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Exhibit 10.11
A M E N D E D
M E M O R A N D U M O F A G R E E M E N T
TO: ORO ARGENTINA LIMITED, RONALD HANDFORD, AND ROGER TRODLER-LAINE
FROM: AZCO MINING INC.
DATE: JULY 23, 1998
RE: AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE ("AIP") OF AGREEMENT DATED MAY 22, 1998
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This amended Memorandum of Agreement, if accepted by you, will constitute an
amendment and continuance of the AIP between Azco Mining Inc. ("Azco"), Oro
Argentina Limited ("OAL"), Ronald Handford ("RH"), and Roger Trodler-Laine
"(RL"), each in accordance with the terms as set forth below.
The terms which we propose are as follows:
A. FINANCING COMPONENT
1. Subject to satisfactory execution by all parties of the hereafter
described agreements and approval of the boards of each of Azco and OAL, Azco
shall purchase a $750,000 US convertible debenture (the "Debenture") from OAL
and Azco shall be granted 1,500,000 warrants. Unless otherwise agreed in writing
by Azco, the proceeds of the Debenture shall be used only for the first phase of
the Chigua White Bentonite Project (the "Project"), option payments to Pierre
Martre in accordance with an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") with
Pierre Martre, and a maintenance and administrative allowance as approved by
Azco.
2. The terms of the Debenture shall be as follows:
(i) the Debenture shall be a first fixed and floating charge
convertible debenture in the principal amount of $750,000 US
(the "Principal") bearing interest on outstanding Principal at
12% per annum, calculated and payable annually in arrears, and
shall mature two years from its date of issue. It shall be in
Azco's standard form and shall not have pre-payment privileges
without Azco's consent;
(ii) the Principal shall be drawn by OAL against approved budgets
and draw schedules, as mutually agreed, in accordance with the
approved mining and production plan (the "Production Plan");
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(iii) at the option of Azco, the Debenture shall be convertible, as
to Principal (and Azco may elect to advance the total
Principal at any time for such purpose), and outstanding
interest, to common shares of OAL during the term of the
Debenture. Azco may elect to exercise the conversion right in
priority to repayment of Principal and interest. Each share
shall be priced at $0.50 US.
3. The 1,500,000 warrants (the "Warrants") granted to Azco concurrently
with the Debenture, shall be two year Warrants exercisable at any time to
purchase up to 1,500,000 common shares of OAL at a price of $0.60 US per share.
4. Azco shall have the right to appoint a representative to the board of
directors of OAL during the term of the Debenture and so long as such has not
been repaid or converted.
5. RH and RL shall enter into management agreements with OAL for a term of
not less than the Debenture term, on terms no better as to salary than that set
forth below, and shall be responsible for supervising the implementation and
completion of the Production Plan.
6. OAL warrants that it has an option on 50% of the Project and the
property thereof pursuant to the Option Agreement and extension agreement
between OAL and Pierre Martre and, to the best of OAL's informed knowledge,
Pierre Martre has contracted 100% of the mining rights of the property and
Project and neither the property nor the Project are subject to any
encumbrances, liabilities, claims, threats to the title or integrity of the
property or the Project, nor does any party have any claim or challenge to title
or ownership of the Project or property. OAL further warrants that OAL is free
and clear of all liens, encumbrances, or any claims by any parties (other than
normal course payables), there are no rights or contracts for the issue of
securities except as set forth herein, OAL is not threatened with insolvency
proceedings, the Option Agreement is in good standing and no other party has any
rights or interests therein, and the Debenture funds hereof shall be adequate
for the expenditure and maintenance needs of the Option Agreement and for the
general operations and payables of AOL during at least phase one of the
development program of the Project.
7. During the term of the Debenture and the below Option, Azco shall have
the right to provide, or provide for, all future financings of OAL and its
interest in the Project on competitive terms. Azco shall have a first right of
refusal in respect to any bona fide financing offers, earn-in options, purchase
offers, joint venture offers, bank financings, equity offers, or any other such
matter of OAL. No alteration in the capital or debt structure of OAL nor any
alteration of the Project or its status or its financing may be made except by
consultation with and approval of Azco, not to be unreasonably with held.
B. AZCO BUY-OUT OPTION
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1. OAL, RH, and RL shall employ best efforts to cause all the shareholders
of OAL to grant, by June 30, 1998, Azco a two year option (the "Option") to
purchase all of the OAL shares (the "Shares") issued and outstanding of OAL on
the following terms:
(i) the Option shall be for a term of two years from the date of
issue of the Debenture. In the event that financing of the
second phase of the Project is not in place after 18 months
from the issue of the Debenture, Azco will have the right to
extend the Option for an additional year;
(ii) the Option shall be exercised by Azco giving notice of
exercise and advising that it shall pay with Azco common stock
(the "Azco Share") at a ratio of one Azco Share for each two
OAL Shares issued or contracted to be issued;
(iii) the Azco Shares issued for the 8,240,000 `F' class OAL Shares
(and any other Shares permitted to be issued during the term
of the Option) shall be issued into pool which pool shall have
a term of two years from Option exercise and the Azco Shares
shall be released 25% immediately, 25% on the first
anniversary date and 50% on the second anniversary date,
subject to regulatory approval and statutorily imposed hold
periods, but that pool release shall be accelerated at such
time as Azco stock exceeds $5.00 US on average over a 10 day
period at an average daily volume of no less than 50,000
shares;
(iv) OAL shall not issue any further equity or debt or options or
any other agreement for the issue of Shares or make any
capital alterations in OAL without Azco's consent in writing
during the term of the Option; it being acknowledged hereby
that OAL has 10,136,935 Shares issued and outstanding and
880,000 options issued exercisable at $0.40 and 45,000 options
issued exercisable at $0.50;
(v) the OAL shareholders shall not encumber, assign, or otherwise
dispose of any interest in the Shares except with the written
consent of Azco and thereupon only subject to the assignee
entering into the Option;
(vi) the Option shall contain other terms requiring the deposit of
the Share certificates (duly executed in blank for transfer)
and directors minutes approving the Option transfer deposited
in escrow, voting trusts to place an Azco representative on
OAL" board during the Option, force majeure provisions,
arbitration provisions, conflict waivers for Azco's board
representative, and such other terms as Azco's counsel may
reasonably require; and
2. RH and RL hereby commit to enter into the Option and the board of OAL
will do so as a term of the board's acceptance of this AIP.
C. RH AND RL MANAGEMENT CONTRACT TERMS
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Upon Azco's election to exercise the Option, RH and RL shall be engaged, or
their engagement shall be continued, with OAL on the Following terms:
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1. RH terms shall be:
(i) a one year term, automatically renewable for three subsequent
one year terms unless notice of renegotiation by mutual
agreement is given no less than 60 days prior to the end of
each term;
(ii) the fee shall be $7,000 US per month, plus reasonable
expenses, and no less than 175 days per year shall be employed
on the business of OAL and the Project;
(iii) RH shall accept the position of Managing Director and CEO of
Oromin S.A., the subsidiary of OAL in which the Project
resides;
(iv) RH shall receive 250,000 Azco stock options, vesting at 62,500
per year, over 4 years with the price being set at the best
available price permitted by regulators at the time of Azco's
exercise of the Option; and
(v) The form of the management agreement shall be that presently
prevailing for Azco's internal executives.
2. RL terms shall be:
(i) a one year term, automatically renewable for three subsequent
one year terms unless notice of renegotiation by mutual
agreement is given no less than 60 days prior to the end of
each term;
(ii) the fee shall be $10,000 US per month, and reasonable
expenses, plus an annual 1% net profits royalty, for a term of
10 years after commencement of production, on OAL's share of
the Project's revenue and RL shall commit and be employed full
time on the business of OAL and the Project;
(iii) RL shall accept the position of Director, President, and COO
of Oromin S.A., the subsidiary of OAL;
(iv) RL shall receive 200,000 Azco stock options, vesting at 50,000
per year, over 4 years with the price being set at the best
available price permitted by regulators at the time of Azco's
exercise of the Option; and
(v) The form of the management agreement shall be that presently
prevailing for Azco's internal executives.
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Other terms shall be the standard contract terms regarding such matters as
warranties and representations, rights of first refusal, assignability, notices,
arbitration, and regulatory approval, if required.
This offer shall be kept confidential and no disclosure of the same shall be
made without mutual consent, which shall not be unreasonably with held, unless
required in writing by court order or regulator of competent jurisdiction.
The parties shall employ best efforts to render this agreement into formal
documents within 30 days of request of a party or removal of conditions.
If the foregoing terms are acceptable to you we ask that you execute and return
a copy of this AIP and the same will be binding upon us upon removal of subjects
as aforesaid.
Yours truly,
AZCO MINING INC.
Per:
ANTHONY HARVEY
Vice-Chairman
THE FOREGOING IS HEREBY AGREED THIS____________________ DAY OF MAY, 1998.
ORO ARGENTINA LIMITED
Per:
RONALD HANDFORD
President
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RONALD HANDFORD - Signature
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ROGER TRODLER-LAINE - Signature