, the Shareholders must contribute each
Called Sum in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. However, where
the Ivanhoe Shareholders determine that funding will be made by way of common equity,
subject to clause 10.1(h), SHC shall not be entitled to make any such contributions to
SHC Called Sums on or before the date which is three (3) years after the Effective
Date. After the
date which is three (3) years after the Effective Date, SHC may (but is not
obliged to) contribute to the whole or part of each SHC Called Sum. SHC shall
give prior written notice to the Company and the Ivanhoe Shareholders of its
election to so contribute the whole or part of an SHC Called Sum. |
Page 12
Shareholders Agreement
|
(b) |
|
The IVN Provider must: |
|
(i) |
|
before the date three (3) years after the Effective Date,
provide the whole of the SHC Called Sum to the Company on behalf of SHC, in
accordance with this clause 10; and |
|
(ii) |
|
after the date three (3) years after the Effective Date,
provide that part of the SHC Called Sums, to which SHC does not elect to
contribute, to the Company on behalf of SHC, in accordance with this clause
10, |
(and each such amount funded by the IVN Provider under paragraph (i) or (ii)
above shall be a Funded Amount).
|
(c) |
|
Shares in the Company must be issued to each Shareholder: |
|
(i) |
|
in proportion to the Called Sums which relate to each
Shareholders Percentage Interest; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
on the same terms and conditions. |
|
(d) |
|
From the Completion Date, the Ivanhoe Shareholders will consult with SHC when
determining financing plans for the Company. This will include involving SHC in
presentations to potential financiers and other fundraising activities. |
|
(e) |
|
The IVN Providers obligation under this clause 10 to fund new SHC Called Sums
(in whole or in part) on behalf of SHC ceases on the expiry of the Funding Period. |
|
(f) |
|
The Ivanhoe Shareholders shall only be obliged to contribute SHC Called Sums
(in whole or in part) to the Company on behalf of SHC under this clause 10 for so long
as SHC remains wholly owned and Controlled by the State as contemplated by clause 15.6. |
|
(g) |
|
If the IVN Provider fails to provide funding in accordance with clause 10.1(b)
in respect of the whole or relevant part of a Called Sum during the Funding Period,
then SHCs Percentage Interest cannot be diluted, and if Shares are issued to the
Ivanhoe Shareholders because the Ivanhoe Shareholders have elected to fund under or in
a manner similar to this clause 10 then Shares must also be issued in proportion to
SHCs Percentage Interest on the same terms and conditions. |
|
(h) |
|
If, during the Funding Period, SHC considers it has the ability to make
contributions to SHC Called Sums, SHC may consult the Ivanhoe Shareholders. SHC shall
be entitled to make contributions to SHC Called Sums during the Funding Period if all
of the following conditions are met: |
|
(i) |
|
the Ivanhoe Shareholders have determined that such
contributions will not negatively affect the Ivanhoe Groups finance plan
for the OT Project; and |
|
(ii) |
|
the Ivanhoe Shareholders agree to the terms and
conditions of any financing arrangements SHC wishes to utilize to fund such
contributions; and |
|
(iii) |
|
the terms and conditions of its contribution are more
favourable to the Company than those of the IVN Providers. |
Page 13
Shareholders Agreement
|
(a) |
|
Each Funded Amount provided by the IVN Provider, together with the interest
prescribed in clause 10.3(a) at the Carry Rate, will constitute a debt payable by SHC
to the IVN Provider (or to IVN or OTN on behalf of the IVN Provider, if the Ivanhoe
Shareholders direct). A separate loan agreement shall be promptly entered into by the
IVN Provider and SHC to record the terms of such debt in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement. |
|
(b) |
|
This debt is repayable only out of SHCs Dividends, except where the
Outstanding Balance is required to be repaid in full under clauses 15.6(c) and 15.7(b),
or where the Outstanding Balance is reduced in accordance with clause 10.4(d). |
|
(c) |
|
The aggregate of all common equity shall not exceed 60% of the total capital
(including preferred equity) of the Company. |
|
(a) |
|
Interest shall be calculated on the Outstanding Balance (as defined in clause
10.3(d)(ii)) and accrued on a quarterly basis using, in respect of each quarter, the
Carry Rate for that calendar quarter. |
|
(b) |
|
For the purposes of clause 10.3(a), interest will be computed on the basis of
the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days. If a calendar quarter ends
on a day which is not a Working Day, that calendar quarter will be extended to the next
Working Day. |
|
(c) |
|
Immediately after each accrual of interest pursuant to clause 10.3(a), the sum
of the Outstanding Balance shall be adjusted for the variation in the US CPI over the
preceding quarter. |
|
|
(d) |
|
For the purposes of this Agreement: |
|
(i) |
|
Carry Rate for a calendar quarter means the interest rate
for a calendar quarter that results in an effective annual interest rate of
9.9%; |
|
(ii) |
|
Outstanding Balance means, at any point in time, the
aggregate of: |
|
(A) |
|
all Funded Amounts that have been
funded by the IVN Provider up to that point in time; |
|
(B) |
|
all interest that has accrued under
clause 10.3(a) prior to that point in time; and |
|
(C) |
|
all US CPI-related adjustments made
to the sum of the Outstanding Balance pursuant to clause 10.3(c)
up to that point in time, |
less all amounts repaid by SHC pursuant to clause 10.4 prior to that
point in time; and
Page 14
Shareholders Agreement
|
(iii) |
|
US CPI means the Annual Index at the end of each Quarter
contained in Table 1, Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U):
US City
Average, by Expenditure Category and Commodity and Service Group,
series ID number CUUR0000SAO, published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, which forms part of the United States Department of Labor
and if the index ceases to be published, such new, revised or
substitute index as is agreed between the Shareholders following
reasonable and in good faith negotiations, and failing agreement such
new, revised or substitute index as determined by an internationally
recognised audit and accounting firm selected by the Company. |
|
(e) |
|
SHC and the Ivanhoe Shareholders shall together confirm the calculation of the
Outstanding Balance on an annual basis. |
10.4 |
|
Repayment of Outstanding Balance |
|
(a) |
|
All monies payable to SHC as Dividends in respect of the Shares held by SHC
must be paid by the Company to the IVN Provider (or to IVN or OTN on behalf of the IVN
Provider, if the Ivanhoe Shareholders direct) until such time as all of the Outstanding
Balance is repaid, in accordance with clause 14.2. |
|
(b) |
|
For the purposes of clause 10.4(a), SHC hereby gives an irrevocable direction
to the Company to pay all of its entitlement to Dividends directly to the IVN Provider
(or to IVN or OTN on behalf of the IVN Provider, if the Ivanhoe Shareholders direct)
until such time as all of the Outstanding Balance is repaid, in accordance with clause
14.2. |
|
(c) |
|
Any amount paid pursuant to this clause 10.4 will constitute a payment made by
SHC to the IVN Provider to reduce the Outstanding Balance and, for the avoidance of
doubt, will not be treated as a Dividend paid to, or received by, IVN or OTN. |
|
(d) |
|
In addition to the repayment of the Outstanding Balance achieved through the
arrangement described in clauses 10.4(a) to 10.4(c) (inclusive), SHC may, after the
Funding Period, reduce the Outstanding Balance by making payments directly to the IVN
Provider (or to IVN or OTN on behalf of the IVN Provider, if the Ivanhoe Shareholders
direct), and the Parties will agree on the most appropriate method for the making and
receipt of such payments. |
|
(e) |
|
The Parties agree that no recourse will be had to the assets of SHC or the
Government of Mongolia in respect to any portion of the Outstanding Balance. |
11. |
|
Preferred equity funding |
|
11.1 |
|
Funding Shares |
During the Funding Period, where the Ivanhoe Shareholders determine that funding will be
made by way of preferred equity, the IVN Provider must contribute the whole of all Called
Sums, and the Parties agree that:
|
(a) |
|
SHC shall not be entitled to make any such contribution; and |
|
(b) |
|
Funding Shares in the Company must be issued to IVN, OTN or an IVN or OTN
nominated entity (including any member of the Rio Tinto Group or the Ivanhoe Group) as
provided for in this clause 11. |
Page 15
Shareholders Agreement
11.2 |
|
Issue of Funding Shares |
The Company shall issue that number of Funding Shares corresponding to the value of the
whole of each Called Sum described in clause 11.1, free of all Pledges, and the Company must
do everything necessary to authorise and issue the Funding Shares.
11.3 |
|
Calculation of dividends on Funding Shares |
|
(a) |
|
Dividends are payable quarterly by the Company on all Funding Shares. Where
such dividends are not paid, they shall accrue. |
|
(b) |
|
The dividend on a Funding Share shall be calculated by multiplying the
Quarterly US CPI Adjusted Carry Rate by the aggregate of the par value of such Funding
Share and the value of any unpaid and accrued dividends. |
|
(c) |
|
Dividends on Funding Shares, as calculated in accordance with clause 11.3(b),
shall compound quarterly. |
|
(d) |
|
Funding Share dividends will be computed on the basis of the actual number of
days elapsed and a year of 360 days. If a calendar quarter ends on a day which is not a
Working Day, that calendar quarter will be extended to the next Working Day. |
11.4 |
|
Priority redemption of Funding Shares |
In accordance with clause 14.1(d), Funding Shares provided under clause 11.1 must be
redeemed before the Company commences paying Dividends.
11.5 |
|
Nature of Funding Shares |
|
(a) |
|
The par value of each Funding Share shall be determined by the Board of
Directors. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The holder of Funding Shares: |
|
(i) |
|
shall have the right to receive dividends with respect to
such shares, and the right to have such Funding Shares redeemed, before
Dividends are distributed to the holders of Shares; |
|
(ii) |
|
shall have the right to vote at a Shareholders meeting
only with respect to: |
|
(A) |
|
adoption of amendments to, or a new version
of the Companys charter, that limit the rights of the holder of
Funding Shares; and |
|
(B) |
|
any reorganization of the Company requiring
conversion of Funding Shares into Shares or other securities or
property; and |
|
(iii) |
|
may Dispose of all or any of its Funding Shares (or any
interest in all or any of its Funding Shares) without the prior consent of
the Shareholders. |
|
(c) |
|
In the case of a liquidation of the Company, the Company shall pay to the
holders of Funding Shares the liquidation value and accumulated but unpaid dividends
with respect to their Funding Shares before making any payments with respect to Shares. |
|
|
(d) |
|
No pre-emptive rights shall apply to the Disposal of Funding Shares. |
|
(e) |
|
The liquidation value of Funding Shares shall be equivalent to the aggregate of
their par value and the value of any unpaid and accrued dividend. |
Page 16
Shareholders Agreement
Nothing in this Agreement relating to the issue of Funding Shares shall limit the Companys
ability to issue other preferred shares in accordance with the Company Law of Mongolia,
provided that the Company may not issue any preferred shares which convert to Shares and
which would have the effect of diluting SHCs Percentage Interest.
12. |
|
Debt funding by the IVN Provider |
|
12.1 |
|
Shareholder Debt |
During the Funding Period, where the Ivanhoe Shareholders determine that funding will be
made by way of debt provided by Shareholders, the IVN Provider must contribute the whole of
all Called Sums, and the Parties agree that:
|
(a) |
|
the contribution will constitute a Shareholder Debt payable only to the IVN
Provider (or to IVN or OTN on behalf of the IVN Provider, if the Ivanhoe Shareholders
direct); |
|
(b) |
|
interest shall be calculated on the aggregate of the Shareholder Debt and any
accrued interest, and accrued on a quarterly basis using, in respect of each quarter,
the Quarterly US CPI Adjusted Carry Rate for that calendar quarter; |
|
(c) |
|
interest will compound quarterly and be calculated on principal amounts
advanced by the IVN Provider plus accrued interest to that point in time less all
repayments made by the Company to that point in time. A separate loan agreement shall
be promptly entered into by the Company and the IVN Provider to record the terms of
Shareholder Debt; and |
|
(d) |
|
interest will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and
a year of 360 days. If a calendar quarter ends on a day which is not a Working Day,
that calendar quarter will be extended to the next Working Day. |
12.2 |
|
Priority repayment of Shareholder Debt |
In accordance with clause 14.1(d), Shareholder Debt provided under clause 12.1 must be
repaid before the Company commences paying Dividends (on common shares).
13. |
|
Third party project financing |
|
(a) |
|
The Board of Directors may, from time to time, resolve to fund the projected
cash requirements of the Company by means of borrowings by the Company from
internationally recognised financial institutions. |
|
(b) |
|
Any funds raised under clause 13(a) must be provided on the best terms that can
be reasonably obtained in the international banking market for project finance and
formally documented. |
|
(c) |
|
Each of the Shareholders acknowledges that it shall provide and procure all
reasonable assistance to the other and the Company in order to obtain funds as
contemplated by clause 13(a), provided that there shall be no recourse to the assets of
SHC or the Government of Mongolia as a result of any financing arrangements. |
Page 17
Shareholders Agreement
14. |
|
Dividend distribution |
|
14.1 |
|
Payment of Dividends |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to the other provisions of this clause 14 (including, without
limitation, clause 14.1(d) and clause 14.2(c)) and the commitments provided under the
terms of any third party project financing contemplated by clause 13, if, in respect of
any Financial Year of the Company, the Company has profits available for distribution,
the Board of Directors shall declare that at least 50% of those profits must be
distributed by way of cash Dividends within 3 months after the end of that Financial
Year, subject to the retention of reasonable and proper reserves for the Companys
future cash requirements (including potential expansions, working capital, and the
maintenance of funds for capital costs and other actual or contingent liabilities). |
|
(b) |
|
The profits available for distribution of Dividends referred to in clause
14.1(a) will be based on the audited annual results of the Company and subject to prior
satisfaction of the requirements of clause 14.1(d). |
|
|
(c) |
|
The Board of Directors is entitled to declare interim Dividends. |
|
(d) |
|
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Dividends (on common
shares) are not payable by the Company unless and until the Company has discharged the
following obligations, which shall be discharged in the following order of priority: |
|
(i) |
|
third party borrowings described in clause 13, in the
priority for repayment of such borrowings required by the third party; |
|
(ii) |
|
the Existing Shareholder Loan has been repaid in full by
the Company; |
|
(iii) |
|
(ranking equally) any interest on Shareholder Debt
provided under clause 12, and all dividends on Funding Shares, have been
paid in full by the Company; |
|
(iv) |
|
(ranking equally) all principal of Shareholder Debt
provided under clause 12 has been repaid in full by the Company, and the
redemption of the capital of all Funding Shares by the Company; and |
|
(v) |
|
all dividends on all preferred shares (other than Funding
Shares) have been paid in full by the Company, and all preferred shares
(other than Funding Shares) have been redeemed by the Company. |
14.2 |
|
Application of Dividends payable to SHC |
|
(a) |
|
To the extent (if any) that the Outstanding Balance under clause 10 has not
been repaid, any Dividends payable by the Company to SHC must be applied in the
following order of priority: |
|
(i) |
|
first, to the repayment of the Outstanding Balance; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
secondly, to SHC. |
|
(b) |
|
The payment by the Company of such amounts to the IVN Provider of the
Outstanding Balance under clause 14.2(a)(i) shall be treated as discharging the
obligation of the Company to pay that amount of Dividends to SHC. |
|
(c) |
|
Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, and to ensure that Dividends are
distributed in accordance with the distribution arrangements contained in this
Agreement, SHC agrees that it will not exercise or give effect to the entitlement to
mobilize its Dividends set out in Article 21.8 of the Corporate Income Tax Law. |
Page 18
Shareholders Agreement
15. |
|
Transfer of Shares |
|
15.1 |
|
Consent to transfer Shares |
Except as expressly provided in this Agreement (including clause 15.3), a Shareholder shall
not Dispose of all or any of its Shares (or any interest in all or any of its Shares)
unless it has received the prior written consent of each of the other Shareholders (Other
Shareholders).
15.2 |
|
Pre-emptive rights applicable on transfer of Shares |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to clauses 15.3 and 15.7, a Shareholder may transfer all or any of its
Shares if the transfer is conducted in accordance with the provisions of clauses
15.2(b) to (j) (inclusive). |
|
(b) |
|
If a Transferor wishes to transfer all or any of its Shares to a third party
(Disposal Shares), it must first offer the Disposal Shares to each of the Other
Shareholders. |
|
(c) |
|
Any offer made by a Transferor pursuant to clause 15.2(b) must be made pursuant
to a written notice (Transfer Notice). A Transfer Notice must: |
|
(i) |
|
specify the number of Disposal Shares and the cash price
in USD for the Disposal Shares (Transfer Price); |
|
(ii) |
|
contain the terms upon which the Disposal Shares are
offered for sale; and |
|
(iii) |
|
specify the third party to whom the Transferor proposes
to sell the Disposal Shares in the event that the Other Shareholders do not
accept the offer of the Transferor (Nominated Third Party). |
|
(d) |
|
A Transfer Notice constitutes an unconditional offer to sell the Disposal
Shares, upon the terms set out in the Transfer Notice, which offer must remain open for
acceptance by each of the Other Shareholders until the expiry of 50 Working Days after
the date of service of the Transfer Notice on the Other Shareholders (Offer Period). |
|
(e) |
|
At any time during the Offer Period, any of the Other Shareholders may by
notice in writing to the Transferor (with a copy to be provided to the other
Shareholders) reject or accept in full the Disposal Shares offered in a Transfer
Notice. If there is more than one Other Shareholder, the Disposal Shares will be
deemed to be offered to each of them. If more than one accepts they will purchase
(severally and not jointly) the Disposal Shares in the proportions that their
respective Percentage Interests bear to the aggregate of their Percentage Interests (or
in any other proportions as those Other Shareholders agree and notify in writing to the
Transferor). |
Page 19
Shareholders Agreement
|
(f) |
|
If one or more Other Shareholders do not accept the offer made in respect of
the Disposal Shares, the remaining Other Shareholder or Other Shareholders may accept
the offer in respect of all of the Disposal Shares in the proportions that their
respective Percentage Interests bear to the aggregate of their Percentage Interests (or
in any other proportions as those Other Shareholders agree and notify to the
Transferor). |
|
(g) |
|
If any one or more of the Other Shareholders do not accept all of the Disposal
Shares following the application of the provisions of clauses 15.2(e) and 15.2(f), by
the expiry of the Offer Period, the offer in the Transfer Notice is deemed to have been
rejected. |
|
(h) |
|
Acceptances of offers made pursuant to clause 15.2(b) must be unconditional
other than any necessary authorisations. |
|
(i) |
|
If any one or more of the Other Shareholders accept all of the Disposal Shares,
the transfer of the Disposal Shares must be completed on the tenth Working Day after
the last day of the Offer Period, when the Transferor must sell and the applicable
Other Shareholder or Other Shareholders must purchase the Disposal Shares at the
Transfer Price. |
|
(j) |
|
If acceptances are not received in respect of all of the Disposal Shares
following compliance with clauses 15.2(b) to (h) (inclusive), the Transferor may,
subject to clause 15.7, at any time within 90 days after the expiry of the Offer Period
transfer all but not some of the Disposal Shares to the Nominated Third Party, at a
cash price only that must not be less than the Transfer Price and on terms no more
favourable to the Nominated Third Party than as set out in the Transfer Notice. |
|
(k) |
|
If the transfer of all of the Disposal Shares does not occur within 90 days
after the expiry of the Offer Period, the Transferor may not transfer the Disposal
Shares without first complying with the requirements of clauses 15.2(b) to (h)
(inclusive). |
|
(a) |
|
Any member of the Ivanhoe Group or any member of the Rio Tinto Group that is
a Shareholder or preferred shareholder may transfer all or part of the Shares or any
preferred shares (including Funding Shares) (as applicable) held by it to any other
member of the Ivanhoe Group or the Rio Tinto Group without obtaining the prior written
consent of the other Shareholders or preferred shareholders, or first complying with
the requirements of clause 15.2. |
|
(b) |
|
SHC may transfer all or part of the Shares or any preferred shares (as
applicable) held by it to any other company wholly-owned by the State, duly
incorporated under the Company Law of Mongolia, and Controlled solely by the State,
without obtaining the prior written consent of the other Shareholders or preferred
shareholders, or first complying with the requirements of clause 15.2. |
|
(c) |
|
In accordance with Clause 1.9 of the Investment Agreement, SHC shall be
responsible for listing that proportion of the Government Issue Shares which represent
not less than ten percent (10%) of the Shares in the Company on the Mongolian Stock
Exchange in satisfaction of the requirements of Article 5.6 of the Minerals Law of
Mongolia, and the transfer of such Shares shall be and remain exempt from the transfer
restrictions of this clause 15. Without limiting Clause 1.9 of the Investment
Agreement, the Ivanhoe
Shareholders and the Company cannot compel performance of SHCs obligations under
this clause 15.3(c). |
Page 20
Shareholders Agreement
A Shareholder must not create a mortgage, pledge, charge or other security interest
(Pledge) in respect of its Shares unless as provided in clause 15.5.
|
(a) |
|
The Parties agree that the requirements of this clause 15.5 are not required
terms of any security or other third party project financing arrangements described
under clause 13 (notwithstanding that establishing the requirements set out in this
clause 15.5 may be necessary or desirable in order to obtain such finance). |
|
(b) |
|
Except as provided in clause 15.5(d), a Shareholder may create a Pledge in
respect of its Shares (a Permitted Charge) only if: |
|
(i) |
|
the Pledge is created in favour of an internationally
recognised financial institution providing financing as contemplated by
clause 13(a) (relating to third party project financing) (the Permitted
Chargee); |
|
(ii) |
|
the Shareholder first notifies the Board of Directors in
writing; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the following requirements are first satisfied: |
|
(A) |
|
The Permitted Charge must be in
writing and comply with the requirements of a Permitted Charge
described in this clause 15.5. |
|
(B) |
|
A copy of the Permitted Charge must
be given to each other Shareholder at least 30 Working Days before
it is executed and must not be amended (before or after execution)
without the prior written consent of each other Shareholder. |
|
(C) |
|
The Permitted Chargee must sign and
deliver to each Shareholder and the Company a deed of covenant in
a form acceptable to the other Shareholders under which the
Permitted Chargee agrees that its rights and entitlements in
connection with the Permitted Charge: |
|
(1) |
|
are subject to this
Agreement; and |
|
(2) |
|
must be subordinated in
priority to the rights and entitlements of IVN, OTN and the
IVN Provider to receive Dividends otherwise payable to SHC
in accordance with clauses 10.4 and 14.2. |
|
(c) |
|
The Permitted Charge must: |
|
(i) |
|
not prejudice or affect the rights and remedies under
this Agreement of any Shareholder, including the right to be repaid any sum,
including the Outstanding Balance, under this Agreement; |
|
(ii) |
|
expressly provide that the Permitted Chargee (or any
person claiming through the Permitted Chargee) in the exercise or
enforcement of any power of sale or
other power of its security is subject to this clause 15 (including the
rights of pre-emption in clause 15.2); and |
Page 21
Shareholders Agreement
|
(iii) |
|
expressly provide that the rights of the Permitted
Chargee are subordinated in priority to the rights and entitlements of IVN,
OTN and the IVN Provider to receive Dividends otherwise payable to SHC in
accordance with clauses 10.4 and 14.2. |
|
(d) |
|
Any Pledge existing at the date of this Agreement between any member of
the Ivanhoe Group and any member of the Rio Tinto Group shall not require the prior
written consent of the other Shareholders or compliance with the requirements of
clauses 15.5(b) and 15.5(c). |
15.6 |
|
SHC ownership and listing |
|
(i) |
|
wholly-owned by the State; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
Controlled solely by the State, |
for the life of the OT Project, except as provided in clause 15.6(b) in relation
to the listing of shares of SHC by the State.
|
(b) |
|
The State may list its shares in SHC on the Mongolian Stock Exchange or any
internationally recognised stock exchange. |
|
(c) |
|
If SHC ceases to be wholly-owned and Controlled by the State (including as a
result of the listing of the shares in SHC) then, at the Ivanhoe Shareholders election
and on written notice from the Ivanhoe Shareholders to SHC, any Outstanding Balance at
that time shall immediately become due and payable in full to the IVN Provider (or to
IVN or OTN on behalf of the IVN Provider, if the Ivanhoe Shareholders direct). |
15.7 |
|
Further restrictions on Disposal of Shares |
A Shareholder may not Dispose of all or any of its Shares (or any interest in all or any of
its Shares) unless, prior to registration of the transfer of the Shares:
|
(a) |
|
(except where the Disposal of Shares is to an existing Shareholder) the
transferee enters into a deed of accession and assumption with the Parties in a form
acceptable to the Parties agreeing to be bound by and assume the obligations of the
Transferor; |
|
(b) |
|
in the case where SHC is the Transferor, at the IVN Providers election (to be
notified in writing to SHC), either: |
|
(i) |
|
the transferee or SHC pays or procures the payment of
any Outstanding Balance in full at the time of transfer; or |
|
(ii) |
|
the transferee assumes the obligation to repay any
Outstanding Balance or, if SHC is not transferring all its Shares, that
proportion of the Outstanding Balance as is the same proportion as the
number of Shares being transferred bears to the total number of Shares
held by the Transferor immediately before registration of the transfer by
the Company (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Dividends to which such
transferee would otherwise be entitled shall be
applied in priority to the repayment of the Outstanding Balance or the
relevant proportion of the Outstanding Balance, as the case may be, as
contemplated by clause 14.2); |
Page 22
Shareholders Agreement
|
(c) |
|
subject to clause 15.7(b), in the case of any Transferor, the transferee, at
the time of transfer, pays or procures the payment to each other Shareholder and the
Company of all amounts which the Transferor is obliged to pay to each other Shareholder
or the Company (as the case may be) under the terms of this Agreement; and |
|
(d) |
|
the transferee obtains all necessary authorisations. |
15.8 |
|
Ineffective transfer |
The Company shall not register any transfer made in breach of this clause 15. Any
purported transfer so made will be void and of no effect.
15.9 |
|
Disposal of rights in this Agreement |
Without the prior written consent of the other Parties, a Party must not Dispose of any of
its rights under this Agreement or attempt to do so, otherwise than in connection with a
transfer of Shares in accordance with this clause 15.
15.10 |
|
SHC option to acquire an additional 16% shareholding in the Company |
|
(a) |
|
SHC shall have the option (Option) to acquire an additional number of common
shares in the capital of the Company which will, after such acquisition, result in SHC
holding a further 16% of the total issued common shares in the capital of the Company
(Option Shares), provided terms are agreed between SHC and the Ivanhoe Shareholders. |
|
(b) |
|
SHC may only exercise the Option by written notice to the Ivanhoe
Shareholders and the Company during the period commencing on the date beginning one
(1) year after the date upon which the term of the Investment Agreement is first
extended in accordance with Clause 15.11 of the Investment Agreement, and ending on
the date which is one (1) calendar year after such date. |
|
(c) |
|
Immediately after the acquisition of the Option Shares to SHC, the respective
Percentage Interests of the Shareholders in the Company would be as follows: |
|
(i) |
|
SHC 50%; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the Ivanhoe Shareholders 50%. |
|
(d) |
|
Notwithstanding any acquisition of the Option Shares by SHC in accordance
with this clause 15, the Ivanhoe Shareholders shall retain full and unrestricted
management rights over the OT Project, and have a casting vote at all meetings of the
Board of Directors of the Company, and at all Shareholder meetings for all matters
described in clauses 4.10(a)(viii) to 4.10(a)(xvi) (inclusive), and the Ivanhoe
Shareholders and SHC shall make, or shall procure the making of, all amendments to the
Shareholders Agreement and any other documents that the Ivanhoe Shareholders deem
necessary to give effect to this clause 15.10(d). |
Page 23
Shareholders Agreement
16. |
|
Representations and warranties |
|
(a) |
|
Each Party represents and warrants to each other Party that: |
|
(i) |
|
it is a corporation duly incorporated and validly
existing under the laws of the place of its incorporation (and, in the case
of SHC, it is duly incorporated under the Company Law of Mongolia and is and
will continue to be subject to the Company Law of Mongolia); and |
|
(ii) |
|
it has the power to enter into and perform its
obligations under this Agreement and to carry on its business as now
conducted or contemplated. |
|
(b) |
|
Each Party must comply with the obligations of confidentiality specified by the
Board of Directors from time to time in respect of Proprietary Information of the
Company, the Shareholders (and their respective Related Corporations) and the
Management Team. In specifying such confidentiality obligations, the Board of
Directors will take into consideration the disclosure requirements under Mongolian law,
financial reporting requirements and the protection of commercially sensitive
information. If required by the Board of Directors, each Shareholder shall procure
that its appointed Directors and officers, employees, contractors or agents sign
undertakings with respect to Proprietary Information. Each Shareholder shall be
responsible for the misuse or unauthorised disclosure of Proprietary Information by its
appointed Directors, or any of the Shareholders officers, employees, contractors or
agents. |
|
(c) |
|
The Ivanhoe Shareholders acknowledge that as SHC is representing the Mongolian
Government, it may disclose to the Mongolian Government the Proprietary Information and
such other information that is necessary to perform its obligations. |
In accordance with Clause 2.27 of the Investment Agreement, SHC shall pay any taxes imposed
by the State upon or payable by the Company or by any Related Corporation of either the
Ivanhoe Group or the Rio Tinto Group that may be or become a holder of either common or
preferred shares of the Company as may result from any of the following transactions:
|
(a) |
|
the transfer or issue of the Government Issue Shares by the Company to SHC; |
|
(b) |
|
the provision of funds or loans to SHC under clause 10 of this Agreement (or
any similar arrangements), to fund SHCs investment in the Company, including all
repayments of principal and interest, including stamp duties and transaction taxes; |
|
(c) |
|
the provision of funds or loans by a member of the Ivanhoe Group or a member
of the Rio Tinto Group to the Company on behalf of or attributable to SHC, under
clause 12 of this Agreement (or any similar arrangements), in order to fund investment
by SHC in the Company, including all repayments of principal and interest; |
Page 24
Shareholders Agreement
|
(d) |
|
the transfer of any tenement of the Company referred to in clause 19, or the
transfer of licences or rights to the Company in accordance with Clause 15.7.8 of the
Investment Agreement; and |
|
(e) |
|
dividends paid by the Company in respect of the Shares held by SHC from time
to time (or any successor). |
18. |
|
Operation of Agreement |
|
18.1 |
|
Shareholders Agreement to override Charter |
If there is any inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions
of the Companys Charter, then the provisions of this Agreement prevail to the extent of
the inconsistency.
18.2 |
|
Agreement provision deemed to be in Charter |
If it is necessary to amend or include a provision in the Charter to ensure that a
provision of this Agreement is effective in accordance with its terms, then the relevant
provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to form part of the Charter and, if required,
the Shareholders shall approve by affirmative vote the necessary amendments to be made to
the Charter.
19. |
|
Transfer of non-OT Project tenements |
|
(a) |
|
The tenement holding of the Company will be transferred (to the extent this
has not already been done prior to the date of this Agreement) such that all tenements
retained and held by the Company will be those that are connected to the OT Project.
Accordingly, following the restructure, the Company will hold the following: |
|
(i) |
|
mining license 6709A; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
mining licenses 6708A and 6710A; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the contractual rights of the Company to earn an interest in
exploration and mining licenses adjacent to or surrounding mining license
6709A. |
|
(b) |
|
The Company intends to transfer all other licenses, leases, permits or other
tenements and authorities (and related assets) that are not related to the OT Project
to another Mongolian entity nominated by the Ivanhoe Shareholders. Accordingly, such
tenements, rights and related assets will no longer be held by the Company. |
|
(c) |
|
The transfers and transactions under this clause 19 shall be completed within
45 Working Days of the receipt of all of the Government approvals and authorisations
required for the completion of the transfers and transactions under this clause 19. |
Page 25
Shareholders Agreement
|
(a) |
|
In the event of a breach of a material obligation of this Agreement, the
Shareholder in breach shall indemnify the other Shareholder(s) and the Company for the
direct damages and loss suffered by the other Shareholder(s) and the Company, including
all costs, expenses, interest and legal fees, experts fees and other disbursements
incurred. |
|
(b) |
|
Indemnification shall be paid within sixty (60) days of the date of occurrence
of the damage or loss. The indemnification shall be paid in USD. |
21. |
|
Duration and termination |
|
21.1 |
|
Former Shareholder not bound |
Subject to clause 21.3, this Agreement ceases to apply to a Shareholder which has
transferred all of its Shares as permitted by this Agreement.
This Agreement continues in full force and effect until the conclusion of the liquidation
of the Company or its earlier termination by written agreement between the Parties.
21.3 |
|
Termination not to affect certain provisions |
The termination of this Agreement however caused and the ceasing by any Shareholder to hold
any Shares:
|
(a) |
|
will be without prejudice to any obligation of the Parties which has accrued
prior to that termination or cessation and which remains unsatisfied; and |
|
(b) |
|
will not affect any provision of this Agreement which is expressed to come into
effect on, or to continue in effect after, that termination or cessation. |
22. |
|
Dispute resolution |
|
22.1 |
|
Negotiation of dispute |
Any disputes between the Parties arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall
be settled by the Parties first attempting in good faith to negotiate a resolution and if a
negotiated resolution to the dispute is not agreed to within 60 (sixty) Working Days of the
date of a Partys request in writing for such negotiation, or such other time period as may
be agreed, then the dispute shall be settled in accordance with clause 22.2.
If a dispute is not settled by negotiation in accordance with clause 22.1, it shall be
resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the procedures under the Arbitration
Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (the UNCITRAL Rules) as
in force at the time of the dispute. Accordingly, the following shall apply:
|
(a) |
|
the number of arbitrators shall be 3 (three); |
|
(b) |
|
the 3 (three) arbitrators shall be appointed in accordance with rules 7 and 8
of the UNCITRAL Rules; |
Page 26
Shareholders Agreement
|
(c) |
|
the language of the arbitration shall be English; |
|
(d) |
|
the arbitrators shall apply the laws and regulations of Mongolia to the
interpretation of this Agreement; |
|
(e) |
|
the place of arbitration shall be in London, United Kingdom; and |
|
(f) |
|
the arbitral proceedings shall be administered under the UNCITRAL Rules by the
London Court of International Arbitration. |
22.3 |
|
Execution and enforcement of arbitral award |
The arbitral award shall be final and binding on the Parties, and judgment on the award may
be entered by any court having competent jurisdiction, provided that an arbitral award
shall first be presented in an appropriate court of Mongolia for execution and enforcement.
If such execution and enforcement has not occurred within 30 (thirty) days of presentation,
the award may be presented in any other court having competent jurisdiction. The Parties
hereby commit to fulfil the execution and enforcement of the arbitral award and shall not
raise any defence to its execution and enforcement.
22.4 |
|
Continued application of clause |
The provisions of this clause 22 shall continue to apply to any dispute that arises during
the term of this Agreement or any dispute that occurs after the expiry or earlier
termination of this Agreement in regard to activities arising out of or in connection with
this Agreement.
23. |
|
Miscellaneous |
|
23.1 |
|
Notices |
Any notice, demand, consent or other communication (a Notice) given or made under this
Agreement:
|
(a) |
|
must be in writing and signed by a person duly authorised by the sender; |
|
(b) |
|
for Notices delivered within Mongolia, must be delivered to the intended
recipient by hand, and for Notices delivered outside Mongolia, must be delivered by
hand or by any recognized express courier service, to the address below or the address
last notified by the intended recipient to the sender: |
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|
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|
|
(i)
|
|
to SHC:
|
|
Erdenes MGL (SHC) Limited |
|
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|
|
|
Unit 37, Diplomat BLDG. 95 |
|
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|
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|
5 khoroo, Chingiltei District |
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|
Ulaanbaatar-211238, Mongolia |
|
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|
|
Attention: Executive Director |
|
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|
|
Fax No: +976 701 10725 |
Page 27
Shareholders Agreement
|
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(ii)
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to the Ivanhoe
|
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to IVN: |
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|
Shareholders:
|
|
Ivanhoe Oyu Tolgoi (BVI) Limited |
|
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9 Columbus Centre Building |
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Road Town |
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Tortola |
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British Virgin Islands |
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Attention: Corporate Secretary |
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to OTN: |
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Oyu Tolgoi Netherlands B.V. |
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Prims Bernhardplein 200 |
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1097 JB |
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Amsterdam |
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The Netherlands |
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Attention: Corporate Secretary |
|
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|
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with a copy to IVN / OTN (as applicable) (which shall not constitute notice): |
|
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c/o Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Inc LLC |
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Seoul Business Center |
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1st khroo Bayanzurkh District |
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Zalluuchuud Avenue-26 |
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Ulaanbaatar 210349 |
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MONGOLIA |
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Attention: Managing Director |
|
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with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): |
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Ivanhoe Mines Ltd |
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999 Canada Place |
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Suite 654 |
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Vancouver |
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British Columbia V6C3E1 |
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Canada |
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Attention: Corporate Secretary |
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Fax No: +1 604-682-2060 |
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and |
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with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): |
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Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited: |
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2 Eastbourne Terrace |
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Paddington |
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London W26LG |
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United Kingdom |
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Attention: Company Secretary |
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Fax No: +44 20 7781 1800 |
Page 28
Shareholders Agreement
|
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(iii)
|
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to the Company:
|
|
Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Inc LLC |
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Seoul Business Center |
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1st khroo Bayanzurkh District |
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Zalluuchuud Avenue-26 |
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Ulaanbaatar 210349 |
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MONGOLIA |
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Attention: Managing Director |
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Fax No: +976 1133 1890 |
|
(c) |
|
will be taken to be duly given or made: |
|
(i) |
|
in the case of delivery in by hand, when delivered; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
in the case of delivery by recognized express courier
service, two Working Days after the date of despatch (if despatched to an
address in the same country) or seven Working Days after the date of despatch
(where despatch to an address in another country), |
but if the result is that a Notice would be taken to be given or made on a day that
is not a Working Day in the place to which the Notice is sent or is later than 4pm
(local time) it will be taken to have been duly given or made at the start of
business on the next Working Day in that place; and
|
(d) |
|
must be in English and Mongolian. |
23.2 |
|
Civil Code application |
|
|
|
Articles 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 of the Civil Code apply to this Agreement.
|
|
23.3 |
|
Compliance with laws |
|
|
|
Each Shareholder and its Related Corporations are subject to the anti-bribery/corruption
laws of the jurisdictions in which the Shareholder or its Related Corporations (as
applicable) are organized, including Mongolia, and the Shareholder and its Related
Corporations shall conduct their activities in Mongolia in accordance with their
obligations under such laws. |
|
23.4 |
|
Further assurances |
|
|
|
The Parties shall co-operate in compiling and delivering all documents necessary or
convenient to carry out the provisions of this Agreement. |
|
23.5 |
|
Entire agreement |
|
|
|
The provisions of this Agreement contain the entire agreement between the Parties with
respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. |
Page 29
Shareholders Agreement
23.6 |
|
Amendment |
|
|
|
This Agreement may be amended only by another agreement executed by all the Parties.
|
|
23.7 |
|
Governing law |
|
|
|
This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Mongolia
and the international treaties to which Mongolia is a party. |
|
23.8 |
|
Language |
|
|
|
This Agreement will be provided in the Mongolian and English languages each in three
original copies, with each Party retaining one copy in each language. The Parties agree
that the Mongolian and English language versions will be treated equally except that, in
the event of any discrepancies between the two language versions, the English version shall
prevail. |
|
23.9 |
|
Name of Company |
|
|
|
The Parties agree that after the date of this Agreement they may change the name of the
Company to Oyu Tolgoi LLC. |
Page 30
Shareholders Agreement
Capital Costs means all costs, expenses and charges that are recognised as capital costs in
accordance with internationally generally accepted accounting principles in relation to the OT
Project and Core Operations.
Carry Rate means the carry rate defined in clause 10.3(d)(i).
Commencement of Production has the meaning given to that term in Chapter 16 of the Investment
Agreement.
Completion Date means the date which is 21 Working Days after the Effective Date, or such other
date after the Effective Date as may be agreed between the Parties.
Contract Area has the meaning given to that term in Chapter 16 of the Investment Agreement.
Control means, with respect to a body corporate, the right to, directly or indirectly, exercise a
majority of the votes which may be cast at a general meeting of the shareholders of the body
corporate or the right to elect or appoint, directly or indirectly, a majority of the directors of
the body corporate and Control used as a noun means an interest of any kind which gives the holder
the ability to exercise any of the foregoing powers (and Controlled has a corresponding meaning).
Core Operations has the meaning given to that term in Chapter 16 of the Investment Agreement.
Director means a person appointed or elected to the office of director of the Company in accordance
with the Charter and in accordance with clause 4.3.
Disposal Shares means the disposal shares defined in clause 15.2(b).
Dispose in relation to any property means to sell, transfer, assign, create a Pledge over, declare
oneself a trustee of or part with the benefit of or otherwise dispose of that property (or any
interest in it or any part of it) or to attempt to do so.
Dividend includes a cash or non-cash distribution that is declared payable by the Board of
Directors in respect to Shares out of the operating profit after tax of the Company (but does not
include a dividend on preferred shares (including Funding Shares)).
Effective Date has the meaning given to that term in Chapter 16 of the Investment Agreement.
Existing Shareholder Loans means all funds advanced to the Company up to the Effective Date (the
quantum having been determined in accordance with Clause 15.7.5 of the Investment Agreement) by the
Ivanhoe Group or the Rio Tinto Group in relation to the OT Project and Core Operations
(irrespective of the terms on which those funds were advanced and whether expended by the Company
as Operational Costs or Capital Costs), including interest on such amounts at the rate of 9.9%
adjusted, on a quarterly basis, by the percentage of the variation in the US CPI over the preceding
quarter.
Financial Year means 1 January to 31 December.
Funded Amount means the funded amount defined in clause 10.1(b).
Funding Period means the period commencing on the Completion Date and ending three years after the
Commencement of Production.
Funding Share means a preferred share in the capital of the Company, as further described in clause
11.
Page 31
Shareholders Agreement
Government Issue Shares means the number of Shares issued by the Company to SHC as at the
Completion Date which will, after such issue, result in SHC holding 34% of the Shares in the
Company.
Investment Agreement means the Investment Agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement,
in relation to the OT Project, entered into between the Government of Mongolia, the Company,
Ivanhoe Mines Ltd and Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited pursuant to Article 29 of the
Minerals Law of Mongolia.
Ivanhoe Group means Ivanhoe Mines Ltd (incorporated in Yukon, Canada) and any entity Controlled by
Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.
Ivanhoe Shareholders means IVN and OTN.
IVN Provider means IVN, OTN or their nominated representative(s) including any Related Corporation
of IVN or OTN.
Management Services Payment has the meaning given to that term in Chapter 16 of the Investment
Agreement.
Management Team means the management team defined in clause 6.2(a).
Nominated Third Party means the nominated third party defined in clause 15.2(c)(iii).
Notice means the notice defined in clause 23.1.
Offer Period means the offer period defined in clause 15.2(d).
Operating Costs means all costs, expenses and charges incurred by or on behalf of the Management
Team or the Company in relation to the OT Project and Core Operations (other than Capital Costs).
Option means the option defined in clause 15.10(a).
Option Shares means the option shares defined in clause 15.10(a).
Other Shareholders means the other shareholders defined in clause 15.1.
OT Project has the meaning given to that term in Chapter 16 of the Investment Agreement.
Outstanding Balance means the outstanding balance defined in clause 10.3(d)(ii).
Overwhelming Majority means two thirds (2/3) or more.
Party means each of SHC, IVN, OTN, the Company and their successors and assigns as permitted in
accordance with this Agreement or the Investment Agreement.
Pledge means the pledge defined in clause 15.4.
Percentage Interest means, in relation to a Shareholder, that Shareholders percentage interest of
Shares it holds directly in the Company (and immediately after the issue of the Government Issue
Shares to SHC, the Percentage Interest of SHC will be 34%).
Permitted Charge means the permitted charge defined in clause 15.5(b).
Permitted Chargee means the permitted chargee defined in clause 15.5(b)(i).
Proprietary Information means that information of a Shareholder or its Related Corporations, the
Company or the Management Team which is disclosed to another Party, which is confidential in nature
and not in the public domain, including, without limitation, information relating to technology,
processes, products, specifications, inventions, trade secrets, know-how and other information of a
commercially sensitive nature.
Page 32
Shareholders Agreement
Quarterly US CPI Adjusted Carry Rate means the quarterly rate that results in an effective annual
rate of 9.9% and which is then adjusted, on a quarterly basis, by the percentage of the variation
in the US CPI over the preceding quarter.
Related Corporation means:
(a) |
|
in relation to any member of the Ivanhoe Group any other member of the Ivanhoe Group and
any member of the Rio Tinto Group; |
|
(b) |
|
in relation to any member of the Rio Tinto Group any other member of the Rio Tinto Group
and any member of the Ivanhoe Group; and |
|
(c) |
|
in relation to SHC any other corporation that is wholly-owned and Controlled solely by the
State. |
Relevant Transaction means any transaction between the Company (on the one hand) and any
Shareholder or Related Corporation of any Shareholder (on the other hand) where the total
consideration payable under the contract documenting the transaction exceeds one million
five-hundred thousand USD (USD1.5 million) (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Relevant
Transaction provisions in clause 5.2 do not apply to a contract for the engagement of the
Management Team as described in clause 6.2(a)).
Resolution means Resolution Number 57 of the State Great Khural dated 16 July 2009.
Rio Tinto Group means Rio Tinto plc (incorporated in England) and Rio Tinto Limited (incorporated
in Australia), and any entity Controlled by Rio Tinto plc and/or Rio Tinto Limited.
Share means a common share in the capital of the Company.
Shareholder means each of SHC, IVN and OTN, and each other Party who holds Shares.
Shareholder Debt means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount outstanding at the time of all
sums advanced to the Company by or on behalf of Shareholders on or after the Effective Date,
including as contemplated by clause 12, and interest on such sums.
SHC Called Sum means SHCs Percentage Interest of a Called Sum.
State means Mongolia.
Transfer Notice means the transfer notice defined in clause 15.2(c).
Transfer Price means the transfer price defined in clause 15.2(c)(i).
Transferor means a Shareholder which proposes to transfer all or some of its Shares in accordance
with this Agreement and refers to the Shareholder both before and after registration of the
relevant transfer of Shares.
US CPI means US CPI defined in clause 10.3(d)(iii).
USD and $ means the lawful currency of the United States of America.
Working Day has the meaning given to that term in Chapter 16 of the Investment Agreement.
Page 33
Shareholders Agreement
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed and signed on October 6, 2009 in the city of
Ulaanbaatar.
|
|
|
Signed for and on behalf of Erdenes MGL LLC
by:
|
|
Signed for and on behalf of Ivanhoe Mines
Mongolia Inc LLC by: |
|
|
|
Signed
|
|
Signed |
|
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|
|
Signature
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Signature |
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B. Enebish, Executive Director
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Keith Marshall, Managing Director |
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Name and Position
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Name and Position |
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6 October 2009
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6 October 2009 |
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Date
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Date |
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Signed for and on behalf of Ivanhoe Oyu Tolgoi
(BVI) Ltd by:
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Signed for and on behalf of Oyu Tolgoi
Netherlands B.V. by: |
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Signed
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Signed |
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Signature
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Signature |
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Peter Meredith, Deputy Chairman, Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.
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John Fognani, Executive Vice President Legal and General Counsel, Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. |
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Name and Position
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Name and Position |
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6 October 2009
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6 October 2009 |
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Date
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Date |
Page 34
INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE GOVERNMENT OF MONGOLIA
AND
IVANHOE MINES MONGOLIA INC LLC
AND
IVANHOE MINES LTD
AND
RIO TINTO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
In accordance with Article 29 of the Minerals Law of Mongolia (hereinafter referred to as the
Minerals Law), Resolution Number 40 dated 4 December 2008 and Resolution Number 57 dated 16 July
2009 respectively of the State Great Khural and Government Resolution Number 308 dated 6 October
2009:
The Minister of Finance, the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy and the Minister of
Nature, Environment and Tourism, together representing and upon authorization of the
Government of Mongolia;
and
Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Inc LLC (hereinafter referred to as the Investor);
and
Ivanhoe Mines Ltd (hereinafter referred to as Ivanhoe Mines Ltd);
and
Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited (hereinafter referred to as Rio Tinto);
have entered into this Agreement on this 6th day of October 2009;
Having regard to the following:
The Investor having invested a significant amount of capital in the OT Project through the
financial capability of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd and Rio Tinto;
Article 4.1.12 of the Minerals Law and Resolution Number 27 of the State Great Khural dated
6 February 2007;
The Private Placement Agreement dated 18 October 2006 between Ivanhoe Mines Ltd and Rio
Tinto (as amended);
The purpose of this Agreement being to define and regulate a relationship in regard to
maintaining for a certain period a stable Tax and operational environment, the sale of
Products at international market prices by the Investor, the guarantee of the Investors
right to use and spend its income at its own discretion, the amount and term of the
investment, the undertaking of mining activities with minimum damage to the environment and
human health, the rehabilitation of the environment, not to have a negative effect on other
industries and operations, the social and economic development of the Southern Gobi region
and creation of new jobs, the creation of business opportunities for Mongolian companies
and individuals, compensation for damages to property, basis for the termination of this
Agreement, and rights and obligations of the
Parties during the period of exploring, mining and processing operations within the
Contract Area;
Page 1
Resolution Number 57 of the State Great Khural dated 16 July 2009 has resolved to authorise the
Government to enter into this Agreement and upon such entry, the rights and obligations under this
Agreement shall be binding on the Parties with the agreement being as follows:
1.1. |
|
Except as provided by Clause 15.26, this Agreement shall come into effect on and from the
Effective Date and remain in effect, in accordance with Article 29.3 of the Minerals Law, for
an initial period of 30 (thirty) years. |
1.2. |
|
The Investor shall have a right to apply for and obtain from competent authorities in
accordance with relevant laws and regulations of Mongolia all leases, licenses, permits, work
visas, customs clearance, easements and rights of way (permits for land to be used for road
corridors and road facilities), approvals of competent authorities and other similar consents
required in connection with the OT Project (Permits) and the Government shall provide
support requested by the Investor in this respect and shall resolve the Investors
applications to obtain such Permits in accordance with relevant laws and regulations of
Mongolia. |
1.3. |
|
Except as provided by Clause 2.24.2, Taxes payable by the Investor shall remain Stabilized
(as described in Clause 2.1 and Clause 2.24). |
1.4. |
|
The Investor is hereby granted the rights to market, sell and export its Products at
international market prices and to freely expend and repatriate its sale proceeds in Mongolian
togrogs and foreign currencies. |
1.5. |
|
This Agreement applies to the whole range of the Investors activities in connection with the
OT Project that includes prospecting and exploring within the Contract Area, separating and
mining minerals from land surface and subsoil, construction and operation of infrastructure
for transportation, power, water and other infrastructure facilities, processing (including
crushing, grinding, floating and filtering), producing Products, marketing, mine closure,
rehabilitation, ore stockpiling, waste and tailings management and all other connected
activities (hereinafter referred to as the Core Operations). |
1.6. |
|
The State shall own 34% (thirty four percent) of the common shares in the Investor, and,
within 1 (one) year after this Agreement is extended in accordance with Clause 15.11, have the
option to own a further 16% (sixteen percent) of the common shares in the Investor, on terms
mutually agreed as contained in the Shareholders Agreement. The State warrants that this
Clause 1.6 satisfies all obligations under laws or resolutions of the State Great Khural to
issue or transfer shares in the Investor to the Government. |
1.7. |
|
The Investor shall use its best endeavours in the course of its operations to promote
development of the Southern Gobi region, including the creation of employment opportunities. |
1.8. |
|
The State agrees that the signing of this Agreement and the Shareholders Agreement, and the
issue of common shares in the Investor equal to 34% (thirty four percent) of the total common
share capital of the Investor to the State pursuant to the Shareholders
Agreement, satisfies all of the obligations of the Investor under Article 5.5 of the
Minerals Law. |
Page 2
1.9. |
|
The obligations under Article 5.6 of the Minerals Law are to be fulfilled under clause
15.3(c) of the Shareholders Agreement, and the Government shall be liable for, and assume the
obligations for, any failure of SHC to meet the requirements of clause 15.3(c) of the
Shareholders Agreement. |
1.10. |
|
Any relationship which is not governed by this Agreement shall be regulated by the effective
laws and regulations of Mongolia, and the international treaties to which Mongolia is a party. |
1.11. |
|
The Investor has the right to conduct the operations of mining and processing minerals from
the underground mine area and the open pit mine area, and producing Products, within mining
license 6709A of the Oyu Tolgoi Deposit. The reserves for these areas are registered in the
national registry of reserves, and the Feasibility Study for these areas has been submitted to
the State administrative authority in charge of geology and mining for its consideration in
accordance with existing laws and regulations. Consideration of the Feasibility Study will be
concluded in 150 (one hundred and fifty) days from the date of submission. |
1.12. |
|
The terms used in this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with Chapter 16 (Sixteen). |
2. |
|
Chapter Two: Taxation Environment |
2.1. |
|
Except as provided elsewhere in this Agreement, the Investor shall only be subject to the
Taxes listed in Article 7 of the General Taxation Law as in force on the date of this
Agreement. The Parties agree that, in accordance with Article 29.1.1 of the Minerals Law, the
following Taxes are Stabilized (the Stabilized Taxes): |
|
2.1.1. |
|
Income tax of business entities (corporate income tax); |
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2.1.2. |
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Customs duty; |
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2.1.3. |
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Value-added tax; |
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2.1.4. |
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Excise tax (except as provided for in Clause 2.23); |
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2.1.5. |
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Payment for use of mineral resources (royalty) (as specified in Clause 3.13); |
|
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2.1.6. |
|
Payment for mineral exploration and mining licenses; |
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2.1.7. |
|
Immovable property tax and/or Real Estate Tax; and |
|
2.1.8. |
|
Tax on price increase of some products, which as from 1 January 2011 shall be
invalidated by the WPT Invalidating Law. |
Taxes listed in Article 7 of the General Taxation Law (as in force on the date of this
Agreement) not listed above will be payable in accordance with the laws and regulations
effective in that tax year of Mongolia (the Non-Stabilized Taxes).
2.2. |
|
Tax to be withheld as a result of the Corporate Income Tax Law shall be calculated at the
rates specified in the respective clauses of the Corporate Income Tax Law (as in force on the
date of this Agreement), which includes in accordance with any applicable double tax treaties
as applied by Article 2.2 of the General Taxation Law, and which rates shall be Stabilized. |
Page 3
2.3. |
|
Non-Stabilized Taxes to which the Investor is subject shall apply to the Investor on a
non-discriminatory basis. Taxes to which the Investors Affiliates, Contractors or
Subcontractors, or their respective employees, are subject, shall apply to that taxpayer on a
non-discriminatory basis. A Tax, or the levying of a particular Tax, will be considered as
discriminatory if that taxpayer is subjected to taxation (including rate), or taxation
requirement, that is more burdensome than the taxation and/or requirements to which other
enterprises, companies, taxpayers or employees may be subjected to, or which differentiates
that taxpayers Tax burden from that of other taxpayers by reason of the unique size, or
number, of such entitys operations. |
2.4. |
|
The Investor shall not be subject to or liable to pay the following Taxes after the date of
this Agreement: |
|
2.4.1. |
|
Taxes that are not listed in Article 7 of the General Taxation Law at the date of
this Agreement; |
|
2.4.2. |
|
Taxes arising from an amendment or addition to any law or regulation establishing a
Non-Stabilized Tax to levy Taxes that are not listed in Article 7 of the General
Taxation Law at the date of this Agreement; and |
|
2.4.3. |
|
Taxes arising from an amendment or addition to any law or regulation establishing a
Non-Stabilized Tax to levy a Tax of the nature of a Stabilized Tax. |
2.5. |
|
The annual taxable income of 0-3.0 billion togrogs of the Investor taxable under Corporate
Income Tax Law shall be taxed at the rate of 10% (ten percent). If annual taxable income
exceeds 3.0 billion togrogs it shall be 300.0 million togrogs plus 25% (twenty five percent)
of taxable income exceeding 3.0 billion togrogs. |
2.6. |
|
The Tax specified in Clause 2.1.8 shall not be payable by the Investor from 1 January 2011. |
2.7. |
|
Tax shall be imposed on the following income of the Investor at the following rates: |
|
2.7.1. |
|
Dividends shall be taxed at the rate of 10% (ten percent); |
|
|
2.7.2. |
|
Income from royalties shall be taxed at the rate of 10% (ten percent); |
|
2.7.3. |
|
Income from disposal of an immovable property shall be taxed at the rate of 2% (two
percent); |
|
2.7.4. |
|
Income from interest shall be taxed at the rate of 10% (ten percent); |
|
2.7.5. |
|
Income from sale of rights shall be taxed at the rate of 30% (thirty percent). |
Page 4
2.8. |
|
Without affecting Clause 2.27 and the rights of the Investor to avail itself of applicable
double tax treaties, the Parties agree that, for the purposes of tax required to be withheld
by the Investor under Article 17.2.9 of the Corporate Income Tax Law, the following income of
a non-resident taxpayer, but which are earned in Mongolia, shall be taxed when transferred to
the non-resident taxpayer at the following rates: |
|
2.8.1. |
|
Loan interest and payment for issuing a guarantee shall be taxed at the rate of 20%
(twenty percent). |
|
2.8.2. |
|
Income from royalties, income from interest on financial leases, payments for
administrative expenses, rent payments, lease payments and income from use of tangible
and non-tangible assets shall be taxed at the rate of 20% (twenty percent). |
|
2.8.3. |
|
Income from goods sold, work performed and services provided within the territory of
Mongolia shall be taxed at the rate of 20% (twenty percent). |
2.9. |
|
The Parties agree that, for the purposes of tax required to be withheld by the Investor under
Article 17.2.9 of the Corporate Income Tax Law, income of a non-resident taxpayer from
Management Services Payments, but which is earned in Mongolia, shall be taxed when transferred
to the non-resident taxpayer at the rate of 20% (twenty percent). |
2.10. |
|
Dividends, on common or preferred shares, paid by the Investor to its non-resident
shareholder(s) who are non-resident taxpayer(s), shall be taxed in accordance with Mongolian
laws and regulations, which includes in accordance with any applicable double tax treaties as
applied by Article 2.2 of General Taxation Law, and which rates shall be Stabilized. |
2.11. |
|
Tax paid by the Investor in a foreign country may be credited in accordance with Article
19.9 of the Corporate Income Tax Law. |
2.12. |
|
In accordance with Government Resolution Number 287 approving a procedure on carrying tax
loss forward in mining and infrastructure dated 16 September 2009 made under the authority of
the Corporate Income Tax Law, the tax loss of the Investor to be determined in accordance with
Articles 20.1 and 20.2 of the Corporate Income Tax Law shall be carried forward and deducted
from the taxable income of the Investor in the next 8 (eight) consecutive years after the tax
year in which such tax loss was incurred. This will not apply for losses specified in tax
statements for the tax year occurring before 1 January 2007. Tax losses of the Investor
specified in the tax statements of that tax year occurring during the period from 1 January
2007 to 31 December 2009 (inclusive) shall be carried forward and deducted from the Investors
taxable income in the next 2 (two) consecutive years after the tax year in which such tax loss
was incurred and the amount of loss to be deducted annually shall not exceed 50% (fifty
percent) of the Investors taxable income for that year. However, tax losses of the Investor
specified in tax statements for each tax year occurring from 1 January 2010 shall be carried
forward and deducted from the Investors taxable income in the next 8 (eight) consecutive
years after the tax year in which such tax loss was incurred and the amount of loss to be
deducted annually shall not exceed 100% (one hundred percent) of the Investors taxable income
for that year. |
Page 5
2.13. |
|
In accordance with Article 20.3 of the Corporate Income Tax Law, the amount of tax loss
carry forward to be deducted from the taxable income of the Investor in any tax year pursuant
to Article 20.2 of the Corporate Income Tax Law will not be limited, except as provided in
Clause 2.12. Accordingly, 100% (one hundred percent) of the Investors taxable income can be
offset with carry forward tax losses in a particular year. |
2.14. |
|
The tax depreciation of the Investors assets shall be calculated for the Investors assets
with a useful life of more than 1 (one) year, in accordance with the depreciation schedule
below: |
|
|
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|
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Useful life (in |
|
Depreciation |
Number |
|
Asset Class |
|
years) |
|
method |
|
1 |
|
|
Building and construction
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|
|
40 |
|
|
Straight-line |
|
2 |
|
|
Machinery and equipment
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
Straight-line |
|
3 |
|
|
Computer, computer parts, and software
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
Straight-line |
|
4 |
|
|
Intangible asset with undefined useful life
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
Straight-line |
|
5 |
|
|
Intangible asset with defined useful life
(includes license for mineral exploration
and mining)
|
|
Useful / valid life
|
|
Straight-line |
|
6 |
|
|
Other non-current asset
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
Straight-line |
2.15. |
|
The Parties agree to determine the relevant Asset Class specified in Clause 2.14 as follows: |
Asset Class Number 2
Machinery and equipment fixed or attached to a building;
Machinery and equipment fixed or attached to a construction; and
Machinery and equipment fixed or attached to the underground infrastructure.
Asset Class Number 6
Other non-current assets including capitalised pre-stripping and overburden removal;
Underground shafts; and
Roadways, drawpoints and ventilation shafts and other underground infrastructure.
2.16. |
|
Taking into account Articles 12 and 15 of the Corporate Income Tax Law, operating expenses,
including operational maintenance and repairs related to the OT Project, and payment for works
and services performed by others (including Management Services Payments), shall be tax
deductible in the year incurred. |
2.17. |
|
If the Investor uses its own funds to establish a border crossing and related infrastructure
and to repair and maintain it, an amount equivalent to these funds shall be deducted from the
Investors taxable income. |
Page 6
2.18. |
|
Value-added tax shall be imposed on imported, manufactured or sold goods, performed works
and rendered services at the rate of 10% (ten percent) in accordance with Article 11.1 of the
Value-Added Tax Law. Non-refundable value-added tax shall be a deductible expense of the
Investor for income tax of business entities (corporate income tax) purposes in accordance
with law . |
2.19. |
|
Customs duties shall be imposed in accordance with the Law of Mongolia on Customs Tariff and
Duties. |
2.20. |
|
In accordance with Articles 11.2 and 12 of the Value-Added Tax Law, value-added tax rates on
the following exported products, works and services connected with the OT Project shall be 0
(zero) rated: |
|
2.20.1. |
|
goods (except for gold) exported by the Investor from the territory of Mongolia for
sale or goods declared to the Customs Office; |
|
2.20.2. |
|
passenger and cargo transportation services from the territory of Mongolia to a
foreign country, from a foreign country to the territory of Mongolia, or through the
territory of Mongolia to a foreign country; |
|
2.20.3. |
|
services rendered (including non taxable services) outside the territory of
Mongolia; |
|
2.20.4. |
|
services (including non taxable services) rendered to a foreign citizen or a legal
person, who is outside the territory of Mongolia at the time the services are
rendered; and |
|
2.20.5. |
|
exported final mining products. |
2.21. |
|
Mining products other than those listed in Article 12.1.7 of the Value-Added Tax Law shall
be exempted from value-added tax. |
2.22. |
|
Equipment temporarily imported through a customs border by the Investor, its Affiliates, and
their respective Contractors and Subcontractors, which is required for the OT Project, shall
be placed under the customs regime of temporary admission provided for in Chapter 8,
Sub-chapter 4, Articles 93-98 of the Customs Law. |
2.23. |
|
All gasoline and diesel fuel imported or purchased from the domestic market by the Investor
for its own usage shall be subject to gasoline and diesel fuel excise taxes, value-added tax,
gasoline and diesel fuel taxes and customs duties at applicable rates on a non-discriminatory
basis. |
2.24. |
|
The Parties agree as follows: |
|
2.24.1. |
|
Except as provided in Clause 2.24.2, and in accordance Article 29.1.1 of the
Minerals Law, the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect during the term
of this Agreement irrespective of the provisions of taxation laws and regulations
ratified after the Effective Date. |
Page 7
|
2.24.2. |
|
If a law or regulation enters into force after the date of this Agreement, or an
international treaty becomes available to the Investor, and such law, regulation or
international treaty contains Tax rates that are less than those specified in this
Agreement or which would otherwise have the effect of reducing Taxes payable by the
Investor under this Agreement then the Investor may notify the Government in writing
that it wishes to enjoy the benefit of that law, regulation or international treaty.
In such event, and as provided for in Article 29.1.1 of the Minerals Law: |
|
2.24.2.1 |
|
without affecting Clause 2.24.2.2, the lower rates or reduced Tax
liability will apply in determining the Investors Tax liability under this
Agreement; |
|
2.24.2.2 |
|
if a later amendment to a law, regulation or international treaty changes
the rates or Tax liability so it is no longer at a lower rate or reduced Tax
liability, the Investor shall, from the date this later amendment comes into
effect, be returned to the status or position it occupied before it gave
notice to the Government in writing under this Clause 2.24.2. |
2.25. |
|
If the Investor sells or buys goods, performs work, renders services (including financing
costs and interest payments except in respect of financing described in Clause 2.27), or
transfers goods or assets to or from an Affiliate at a lower or higher price than the market
price, then the price for determining the taxable income of the Investor for those goods, work
and services shall be deemed to be the price of similar goods, works or services sold,
performed, rendered or transferred by independent entities to each other, based on transfer
pricing principles published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The Parties agree that Management Services Payments are made as if they are carried out
between unrelated parties, each acting in his own best interest, for the purposes of Article
11.1 of the Corporate Income Tax Law. |
2.26. |
|
For statutory and tax reporting purposes (including for the purposes of calculating and
paying Taxes), the Investor may keep its primary accounting records in United States dollars.
The Investor shall also maintain accounting records in Mongolian togrogs in accordance with
Article 6.1 of the Accounting Law. Where Taxes are payable in togrogs, then the amount payable
in togrogs shall be determined by converting United States dollars into togrogs applying the
principles of non-discrimination contained in Clause 2.3. |
2.27. |
|
The Parties agree that the terms of any finance provided to the Investor under the
Shareholders Agreement, prior to the expiry of the 7 (seven) year period referred to in
Clause 16.10.1, and any costs related to financial guarantees in respect of project finance,
are made as if they are carried out between unrelated parties, each acting in his own best
interest, for the purposes of Article 11.1 of the Corporate Income Tax Law and the Government
shall meet any obligation of SHC incurred under clause 17 of the Shareholders Agreement. |
2.28. |
|
The royalty payable under Clause 3.13 shall be treated as a deductible expense from the
taxable income of the Investor in accordance with Article 12.1.14 of the Corporate Income Tax
Law. |
Page 8
2.29. |
|
If the amount of value-added tax to be credited to the Investor in a given month exceeds the
total of value-added tax due to be paid by the Investor in the same period, then the tax
authority shall do the following: |
|
2.29.1. |
|
credit against any value-added tax payable by the Investor in the next month,
quarter or year; |
|
2.29.2. |
|
credit against any other types of Taxes due by the Investor to relevant
governmental or local budgets; and |
|
2.29.3. |
|
refund the balance of the excess payment of value-added tax in accordance with
Articles 17.1.4 and 58 of General Taxation Law. |
2.30. |
|
In accordance with Article 18.1.1 of the Corporate Income Tax Law, no Tax shall be payable
on any interest income earned on any Government issued securities (including bills), including
deferred interest income incorporated as a discount to the issue price. |
2.31. |
|
Thin capitalization requirements specified in Article 14.3 of the Corporate Income Tax Law
shall be calculated as follows: |
|
2.31.1. |
|
if the Investors debt to equity ratio exceeds 3:1, any interest attributable to
the excess debt will not be deductible for Tax purposes; |
|
2.31.2. |
|
if the Investors debt to equity ratio exceeds 3:1, any interest attributable to
that part of the debt that does not exceed the ratio strictly remains deductible for
Tax purposes; |
|
2.31.3. |
|
for the measurement of total debt for the purpose of the ratio, both related party
and non-related party debt are included, however, any non-interest-bearing liabilities
are specifically excluded; |
|
2.31.4. |
|
for the measurement of total equity/capital for the purpose of the ratio, both
common shares and preferred shares are included; and |
|
2.31.5. |
|
any non-tax deductible interest shall be deemed to be a dividend and taxed in
accordance with laws and regulations and applicable double tax treaties. Any such
non-tax deductible interest will not be subject to any interest withholding tax. |
2.32. |
|
An entity engaged in activities related to, or services provided to, the OT Project may
apply under Article 19 of the Foreign Investment Law to stabilise Taxes. |
2.33. |
|
The benefits specified in Article 19.2 of the Corporate Income Tax Law as in force at the
date of this Agreement shall be granted to the Investor as follows: |
|
2.33.1. |
|
In accordance with Government Resolution Number 288 dated 16 September 2009 making
amendment to the Annexure of Resolution Number 83 of 2008, the Investor is entitled to
an investment tax credit equal to 10% (ten percent) of its investment in depreciable
non-current assets made up to the end of the Construction Period. |
Page 9
|
2.33.2. |
|
This investment tax credit shall not be granted if the investment is made for the
purchase of an asset not connected with Core Operations. |
|
2.33.3. |
|
The credit shall not be subtracted from the depreciated cost of the asset to which
the credit relates. |
|
2.33.4. |
|
If the investment tax credit exceeds the amount of income tax of that tax year
specified in Article 17.1 of the Corporate Income Tax Law, the exceeding amount shall
be credited in the subsequent 3 (three) profitable tax years of the Investor. |
2.34. |
|
In the event that, during the term of this Agreement, the Value-Added Tax Law is amended, so
that the value-added tax rates on all Products exported by the Investor or its Affiliates, or
works and services connected with the OT Project, shall become 0 (zero) rated, and provided
that, pursuant to Article 19.7 of the Corporate Income Tax Law, the mining sector is no longer
classified as a priority sector, the benefit of the investment tax credit referred to in
Clause 2.33 shall no longer be available to the Investor (notwithstanding the operation of
Clause 15.23.1). If the investment tax credit becomes no longer available to the Investor,
nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Investor from carrying forward investment tax
credits that were earned prior to the date the investment tax credit no longer became
available to the Investor. |
3. |
|
Chapter Three: Core Operation of the Investor |
3.1. |
|
The Investor has the right to hold each Mining License for an initial term of 30 (thirty)
years from their grant, and to extend this period 2 (two) times for a period of 20 (twenty)
years each in accordance with Articles 27.1.7 and 28.1 of the Minerals Law. |
3.2. |
|
The Investor has the right to construct and operate infrastructure and related facilities and
to conduct mineral exploration and mining activities throughout the Contract Area on the terms
of this Agreement. |
3.3. |
|
The Investor has the right to conduct in accordance with relevant laws and regulations the
operations of mining and processing from any mineral deposits within mining license 6709A and
the licenses referred to in Clause 15.7.8, when the reserves relating to those deposits are
registered in the national registry of reserves and the Feasibility Study is submitted to the
State administrative authority in charge of geology and mining for its consideration in
accordance with existing laws and regulations. Registration of reserves shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed, and shall be registered within 150 (one hundred and fifty)
days from the date the Investor delivers a Statement of Reserves and the Feasibility Study to
the State administrative authority in charge of geology and mining. Consideration of the
Feasibility Study will be concluded within 150 (one hundred and fifty) days from the date of
submission. |
3.4. |
|
In accordance with Article 17.2.3 and Article 24.4.2 of the Minerals Law, an exploration
license or mining license shall not be granted if it overlaps any part of the area of any
valid Mining License previously granted. A license or tenure under any other law or regulation
shall not be granted to any third party if it overlaps any part of the area of any valid
Mining License. |
Page 10
3.5. |
|
Nothing in this Agreement shall limit the right of the Investor to mine and process from the
area of its Mining Licenses in accordance with relevant laws and regulations any metals or
minerals other than those defined as Products by this Agreement, however the terms of this
Agreement shall not apply to any goods, works and services undertaken as a result of these
activities. |
3.6. |
|
The Investor shall submit, in the Feasibility Study described under Clause 1.11, estimated
annual production figures for the life of the open pit and underground mines. |
3.7. |
|
The Investor will provide on an annual basis to the State administrative authority in charge
of geology and mining an updated table forecasting the quantities of total Products to be
mined and processed from the open pit and underground operations at the OT Project in the
following 5 (five) years and that table may be included in its investment report under Clause
9.7. |
3.8. |
|
If the Investor estimates that, in any calendar year, it will mine and process at least 20%
(twenty percent) more Products than forecast in the most recent table referred to in Clause
3.7, it will obtain the consent of the State administrative authority in charge of geology and
mining to mine and process above that level, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld
or delayed. |
3.9. |
|
The Investor will use reasonable efforts to mine and process mined ore that is no less than
the quantities contained in the most recent table referred to in Clause 3.7, however, the
actual quantity of Products mined and processed by the Investor in any year may vary due to
many factors, which may not be within the control of the Investor or of the Government.
Accordingly, the actual quantity of Product produced in any year remains within the competence
and discretion of the Investor. |
3.10. |
|
The Parties agree that in respect of the financing of the OT Project: |
|
3.10.1. |
|
the Investor shall deliver to the Government a notice informing that the Financing
Completion Date has occurred within 7 (seven) days of such date being achieved; |
|
3.10.2. |
|
the Investor shall achieve Commencement of Production within 5 (five) years of the
Financing Completion Date; and |
|
3.10.3. |
|
the Financing Completion Date referred to in this Clause 3.10 is the date being
the earlier of: |
|
3.10.3.1 |
|
the date on which the Investor has managed to secure (or have made
available to it) sufficient financing facilities on terms, including in
respect of guarantees, security or other support, reasonably acceptable to the
Investor, to enable the full and complete construction of the OT Project as
described in the Feasibility Study referred to in Clause 1.11, and notified to
the Government in writing; and |
|
3.10.3.2 |
|
2 (two) years after the Effective Date. |
3.11. |
|
The Investor shall adopt and implement modern mining and processing technology that meets
Mongolian and international environmental codes and standards during Core
Operations and will conduct Core Operations in an efficient manner to minimize environmental impact to
the extent economically feasible. |
Page 11
3.12. |
|
The sales value of the Products of the Investor shall be determined as follows: |
|
3.12.1. |
|
for exported Products, the sales value shall be the international market prices of
the products or similar products, based on recognized principles of international
trade for determining average monthly prices; |
|
3.12.2. |
|
for Products sold or used on the domestic markets, the sales value shall be based
on the domestic market price for the particular or similar products; |
|
3.12.3. |
|
for Products sold on international or domestic markets, where it is impossible to
determine market prices, the sales value shall be based on the revenue derived from
the sale of the Product as declared by the license holder. |
3.13. |
|
The Investor shall pay a royalty under Article 47.3.2 of the Minerals Law at the date of
this Agreement equal to 5% (five percent) of the sales value of all Products mined from the
Contract Area that are sold, shipped for sale, or used by the Investor, and such royalty is
Stabilized. |
3.14. |
|
The Investor shall pay an annual mining license fee of USD15.00 per hectare of mining area
granted under a Mining License, and Stabilized. |
3.15. |
|
The Investor shall prepare and submit the reports as required under Article 48 of the
Minerals Law to the State administrative authority in charge of geology and mining in both
Mongolian and English. |
3.16. |
|
The Investor shall inform the State administrative authority in charge of specialized
inspection by an official letter that the mine shall be closed in whole or in part according
to such date as specified by law and shall take the following preparatory measures pursuant to
relevant regulations: |
|
3.16.1. |
|
fully take all measures, in accordance with Mongolian and internationally
recognised standards, to ensure safe use of the closed mining area for public purposes
and to rehabilitate the environment; |
|
3.16.2. |
|
take preventative measures if there is a possible hazardous risk when the closed
mining area is used for public purposes; |
|
3.16.3. |
|
remove all machinery, equipment and other property from the closed mining area
except as permitted by local administrative bodies or the State administrative
authority in charge of specialized inspection. |
Page 12
3.17. |
|
When the mine is closed, the Investor shall prepare a detailed map on an appropriate scale
showing dangerous or potentially dangerous areas created by mining operations, place the
necessary warnings and markings in the vicinity of the mining area and shall submit the map to
the State administrative authority in charge of specialized inspection and Governors of soum,
bag or district. |
3.18. |
|
The Investor shall be responsible for developing a management program for mine closure,
fully comply with the requirements during the mine closure phase in accordance with relevant
laws and regulations and set aside funds commencing 7 (seven) years prior to the closure in an
escrow account not controlled by the Investor, unless the funds are to be used for the mine
closure phase, for costs related to mine closure and these costs shall be deductible from the
Investors taxable income. |
3.19. |
|
Within 3 (three) years after the Commencement of Production, the Investor will, if requested
in writing by the Government, prepare a research report on the economic viability of
constructing and operating a copper smelter in Mongolia to process mineral concentrate
Products derived from Core Operations into metal (the Smelter). |
3.20. |
|
If the Government either alone or in conjunction with others or a third party plans for the
construction of a Smelter in Mongolia, the Investor will, if requested in writing by the
Government, provide on agreed terms, with preferential access, Rio Tintos (or its Affiliates)
Proprietary Technologies held in joint venture with Outokumpu, for the operation of the
Smelter. |
3.21. |
|
The Investor shall in priority supply (by sale or tolling) mineral concentrate to any third
party operated copper smelters located in Mongolia in which the Government has a whole or
partial ownership interest on agreed commercial terms based on international prices and
standards, with a view to increasing the value added to the Products in Mongolia, however such
supply will be made on the following basis: |
|
3.21.1. |
|
if the Investor has a whole or partial ownership interest in, or operates, a
smelter located in Mongolia, it is entitled to first satisfy the mineral concentrate
needs of such smelter; and |
|
3.21.2. |
|
if such third party operated copper smelters can demonstrate in advance an ability
to meet all technical criteria and specifications for effectively accepting and
smelting copper concentrate from the OT Project. |
3.22. |
|
If the Investor owns and operates a Smelter and produces refined gold that meets Good
Delivery requirements of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), the Investor shall
offer such produced gold to the Bank of Mongolia at no less than the spot price reflected in
the international over-the-counter market. If the refined gold produced does not meet Good
Delivery requirements of the LBMA, the Investor shall offer to sell such produced gold to the
Bank of Mongolia at spot prices reflected in the international gold market for gold of that
purity or grade. |
3.23. |
|
If the Investor constructs a Smelter in connection with implementation of the OT Project
that Smelter will be located in Mongolia. |
Page 13
3.24. |
|
As soon as practicable after the annual financial statements of the Investor are available
for that financial year, an audit of the capital costs and operating costs among other things
shall be conducted by an internationally recognised and reputable audit and accounting firm
which may be undertaken as part of, or in conjunction with, the audit referred to in Clause
9.7. |
4. |
|
Chapter Four: Regional Development |
4.1. |
|
The Government will establish the Southern Gobi Regional Development Council (the
Council) and shall lead its activities. |
4.2. |
|
The Council will be governed by a board, which shall include representatives of the
Government, local governance organisations, private sector entities, civil society
organisations and donor and international financial institutions with activities directed
towards the Southern Gobi region. |
4.3. |
|
The Investor will be a member of the Councils governing board, and shall support the Council
and its activities. |
4.4. |
|
The Council will assist the Government in the following areas in terms of preparation,
financing, organising and implementation of the Southern Gobi local and regional development
strategy, plans and budgets: |
|
4.4.1. |
|
support to local and regional development and encouraging transparent and
responsible governance; |
|
4.4.2. |
|
coordination of in-migration influx; |
|
4.4.3. |
|
resolving matters of urban planning and development, including power, roads, water
supply, heating and sewerage; |
|
4.4.4. |
|
organization of formal and non-formal education, including English language and
vocational training; |
|
4.4.5. |
|
focus on human health care, construction of diagnostic centres, cultural facilities,
sport facilities, improvement of veterinary services; and |
|
4.4.6. |
|
support to capacity building for local governments and civil society. |
4.5. |
|
In addition to the above, the Investor will support socio-economic development policies and
activities undertaken by Southern Gobi local administration and will develop partnerships to
ensure that sustainable benefits from the OT Project reach Mongolian people, including people
in Umnugovi Aimag. |
4.6. |
|
The Investor shall conduct all of its local and regional socio-economic development programs
and activities based on principles of transparency, accountability and public participation. |
4.7. |
|
The Investor shall continue to prepare, conduct, implement, update on an appropriate basis,
and make public socio-economic baseline studies, socio-economic impact assessments,
socio-economic risk analyses, as well as multi-year communities plans,
community relations management systems, policies, procedures and guidelines, and mine
closure plans, all of which shall be produced with community participation and input and be
consistent with international best practice. |
Page 14
4.8. |
|
The Investor shall give priority focus to those Umnugovi Aimag citizens and groups directly
and indirectly impacted by the OT Project, as determined by socio-economic and environmental
impact assessments and other relevant documents and, for this purpose, the Investor shall
regularly engage with and support the public and local stakeholders in Umnugovi Aimag. |
4.9. |
|
The Investor shall establish cooperation agreements with local administrative organisations
in accordance with Article 42 of the Minerals Law and these agreements may include the
establishment of local development and participation funds, local participation committees and
local environmental monitoring committees. |
4.10. |
|
The Investor will consult with local administrative organisations to provide appropriate
compensation upon resettlement of herder families located on the Contract Area who are
directly impacted by the OT Project. |
4.11. |
|
The Investor shall make as a priority training, recruiting and employing citizens of local
communities in the Southern Gobi region, with preference to Umnugovi Aimag. |
4.12. |
|
The Investor shall support special business development programs to assist in starting and
growing local businesses so they can supply the OT Project, as well as the expansion and
diversification of Mongolian business partners so that they are not fully dependent on the OT
Project. |
4.13. |
|
The Investor shall continue to actively build and maintain productive working relationships,
based on principles of transparency, accountability, accuracy, trust, respect and mutual
interests, with non-governmental organizations, civic groups, civil councils and other
stakeholders. |
5. |
|
Chapter Five: Land Affairs |
5.1. |
|
The Investor shall obtain the relevant Permits necessary for the use of land required for the
implementation of the OT Project, including lands needed for locating roads, energy generation
facilities or networks for energy transmission, water supply, railroads and communication
facilities in accordance with the laws and regulations on Land and the Government shall
provide support requested by the Investor in this respect and shall resolve the Investors
applications to obtain such Permits in accordance with relevant laws and regulations of
Mongolia. |
5.2. |
|
The Government may take land away from the Contract Area that is in possession of the
Investor for special needs or public purposes or interests in accordance with the Law on Land
and the Foreign Investment Law, but only if such needs, purposes or interests cannot be
reasonably satisfied by allocating or taking away land not covered by the Contract Area. If
any land is taken away, the Government will cooperate with the Investor to minimize the impact
on the OT Project and it will pay the Investor a just compensation on a non-discriminatory
basis determined on the basis of the laws and regulations of Mongolia, international laws and
principles, and international treaties to which Mongolia is a party. |
Page 15
5.3. |
|
All matters relating to the reclamation of land used for mining purposes shall be the full
responsibility of the Investor in accordance with the Minerals Law, Law on Land and the Land
Use Agreement, the EIA Reports and the special provisions under this Agreement. |
5.4. |
|
As the Oyu Tolgoi Deposit is classified as a mineral deposit of strategic importance, Land
Use Agreements shall have a term of 30 (thirty) years, and may be extended for periods of 20
(twenty) years each time, in accordance with Article 44.5 of the Law on Land and Government
Resolution Number 302 of 2009 made under the authority of the Law on Land. |
5.5. |
|
If a Land Use Agreement expires or terminates, the Investor shall remain the owner of all
plant, buildings, improvements and other construction and immovable property located on the
land and shall remove all machinery, equipment and other moveable property except those
permitted by the State administrative authority in charge of specialized inspection or local
administrative authority. |
5.6. |
|
Land use fees shall be determined in accordance with the Law on Land, Law on Land Fees and
Subsoil Law and be payable by the Investor, which shall be treated as a deductible expense
from the taxable income of the Investor. |
6. |
|
Chapter Six: Environment |
6.1. |
|
The Investor shall comply with the international treaties in relation to environmental
protection matters to which Mongolia is a party and Articles 35 and 37 of the Minerals Law and
shall obtain detailed environmental impact assessment reports (the EIA Reports) in
accordance with the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment prepared by a competent,
independent, professional firm. |
6.2. |
|
The Investor has the right to review and comment on the EIA Report prior to the EIA Report
being submitted to the State central administrative authority in charge of environment. |
6.3. |
|
The Investor shall obtain in accordance with the relevant regulations the Permits and
licenses for the OT Project established by the environmental laws and regulations and the
Government shall provide support requested by the Investor in this respect and shall resolve
the Investors applications to obtain such Permits in accordance with relevant laws and
regulations of Mongolia. |
6.4. |
|
The Investor shall meet all costs for each year of implementing an environmental protection
plan (EPP) and environmental monitoring and analysis program, in connection with
implementation of the OT Project and shall provide to the State central administrative
authority in charge of environment a report, prepared by a certified, independent,
professional firm, on addressing the Investors implementation of the measures specified in
the EPP every 3 (three) years. |
6.5. |
|
The Investor shall make the EPP and independent reports available to the public, provide
local communities with sufficient relevant information and regularly consult with local
communities on the impact of its operations on the local environment. |
Page 16
6.6. |
|
The Investor shall deposit funds equivalent to 50% (fifty percent) of its environmental
protection cost for the particular year, prior to start of that year into a bank account
established by the State central administrative authority in charge of environment. |
6.7. |
|
Each deposit shall be refunded annually to the Investor upon full implementation of each EPP
for that year in all material respects. |
6.8. |
|
If the Investor fails to fully implement in all material respects the measures specified in
an EPP for that year, the deposit specified in Clause 6.6 shall be used for that
implementation. If the deposit is insufficient, experts shall be appointed in accordance with
Clause 6.12 to determine the additional actions and funds required by the Investor, which
determination shall be binding on the Parties. |
6.9. |
|
The Investor shall submit annually a report detailing its comprehensive environmental
monitoring and analysis program associated with Core Operations to the State central
administrative authority in charge of environment. |
6.10. |
|
If any material adverse impact on air, water, soil, animals, plants and subsoil is found by
the environmental monitoring and analysis program, the Investor shall take necessary measures
to eliminate such material adverse impact at the Investors expense. |
6.11. |
|
The Investor shall pay compensation for unanticipated and irreversible ecological damage
directly caused by the operations of the OT Project based on the ecological and economic value
for the permanently damaged natural resources, to the extent prescribed by the Law on the
Environmental Protection and other relevant laws and regulations. |
6.12. |
|
Compensation referred to in Clause 6.11 shall be determined by an independent group of
environmental experts appointed by the State central administrative authority in charge of
environment, taking into consideration the views of the Investor, and the Investor shall
cooperate with the experts in such determination. |
6.13. |
|
The Investor is granted the right to access and use its self-discovered water resources
(including the water resources the subject of the Water Approval) for purposes connected with
the OT Project during the life of the OT Project, including to construct, commission, operate
and rehabilitate the OT Project. The Parties agree in respect of these matters as follows: |
|
6.13.1. |
|
In respect of the Investors self-discovered water resources at the date of this
Agreement, the approved volume of such water resources (as specified in the Water
Approval) is only sufficient to meet the OT Projects water requirements, and the
rights to use such self-discovered water resources shall not be granted to other
economic entities. |
|
6.13.2. |
|
In respect of self-discovered water resources discovered or approved after the date
of this Agreement, and where these water resources fully satisfy and exceed the
requirements of the OT Project, the State administrative authority in charge of water
matters may provide the portion of such excess water resources for use of other
economic entities on terms to be agreed with the Investor and the Investor shall be
compensated for its exploration costs in proportion to the volume of water made
available to the other economic entities. |
Page 17
|
6.13.3. |
|
The Investor shall make its self-discovered water resources available to be used
for household purposes, herder families and agricultural activities of the local soum
communities. |
6.14. |
|
The Investor shall pay fees to the budget for surface and underground water removed and
consumed for the purpose of mine development and mining of minerals at the rate specified in
the Law on Fees for Use of Water and Mineral Water effective at that time and these fees shall
be treated as a deductible expense from the taxable income of the Investor, however such fees,
and the terms upon which the Investor may use such water, shall be no less favourable than
those applicable from time to time to other domestic and international users, and shall take
into account whether the water is suitable for industrial or household use. |
6.15. |
|
The Investor shall support the Government in the establishment of safe drinking water for
the local soum center directly impacted by the OT Project as identified in the EIA Report. |
6.16. |
|
Recognising that the quality of self discovered water may vary considerably, the Investor
shall support the Government to upgrade or treat these water resources for household purposes
and agricultural activities of the local soum communities, or provide infrastructure for water
transportation for local household use only. |
6.17. |
|
The Government shall ensure that a contract on water utilization is awarded upon request of
the Investor (including in relation to the water resources the subject of the Water Approval)
in accordance with the Water Law, the Law on Fees for Use of Water and Mineral Water and other
laws and regulations. As the Oyu Tolgoi Deposit is classified as a mineral deposit of
strategic importance, the contract with the Investor on water utilization shall have a term of
30 (thirty) years in accordance with the Water Law, and may be extended for periods of 20
(twenty) years each time in accordance with the Water Law. |
6.18. |
|
Without affecting Clauses 6.13 and 6.17, the Government shall grant to the Investor within
30 (thirty) days after its request, all necessary contracts on water utilization and other
water Permits to ensure that there is sufficient water available at all times for the OT
Project. |
6.19. |
|
The Investor shall have the following obligations in regard to water utilization: |
|
6.19.1. |
|
abide in all material respects with the conditions and requirements set forth in
Article 24 of the Water Law, the contract on water utilization and the EIA Reports and
compliance with such conditions and requirements will be audited once every 5 (five)
years, within 3 (three) months after the end of the relevant year, by an independent,
competent, professional firm, and the audit outcome shall be provided to the State
central administrative authority in charge of environment with a copy to the Investor;
and |
|
6.19.2. |
|
not reduce from the current level the quality and quantity of the existing potable
and livestock water supplies used by existing users at the date of this Agreement
within the water resources area defined in the EIA Reports. |
Page 18
6.20. |
|
The Investor will apply modern technology and procedures to minimize the volume of water
used by the OT Project, maximize the efficiency of water usage, and recycle used water where
reasonably practicable to do so having regard to technology and procedures used in similar
operations. |
6.21. |
|
The Investor shall rehabilitate the environment damaged by Core Operations in accordance
with Mongolian and international standards and codes in effect when the mine is closed in
whole or in part. |
7. |
|
Chapter Seven: Infrastructure |
7.1. |
|
The Government and the Investor will work together in good faith and in an open and
cooperative manner to determine the most optimal and reliable solutions for power supply in
order to meet the requirements of the OT Project and its development schedule, without
affecting the rights of the Investor under Clause 7.2. |
7.2. |
|
The Investor and/or its Affiliates have the following rights: |
|
7.2.1. |
|
taking into consideration Clause 7.3, to secure all the power requirements for the
OT Project from inside or outside Mongolia by the construction of any transmission
infrastructure required for this purpose (including the construction of a 220kV
transmission line from the Oyu Tolgoi Deposit site to the China-Mongolia border during
the Construction Period); |
|
7.2.2. |
|
to install and operate (or procure installation and operation by an Affiliate,
Contractor and/or Subcontractor) power generation facilities within Mongolia at a site
most appropriate for the short and long-term power requirements of the OT Project; and |
|
7.2.3. |
|
to determine the source of coal to be used for such power generation. |
7.3. |
|
The Investor shall, within 4 (four) years of Commencement of Production, secure its total
power requirements for the OT Project from one or more of the following sources within
Mongolia to be selected by the Investor: |
|
7.3.1. |
|
coal-fired power plant developed or funded by the Investor; |
|
|
7.3.2. |
|
coal-fired power plant developed or funded by a third party; or |
|
|
7.3.3. |
|
the Mongolian electricity grid. |
7.4. |
|
Where the Government supplies power to the Investor, the supply shall be on commercial and
non-discriminatory terms, and will provide stable, reliable and uninterrupted power and in a
quantity sufficient for the OT Project. |
7.5. |
|
The Investor has the right to use or develop supplemental power from renewable energy sources
such as wind, solar, geothermal and the like. |
7.6. |
|
The Investor shall obtain all the necessary Permits required for energy generation,
transmission and distribution, and construction of power facilities as set out in the Energy
Law and other related laws and regulations. |
Page 19
7.7. |
|
The Government shall grant to the Investor the Permits required for its power supply as
described in Clauses 7.2 and 7.3 as efficiently as possible and the respective Permits shall
be granted for the maximum term permitted under the Energy Law and other related laws and
regulations, with the right of extension for the maximum period permitted under such laws and
regulations during the term of this Agreement. |
7.8. |
|
Fees and charges for the use of land required for energy infrastructure shall be regulated in
accordance with the Energy Law and other related laws and regulations, and the fees and
charges so paid shall be treated as a deductible expense from the taxable income of the
Investor. |
7.9. |
|
Fees and charges payable by the Investor in relation to power generation, and transmission
and distribution infrastructure will not be Stabilized and shall be regulated by the Energy
Law and other related laws and regulations based on principles of non-discrimination. Fees and
charges paid by the Investor in relation to its operations for power, transportation and other
infrastructure shall be treated as a deductible expense from the taxable income of the
Investor. |
7.10. |
|
Where the Government supplies power to the Investor, all prices, tariffs, fees and charges
payable by the Investor shall be set on a non-discriminatory basis. |
7.11. |
|
When constructing state roads and local roads, pipelines and other transportation
facilities, the Investor shall comply with the laws and regulations of Mongolia and use its
best endeavours to tie in with the integrated road and transportation network and development
strategies. |
7.12. |
|
All roads, pipelines and other transportation infrastructure funded or constructed by the
Investor, its Affiliates, Contractors and/or Subcontractors in connection with implementation
of the OT Project shall be required to be constructed to a standard necessary to meet the
specific requirements of the OT Project only. |
7.13. |
|
The Investor may provide the public, Government and third parties with access to certain
Investor Infrastructure/Services (Public Use Infrastructure/Services), provided the access
does not interfere with the operation of the OT Project. |
7.14. |
|
Public Use Infrastructure/Services referred to in Clause 7.13 include roads, power,
water/heating systems, water drawing facilities, urban planning and township development,
schools, hospitals, formal and non-formal training and education, an airport, community
centres, and local governance/administration capacity building among others. |
7.15. |
|
Without affecting the Investors rights under Clause 7.13, the Investor may, by agreement,
transfer the ownership and/or governance of Public Use Infrastructure/Services for the local
community use, to local authorities, provided the transfer does not restrict or impair the
access of the OT Project to infrastructure/services, or interfere with the operation of the OT
Project. |
7.16. |
|
The Investor may recover costs by way of payments or collection of tolls from those persons
or entities using Public Use Infrastructure/Services. |
Page 20
7.17. |
|
Where, under Clause 7.13, individuals from local communities are entitled to access Public
Use Infrastructure/Services, those individuals will not be required to enter into a user
agreement with the Investor in relation to such access. All other users shall first enter
into a user agreement with the Investor. |
7.18. |
|
Upon the Investors request, the Government shall grant Permits related to the OT Project
transportation infrastructure in accordance with the law and fees and charges paid by the
Investor in relation to transportation shall be treated as a deductible expense from the
taxable income of the Investor. |
7.19. |
|
The Investor, its Affiliates, or their respective Contractors and/or Subcontractors, may
construct a road between the OT Project and Gashuun Sukhait border crossing pursuant to the
terms of an agreement with the State central administrative authority in charge of transport
on the following terms: |
|
7.19.1. |
|
The road route is to be agreed with Government and is to be as cost effective and
direct as possible between the OT Project and Gashuun Sukhait border crossing. |
|
7.19.2. |
|
The Investor will fund construction of the road and these expenses shall be
deducted from the Investors annual taxable income. |
|
7.19.3. |
|
The Government will be responsible for the timely maintenance of the road and for
charging and collecting road user fees from all users of the road except the Investor,
its Affiliates, and their respective Contractors and Subcontractors. |
|
7.19.4. |
|
The Investor, its Affiliates, and their respective Contractors and Subcontractors
will, for the term of this Agreement, be exempt from all road user fees. |
|
7.19.5. |
|
As an international road, the Investor has no legal liability for the road, or
liability arising out of any use of the road. |
7.20. |
|
The State central administrative authority in charge of road matters and the Investor shall
enter into a contract under which maintenance of the road is subcontracted to the Investor at
the Investors cost. |
7.21. |
|
The Investor or its Affiliates, or their respective Contractors and Subcontractors may
construct, manage and use an aerodrome in connection with implementation of the OT Project
based on Permits issued in accordance with law and the Government shall monitor the operation
of the airport to ensure that the airport meets flight safety requirements. |
7.22. |
|
If the Government intends to construct, or has prior to the date of this Agreement,
constructed, owns or has access to, any infrastructure which may be suitable for use by the
Investor, its Affiliates, and their respective Contractors and Subcontractors, in connection
with the OT Project, the Government shall consult with the Investor regarding such
infrastructure, including in relation to its intended location and capacity. |
7.23. |
|
Although the Government is not required to provide the Investor with exclusive access to,
and use of, any infrastructure described in Clause 7.22, it may elect to do so on reasonable
commercial terms. |
Page 21
7.24. |
|
The Government may construct and manage, or permit the construction and management by a
third party of, a railway in the vicinity of the OT Project to the China-Mongolia border, and
the Government shall make available to the Investor, its Affiliates, and their respective
Contractors and Subcontractors, on competitive, commercial and non-discriminatory terms, the
use of such railway in connection with the OT Project, or procure such availability from any
relevant third party owner or manager. |
7.25. |
|
The Government will consult with the Investor on the location and route of the railway, and
consider its proposals in this respect. |
8. |
|
Chapter Eight: Labor relations, employment and training |
8.1. |
|
The Investor and its Affiliates shall comply with the provisions of relevant labor,
employment and social security laws and regulations of Mongolia. In implementing its
remuneration policies, the Investor will ensure fair wages and equal remuneration for work of
equal value. |
8.2. |
|
During the term of this Agreement, the Investor and its Affiliates and the Government will
cooperate together to ensure that there is a suitably qualified OT Project Workforce available
to meet the timeframe of the OT Project. |
8.3. |
|
A citizen of Mongolia, foreign nationals, and people without citizenship, employed by the
Investor under a contract must be covered by social insurance as required by law. |
8.4. |
|
In accordance with Article 43.1 of the Minerals Law, not less than 90% (ninety percent) of
the Investors employees will be citizens of Mongolia. |
8.5. |
|
In accordance with Government Resolution Number 286 dated 16 September 2009 making amendment
to the Annexure of Resolution Number 59 of 2009 on establishing the quota of work force and
professionals to be received from abroad in 2009 made under the authority of the Law on
Sending Labor Force Abroad and Receiving Labor Force and Specialists from Abroad, the Investor
will utilise best efforts to work with entities that contract with the Investor to provide
labor to the OT Project to ensure that: |
|
8.5.1. |
|
for construction work during the Construction Period and Expansion Periods, not less
than 60% (sixty percent) of the entities employees will be citizens of Mongolia; and |
|
8.5.2. |
|
for mining and mining-related work, not less than 75% (seventy five percent) of the
entities employees will be citizens of Mongolia. |
8.6. |
|
If the Investor provides employment and income earning works and services to a number of
foreign nationals within the specified percentage set forth in Clause 8.4, it shall pay a
monthly workplace charge of twice the minimum monthly wage established by the Government for
each foreign national to the Employment Promotion Fund. |
8.7. |
|
If the Investor employs more foreign nationals than the specified percentage set forth in
Clause 8.4, the Investor shall pay a monthly fee of 10 (ten) times the minimum monthly salary
for each foreign national in excess of the specified percentage. |
Page 22
8.8. |
|
After the payment referred to in Clause 8.7 has been submitted to the budget of the relevant
soum or district under Article 43.3 of the Minerals Law a portion of this fee shall be
allocated to be spent on the OT Training Strategy and Plan specified in Clause 8.13 to train
citizens of Mongolia to upgrade their skills or learn new skills in accordance with the rules
established by the Citizens Representatives Hural of the relevant soum or district. |
8.9. |
|
Breaches of the labor quotas set out in Clauses 8.4 and 8.5 shall not constitute a breach of
this Agreement and Clause 10.7 shall not apply. |
8.10. |
|
The Government shall provide support requested by the Investor to facilitate and expedite
the granting of all Permits necessary for the engagement of such foreign nationals of the OT
Project Workforce. |
8.11. |
|
The Investor will use its best endeavours to maximize the participation on a competitive
basis of qualified citizens of Mongolia as engineers for the OT Project and within 5 (five)
years of the Commencement of Production the Investor must use its best endeavours to ensure
that no fewer than 50% (fifty percent) of its employed engineers, and within 10 (ten) years of
the Commencement of Production that no fewer than 70% (seventy percent) of its employed
engineers, shall be citizens of Mongolia. |
8.12. |
|
Within 90 (ninety) days after the Effective Date, the Investor will submit to the Government
for public release a detailed and comprehensive 5 (five) year Mongolian nationals training
strategy and plan for the OT Project (OT Training Strategy and Plan). |
8.13. |
|
The OT Training Strategy and Plan will focus on training skilled workers for the OT Project
and training them for professions, and improving their vocational and professional skills,
relevant to the OT Project and mining in Mongolia generally and specifically in the Southern
Gobi region. |
8.14. |
|
The Investor shall, in accordance with its annual training plan: |
|
8.14.1. |
|
organize training of its employees at its Core Operations to upgrade employees
skills and provide further practical experience; |
|
8.14.2. |
|
train employees in line with the Investors short and mid-term human resource
plans; and |
|
8.14.3. |
|
upgrade selected employees qualifications by enrolling them in studies inside or
outside Mongolia on a contractual basis to further upgrade their professional
qualifications. |
8.15. |
|
The Investor shall establish a graduate scholarship program for assisting in the education
of Mongolian nationals in mining related disciplines, with an emphasis on engineering related
disciplines, within which scholarships over a 6 (six) year period from the Effective Date will
be granted to 120 (one hundred and twenty) students studying at Mongolian universities and to
30 (thirty) Mongolian students studying at international universities. The scholarship
program will cover tuition fees and living expenses. The Investor shall provide the students
holding scholarships with an opportunity to participate
in work experience and training at the OT Project or at a suitable international mining
operation. |
Page 23
8.16. |
|
The Investor shall establish and maintain health and safety systems and procedures at the OT
Project to ensure a safe workplace which complies with the Law on Labor Safety and Health and
all applicable health and safety laws and regulations in Mongolia while complying with all
requirements under the Labor Law, including in respect of collective bargaining. |
8.17. |
|
To enable all employees on the OT Project to be trained to international standards, the
Government shall render all support for the adoption, within 6 (six) months of the Effective
Date, of an international mining education and training curricula at selected domestic
universities and vocational training institutions. |
9. |
|
Chapter Nine: Rights and Obligations of the Investor |
9.1. |
|
The Investor shall fulfil all obligations under this Agreement, and abide by the laws and
regulations of Mongolia. |
9.2. |
|
Articles 8, 9 and 10 of the Foreign Investment Law as in force at the date of this Agreement
shall apply to Foreign Investments made in Mongolia by the Investor or its Affiliates for or
in connection with the OT Project. |
9.3. |
|
The Investor has the right to conduct its operation based on self-defined management and
marketing principles. |
9.4. |
|
The Investor shall be entitled to maintain bank accounts in a commercial bank of Mongolia and
elsewhere, and the Investor may make international transactions freely and without any
obstructions in its chosen currency. Without affecting the Investors rights under Clause
9.10.5, payments for goods and services inside Mongolia must be made in Mongolian currency in
accordance with Mongolian laws and regulations, unless the Investor is authorised to make such
payments in foreign currency as a result of an authorisation issued by the Bank of Mongolia in
accordance with Article 4.1 of the Law of Mongolia on Conducting Settlements in National
Currency. |
9.5. |
|
The Investor has invested a significant amount of capital in exploring and developing the OT
Project, through the financial capability of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd and Rio Tinto, pursuant to the
Existing Shareholder Loans. The Investor plans to make an additional investment in the OT
Project, the estimated amount of which, as provided in the Feasibility Study referred to in
Clause 3.6, will be approximately USD4 Billion. The estimated initial capital will be
invested over a period of 5 (five) years, and a schedule for this planned expenditure is
contained in the Feasibility Study. |
9.6. |
|
The development of the OT Project may occur in stages as determined by the Investor as
reflected in the Feasibility Study, taking into account market conditions and financing issues
(including availability and terms of finance for the OT Project). If the Investor materially
changes its proposed sequence for the development of the OT Project, the Investor shall inform
the State administrative authority in charge of geology and mining in writing of such change. |
Page 24
9.7. |
|
The Investor shall submit an investment report, audited by an internationally recognized and
not conflicted (under professional rules) accounting and auditing firm, in respect of each
Calendar Year to the State administrative authority in charge of geology and mining within the
first Calendar Quarter of the following Calendar Year, using the approved format. |
9.8. |
|
The Investor has the right to make investments in all forms of movable and immovable
property, such as cash, machinery, equipment, raw materials, goods and intellectual and
industrial property rights. |
9.9. |
|
The Investor shall provide reasonable assistance to regional development, assistance to local
regions and creation of new business and employment opportunities. |
9.10. |
|
The Investor has the following rights: |
|
9.10.1. |
|
to provide in freely convertible foreign currencies all funds needed to conduct
Core Operations and to convert such currencies to Mongolian togrogs as it deems
necessary; |
|
9.10.2. |
|
to hold and freely dispose of any funds outside of Mongolia; |
|
9.10.3. |
|
to retain abroad and freely dispose all of its proceeds received outside of
Mongolia from the export, sale or exchange of Product; |
|
9.10.4. |
|
to freely repatriate abroad without any barriers and to and freely dispose of, all
proceeds (including by way of dividend or other form of distribution) received within
Mongolia from the sale, exchange or export of Product, and any other payments
(including loan principal and interest) to be made abroad; |
|
9.10.5. |
|
to freely pay its Contractors, Subcontractors and citizens of Mongolia operating
outside Mongolia in foreign currencies; and |
|
9.10.6. |
|
to maintain, if it wishes (but with no obligation to do so), an account or accounts
in a bank in Mongolia chosen by the Investor for foreign currency. |
9.11. |
|
In order to assist the Bank of Mongolia in its responsibilities to manage foreign currency
risks, and in the spirit of good faith, the Investor will use its best endeavours to provide
the Bank of Mongolia, at the beginning of each Calendar Quarter, an estimate of the amount of
proceeds it intends to repatriate abroad over that Calendar Quarter, provided that nothing
herein affects the Investors rights under Clause 9.10. |
10. |
|
Chapter Ten: Rights and Obligations of the Government and Cabinet Member
Responsible for mineral resources |
10.1. |
|
The Government shall secure the Investors operating environment in regard to Taxes and the
Stabilization of Taxes throughout the term of this Agreement. |
10.2. |
|
After signing this Agreement, the Member of Cabinet responsible for Mineral Resources shall
deliver a statement concerning the duration and terms of this Agreement to the relevant
institutions. |
Page 25
10.3. |
|
The Government shall not unlawfully confiscate any of the Investors, its Affiliates, or
their respective Contractors or Subcontractors, movable and immovable property, and related
property rights and intellectual property rights. |
10.4. |
|
The State administrative authority in charge of geology and mining, or the entity which
grants any Permits, shall not unlawfully terminate or revoke any Permits held by the Investor
under this Agreement or under any other laws or pursuant to any regulations of Mongolia. |
10.5. |
|
In accordance with Article 56 of the Minerals Law, the State administrative authority in
charge of geology and mining shall revoke an exploration license and a Mining License on the
following grounds only: |
|
10.5.1. |
|
a mineral exploration or mining license is not held by a legal person, taxpayer in
Mongolia, duly formed and operating under the laws of Mongolia; |
|
10.5.2. |
|
the Mining License holder fails to fully pay the annual license fee as prescribed
by Clause 3.14; |
|
10.5.3. |
|
for a Mining License which is an exploration license, the Mining License holder
fails to expend the amounts per hectare of the license area on reconnaissance and
exploration work as prescribed by the Minerals Law; |
|
10.5.4. |
|
where an exploration area or a mining area has been designated as a reserved area
and a special purpose territory (as defined in the Minerals Law) and the license
holder has been fully compensated; or |
|
10.5.5. |
|
where the State central administrative authority in charge of the environment has
concluded, based on a report of the local administrative bodies that the license
holder had failed to fulfil its environmental reclamation duties. |
The Government shall not establish or register a reserved area or special purpose territory
over any areas covered by an exploration license, Mining License or other land required for
Core Operations, and shall not exercise a right of revocation under Clause 10.5.4.
10.6. |
|
The Government shall use best endeavors to ensure that the Gashuun Sukhait checkpoint
becomes an international border crossing, which remains open and operates on a continuous and
permanent basis. |
10.7. |
|
In the event the Investor fails to fulfil any material and significant obligations under
this Agreement for a period of 6 (six) months, which obligation is not excused by an event of
Force Majeure, or commits a deliberate and material violation of the laws and regulations of
Mongolia, the Cabinet Member responsible for Mineral Resources may notify (Notice) the
Investor in writing stating the failure and requesting it to be corrected. The Government has
the right to terminate this Agreement if the Investor fails to take reasonable action toward
the fulfilment of its obligations described in the Notice within 60 (sixty) Working Days from
the date the Notice is issued. The Investor is entitled to dispute any such Notice in
accordance with Clause 14. |
Page 26
10.8. |
|
The Government will co-operate with the Investor in its implementation of this Agreement and
the construction and operation of the OT Project and will take such action as may be desirable
to achieve the mutual objectives of this Agreement. |
10.9. |
|
Where an approval or consent or concurrence of a Ministry or the Government is required, and
where an application is made by the Investor to the Government under or in connection with the
implementation of this Agreement such approval or consent will not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed. |
10.10. |
|
If a Proscribed Change of Control Event occurs without the consent of the Government, then: |
|
10.10.1. |
|
in the case where a member of the Rio Tinto Group is managing the OT Project at
the time the Proscribed Change of Control Event occurs, the Stabilized portions of
this Agreement shall be subject to renegotiation with the Government, and the
Government will give favourable consideration to maintaining the rights of the
Investor; and |
|
10.10.2. |
|
in the case where a party other than a member of the Rio Tinto Group is managing
the OT Project at the time the Proscribed Change of Control Event occurs, this
Agreement will terminate. |
10.11. |
|
In Clause 10.10, the following terms have the following meanings: |
|
10.11.1. |
|
Proscribed Change of Control Event means where a Proscribed Person acquires
directly or indirectly Control of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd and/or the Investor. |
|
10.11.2. |
|
Proscribed Person means any Person Controlled directly or indirectly by a
Foreign Government Authority as well as any Person whose strategic, policy and
business decision-making functions are, by virtue of a material creditor/debtor
relationship between a Foreign Government Authority and such Person, considered to be
effectively directed by a Foreign Governmental Authority, provided that no member of
the Rio Tinto Group can be a Proscribed Person. |
|
10.11.3. |
|
Foreign Government Authority means the government of any country other than
Mongolia, and any branch, division, political subdivision, instrumentality, authority,
agency, or other entity vested with government authority thereof. |
|
10.11.4. |
|
Person means any limited or unlimited liability corporation, limited or
unlimited liability partnership, unincorporated association, unincorporated syndicate,
unincorporated organization, body corporate, joint venture, enterprise or trust. |
11. |
|
Chapter Eleven: Protection of Foreign Investment |
11.1. |
|
All Foreign Investment made by the Investor and its Affiliates within the territory of
Mongolia shall enjoy the legal protection guaranteed by the Constitution, Foreign Investment
Law, other laws and regulations and the international treaties to which Mongolia is a party. |
Page 27
11.2. |
|
The Investors and its Affiliates capital, property and assets shall not be expropriated
except for public purposes or interest, and only in accordance with due process of law on a
non-discriminatory basis, and with the condition of full compensation by the Government
according to the Foreign Investment Law, the Law on Land, the Minerals Law and any
international treaties to which Mongolia is a party. |
|
11.3. |
|
Unless otherwise provided in international treaties to which Mongolia is a party, the amount
of compensation for the property expropriated shall be determined on the basis of the value of
the property expropriated to be determined immediately prior to the expropriation, or notice
of the expropriation becoming public, and shall be promptly paid in full. |
|
11.4. |
|
The Investor and its Affiliates shall be entitled to conditions no less favorable than the
conditions granted to domestic Mongolian investors regarding the right to own, utilize and
spend its investment. |
12. |
|
Chapter Twelve: Termination of this Agreement |
12.1. |
|
This Agreement shall be terminated only in the following circumstances: |
|
12.1.1. |
|
after the expiry of the initial term specified in Clause 1.1, if the Investor has
not extended the term in accordance with Clause 15.11; |
|
12.1.2. |
|
if this Agreement is assigned by the Investor to other entities or persons without
the Governments consent, and the Government gives a notice of termination to the
Investor; |
|
12.1.3. |
|
if both Parties consent to the termination of this Agreement, upon request by the
Investor; |
|
12.1.4. |
|
if the activities of the Investor are permanently halted by competent authority on
the grounds of its bankruptcy, and its activities are not resumed within 120 (one
hundred and twenty) Working Days from the date the Cabinet Member responsible for
Mineral Resources gave written notice to the Investor to resume its activities; |
|
12.1.5. |
|
if the Investor fails to supply a third party operated copper smelter as required
by Clause 3.21; |
|
12.1.6. |
|
if the Government terminates this Agreement on a unilateral basis in accordance
with Clause 10.7; |
|
12.1.7. |
|
if shares in the Investor are transferred other than as permitted by, and in
material breach of, clause 15 of the Shareholders Agreement, and the breach is not
remedied within 3 (three) months of a written notice from the Government to the
Investor to remedy such breach; or |
|
12.1.8. |
|
if the Investor fails to issue shares in accordance with clause 3 of the
Shareholders Agreement on or before the Completion Date. |
Page 28
12.2. |
|
The expiry or earlier termination of this Agreement does not affect the Investors rights
and obligations under mining license 6709A, any other Mining Licenses, unless the Mining
Licences are revoked in accordance with Article 56 of the Minerals Law and Clause 10.5, any
other Permits granted by the Government to the Investor and any other agreements between the
Investor and the Government. |
13. |
|
Chapter Thirteen: Force Majeure |
13.1. |
|
A Force Majeure event means an event defined as Force Majeure in Chapter 16 (Sixteen). |
|
13.2. |
|
A Party to this Agreement shall not be liable for the consequences of any failure by it to
perform or default by it in performing any or all of its obligations under this Agreement, if
that failure or default is caused by Force Majeure. Where there has been any such failure or
default, the failure or default shall not be considered non-compliance with any obligation
under this Agreement, and all the obligations and times which because of such failure or
default could not be fulfilled shall be deemed to have been suspended while the Force Majeure
continues. |
|
13.3. |
|
The Party whose ability to perform its obligations is affected by Force Majeure shall notify
as soon as practicable the other Party thereof in writing stating the cause, and the Parties
shall do all reasonable acts and things, and the Parties shall cooperate to mutually agree to
remove such cause. |
|
13.4. |
|
If a Party is prevented or delayed by Force Majeure from performing its obligations under
this Agreement in whole or in part, an amount of time reasonably required to overcome the
effect of the event of Force Majeure and a reasonable period to prepare for the resumption or
initiation of the actions so prevented or delayed shall be added to any time provided for or
otherwise allowed therefore under this Agreement and to the term of this Agreement. |
|
14. |
|
Chapter Fourteen: Dispute Resolution |
|
14.1. |
|
Any disputes between the Parties arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall
be settled by the Parties first attempting in good faith to negotiate a resolution and if a
negotiated resolution to the dispute is not agreed to within 60 (sixty) Working Days of the
date of a Partys request in writing for such negotiation, or such other time period as may be
agreed, then the dispute shall be settled in accordance with Clause 14.2. No notice under
Clause 10.7 shall be issued if the Parties are in dispute over the subject matter of this
Agreement. |
Page 29
14.2. |
|
If a dispute is not settled by negotiation in accordance with Clause 14.1, it shall be
resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the procedures under the Arbitration Rules
of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (the UNCITRAL Rules) as in force
at the time of the dispute. Accordingly, the following shall apply: |
|
14.2.1. |
|
the number of arbitrators shall be 3 (three); |
|
|
14.2.2. |
|
the 3 (three) arbitrators shall be appointed in accordance with rules 7 and 8 of
the UNCITRAL Rules; |
|
|
14.2.3. |
|
the language of the arbitration shall be English; |
|
|
14.2.4. |
|
the arbitrators shall apply the laws and regulations of Mongolia to the
interpretation of the Investment Agreement; |
|
|
14.2.5. |
|
the place of arbitration shall be in London, United Kingdom; and |
|
|
14.2.6. |
|
the arbitral proceedings shall be administered under the UNCITRAL Rules by the
London Court of International Arbitration. |
14.3. |
|
The arbitral award shall be final and binding on the Parties. Judgment on the award may be
entered by any court having competent jurisdiction, provided that an arbitral award shall
first be presented in an appropriate court of Mongolia for execution and enforcement. If such
execution and enforcement has not occurred within 30 (thirty) days of presentation, the award
may be presented in any other court having competent jurisdiction. The Parties hereby commit
to fulfil the execution and enforcement of the arbitral award and shall not raise any defence
to its execution and enforcement. |
|
14.4. |
|
The provisions of this Clause 14 shall continue to apply to any dispute that arises during
the term of this Agreement or any dispute that occurs after the expiry or earlier termination
of this Agreement in regard to activities arising out of or in connection with this Agreement. |
|
15. |
|
Chapter Fifteen: Miscellaneous |
|
15.1. |
|
The Investor shall be entitled to assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement
with the consent of the Government. |
|
15.2. |
|
An assignment will not expand or alter the rights and obligations of either Party under this
Agreement. |
|
15.3. |
|
This Agreement shall not limit the rights of the Investor to conclude other agreements with
relevant Government agencies concerning the operations of the OT Project. |
|
15.4. |
|
The Investor has the right to conduct the operations of mining and processing minerals that
shall be a part of Core Operations that the Investor identifies through mineral exploration of
mining licenses 6708A and 6710A, and Mining Licenses described in Clause 15.5. |
Page 30
15.5. |
|
The Investor has the right to request, by notice in writing to the State administrative
authority in charge of geology and mining, that upon the completion of the requirements
referred to in Clause 15.6, mining license(s) held or controlled, directly or indirectly, by
the Investor, and containing minerals which form part of a regional mineralising system with
the Oyu Tolgoi Deposit, be incorporated into this Agreement, and the Government shall resolve
the Investors request by executing an amendment to this Agreement to include such mining
licence(s) as Mining Licences defined in Chapter 16 (Sixteen). |
|
15.6. |
|
For mining licences 6708A and 6710A the Investor shall deliver a statement of reserves, and
submit a feasibility study, within 3 (three) years after the Effective Date, and for mining
licences referred to in Clause 15.5 the Investor shall also be required to deliver a statement
of reserves for registration in the national registry of reserves and submit a feasibility
study to the State administrative authority in charge of geology and mining for its
consideration in accordance with existing laws and regulations. Registration of reserves
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and shall be registered by the State
administrative authority in charge of geology and mining within 150 (one hundred and fifty)
days from the date of delivery by the Investor of a Statement of Reserves and the Feasibility
Study and consideration of the Feasibility Study will be concluded within 150 (one hundred and
fifty) days from the date of submission. |
|
15.7. |
|
Except as provided by Clause 15.26, this Agreement shall be effective from the date when all
of the following conditions are satisfied (Effective Date): |
|
15.7.1. |
|
this Agreement and the Shareholders Agreement are duly signed by all relevant
parties; |
|
15.7.2. |
|
the revised Charter of the Investor, in a form satisfactory to the parties to the
Shareholders Agreement, is registered by the State administrative authorities in
charge of State registration and foreign investment and foreign trade; |
|
15.7.3. |
|
the Feasibility Study for the OT Project described in Clause 1.11 has been
considered in accordance with the laws and regulations of Mongolia and such
consideration has been concluded within 150 (one hundred and fifty) days of submission
of the Feasibility Study; |
|
15.7.4. |
|
the relevant taxation authorities have confirmed the losses and capitalized
expenses of the Investor for depreciation purposes available for future deduction as
at the Effective Date and any outstanding Tax liabilities or credits at that date; |
|
15.7.5. |
|
the quantum of the Existing Shareholder Loans has been agreed between the Parties
or, failing agreement, determined in accordance with an audit by an internationally
recognised, non-conflicted audit firm agreed upon by the Parties, the expenses for
which shall be paid by the Investor, and the quantum determined by the audit shall be
binding on the Parties; |
|
15.7.6. |
|
the restructuring arrangements to separate the Investors assets unrelated to the
OT Project as outlined in clause 19 of the Shareholders Agreement have been
completed; |
Page 31
|
15.7.7. |
|
the Parties have established a committee known as the Standing Working Committee
to operate during the Construction Period comprised of an equal number of
representatives from the Investor and the Government that is empowered by the
Government to: |
|
15.7.7.1 |
|
co-ordinate, progress and streamline the process for the application and
grant to the Investor of the Permits; |
|
|
15.7.7.2 |
|
expedite customs clearance on the Mongolian side of the Gashuun Sukhait
border for the import by or on behalf of the Investor, its Contractors and
Subcontractors of goods for Core Operations; and |
|
|
15.7.7.3 |
|
facilitate all Government administrative action required for the timely
construction, development and operation of the OT Project; |
|
15.7.8. |
|
the rights held by Ivanhoe Mines Ltd at the date of this Agreement in respect of
exploration licenses 3148X and 3150X held by Entrée Gold LLC, are transferred to the
Investor, whether by way of contractual entitlement or transfer of the relevant titles
(after which such transfer the Government shall have an interest of 34% (thirty four
percent) of such rights), and those exploration licenses are converted to mining
licenses by the Government before their expiry; |
|
15.7.9. |
|
Ivanhoe Mines Ltd has restructured the ownership of the Investor in a country
subject to a double-tax treaty with Mongolia to its satisfaction, and the Government
shall facilitate in obtaining all necessary licenses, permits and approvals for such
restructuring; and |
|
15.7.10. |
|
Rio Tinto subscribes for and purchases from Ivanhoe Mines Ltd sufficient shares to
take its ownership interest in Ivanhoe Mines Ltd to at least 19% (nineteen percent). |
15.8. |
|
The Parties will do all things reasonably necessary to make this Agreement effective within
6 (six) months after signing the Agreement. |
|
15.9. |
|
Except as provided by Clause 15.26, this Agreement will be of no force or effect if the
conditions precedent are not satisfied within 6 (six) months after the date of signing this
Agreement, unless the Investor notifies the Government in writing that the relevant
condition(s) precedent are not required to be satisfied. |
|
15.10. |
|
Without affecting the provisions of Clause 15.7, Clause 15.8 and Clause 15.9, if a change
occurs to any laws and regulations of Mongolia between the date of this Agreement and the
Effective Date which change is, in the opinion of the Investor, detrimental in any way to the
Investor or the OT Project, then the Investor may give notice to the Government that the
Effective Date shall not occur and this Agreement shall not be effective. |
Page 32
15.11. |
|
This Agreement shall be extended for a term of 20 (twenty) years (Renewal Term) by the
Investor giving notice (Renewal Notice) to the Government no less than 12 months prior to
the expiry of the initial 30 (thirty) year term of this Agreement, provided that the following
conditions are satisfied: |
|
15.11.1. |
|
the Investor demonstrates that the OT Project has been operated in accordance with
industry best practice in terms of national and community benefits, environment and
health and safety practices; |
|
15.11.2. |
|
the Investor has made expenditures of Capital Costs of at least USD9 billion (in
nominal USD) in the OT Project prior to the Renewal Notice; |
|
15.11.3. |
|
the Investor has complied in all material respects with its obligation to pay
Taxes; and |
|
15.11.4. |
|
the Investor has complied in all material respects with its obligations under
Clauses 3.10.2, 3.23, 7.3 and, if applicable, 6.11. |
15.12. |
|
The Government shall grant renewal of this Agreement for the Renewal Term if the Renewal
Notice is made in accordance with Clause 15.11. If a dispute arises in connection with the
renewal of this Agreement, the Parties shall attempt to resolve the dispute in good faith
through negotiation within a period of 12 (twelve) months and, failing resolution within this
period, the dispute shall be referred to arbitration in accordance with Clause 14.2. During
any period of negotiation or arbitration, the Investor shall continue to carry out Core
Operations and this Agreement shall continue to apply. |
|
15.13. |
|
The attached Annexure to this Agreement forms an integral part of this Agreement. |
|
15.14. |
|
This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws and
regulations of Mongolia and international treaties to which Mongolia is a party. |
|
15.15. |
|
This Agreement supersedes all previous agreements and understandings between the Government
and the Investor in relation to matters regulated by this Agreement. |
|
15.16. |
|
This Agreement is an investment agreement made for the purposes of implementing Article 29
of the Minerals Law and Resolution Number 57 of the State Great Khural dated 16 July 2009. |
|
15.17. |
|
The Government agrees that any change to the laws and regulations of Mongolia (including the
passing of any new laws and regulations), or any other requirements that would, but for Clause
2.24.2, be required to be complied with in connection with this Agreement or the conduct of
the OT Project, that take effect after the date of this Agreement, and which discriminates
against the Investor (taking into account the principles of non-discrimination in Clause 2.3),
shall not apply in relation to this Agreement or otherwise in connection with the conduct of
the OT Project. |
|
15.18. |
|
The Investor has requested, in accordance with Article 30.1 of the Minerals Law, that the
Government and the Investor conclude an investment agreement pursuant to Article 29 of the
Minerals Law. |
Page 33
15.19. |
|
Expiry or earlier termination of this Agreement does not affect the monetary rights and
obligations of the Parties which have accrued prior to the date of such expiry or earlier
termination and which remain undischarged at that date, and shall not affect the Investors
right to continue to hold and use the Mining Licenses and other Permits, or any other
agreements between the Investor and the Government. |
|
15.20. |
|
The Investor and its Affiliates are subject to the anti-bribery/corruption laws of the
jurisdictions in which the Investor or its Affiliates (as applicable) are organized, including
Mongolia, and the Investor and its Affiliates shall conduct their activities in Mongolia in
accordance with their obligations under such laws. |
|
15.21. |
|
This Agreement shall be made public. |
|
15.22. |
|
The Investor shall comply with laws, regulations and policies adopted with respect to the
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, make appropriate information public and
undertake to ensure that its activities are consistent with equivalent international
initiatives. |
|
15.23. |
|
If any newly approved legislation damages the rights and legitimate interests of a Party,
this Agreements terms and conditions shall be valid and be followed by the Parties. On this
basis, the Parties agree, in accordance with Article 29.1 of the Minerals Law, that: |
|
15.23.1. |
|
in order to provide a stable tax environment, a reference to a law, regulation,
treaty, code or other instrument in this Agreement that is related to Stabilized Taxes
means that law, regulation, treaty, code or other instrument of Mongolia in force at
the date of this Agreement; and |
|
15.23.2. |
|
in order to provide a stable operating environment, a reference to a specific
provision of a law, regulation, treaty, code or other instrument in this Agreement
that is not related to Taxes means that provision as in force at the date of this
Agreement. |
15.24. |
|
If any law or regulation is passed in Mongolia or an international treaty is entered into by
Mongolia after the date of this Agreement and that law, regulation or international treaty
provides greater benefits to the Investor than are provided under this Agreement or laws in
force on the date of this Agreement, then the Investor may notify the Government in writing
that it wishes to enjoy the benefit of that law, regulation or international treaty. In such
event, and in accordance with Article 29.1 of the Minerals Law: |
|
15.24.1. |
|
without affecting Clause 15.24.2, such law, regulation or international treaty
shall apply to the Investor from the date the law, regulation or international treaty
comes into effect; |
|
15.24.2. |
|
if such law, regulation or international treaty referred to in Clause 15.24.1 is
later amended such that it no longer provides a greater benefit to the Investor, the
Investor shall from the date this later amendment comes into effect be returned to the
status or position it occupied before it gave notice to the Government in writing
under this Clause 15.24. |
15.25. |
|
Articles 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 of the Civil Code apply to this Agreement. |
Page 34
15.26. |
|
Clauses 10.2, 15.7, 15.8, 15.9, 15.10, 15.14, 15.24, 15.25, 15.26, 15.27, 15.28, 15.31,
15.32, 15.33, 15.34 and Chapters 14 (Fourteen) and 16 (Sixteen) take effect from the date of
this Agreement. |
|
15.27. |
|
Each Party warrants to each other Party that at the date of this Agreement it has full power
and lawful authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations
under this Agreement. |
|
15.28. |
|
The Government warrants that, at the date of this agreement and the Effective Date, this
Agreement shall comply with Resolution Number 57 of the State Great Khural dated 16 July 2009. |
|
15.29. |
|
If any provision of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable for whatever reason, that
provision will be severed from the Agreement, and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain
in force. |
|
15.30. |
|
Upon mutual consent recorded in writing, the Parties may amend or modify this Agreement. |
|
15.31. |
|
The Parties shall co-operate in compiling and delivering all documents necessary to
implement this Agreement. |
|
15.32. |
|
Any notice or other communication under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when it has been delivered by hand, mail or facsimile, with
postage or transmission charges fully prepaid, to the Party to which it is required to be
given or made at such Partys address specified below (or such other address notified in
accordance with Clause 15.33): |
To the Minister of Finance:
Ministry of Finance of Mongolia
United Nations Street 5/1
Government Building #2A
Chingeltei District, Ulaanbaatar 15160
MONGOLIA
To the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy:
Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy
United Nations Street 5/1
Government Building #2C
Chingeltei District, Ulaanbaatar 15160
MONGOLIA
To the Minister of Nature, Environment and Tourism:
Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism
United Nations Street 5/2
Government Building #2B
Chingeltei District, Ulaanbaatar 15160
MONGOLIA
Page 35
To Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Inc LLC:
Seoul Business Center
1st khoroo Bayanzurkh District
Zaluuchuud Avenue-26
Ulaanbaatar 210349
MONGOLIA
Attention: Managing Director
With copies only to:
To Ivanhoe Mines Ltd:
World Trade Centre
Suite 654
999 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC
CANADA V6C 3E1
Attention: Company Secretary
Fax: +1 604 682 2060
To Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited:
2 Eastbourne Terrace
London W2 6LG
UNITED KINGDOM
Attention: Company Secretary
Fax: +44 20 7781 1800
15.33. |
|
Where a Partys address changes from the address specified in Clause 15.32, it shall notify
the other Parties of its new address in writing as soon as practicable and refusal or
inability of a Party to receive an attempted notice delivered in accordance with this
Agreement shall not in any way diminish or prejudice any rights of the other Parties. |
15.34. |
|
This Agreement will be provided and executed in the Mongolian and English languages, with
each Party retaining one copy in each language and the Parties agree that the Mongolian and
English versions will be treated equally except that, in the event of any legal dispute in the
interpretation between the two-language versions, the English version shall prevail. |
Page 36
16. |
|
Chapter Sixteen: Definitions |
For the purposes of this Agreement the following definitions apply.
16.1. |
|
Achievement of Concentrator Capacity means the end of the 3 (three) month period in which
70% (seventy percent) of the nameplate capacity for the Concentrator is achieved on average. |
|
16.2. |
|
Affiliate means, in respect of any legal person, any other legal person that is Controlled
by or Controls, or is under common Control with, that legal person, provided that (in
addition) any member of the Ivanhoe Group shall be considered an Affiliate of any member of
the Rio Tinto Group and vice versa. |
|
16.3. |
|
Agreement means this agreement and includes the Annexure. |
|
16.4. |
|
Calendar Month means 1 (one) of the 12 (twelve) calendar months. |
|
16.5. |
|
Calendar Quarter means a calendar quarter, being either the Calendar Months (i) January,
February and March, (ii) April, May and June, (iii) July, August and September, or (iv)
October, November, and December. |
|
16.6. |
|
Calendar Year means a year starting on January 1 and ending on December 31 (inclusive). |
|
16.7. |
|
Commencement of Production means the date, being the first day of the month following the
month in which regular shipment of Products for sale to customers from the OT Project,
following achievement of 70% (seventy percent) of planned concentrator throughput based on
design capacity at that stage of construction, for a continuous period of 30 (thirty) days,
first occurs, as notified to the Government by the Investor, which may be a point in time
earlier than the Achievement of Concentrator Capacity. |
|
16.8. |
|
Completion Date has the meaning given to it in the Shareholders Agreement. |
|
16.9. |
|
Concentrator means the concentrator described in the Feasibility Study referred to in Clause
3.6, which shall be expanded in stages over the life of the OT Project to achieve a capacity
of approximately 58 million tonnes per year. |
|
16.10. |
|
Construction Period shall be the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the
earlier of: |
|
16.10.1. |
|
7 (seven) years after the Effective Date; and |
|
|
16.10.2. |
|
the Achievement of Concentrator Capacity. |
16.11. |
|
Contract Area means: |
|
16.11.1. |
|
the area shown on and described in the Annexure, being the area of mining licenses
6709A, 6708A and 6710A; and |
Page 37
|
16.11.2. |
|
all such other additional areas of Mining Licenses and other tenure incorporated
under Clause 15.5. |
16.12. |
|
Contractor means any company or individual which has concluded a contract with the Investor
(or its Affiliates) to carry out any activities, to make any supplies, or provide any
services, in relation to the Core Operations. |
|
16.13. |
|
Control means, with respect to a legal person, the right to, directly or indirectly,
exercise a majority of the votes which may be cast at a general meeting of the shareholders of
the legal person or the right to elect or appoint, directly or indirectly, a majority of the
directors of the legal person. |
|
16.14. |
|
Core Operations is defined in Clause 1.5. |
|
16.15. |
|
Council is defined in Clause 4.1. |
|
16.16. |
|
Effective Date is defined in Clause 15.7. |
|
16.17. |
|
EIA Reports is defined in Clause 6.1. |
|
16.18. |
|
EPP is defined in Clause 6.4. |
|
16.19. |
|
Existing Shareholder Loans is defined in the Shareholders Agreement, and the amount of
which, as at the Effective Date, is estimated by the Investor, the Ivanhoe Group and the Rio
Tinto Group to be approximately USD1 Billion (which amount shall be determined in accordance
with Clause 15.7.5). For the purposes of clause 14.1(d)(ii) of the Shareholders Agreement,
the Existing Shareholder Loans shall not include the amount of any expenditure incurred not
related to the OT Project, and the amount of any exploration expenditure incurred in
connection with the OT Project prior to the date of this Agreement, and such amount of
exploration expenditure shall be agreed or determined by the audit described in Clause 15.7.5.
The Parties agree that such exploration expenditure shall not include expenditure which is
entitled to be capitalized in accordance with internationally recognized accounting principles
including, for example, development costs related to drilling, shaft sinking and mine
development. |
|
16.20. |
|
Expansion Period means any period of time during which the Investor is committing
significant capital expenditure towards the expansion of the OT Project. |
|
16.21. |
|
Feasibility Study means a feasibility study for the proposed mining of reserves from the
Contract Area, to be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the relevant Mongolian
laws and regulations, or equivalent internationally recognized requirements, as updated from
time to time. |
|
16.22. |
|
Force Majeure means an event beyond the control of a Party, including natural disasters such
as earthquake, storm, fire, lightning, flood, drought, radioactive contamination, the closure
of an international border crossing (on either side), significant labor unrest, and social
emergency situations such as plague, war, state of war, and quarantine. |
|
16.23. |
|
Foreign Investment has the same meaning as foreign investment under the Foreign Investment
Law as in force on the date of this Agreement. |
Page 38
16.24. |
|
Government has the meaning in Article 3.1 of the Law on the Government of Mongolia. |
|
16.25. |
|
Investor means Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Inc LLC a company duly organized in Mongolia with the
state registration certificate of incorporation # 2657457 and foreign investors certificate #
00-218, holding mining licenses 6709A, 6708A and 6710A, being the issuer of a request to enter
into an investment agreement and its approved assigns. |
|
16.26. |
|
Investor Infrastructure/Services means any infrastructure or services funded or provided by
or on behalf of the Investor, its Affiliates, and their respective Contractors and
Subcontractors in connection with the OT Project. |
|
16.27. |
|
Ivanhoe Group means Ivanhoe Mines Ltd and each Affiliate of it. |
|
16.28. |
|
Ivanhoe Mines Ltd means the corporation with that name incorporated under the laws of the
Yukon Territory and with its registered office at 300 204 Black Street, Whitehorse, Yukon,
Canada, Y1A 2M9. |
|
16.29. |
|
Management Services Payment means the payment for works and services to be made under clause
6.4 of the Shareholders Agreement. |
|
16.30. |
|
Minerals Law means the Minerals Law of Mongolia, and any laws of Mongolia amending or in
substitution for such law. |
|
16.31. |
|
Mining Licenses means mining licenses 6709A, 6708A and 6710A issued under the Minerals Law
of Mongolia, the mining licences referred to in Clause 15.7.8, and other tenure incorporated
under Clause 15.5 (and any renewals, extensions, substitutions or replacements thereof). |
|
16.32. |
|
Non-Stabilized Taxes is defined in Clause 2.1. |
|
16.33. |
|
Notice is defined in Clause 10.7. |
|
16.34. |
|
OT Project means the Oyu Tolgoi Project which consists of Core Operations and all
ancillary activities that are undertaken on, or in connection with, the Contract Area. |
|
16.35. |
|
OT Project Workforce means the total number of individuals from time to time engaged by or
on behalf of the Investor, its Contractors or any Subcontractors, to perform work or provide
services in connection with the OT Project in Mongolia, whether as employees, contractors or
otherwise. |
|
16.36. |
|
OT Training Strategy and Plan is defined in Clause 8.12. |
|
16.37. |
|
Parties means the Government and the Investor, both of which are the parties to this
Agreement, and their permitted successors and assigns. Party has a corresponding meaning. |
|
16.38. |
|
Permits is defined in Clause 1.2. |
|
16.39. |
|
Private Placement Agreement means the placement agreement dated 18 October 2006 between
Ivanhoe Mines Ltd and Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited, as amended. |
Page 39
|
16.40.1. |
|
all copper, gold, silver and molybdenum, whether contained in ores, minerals,
concentrates, precipitates or refined products; and |
|
16.40.2. |
|
any other metals or minerals, in whatever form, which are contained within copper
or gold mineralization, |
|
|
obtained as a result of Core Operations, after deducting any quantities thereof which are
lost, discarded, destroyed or used in research, testing, mining, processing or
transportation. |
16.41. |
|
Proprietary Technologies means flash smelting technology for the capture of sulphur rich
gases from the smelting process, and flash converting technology used for removal of sulphur
and iron impurities. |
|
16.42. |
|
Public Use Infrastructure/Services is defined in Clause 7.13. |
|
16.43. |
|
Rio Tinto means Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited, a corporation incorporated under
the laws of England and Wales and with its registered office at 2 Eastbourne Terrace, London,
W2 6LG, United Kingdom. |
|
16.44. |
|
Rio Tinto Group means Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited, and any Affiliate of either or
both of them. |
|
16.45. |
|
Rio Tinto Limited means the corporation with that name incorporated under the laws of
Australia. |
|
16.46. |
|
Rio Tinto plc means the corporation with that name incorporated under the laws of England
and Wales. |
|
16.47. |
|
SHC is defined in the Shareholders Agreement. |
|
16.48. |
|
Shareholders Agreement means the shareholders agreement for the OT Project dated on or
about the date of this Agreement between the Government, through the Government corporate body
Erdenes MGL LLC, a State owned company, the Investor, Ivanhoe Oyu Tolgoi (BVI) Ltd,
incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands and Oyu Tolgoi Netherlands B.V.,
incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands. |
|
16.49. |
|
Smelter is defined in Clause 3.19. |
|
16.50. |
|
Stabilized means that the rate and basis of imposition for a Tax shall remain stable from
the date of this Agreement and during the term of this Agreement, unless lowered by any new or
amending laws and regulations. |
|
16.51. |
|
Stabilized Taxes is defined in Clause 2.1. |
|
16.52. |
|
State means Mongolia. |
|
16.53. |
|
Statement of Reserves means a statement of reserves estimate that complies with the
requirements of relevant Mongolian laws and regulations. |
Page 40
16.54. |
|
Standing Working Committee means the committee described in Clause 15.7.7. |
|
16.55. |
|
Subcontractor means any company or individual which has concluded a contract with a
Contractor (or its Affiliates) to carry out any activities, to make any supplies, or provide
any services, in relation to the Core Operations. |
|
16.56. |
|
Taxes means all taxes, fees and payments as described in Article 5.1 of the General Law of
Taxation, and Tax has a corresponding meaning. |
|
16.57. |
|
Ultimate Parent means Ivanhoe Mines Ltd and/or Rio Tinto plc. |
|
16.58. |
|
UNCITRAL Rules is defined in Clause 14.2. |
|
16.59. |
|
USD and $means the lawful currency of the United States of America. |
|
16.60. |
|
Water Approval means the Approval of Water Resource (870 l/sec) the subject of the Order
by the Minister of Nature, Environment and Tourism, Mongolia Number 22 dated January 27, 2009. |
|
16.61. |
|
Working Day means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks are open for
general banking business in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. |
|
16.62. |
|
WPT Invalidation Law means Law on Invalidating the Tax Law on Price Increase for Some
Products as enacted by the State Great Khural on 25 August 2009. |
In this Agreement, headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation. The
following rules apply unless the context otherwise requires:
16.63. |
|
The singular includes the plural, and the converse also applies. |
|
16.64. |
|
A reference to a Party to this Agreement or another agreement or document includes a Partys
successors, permitted substitutes and permitted assigns. |
|
16.65. |
|
Mentioning anything after includes, including, for example, or similar expressions, does not
limit what else might be included. |
|
16.66. |
|
Nothing in this Agreement is to be interpreted against a Party solely on the grounds that
the Party put forward this Agreement or any part of it. |
Page 41
Signing Pages
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed and signed on this 6th day of October,
2009 in the City of Ulaanbaatar.
For and on behalf of the Government of Mongolia:
|
|
|
Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy |
|
Signature: Signed |
D. Zorigt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: October 6, 2009 |
|
|
|
Minister of Finance |
|
Signature: Signed |
S. Bayartsogt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: October 6, 2009 |
|
|
|
Minister of Nature, Environment and Tourism
|
|
Signature: Signed |
L. Gansukh |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: October 6, 2009 |
|
|
|
For and on behalf of Rio Tinto International
Holdings Limited |
|
|
|
|
|
Bret Clayton |
|
|
Chief Executive, Copper and Diamonds Group
|
|
Signature: Signed |
Rio Tinto |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: October 6, 2009 |
Page 42
|
|
|
For and on behalf of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. |
|
|
|
|
|
Peter Meredith
|
|
Signature: Signed |
Deputy Chairman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: October 6, 2009 |
|
|
|
For and on behalf of Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia
Inc LLC |
|
|
|
|
|
Keith Marshall
|
|
Signature: Signed |
Managing Director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: October 6, 2009 |
Page 43
ANNEXURE
CONTRACT AREA (AS AT DATE OF AGREEMENT)
Page 44
TREASURY BILL PURCHASE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE GOVERNMENT OF MONGOLIA
AND
IVANHOE MINES MONGOLIA INC LLC
Treasury Bill Purchase Agreement between the Government of Mongolia and
Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Inc LLC
This Treasury Bill Purchase Agreement (this Agreement) is made on this 6th day of
October 2009 between:
The Government of Mongolia, acting through its authorized representative, the Minister of
Finance (hereinafter referred to as the Government);
and
Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Inc LLC, a company duly organized in Mongolia with the state
registration certificate of incorporation # 2657457 and foreign investors certificate #
00-218, possessing mining licenses 6709A, 6708A and 6710A (hereinafter referred to as the
Investor);
having regard to the following:
The Investor and the Government, and others, have entered into an Investment Agreement (the
Investment Agreement) on or about the date of this Agreement which memorializes and regulates
a relationship between them for the development and operation of the Oyu Tolgoi Project.
The Government requires the Investor to enter into this Agreement as a condition of the
Governments entry into the Investment Agreement.
The purpose of this Agreement is to record the terms and conditions on which the Investor has
agreed to purchase from the Government three discounted Treasury Bills with an aggregate face
value of USD $287,500,000.
|
1.1. |
|
Capitalized terms used in this Agreement, if not defined in this Agreement, shall
have the meanings given to them in the Investment Agreement provided that Parties as
used in this Agreement shall mean the Government as that term is defined in this Agreement
and the Investor (and Party shall mean either the Government or the Investor,
individually), and provided further that: |
|
1.1.1. |
|
Taxes for the purposes of this Agreement shall mean the taxes listed in Article
7 of the General Taxation Law. |
|
1.1.2. |
|
Treasury Bill means a bill issued by the Government in respect of the First
TBill, Second TBill or Third TBill, denominated in USD and substantially in the form
set out in Schedule 1, each having a term of five (5) years from the date of issue
and in all respects ranking equally with and be payable pari passu with other
priority sovereign debt of Mongolia (and in no circumstances inconsistent with the
terms of this Agreement). |
|
1.2. |
|
A term not defined in this Agreement and which is defined in the Investment Agreement
shall have the meaning given to it in the Investment Agreement. The rules of
interpretation contained in Chapter 16 (Definitions) of the Investment Agreement shall
apply to this Agreement, and this Agreement forms part of the Investment Agreement. |
PAGE 1
|
1.3. |
|
This Agreement shall enter into force at such time as the Investment Agreement shall
have been signed by all the parties thereto, and such execution shall constitute a
condition precedent to this Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in effect from the
aforesaid date of signing for so long as any amount of the Outstanding Balance remains
unpaid by the Government, provided however, that Clause 7 shall survive so long as any
taxable year of the Investor or any of its Affiliates to which any Tax may relate shall
remain open for audit or adjustment by the Government. |
2. |
|
Purchase of Treasury Bills |
|
2.1. |
|
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Clause 2 in its entirety, the Investor
shall purchase at a discount three (3) Treasury Bills to be issued by the Government
having an aggregate face value of USD $287,500,000: |
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2.1.1. |
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Within fourteen (14) days after the Investment Agreement has been signed by all
parties thereto, the Investor will purchase a Treasury Bill in the principal amount
of USD $115,000,000 by paying the Government USD $100,000,000 (First TBill) |
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2.1.2. |
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Within fourteen (14) days after the Effective Date (as defined in the Investment
Agreement), the Investor will purchase a Treasury Bill in the principal amount of
USD $57,500,000 by paying the Government USD $50,000,000 (Second TBill). |
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2.1.3. |
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Within fourteen (14) days after drawdown, pursuant to full project financing, of
all the funds required for construction of the open pit mine and underground mine
for the Oyu Tolgoi Deposit contemplated in the Investment Agreement and all
associated infrastructure (as contemplated by the associated feasibility studies for
the open pit mine and underground mine) or no later than 30 June 2010 if such
drawdown has not occurred by 30 June 2010, the Investor will purchase a Treasury
Bill in the principal amount of USD $115,000,000 by paying the Government USD
$100,000,000 (Third TBill). |
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The aggregate of the face value of the First TBill (being USD $115,000,000), the Second
TBill (being USD $57,500,000) and the Third TBill (being USD $115,000,000) is hereinafter
referred to as the Principal Amount. |
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3.1. |
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The Outstanding Balance, which shall always be in USD, shall mean, at any point in
time: |
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3.1.1. |
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the Principal Amount outstanding at that time; |
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3.1.2. |
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less any amounts repaid by the Government to the Investor in accordance with
Clauses 4.1, 6.1 or 6.3; |
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3.1.3. |
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less any amounts applied by the Investor in reduction of the Tax liability of the
Investor and its Affiliates in accordance with Clause 4.1; |
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3.1.4. |
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plus the amount of any interest under Clause 6.2.1. |
PAGE 2
4. |
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Application of Outstanding Balance Against Tax Liability |
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4.1. |
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If the entirety of the then current Outstanding Balance has not been paid on a
Repayment Date in accordance with Clause 6.1, then the Investor may, at its discretion,
notify the Government in writing through the relevant taxation authority in Mongolia that
any Tax owed by the Investor or any of its Affiliates has been satisfied in whole or in
part by being offset against the Outstanding Balance. Promptly following the provision of
such written notice, the Government shall, through the relevant taxation authority,
provide to the Investor a receipt or voucher acceptable to the Investor (acting
reasonably) as evidence of payment by the Investor (or, where applicable, its Affiliates)
of the Tax liability described in the notice. Neither the Investor (nor, where applicable,
its Affiliates) shall be liable or subject to any penalties or interest which might
otherwise have been imposed on the Investor (or, where applicable, its Affiliates) in
respect of a Tax liability satisfied by a written notice under this Clause 4.1. The
Outstanding Balance shall not be reduced by the amount of a Tax liability specified by the
Investor in a notice under this Clause 4.1 until the Investor has received all receipts
and vouchers required under this Clause 4.1. |
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4.2. |
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If the Investor issues a written notice under Clause 4.1 to satisfy a VAT liability
of the Investor or its Affiliates by application of the VAT amount against the Outstanding
Balance, then the Government shall ensure that any entitlement the Investor or its
Affiliates may have to a VAT refund under the laws or regulations of Mongolia shall not be
affected by the VAT liability having been satisfied by such notice. |
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4.3. |
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Except as provided in Clause 6, the Government may repay the Outstanding Balance in
whole or in part at any time. |
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4.4. |
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For the purposes of calculating the VAT refund amount to be applied as a credit in
accordance with Clauses 2.1.2 or 2.1.3 and for applying a Tax liability against the
Outstanding Balance under Clause 4.1, the VAT credit or Tax liability (as applicable)
shall be converted by the Investor to USD using the average official Mongolian togrog /
USD exchange rate published by Reuters during the week immediately preceding the payment
in accordance with Clause 2.1.2 or 2.1.3 or Investors written notice under Clause 4.1
(this shall be calculated as the simple arithmetic average of the last published exchange
rate for each day during that week). |
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5.1. |
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For the avoidance of doubt, other than as provided in Clauses 4.1 and 6.3, nothing in
this Agreement shall affect the manner in which any Tax liability shall be calculated and,
without limiting the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall limit the ability of the
Investor to treat any offset of Tax liability by amounts prepaid hereunder as a
deductible expense from the taxable income of the Investor if otherwise permitted by the
Investment Agreement or any applicable treaty, law or regulation. |
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5.2. |
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Any income that arises from this Agreement, or which may be derived as a result of
the issue or redemption of the Treasury Bills or in any other way whatsoever as a result
of the implementation of this Agreement shall not be subject to any form of taxation. |
PAGE 3
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6.1. |
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The Government must immediately repay to the Investor the whole of the then current
Outstanding Balance on the earliest to occur of each of the following events (the date of
each such event constituting a Repayment Date): |
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6.1.1. |
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the Government or SHC fails to fulfil any material and significant obligations
under the Investment Agreement or the Shareholders Agreement respectively for a
period of 6 (six) months; |
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6.1.2. |
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the termination of the Investment Agreement or the Shareholders Agreement; |
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6.1.3. |
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if the conditions precedent in Clause 15.7 of the Investment Agreement are not
satisfied or waived by the time required under the Investment Agreement and,
accordingly, the Investment Agreement does not come into force and effect (as
contemplated by the final paragraph in Clause 15.7 of the Investment Agreement); and |
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6.1.4. |
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each date which is five (5) years after the date of purchase by the Investor of
each Treasury Bill. |
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6.2. |
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If the Government does not repay the then current Outstanding Balance in accordance
with Clause 6.1, then the obligation to pay for the Treasury Bills remaining to be
purchased by the Investor shall be cancelled and: |
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6.2.1. |
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the then current Outstanding Balance for the purposes of Clause 3 shall bear
interest at a rate of 9.9% per annum calculated daily on the basis of a year
comprising 360 days (but after allowing for the notional interest incorporated in
the discount at which each Treasury Bill is issued) and added to the Outstanding
Balance at the end of each Calendar Quarter; and |
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6.2.2. |
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the Government and SHC agree that the Investor may, without limiting any of its
other rights, apply any freely available dividends or other amounts which may become
due and payable by the Investor to SHC towards reduction of the Outstanding Balance. |
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6.3. |
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The Government must repay the Principal Amount of each Treasury Bill in accordance
with its terms. |
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6.4. |
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Repayment of the Principal Amount and the Outstanding Balance must be made in USD. |
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6.5. |
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On repayment of the whole of the Principal Amount owing in respect of a Treasury Bill
the Investor shall surrender to the Government the applicable Treasury Bill. |
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6.6. |
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Nothing in this Clause 6 limits the Investors right to commence arbitration
proceedings to recover the Outstanding Balance. |
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6.7. |
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As consideration for the Investors purchase of the First TBill, the Government shall
in good faith draw on sources of revenue other than the First TBill revenue until such
time as the conditions precedent to the Investment Agreement have been satisfied and, to
the extent possible, will not comingle Treasury Bill revenues with other sources of
Government revenue. |
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Chapter 14 (Dispute Resolution) of the Investment Agreement relating to dispute
resolution shall apply to this Agreement as if set out in full in this Agreement, and as
if references in that clause to the Parties were references to the Parties to this
Agreement. |
PAGE 4
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8.1. |
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The Investor shall be entitled to assign its rights and obligations under this
Agreement and the Treasury Bills. The Investor may charge, mortgage or grant other forms
of security over its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the Treasury Bills
and the Government shall provide all necessary support (including providing written
consent and signing necessary documents) to register and perfect the security in Mongolia. |
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8.2. |
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The Government shall not be entitled to assign or encumber its rights and obligations
under this Agreement or the Treasury Bills. |
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8.3. |
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No assignment will expand or alter the rights and obligations of either Party under
this Agreement. |
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9.1. |
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The provisions of this Agreement contain the entire agreement between the Parties
with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. |
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9.2. |
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Notices or other communications under this Agreement between the Parties shall be
given in accordance with the notice provisions contained in clause 15.32 of the Investment
Agreement. |
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9.3. |
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This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of
Mongolia and international treaties to which Mongolia is a party. |
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9.4. |
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Each Party agrees to do all things and execute all deeds, instruments, transfers or
other documents as may be necessary or desirable to give full effect to the provisions of
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by it. |
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9.5. |
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Upon mutual consent recorded in writing, the Parties may amend or modify this
Agreement. |
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9.6. |
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The issuer of the Treasury Bills is the Government of Mongolia and the Treasury Bills
constitute sovereign debt. |
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9.7. |
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Each Party warrants to each other Party that at the date of this Agreement it has
full power and lawful authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its
obligations under this Agreement and to complete the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. The Government further warrants to the Investor that at the date of this
Agreement and at the date that each Treasury Bill is issued: |
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9.7.1. |
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it has all requisite power and authority and has all necessary approvals,
licences, permits and authorizations to issue the Treasury Bill; |
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9.7.2. |
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it has taken all requisite action to issue the Treasury Bill, and the Treasury
Bill concerned constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Government,
enforceable against the Government in accordance with its terms, without regard to
the principles of sovereign immunity; |
PAGE 5
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9.7.3. |
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that the Treasury Bills are legally binding, valid and enforceable obligations of
and against the Government; |
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9.7.4. |
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there are no facts or circumstances existing, except current liabilities incurred
and obligations entered into in the usual and ordinary course, none of which
(individually or in the aggregate) could have a material adverse effect on the
Governments ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement and under the
Treasury Bills. |
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9.8. |
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If any provision of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable for whatever reason,
that provision will be severed from the Agreement, and the remainder of this Agreement
shall remain in force. |
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9.9. |
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The Government agrees that any change to the laws or regulations of Mongolia
(including the passing of any new laws or regulations), or any other requirements that
would, but for this Clause 9.9, be required to be complied with in connection with this
Agreement that take effect after the date of this Agreement, and which discriminates
against the Investor (taking into account the principles of non-discrimination in clause
2.3 of the Investment Agreement), shall not apply in relation to this Agreement. |
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9.10. |
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Expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement does not affect the monetary
rights and obligations of the Parties which have accrued prior to the date of such expiry
or termination and which remain undischarged at that date. |
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9.11. |
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This Agreement will be provided and executed in the Mongolian and English languages
each in two original copies, with each Party retaining one copy in each language and the
Parties agree that the Mongolian and English versions will be treated equally except that,
in the event of any legal dispute in the interpretation between the two-language versions,
the English version shall prevail. |
PAGE 6
SCHEDULE 1
Form of Treasury Bill
(the Form of Treasury Bill omitted)
SIGNING PAGE
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed and signed on this 6th day of October
2009 in the City of Ulaanbaatar.
For and on behalf of the Government of Mongolia:
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Minister of Finance
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Signature: Signed |
S. Bayartsogt |
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Date: 6 October 2009 |
For and on behalf of Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Inc LLC:
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Keith Marshall
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Signature Signed |
Managing Director |
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Date: 6 October 2009 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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IVANHOE MINES LTD.
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Date: October 14, 2009 |
By: |
/s/ Beverly A. Bartlett
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BEVERLY A. BARTLETT |
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Vice President &
Corporate Secretary |
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