| The Company acquired its rights under the October 1999 agreement with Pinnacle as a consequence of reaching a settlement agreement with Gladiator Minerals Inc., subsequently renamed Hinterland Metals Inc. ("Hinterland"), pursuant to which Anooraq would pay cash of $25,000 (paid) and issue shares in stages to Hinterland, to a maximum of 875,000 shares based on project expenditures and a bonus of 625,000 shares for each 7 million PGM ounces defined on the project. Under this agreement, 378,500 shares were issued to Hinterland to November 2003 and on November 13, 2003, the Company issued an additional 400,000 common shares to Hinterland as full and final negotiated settlement under this agreement. In South Africa, many mineral claim areas were historically defined by farm boundaries and consequently, are commonly referred to as "farms". On May 23, 2000, the Company added to its mineral rights in the region by acquiring through Plateau the option to purchase a 100% interest in portion 2 of the Elandsfontein 766LR farm located contiguous to the pre-existing Platreef properties, pursuant to an agreement with MSA Projects (Proprietary) Limited. The option required staged issuances of a maximum of 500,000 common shares of the Company (of which 412,500 shares have been issued to December 31, 2004 and no further share issuances are expected) and aggregate cash payments of US$350,000 (of which US$54,250 and $15,000 have been paid). In July 2001, Plateau acquired the right to purchase a 100 percent interest in the farm Hamburg 737LR (2,126 hectares) and Portion 1 of the farm Elandsfontein 766LR (428 hectares), located contiguous to the north end of the then-existing Platreef properties. Consideration for the exploration rights to these properties, which are in effect for a five year term, consists of payments of US$2.00 per hectare in year one escalating in stages to US$4.50 per hectare in year five. To purchase the farms outright, a payment of US$325 per hectare is required if the option is exercised in year one, US$390 per hectare in year two, US$455 per hectare in year three, US$520 per hectare in year four and US$600 per hectare in year five. On August 28, 2001, the Company completed an agreement to purchase from Pinnacle the remaining outstanding common shares of Plateau that it did not own in consideration for the issuance of 7.5 million of its common shares, recorded at a value of $4.2 million. In connection with this acquisition, the original loan facility and share purchase agreement between Anooraq and Pinnacle was purchased for consideration of 4,500,000 Anooraq warrants, which were exercised in their entirety in July 2003. In August 2002, the Company entered into a five year prospecting contract, expiring August 2007, with an option to extend the agreement for an additional three years with the South African Department of Mines and Energy (“DME”) for farm Noord Holland 775LR (1,229 hectares) bringing the aggregate land package of its Platreef Property to approximately 13,400 hectares. Annual option fees ranging from ZAR 3 per hectare to ZAR 18 per hectare are payable to the DME. |