JOINT OPERATING AGREEMENT
Sulphur/Salt Lease OCS-G 9372
Main Pass Block 299
MAY 1, 1988
Freeport-McMoRan Resource Partners
IMC Fertilizer, Inc.
Felmont Oil Corporation
OCS-G-9372
JOINT OPERATING AGREEMENT
THIS JOINT OPERATING AGREEMENT is made and entered into this 1st day of
May, 1988, to be effective as of the Effective Date between FREEPORT-MCMORAN
RESOURCE PARTNERS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership
("Freeport") , IMC FERTILIZER, INC. , a Delaware corporation ("IMC"), and
FELMONT OIL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Felmont").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Parties are the joint owners of the sulphur and salt lease
covering the Property; and
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to enter into an Agreement pursuant to which
they will explore for, develop, mine and produce sulphur within the Property.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set
forth below, the Parties agree as follows:
I. DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in this Agreement, the terms set forth below shall have the
meanings assigned to them in this Article I. Such meanings shall apply equally
to the singular and plural forms of these terms. Unless otherwise expressly
specified therein, the terms defined in this Article I shall have the same
meanings when used in any attachments to this Agreement.
1.01 "Accounting Procedures" shall mean the accounting procedures contained
in Attachment 3 to this Agreement.
1.02 "Affiliate" shall mean when used in relation to the Parties, any
corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity other than a Party
hereto, that shall be directly or indirectly under joint control of, controlled
by or controls that Party.
1.03 "Agreement" shall mean this Joint Operating Agreement and all
attachments to it, which attachments are incorporated into this Agreement by
this reference. To the extent that the terms and provisions of this Agreement
are in conflict with the terms and provisions of any such attachment, this
Agreement shall control.
1.04 "Approval Date" shall mean the date on which the Policy Committee
approves a Work Plan and Budget or other item or activity that requires Policy
Committee approval.
1.05 "Average Price" shall have the meaning prescribed for such term in
Section 18.02 hereof.
1.06 "Budget" shall mean a detailed projection of costs and expenses
required for any Joint Operations during a Budget Year.
1.07 "Budget Year" shall mean January 1 to December 31, or such period as
is mutually agreed upon.
1.08 "Data" shall mean data and information concerning sulphur and sulphur
exploration, development and production arising out of the conduct of Joint
Operations hereunder, including but not limited to the following: logs and drill
hole records; maps showing the location of drilled holes; land surveys
(including maps and listings of coordinates); all analytical and interpretive
data and information (including, without limitation, all chemical or other
assays); all
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geophysical records; all ore reserve and Feasibility Studies; all documents
filed with governmental entities having jurisdiction; and all other similar
records whatever their form and nature.
1.09 "Development Operations" shall mean all activity or work involved in
providing a Mine for the production of sulphur from the Property. Development
Operations cease upon commencement of Steaming Operations.
1.10 "Development Program" shall mean all approved Work Plans and Budgets
for Development Operations on the Property.
1.11 "Effective Date" shall mean May 1, 1988.
1.12 "Exploration Operations" shall mean the search for sulphur within the
Property by usual offshore methods and, after the discovery and location of
sulphur, the investigation of the sulphur by drilling, sampling and testing to
determine the extent, mode of occurrence and recoverable grade of sulphur, as
well as all activity or work involved in delineating and testing an ore body or
deposit of sulphur, together with all work required for the preparation of
Feasibility Studies. Such work includes but is not limited to related
infrastructure activities such as surveying, mapping, drilling, soil testing,
engineering design, cost analysis, preparation of environmental impact
statements or studies and pilot testing programs. Exploration Operations cease
and Development Operations commence upon approval by the Policy Committee of the
first Work Plan and Budget of the Development Program.
1.13 "Exploration Program" shall mean all approved Work Plans and Budgets
for Exploration operations.
1.14 "Feasibility Study" shall mean a report showing the feasibility of
placing a prospective ore body or deposit of sulphur within the Property into
production and shall include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
(a) reasonable assessments of the size and quality of the minable reserves of
sulphur; (b) reasonable assessments of the amenability of the sulphur to
metallurgical treatment; (c) reasonable descriptions of the work, equipment,
supplies, transportation, storage and permitting required to bring the
prospective ore body or deposit of sulphur into production and the estimated
costs thereof; (d) a mining plan; (e) conclusions and recommendations regarding
the economic and commercial feasibility and timing for bringing the prospective
ore body or deposit of sulphur into production, taking into account items (a)
through (d) above; and (f) such other information as may be required to allow
banking or other financial institutions familiar with the mining business to
make a decision to loan funds sufficient to construct the Mine with security
based solely on the reserves and mine described in the Feasibility Study.
1.15 "Joint Account" shall mean the accounts maintained by Operator showing
the charges and credits accruing because of Joint operations.
1.16 "Joint Assets" shall mean and include the Property, the sulphur and
salt lease covering the Property, a Mine and all tangible and intangible assets
(including but not limited to personal property) obtained by acquisition, lease,
license or any other manner in connection with and in furtherance of Joint
operations, including the proceeds, profits, benefits and all Data, Reports, and
other data or information that results from Joint Operations, but excluding New
Technology.
1.17 "Joint Expenses" shall mean all costs, expenses and liabilities
accruing or resulting from Joint Operations.
1.18 "Joint Operations" shall mean and include Exploration, Development,
and Production Operations undertaken and conducted pursuant to approved Work
Plans and Budgets or otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;
preparation of Feasibility Studies; and/or all other activities of similar
import in the performance and furtherance of this Agreement.
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1.19 "Mine" shall mean, (a) a plant for the production of sulphur by the
Frasch process and all wells (including sulphur, bleedwater and salt wells)
facilities, fixtures, buildings, improvements and equipment required for such
production; (b) all facilities, fixtures, buildings, improvements and equipment
at such plant required for storage and handling of sulphur produced at such
plant and for loading such sulphur into transportation equipment; (c) all
associated gas, water, and sulphur pipelines; and (d) all associated shore
facilities and transportation facilities.
1.20 "New Technology" shall mean technology, know-how, trade secrets,
proprietary information, ideas, inventions, computer programs, methods, designs,
processes, procedures and formulas, whether or not patented or able to be
patented, or registered or able to be registered with any governmental
authority, developed or acquired pursuant to this Agreement and paid for by the
Joint Account after the Effective Date, and prior to the date upon which this
Agreement should terminate or the relationship among the Parties has otherwise
ceased to exist, and related to the Joint Operations.
1.21 "Non-Operator" shall mean any Party that is not currently an Operator
on the Property, or all Parties if an independent operator is designated.
1.22 "Non-Party" shall have the meaning prescribed for such term in Section
4.05 hereof.
1.23 "Operating Provisions" shall mean the Operating Provisions attached to
this Agreement as Attachment 4, pursuant to which Operator shall conduct Joint
Operations within the Property.
1.24 "Operator" shall mean Freeport, except that if Freeport shall have
resigned or shall have been removed as Operator in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement, such term shall mean any Party or independent
contractor designated as, and serving in the capacity of, Operator pursuant to
Article VI of this Agreement.
1.25 "Partial Relinquished Interest" shall have the meaning prescribed for
such term in Section 9.01 hereof.
1.26 "Participating Interest" shall mean a Party's undivided interest in
the Joint Assets as the same may appear from time to time.
1.27 "Participating Interest Owner" shall mean a Party having or owning a
Participating Interest.
1.28 "Parties" shall mean Freeport, IMC and Felmont.
1.29 "Policy Committee" shall mean the Policy Committee established
pursuant to Article V of this Agreement.
1.30 "Production Operations" shall mean the work or activity of mining
sulphur by the Frasch process (in quantities larger than those required for
purposes of sampling, analysis, or evaluation) ; all activities necessary to
operate and maintain the Mine; all additions to, replacements of, and removal of
such Mine; and all reclamation and restoration performed upon or for the benefit
of the Property as a result of Joint Operations conducted pursuant to this
Agreement.
1.31 "Production Program" shall mean all approved Work Plans and Budgets
for Production Operations on the Property.
1.32 "Property" shall mean and include, so long as they are subject to this
Agreement, the real property more particularly described in Attachment 2 to this
Agreement, together with all sulphur in, under and upon that property, all
easements, salt and salt rights associated with or attributable to that
property, and all appurtenances and improvements on that property.
1.33 "Receipt Date" shall have the meaning prescribed for such term in
Section 17-03 hereof.
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1.34 "Relinquished Interest" shall have the meaning prescribed for such
term in Section 9.01 hereof.
1.35 "Steaming Operations" shall mean the injection of hot water or other
heat carrying substance into the cap rock formation in an attempt in good faith
to produce sulphur therefrom in commercial quantities.
1.36 "Tampa Posting" shall have the meaning prescribed for such term in
Section 18-02 hereof.
1.37 "Work Plan" shall mean a detailed program for Joint operations to be
conducted during a Budget Year, adopted pursuant to Article VII of this
Agreement.
II. PURPOSES
The Parties have entered into this Agreement for the purposes of developing
and profitably producing sulphur from the Property and maximizing the value from
the sulphur reserves.
III. TERM
This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect for as long as two
or more of the Parties jointly own any interest in the Property, unless sooner
terminated pursuant to Article XX below.
IV. CONTRIBUTIONS, INTERESTS AND RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES
4.01 INITIAL PROPERTY AND DATA. The Parties subject to this Agreement
shall share the rights and interests owned by them jointly in the Property and
in the Data.
4.02 PARTICIPATING INTERESTS. Upon the Effective Date of this Agreement,
the Participating Interests of the Parties shall be as follows:
Freeport 58.33 percent
IMC 25.00 percent
Felmont 16.67 percent
4.03 RELATIONSHIP OF THE PARTIES. It is not the purpose or intention of
this Agreement to create a partnership, tax partnership, mining partnership,
commercial partnership, or any other partnership relation between the Parties.
Each Party shall be responsible only for its obligations and liabilities as set
forth in this Agreement. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to
constitute any Party the partner of any other Party, or except as otherwise
expressly provided, to constitute any Party the agent or legal representative of
any other Party, or to create any fiduciary relationship among them. No Party
shall have any authority to act for or to assume any obligation or
responsibility on behalf of the other Party except as expressly provided in this
Agreement. Each of the Parties agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the
other Parties, its directors, officers, and employees from and against any and
all losses, claims, damages, and liabilities arising out of any act or any
assumption of any obligation or liability by the first mentioned Party, or any
of its directors, officers, agents, or employees, done or undertaken, or
apparently done or undertaken, on behalf of such other Party, except pursuant to
the authority expressly granted herein or otherwise agreed to by the Parties.
4.04 DISTRIBUTION OF COSTS AND REVENUES. All costs, expenses and
liabilities accruing or resulting from Joint operations pursuant to this
Agreement shall be Joint Expenses and shall be shared and borne by, and all
dispositions arising out of Joint Operations or pursuant to this Agreement,
shall be made to the Parties in the proportions of their current Participating
Interests in the Joint Assets.
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4.05 OWNERSHIP. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the
Parties shall own any and all sulphur produced from the Property in proportion
to their respective Participating Interests (as such Participating Interests may
be adjusted from tine to time under the provisions hereof) subject to the
payment of royalties payable to the lessor of the sulphur and salt mining rights
within the Property. Subject to the further provisions of this Section 4.05
regarding New Technology, the Parties also shall jointly own any and all Joint
Assets held or acquired pursuant to this Agreement in the same proportion as
their respective Participating Interests in the Property. Should any Party,
subsequent to the date of this Agreement, burden any of the Property with any
minimum or overriding royalties or other payments out of production, the same
shall be borne and paid entirely by the Party creating such burden out of that
Party's proportionate part of production from the Property.
All New Technology shall be owned by the Operator, who shall be free to
deal with and use such New Technology in connection with any commercial or other
operations outside the Joint Operations and to license or otherwise grant
licenses in respect to such New Technology to parties other than Parties to this
Agreement ("NonParties") on such terms and conditions as it may deem fit;
provided, however, that any proceeds derived by the Operator from any such
licenses to Non-Parties shall be divided among the Parties in proportion to
their Participating Interests; and further provided that the Operator hereby
grants each of the Parties a worldwide, nonexclusive, royalty-free license and
right to use the New Technology at any project or venture in which any such
Party, either directly or indirectly through an affiliate or affiliates of said
Party, has an equity of at least sixteen and two-thirds percent (16 2/3%) for as
long as such project or venture remains in commercial operation and such Party
continues to hold said equity of at least said sixteen and two-thirds percent.
Each Party shall treat as confidential all information and data pertaining
to the New Technology, and shall refrain from disclosing any such information
and data to any Non-Party, except to the extent required for compliance with
applicable laws and rules, regulations and orders of a governmental authority,
or as may be required by any such commercial project or venture in which any
such Party has said equity of at least sixteen and two-thirds percent. Any Party
entering into any such commercial project or venture shall secure from any
Non-Party involved in said commercial project or venture adequate
confidentiality agreements to protect the confidentiality of New Technology data
and information to the same extent as that to which such Party is obligated
hereunder.
V. POLICY COMMITTEE
5.01 COMPOSITION. The Parties establish a Policy Committee to be composed
of one representative designated by each Party.
A representative designated pursuant to this Section 5.01 shall serve until
replaced by the Party that designated such representative. Each Party also may
designate one or more alternates for any representative designated by it. An
alternate shall exercise voting rights only in the event of a representative's
absence. Each representative may bring to Policy Committee meetings such
advisors as the representative deems necessary or desirable; however, such
advisors shall have no right to vote on matters before the Policy Committee.
Each Party promptly shall advise the other Parties in writing as to the
names and addresses of its representative and alternate representative who shall
have the authority to represent and bind the advising Party with respect to any
matter to be acted upon by the Policy Committee. A Party's representative or
alternate representative may be changed from time to time upon written notice to
the other Parties.
5.02 MEETINGS. The Operator will provide to the Non-operators a proposed
Work Plan and Budget not later than September 15 of each year. The Non-operators
shall respond by October 15 of each year with the regular meeting to be held
between October 15 and November 1 of each year; provided, however, that the
first regular meeting shall be held not later than ninety (90) days after the
Effective Date and shall be for the purpose of review and approval of the Work
Plan and Budget for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on
December 31, 1988. Special meetings shall be called by the Operator as and when
the Operator should deem necessary. Any of the Parties to this
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Agreement shall have the right to call a special meeting provided that no
such special meeting shall be called sooner than three months after the last
such special meeting. During the fifth month of each Budget Year the Operator
shall call an advisory meeting for the sole purpose of informing the Policy
Committee of the progress of Joint Operations for the current Budget Year to
date. The Parties and Operator shall attend all regular, special and advisory
meetings of the Policy Committee. All meetings shall be held at operator's
offices, unless all Parties agree to another location. Written notice of the
time and place of each regular, special and advisory meeting, shall be
submitted by the Operator to the Parties, not less than 15 days before any
such meeting, unless such requirement of notice is waived in writing by the
Parties. The holding of any advisory meeting may be waived provided all
Parties consent to such waiver.
Operator shall act as chairman at all Policy Committee meetings. Each Party
shall bear its own cost of attendance. If Operator deems it necessary for any
personnel who are assigned duties in connection with the conduct of Joint
Operations to attend any meeting, the cost incurred therefor shall be charged to
the Joint Account.
5.03 POLICY COMMITTEE POWERS. The Policy Committee shall approve all Work
Plans and Budgets and supplements thereto and revisions thereof, settlement of
claims and suits in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.02, and shall
have the right and authority to wind up the activities of the Joint Operations
following termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 20.02. Any
contract proposed to be entered into by operator pursuant to an approved Work
Plan and Budget for a capital expenditure in excess of $1,000,000 shall be on a
competitive bid basis; provided, however, that in no event shall any contract be
entered into for a capital expenditure in excess of $5,000,000 without Policy
Committee approval of the amount of such expenditure.
5.04 POLICY COMMITTEE ACTION. Only those Parties owning a Participating
Interest of ten percent (10%) or more may vote on matters before the Policy
Committee. Policy Committee approval of any matter requiring Policy Committee
approval hereunder, shall require the vote of Operator and the vote of at least
one other Party entitled to vote; provided, however, that if only one Party
other than Operator should be entitled to vote then Policy Committee approval of
any such matter shall require only the vote of Operator.
With respect to any matter submitted by Operator for Policy Committee
approval (other than approval of a Feasibility Study), should Operator be unable
to obtain the vote of at least one other Party entitled to vote, then in such
event all Parties entitled to vote shall continue good faith negotiations to
resolve outstanding differences. In the event the Policy Committee is unable to
secure approval of a proposed Work Plan and Budget within 60 days, the Operator
shall submit an alternate proposed Work Plan and Budget. In any event, the
Operator shall incur for the Joint Account such expenditures as it reasonably
determines to be necessary for the continued maintenance of the lease covering
the Property and shall be permitted to operate the Mine at a level which
preserves the value of the Joint Assets. No formal Policy Committee approval
shall be necessary for such expenditures or for such operations.
In lieu of deciding any matter at any meeting, the Policy Committee (a) may
act by instrument(s) in writing signed by the representative of each
Participating Interest Owner, which instrument(s) (in one or more counterparts)
shall be conclusively deemed to be the act of the Policy Committee, or (b) by
telephone communication provided that such action is unanimous and is confirmed
in writing by each Party or each Party's representative.
VI. OPERATOR
6.01 FREEPORT AS OPERATOR. Freeport is designated as Operator for all
Joint Operations on the Property. Subject to approved Work Plans and Budgets and
Budget Supplements and to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the
Operating Provisions, the operator, shall manage, conduct and have full control
of all such Joint operations until removed or replaced as provided in the
Operating Provisions.
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VII. WORK PLANS AND BUDGETS; FEASIBILITY STUDIES
7.01 WORK PLANS AND BUDGETS; EXPLORATION BUDGET LIMITATION; BUDGET
OVERRUNS. Operator shall have the sole right to propose work Plans and Budgets
and Budget Supplements. The Work Plan and Budget for the period commencing on
the Effective Date and ending on December 31, 1988, shall be prepared by the
Operator and submitted to the Policy Committee not later than 30 days prior to
the first regular meeting. Operator shall prepare and submit to the Policy
Committee a Work Plan and Budget for each Budget Year, not less than thirty (30)
days prior to the regular meeting called to review and approve such Work Plan
and Budget, all as more particularly provided in the Operating Provisions. No
Exploration Work Plan and Budget submitted by Operator for a Budget Year shall
provide for costs and expenses for such Budget Year to exceed a total of
$1,500,000. Operator shall not be deemed to have exceeded any approved Work
Plan and budget provided the total of actual costs and expenses incurred by the
implementation of such Work Plan and Budget does not exceed by more than
twenty-five percent the total costs and expenses authorized for such Work Plan
and Budget; provided, however, if such actual costs and expenses will exceed
such percentage of authorized costs and expenses, Operator shall be required to
submit a revised Work Plan and Budget in respect of such excess costs and
expenses for Policy Committee approval. Operator shall have absolute discretion
in deciding which costs and expenses shall or shall not be incurred for purposes
of keeping costs and expenses of an approved Work Plan and Budget within the
limits authorized therefor. The Policy Committee shall consider all Work Plans
and Budgets submitted by Operator pursuant to the Operating Provisions and,
except as otherwise provided in Section 5.04 above, shall take action thereon in
accordance with Section 7.03 below.
7.02 SUPPLEMENTAL AND REVISED WORK PLANS AND BUDGETS. From time to time,
Operator, pursuant to the Operating Provisions or pursuant to Section 7.01
above, may propose supplemental or revised Work Plans and Budgets to the Policy
Committee which shall consider and take action thereon in accordance with
Section 7.03 below. Any such supplement or revision shall be prepared as
provided in the operating Provisions and shall be submitted to the Policy
Committee as far in advance of implementing the supplemental or revised Work
Plan and Budget as is reasonably possible.
7.03 REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF PROPOSED WORK PLANS AND BUDGETS. The Policy
Committee shall consult in a good faith effort either to approve or adopt each
proposed Work Plan and Budget (or revision thereof or supplement thereto) as
submitted, or to formulate an alternative Work Plan and Budget acceptable to the
Parties. Actions on all Work Plans and Budgets shall be taken as provided for in
Section 5.04. Once approved as provided in Section 5.04 and, subject to the
rights of the Parties to elect not to participate or to limit their
participation pursuant to Article VIII, the annual Work Plan and Budget, any
approved supplement thereto or any approved revision thereof, shall be binding
on the Parties and shall be carried out by Operator.
7.04 FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND FIRST DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS WORK PLAN AND
BUDGET
A. PROPOSAL TO CONDUCT FEASIBILITY STUDY AND APPROVAL OF WORK PLAN AND
BUDGET FOR FEASIBILITY STUDY. At such times as the operator is of the good
faith and reasonable opinion that an economically viable mining operation may be
possible on the Property, the Operator will propose that a Feasibility Study be
conducted on the Property. Such proposal shall be made in writing to the Policy
Committee, shall reference the Data upon which the operator has based its
opinion and shall include a Work Plan and Budget for the proposed Feasibility
Study. The Operator shall at the same time call a special meeting of the Policy
Committee pursuant to Section 5.02 above. The Work Plan and Budget for such
Feasibility Study shall be deemed to be a revised or supplemental Work Plan and
Budget for Exploration Operations pursuant to the Operating Provisions for the
Budget Year during which the Feasibility Study is proposed to be commenced. The
Policy Committee shall have 30 days in which to approve or disapprove of the
Work Plan and Budget proposed for the Feasibility Study. Upon approval by the
Policy Committee of the Work Plan and Budget for the Feasibility Study in
accordance with Section 7.03 and this Section 7.04A, Operator shall prepare or
cause to be prepared a Feasibility Study in accordance with the approved Work
Plan and Budget therefor.
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B. APPROVAL OF FEASIBILITY STUDY AND COMMENCEMENT OF DEVELOPMENT
OPERATIONS. Upon completion of the Feasibility Study, operator shall submit the
Feasibility Study to the Policy Committee which, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary expressed or implied in Section 5.04 or Section 7.03 above, shall have
90 days in which to approve or disapprove of the Feasibility Study. If the
Feasibility Study is approved, the Operator shall prepare and submit in
accordance with the Operating Provisions, the first Development Operations Work
Plan and Budget to commence no later than the beginning of the next ensuing
Budget Year. Once approved by the Policy Committee as provided in Section 7.03
and this Section 7.04B and subject to the rights of the Parties to elect not to
participate or to limit their participation pursuant to Section 8.01, the first
Development Operations Work Plan and Budget shall be binding on the Parties and
shall be carried out by Operator.
VIII. CONDUCT OF OPERATIONS BY LESS THAN ALL PARTIES
8.01 EXPLORATION PROGRAM. During the Exploration Program, Party may elect
to terminate participation in the Joint Operations by giving written notice to
Operator of its termination at any regular or special meeting of the Policy
Committee. If a Party makes such election, such Party shall relinquish and
assign all of its interest in and to the Joint Assets and the Agreement to the
then remaining Participating Interest Owners in accordance with Section 9.01 and
without any recompense whatsoever from such remaining owners for such
relinquishment and assignment.
8.02 DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS; FREEPORT'S DEFERRAL RIGHT. Each Participating
Interest Owner shall have a period of 30 days after the Approval Date of the
Feasibility Study to elect by notice to Operator prior to the end of such period
(a) to participate in the Development and Production Programs at such owner's
then Participating Interest, or (b) to participate in the Development and
Production Programs at a Participating Interest lower than such owner's then
Participating Interest (provided such lower Participating Interest is not less
than ten percent), or (c) to not participate in the Development and Production
Programs. Should a Participating Interest Owner elect (b), such owner's
Participating Interest shall be adjusted downward in accordance with Section
9.02. Should a Participating Interest Owner elect (c), such owner shall sell
all of its interest in and to the Joint Assets and this Agreement to the then
remaining Participating Interest Owners in accordance with Section 9.03.
If the Operator votes to disapprove a Feasibility Study but all other
Participating Interest Owners entitled to vote should vote to approve such
Feasibility Study, the Operator shall have the right, exercisable within 10 days
after Operator's vote of disapproval, to declare a Development Moratorium. As
used in this Agreement, the term "Development Moratorium" shall mean a period of
up to 3 years after the date of such declaration during which the operator may
defer commencement of Development Operations on the Property, subject to
Operator reviewing its position on deferral with the Policy Committee at each
annual regular meeting of such committee held during such period, subject to
maintenance of the Joint Assets during such period, and subject to the condition
that in no event shall the Development Moratorium endure beyond the commencement
of the eighth year of the sulphur lease covering the Property. At any time
during the Development Moratorium, Operator shall have the right to submit to
the Policy Committee a first Work Plan and Budget for Development Operations,
and, upon submission of such Work Plan and Budget, the operator shall be deemed
to have approved the Feasibility Study and the Development Moratorium shall be
deemed to have terminated as of such time. Such Work Plan and Budget shall then
be submitted to the Policy Committee for approval. For purposes of this Section
8.02, the word "Year" shall mean a period of 365 consecutive days.
Within the aforementioned 10-day period during which Operator may declare a
Development Moratorium, Operator may, in lieu of making such declaration, elect,
by notice to each of the Parties prior to the end of such period, any of the
following courses of action or any compatible combination thereof:
(i) resignation as Operator;
(ii) participation in the Development and Production Programs at Operator's
then Participating Interest;
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(iii) participation in the Development and Production Programs at a
Participating Interest lower than the operator's then
Participating Interest (provided such lower Participating
Interest is not less than ten percent) in accordance with and
subject to the provisions of Section 9.02;
(iv) no participation in the Development Program and mandatory sale of
all of its interest in and to the Joint Assets and this Agreement
to the then remaining Participating Interest Owners in accordance
with Section 9.03.
(The courses of action outlined in items (i) - (iv) above, are hereinafter
collectively referred to as "Operator Development Options").
Operator shall also have the right to elect any or all of the Operator
Development Options by notice to each of the Parties at any time during the
Development Moratorium or at such time as the Development Moratorium shall have
terminated without Operator having submitted to the Policy Committee a first
Work Plan and Budget for Development Operations.
IX. CHANGE IN PARTICIPATING INTERESTS
9.01 READJUSTMENT OF INTERESTS WITH RESPECT TO THE EXPLORATION PROGRAM.
Any Participating Interest Owner electing during the Exploration Program
pursuant to Section 8.01 to cease further participation in the Joint Operations,
shall, upon the date such election becomes effective, relinquish and assign all
of its interest in and to the Joint Assets and this Agreement free and clear of
all liens and encumbrances to the then remaining Participating Interest Owners
in proportion to the ratio of their then Participating Interests as of the time
immediately prior to such relinquishment and assignment. For example, assume
that immediately prior to the relinquishment and assignment the Participating
Interest of Operator is 50% and the Participating Interests of Participating
Interest Owners A, B, and C is 16-2/3% each. Assume further that during the
Exploration Program owner C elects to cease further participation in the Joint
Operations. In such case the portion of the 16-2/3% share owned by owner C
(hereinafter referred to as the "Relinquished Interest") to be allocated to each
of Operator, Owner A and Owner B would be calculated as follows:
EXAMPLE A:
Participating
Interest
Immediately Proportional Share Adjusted
Prior to of Relinquished Participating
Party Relinquishment Interest Interest
- ----- -------------- ------------------ -------------
Operator 50.00% + .6000 X 16.67% = 60.00%
Owner A 16.66% + .1999 X 16.67% = 19.99%
Owner B 16.67% + .2000 X 16.67% = 20.00%
For purposes of any readjustment of the percentage interests or burdens of
the Parties hereunder, whether as the result of allocation of a Relinquished
Interest as aforesaid, or pursuant to any other provision of this agreement,
fractions of a percentage shall be rounded off to two decimal places, and, if as
a result of such rounding off the sum of the readjusted percentage interests or
burdens, as the case may be, (i) should total less than one hundred percent,
Operator's interest or burden, as the case may be, shall be increased to the
extent necessary for such sum to equal one hundred percent; or (ii) should such
sum total more than one hundred percent, Operator's interest or burden, as the
case may be, shall be decreased to the extent necessary for such sum to equal
one hundred percent. In Example A above the sum of the adjusted Participating
Interests is 99.99%. In such case, operator's adjusted Participating Interest of
60.00% would be increased to 60.01% in order for the sum of the adjusted
Participating Interests to total one hundred percent.
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9.02 READJUSTMENT OF INTERESTS WITH RESPECT TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND
PRODUCTION PROGRAMS. Any Participating Interest owner electing pursuant to
Section 8.02 to participate in the Development and Production Programs at a
Participating Interest lower than such owner's Participating Interest prior to
such election, shall in its notice to Operator of such election declare the
percentage constituting the lower Participating Interest at which such owner
desires to participate (which percentage shall in no event be less than 10
percent), and, within 30 days after the date such notice is given, the
percentage interest representing the difference between such owner's
Participating Interest immediately prior to and immediately after such election
(hereinafter referred to as the "Partial Relinquished Interest") shall be
relinquished and assigned free and clear of all liens and encumbrances to the
then remaining Participating Interest Owners as hereinafter in this Section 9.02
provided. The aforesaid relinquishment and assignment of the Partial
Relinquished Interest shall be made to the then Remaining Participating Interest
Owners in proportion to the ratio of their then Participating Interests as of
the time immediately prior to such election.
For example, assume that immediately prior to the election the
Participating Interest of Operator is 50% and the Participating Interests of
Participating Interest Owners A, B, and C is 16-2/3% each. Assume further that
Owner C elects to participate in the Development Program at a Participating
Interest of 10% rather than its then current Participating Interest of 16-2/3%.
For such case the portion of the 6-2/3% Partial Relinquished Interest to be
allocated to each of Operator, Owner A and Owner B would be calculated as
follows:
EXAMPLE B:
Participating
Interest
Immediately Proportional Share Adjusted
Prior to of Relinquished Participating
Party Relinquishment Interest Interest
- ----- -------------- ------------------- -------------
Operator 50.00% + .6000 X 6.66% = 54.00%
Owner A 16.66% + .1999 X 6.66% = 17.99%
Owner B 16.66% + .1999 X 6.66% = 17.99%
Owner C 16.66% + NONE = 10.00%
9.03 MANDATORY SALE OF PARTICIPATING INTEREST. Should a Party elect
pursuant to Section 8.02 to not participate in the Development and Production
Programs, such Party shall within 30 days after giving appropriate notice of
such election, sell, transfer and assign, all of its interest in and to the
Joint Assets and this Agreement free and clear of all liens and encumbrances to
the then remaining Participating Interest Owners for a total purchase price
equal to the sum of (i) the total amount paid by such Party to lessor to acquire
such Party's interest in the sulphur lease covering the Property, plus (ii) the
sum of all expenditures made by such Party for Joint Operations on the Property.
The portion of such purchase price to be paid by each of the then remaining
Participating Interest Owners, and the portion of such Party's Participating
Interest to be sold, transferred and assigned to each such remaining owner shall
be allocated proportionately using the proportionate allocation methodology
employed in Sections 9.01 and 9.02 above (with necessary changes in points and
details).
X. LIENS AND ENCUMBRANCES
10.01 As security for the payment and performance of all obligations,
liabilities and indebtedness of each Party hereto arising under or pursuant to
this Agreement, up to the aggregate sum at any one time outstanding of
$134,159,000 as to the operator, $57,500,000 as to IMC, and $38,341,000 as to
Felmont (the "Obligations"), each Party shall grant to the other Parties hereto
a mortgage lien and pledge affecting such granting Party's interest in (i) the
sulphur lease covering the Property, (ii) all corporeal movables placed on said
lease, and (iii) all minerals produced from said lease together with all
proceeds thereof. At the time of the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
each party shall execute and deliver to the other Parties hereto the instruments
necessary to create the aforementioned mortgage lien and
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pledge, conforming to the form and substance of that collateral mortgage and
pledge, collateral mortgage note and collateral pledge agreement attached
hereto as Attachment 1. Any Party may furnish substitute security which must
be acceptable to all other Parties hereto. If such offered substitute
security is not acceptable to all other Parties hereto, and such offering
Party is unable because of prior corporate contractual commitments to furnish
the mortgage, note and pledge referred to above, then the other Parties shall
have the right to purchase the non-performing Party's interest in the sulphur
lease covering the Property at a price equal to that Party's share of the bid
price and first annual rental of such lease. The right of the other Parties
to purchase the interest in such lease from the nonperforming Party shall be
in the proportions as their respective interests in such lease bear to the
total of their interests in such lease, or in such other proportions as they
may agree.
10.02 Subject to Section 10.01 above, no Party shall encumber or cause
or permit a lien to be placed upon such Party's interest in or under this
Agreement or upon any of the Joint Assets without the prior written consent of
the other Parties. Consent shall not be withheld if the purpose of the Party
proposing the encumbrance is to obtain funds to carry out or maintain its
position under this Agreement. If the other Parties do not give the Party
proposing the encumbrance notice of their objections to the proposed encumbrance
and request for consent within thirty (30) days following receipt of notice, the
other Parties shall be deemed to have consented to it. No encumbrance made
pursuant to this Article X shall impair or reduce the rights of any other Party
in any way and all security interests created by such encumbrance shall be
subordinate to all rights of the other Parties under this Agreement.
XI. INSURANCE
11.01 Operator shall at all times while operations are conducted by it
for the Joint Account on the Property and the Mine, carry, pay for and charge to
the Joint Account such insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as
Operator deems appropriate, as follows:
(a) WORKER'S COMPENSATION:
Such insurance shall be in full compliance with the law in
the state where the work is to take place and shall contain a
voluntary compensation endorsement and a waiver of
subrogation as to Non-Operators. Where applicable, coverage
shall also be provided to comply with the:
(i) U. S. Longshoremen's and Harbor Worker's Compensation
Act, and the
(ii) Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
(b) EMPLOYER'S LIABILITY:
Such insurance shall have a limit of liability of $1,000,000
per accident and shall be endorsed, where applicable, to
provide:
(i) Maritime (Amendment to Coverage B), to include
transportation, wages, maintenance and cure.
(ii) A claim "in rem" will be treated as a claim "in
personam".
(iii) A waiver of subrogation as to Non-Operators.
(c) No insurance other than as specified above shall be provided
by the Operator. Operator may elect to self-insure as to the
insurance specified above provided all Non-Operators consent
in writing to such election.
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(d) Operator shall require contractors and subcontractors
performing work for the Joint Account to provide such
insurance as deemed reasonable by the Operator in relation
to the work to be performed by said contractors or
subcontractors.
(e) All vessels owned or chartered by Operator shall be
adequately covered by Hull and Protection and Indemnity
Insurance.
(f) Upon request, certificates of insurance evidencing the
insurance obtained by operator hereunder shall be furnished
to each Non-Operator and each Non-Operator shall furnish to
Operator certificates of insurance evidencing the insurance
obtained by Non-Operator in compliance with the provisions
hereof.
11.02 Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Operator and Non-Operator
shall separately carry their own policies of the following insurance:
(i) Control of Well Insurance in the minimum amount of
$25,000,000 for the total loss.
(ii) Where applicable, Blanket Charterers' Legal Liability and
Cargo Legal Liability with a limit of liability of $500,000.
(iii) Umbrella Liability Insurance in the amount of $25,000,000
excess of all primary limits.
(iv) Above insurance coverages, including but not limited to any
and all deductibles, self-insured retentions or primary
layers, shall contain waivers of subrogation as to the
Parties hereto.
11.03 Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary, those Parties participating in any operation on the Property or the
Mine shall be responsible for all costs, liabilities, claims, damages and liens
for loss or damage to property or personal injury or death, as well as pollution
cost and damage, arising out of such operation in the proportion that such
Parties participated in the operation including reclamation and abandonment
costs that gave rise to such costs, liabilities, claims, damages and liens
unless caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Party to this
agreement, in which case such Party shall be liable therefor; provided, however,
such participating Parties shall not be responsible or liable for any
consequential loss or damage of the other Parties hereto, including but not
limited to, inability to produce sulphur, loss of reserves, loss of production
or loss of profits.
11.04 Operator shall at any time requested furnish any Non-Operator
with full information concerning the kind, character and amounts of insurance
carried. Operator shall promptly notify Non-Operators of loss, damage or claim
not covered by insurance carried by the Operator for the benefit of the Joint
Account or individual Non-Operators.
11.05 Operator shall not be liable for loss, damage or destruction to
any property of Non-Operators in connection with operations hereunder for the
Joint Account on the Property or the Mine, except those arising out of willful
misconduct or gross negligence of Operator.
11.06 Each Party, in proportion to its Participating Interest, or in
the case of Joint Operations in which fewer than all the Parties participate, in
proportion to such Party's Participating Interest shall be liable for any losses
and expenses that exceed the amount collectable under the insurance carried by
operator for the Joint Account (as set forth in Paragraph 11.01) on account of
personal injury or death to any person in connection with Joint Operations
hereunder; provided however, all Parties shall share in the loss to the extent
of their respective Participating Interests unless such loss is caused by the
gross negligence or willful misconduct of one of the Parties hereto; then in
such event the loss shall be borne entirely by that Party.
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11.07 Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, each Party
shall indemnify and save harmless the other Parties hereto for claims and losses
that exceed the amounts collectible under the insurance carried by Operator for
the Joint Account (as set forth in Section 11-01), regardless of the negligent
acts or omissions of Operator. Nothing contained in this Section 11.06 shall be
deemed to release the Operator from its obligations under this Agreement.
11.08 Liability for (1) damages to property of "third persons" (as used
in this paragraph, the term "third persons" shall not include the employees,
agents or representative of operator or any Non-Operator), (2) fines, penalties,
damages, losses, etc., arising out of claims, either civil or criminal, public
or private, relating to actual or alleged pollution of water, air, or the
environment, or (3) injury to or death of third persons arising from operations
on the Property or the Mine including the expenses incurred in defending claims
or actions asserting liabilities of this character, shall be borne by the
Parties in proportion to said Parties, respective Participating Interests, or in
the case of Joint operations in which fewer than all the Parties participate, in
proportion to such Party's Participating Interest except that when such damage
is caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Operator, then
operator shall be responsible for such liability. In the event such damage is
caused by one or more of the Non-Operators, then in that event, the liability
for such damage shall be borne by the Non-Operator or Non-Operators responsible,
except when a Non-Operator is expressly authorized to act for the Joint Account,
then any such damage except that caused by the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of such Non-Operator shall be borne by the Parties in proportion to
their respective Participating Interests.
11.09 In the event of a judgment against operator as the result of a
personal injury, death and/or property loss or damage case arising out of
operations hereunder and brought by a Non-Party or Non-Parties, which judgment
includes a finding of gross negligence on the part of Operator, the court's
finding of gross negligence shall not be binding for purposes of determining
whether or not any Non-Operator is obligated hereunder to share the burdens of
any such judgment unless the gross negligence was found to be attributable to an
act or omission of an officer or director of Operator. In the event the gross
negligence was found to be attributable to an act or omission of an employee of
Operator other than an officer or director, the facts and circumstances giving
rise to such judgment shall be submitted to a board of arbitration, as
hereinafter provided, for an independent determination, in light of applicable
law and generally accepted standards in the offshore mineral producing industry,
of the degree of negligence exhibited by the Operator; provided, however, that
the previous finding of gross negligence on the part of Operator shall not be
admitted in evidence in such arbitration proceeding. For purposes of this
Section 11.09, operator shall, as soon as practicable following the judgment
containing the gross negligence finding, give notice of submission to the
Non-Operators, which notice shall name one arbitrator. The Non-Operators shall,
within thirty (30) days after the date such notice is given, agree among
themselves to the appointment of one arbitrator and give notice of such
appointment to the Operator, failing in which the arbitrator shall be appointed
by the then senior United States District Judge for the Eastern District of
Louisiana. The two arbitrators so selected shall select a third arbitrator or
umpire within twenty (20) days after the giving of notice of the appointment of
the second arbitrator. Should the two arbitrators selected by Operator and the
Non-Operators fail so to agree upon a third arbitrator or umpire, either
Operator or the Non-Operators may upon ten (10) days' written notice to the
other apply to the then senior United States District Judge for the Eastern
District of Louisiana for the appointment of such third arbitrator or umpire.
The arbitrators so appointed shall promptly hear and determine (after due notice
of hearing and giving the parties a reasonable opportunity to be heard) the
negligence issue submitted, and shall render their decision which shall be final
and nonappealable and absolutely binding and conclusive upon Operator and
Non-Operators. The expenses of the arbitrator selected by Operator shall be paid
by Operator and the expenses of the arbitrator selected by the Non-Operators
shall be paid by the Non-Operators. The expenses of the third arbitrator shall
be borne one-half by Operator and one-half by the Non-Operators. Operator's
attorney fees and expenses attributable to the arbitration shall be paid by
Operator and Non-Operators' attorney fees and expenses attributable to the
arbitration shall be paid by the Non-Operators.
XII. TAX ELECTIONS
The Parties agree to make an election under Internal Revenue Code section
761(a) out of the provisions of subchapter K of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986. Further, the Parties agree to, take no action in contravention of this
14
election including but not limited to entering into any agreement, contract,
undertaking or any other act which would jeopardize the ability to make such
election. The Parties also agree that, to the extent permissible under
applicable law, their relationship shall be treated for state income tax
purposes in the same manner as it is for federal income tax purposes.
XIII. CLAIMS AND LITIGATION
13.01 All investigation, litigation and settlements in connection with
the titles, claims and causes of action of every kind and joint rights and
interests hereunder shall be carried on, conducted and defended for and on
behalf of all Parties involved. Each Party shall notify the others of any
process served upon it in any suit or claims hereunder. The Parties shall decide
by a majority in interest whether the handling and defense of such suit or claim
shall be handled by the attorneys of all Parties or by joint counsel selected by
a majority in interest of the Parties. When such selection has not been made in
time to permit preparation, filing, appearance or other representation in
accordance with legal requirements, Operator is authorized to provide such legal
services as in its discretion are necessary to preserve the rights of the
Parties and shall charge the cost and expense of same to the Joint Account. If
less than all Parties participate through their attorneys in such litigation, a
reasonable charge for legal services provided by participating counsel shall be
made to the Joint Account. If the attorneys of all Parties participate, no fee
or expense for their services shall be charged to the Joint Account. The fee
and expense of any joint counsel selected by a majority in interest shall be
charged to the Joint Account.
13.02 All settlements of all claims and suits shall be subject to the
approval and agreement of the Policy Committee, except that operator may settle
any claim under $100,000 without consulting or obtaining the approval of the
Policy Committee, provided the payment is in complete settlement. Operator
agrees to keep Non-Operators advised as to claims for which Non-Operators may be
partly responsible hereunder. The amount of settlement shall be charged to the
Joint Account.
13.03 All references in this Article XIII to charges to the "Joint
Account" shall refer to those cases in which all Parties participated in such
operation, but in the case of an operation in which fewer than all of the
Parties participated, the reference shall be to the participating Parties and
shall apply in proportion to such Parties' interests in such operation.
XIV. COMPETITION
With respect to any property rights outside of the Property, each Party
shall have the free and unrestricted right, independently or in combination with
others, to engage in and receive the full benefits of any and all business
endeavors of any sort whatsoever, including but not limited to the acquisition
of properties, interests, or rights in and the exploration for production and
sale of sulphur whether or not competitive with the endeavors contemplated
herein. Except as provided in this Article XIV or in Article XV below, it is
expressly agreed that a Party shall not have any fiduciary obligation or other
duty of whatsoever character to the other Parties that would prevent it from
engaging in or enjoying the benefits of such competing endeavors or would
require it to consult with or allow such other Parties to participate therein.
XV. NO PARTITION OR OTHER USES
Prior to the termination of this Agreement, a Party or its successors or
assigns shall not (a) resort to any action to partition the Property and, to
such extent, each Party waives the benefits of all laws authorizing such action;
or (b) utilize or attempt to utilize all of any portion of the Property for uses
or purposes other than those set forth in Article II of this Agreement without
the prior written consent of the other Parties.
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XVI. SURRENDER OR ABANDONMENT
The Parties shall not surrender or abandon any of the Property unless all
Parties consent to the same in writing; provided, however, that such consent
shall not unreasonably be withheld.
XVII. ASSIGNMENT AND PREFERENTIAL RIGHT TO PURCHASE
17.01 ASSIGNMENT. Except as provided in Section 17.02 below, and
except as to the right of a Party to receive in kind and separately dispose of
such Party's share of sulphur produced at the Mine as provided in Article XVIII
hereof, no Party shall assign or transfer all or any part of its interest in the
Property, the Joint Assets, this Agreement or any of its rights and interests
hereunder to any party other than a Party or an Affiliate unless it shall have
first offered to make such assignment to the other Parties pursuant to Section
17.03 below.
17.02 EXEMPT TRANSFERS. Any Party may convey, assign or transfer all
or any part of its interest in this Agreement the Property, and/or the Joint
Assets, to an Affiliate, or to a successor by reason of sale of substantially
all of a Party's assets, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided,
however, that the Affiliate, or successor shall in writing assume and agree to
carry out all, or a corresponding portion, of the transferring Party's
obligations arising under this Agreement.
17.03 PREFERENTIAL RIGHT TO PURCHASE.
A. PROCEDURE. If any Party receives from a person or entity,
other than those described in Section 17.02 above, a bona fide offer to
purchase or otherwise acquire all or any part of the offeree's interest in
this Agreement, the Property, and/or the Joint Assets which the offeree is
willing to accept, the offeree shall furnish in writing to the other Parties
the complete terms of the offer; provided, however, if any part of the
consideration offered is other than cash, in submitting such offer to the
other Parties the offeree shall place a reasonable cash value on such
non-cash part of the consideration and support such cash value with
appropriate information and data upon which it is based. The other Parties
shall have the right for a period of 30 days after receipt of the offer to
elect in writing to purchase or otherwise acquire the same interest upon the
same terms and conditions as the proposed offer, but with the right to pay
the entire consideration in cash; provided, however, if a majority in
interest of the other Parties do not agree that cash value of the non-cash
part of the offer is reasonable, and the offeree and the other Parties are
unable to agree within ten (10) days after the latest date on which any of
the other Parties receive the offer (the "Receipt Date") , then both the
offeree and the other Parties shall select a resident partner of one of the
"Big Eight" accounting firms (if such parties are unable to agree on such a
person within thirteen (13) days after Receipt Date, each side shall
immediately designate such a partner and the two partners so designated shall
within fifteen (15) days from Receipt Date select such a partner who shall
act solely as hereinafter provided) furnish him with information, data and
reasons supporting their respective cash values, and such partner, on or
before twenty (20) days from Receipt Date, shall determine the reasonable
cash value of the non-cash part of the consideration, which determination
shall be final, unappealable, binding on all Parties and enforceable in a
court of law, and shall be used in establishing the price at which the
offeree may elect to reject the offer entirely and, if not, at which the
other Parties shall elect to acquire or not acquire the interest offered. If
the offer is not accepted by the other Parties, the offeree Party may sell or
otherwise dispose of the interest described in the offer at the price and
upon the terms and conditions of the proposed offer, provided (i) that all
other Parties consent in writing to such sale or disposition (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld), (ii) that the sale or other disposition
is effectuated within 120 days after the other Party's right of election has
expired, and (iii) that the transferee agrees in writing to assume all of the
transferring Party's obligations and liabilities under this Agreement. After
the 120 day period has expired, the provisions of this Section 17.03 shall
again apply to the proposed offer for another 30 day period, if that offer is
still effective. The failure of the other Parties to exercise their rights to
acquire an interest under this Section 17.03 shall not be deemed to be a
waiver of their rights under this Section 17.03 with respect to subsequent
offers.
B. APPLICATION GENERALLY. The preferential right to purchase and
the procedures for implementing it set forth in Section 17.03A shall apply to
all sales or other dispositions of all or any portion of a Party's interest
in all or
16
any portion of this Agreement, the Property, and/or the Joint Assets,
regardless of whether other interests or assets of the offeree Party also are
being sold or otherwise subjected to disposition. If the offeree Party is
disposing of all or any portion of its interest in all or any portion of this
Agreement, the Property, and/or the Joint Assets, together with other interests
or assets held by the offeree Party, in its notice of offer to the other
Parties, the offeree Party shall state the offered consideration for the
interest in this Agreement, the Property, and/or the Joint Assets, as it is set
forth in the offer, including offeree's determination of a reasonable cash value
for any non-cash part of the consideration, and if it is not set forth in the
offer separately from the consideration offered for the other interests or
assets of the offeree Party that are the subject of the offer, the offer shall
state the reasonable cash value of the offered price or consideration relating
to the interest in this Agreement, the Property, and/or the Joint Assets. If the
offeree and the other Parties cannot agree as to the reasonable cash value of
the offered price or consideration relating to the interest in this Agreement,
the Property, and/or the Joint Assets, such reasonable cash value and the rights
of the Parties thereunder shall be established as between the offeree and the
other Parties following the same procedures set out in this Section 17.03A for a
determination of the reasonable cash value of the non-cash part of the
consideration therein involved, however, the price so stated for the interest in
this Agreement, the Property, and/or the Joint Assets, shall not exceed the fair
market value of the same. The other Parties may elect, in the manner provided
above in this Section 17.03, to accept the offer as to only the interest in this
Agreement, the Property, and/or the Joint Assets, but shall have no right as to
the other interests and assets described in the notice.
C. APPLICATION TO OPERATOR'S INTEREST. In the event Operator
should sell or otherwise dispose of a portion of its interest in all or any
portion of this Agreement, the Property, and/or the Joint Assets, but retain
its rights as Operator, Operator shall continue to be obligated to act as a
reasonable and prudent Operator in the conduct of operations and the
performance of its obligations hereunder. The provisions of this Article XVII
shall not be construed to allow the sale or transfer of this operatorship of
the Property separate and apart from its interest in the Property.
17.04 TRANSFERRING PARTY NOT RELEASED FROM AGREEMENT. A transferring
Party shall not be relieved of any of its obligations or liabilities (including
but not limited to reclamation obligations owing to a landowner or governmental
entity) under this Agreement existing at the time of transfer, unless the other
Parties consent thereto in writing and the transferee agrees in writing to
assume all of the transferring Party's obligations and liabilities under this
Agreement.
17.05 EVIDENCE OF CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP. No change in ownership of any
interest in all or any portion of this Agreement, the Property, and/or the Joint
Assets shall be binding upon the other Parties until a certified copy of all
instruments executed and delivered in connection with the transfer or assignment
shall have been delivered to the other Parties.
17.06 AGENT OF ASSIGNEE CO-OWNERS. If, at any time the interest of any
original Party to this Agreement is divided among and owned by two (2) or more
co-owners, Operator, at its discretion, may require such co-owners to appoint a
single trustee or agent with full authority to receive notices, approve
expenditures, receive billings for and approve and pay such assignees' share of
the Joint Expenses, and to deal generally with, and with power to bind, the
assignees of such interest within the scope of operations embraced by this
Agreement.
XVIII. DISPOSITION OF PRODUCTION
18.01 PARTICIPATING INTEREST OWNERS. Pursuant to the terms of the
Operating Provisions and this Article XVIII, each Participating Interest Owner
shall receive in kind and separately dispose of a portion of the sulphur
produced at the Mine equal to its Participating Interest as of the time of
commencement of Steaming Operations, exclusive of any sulphur which the lessor
of the sulphur lease covering the Property should elect to take in kind and
exclusive of any sulphur that may be unavoidably lost.
Any extra expenditures (including but not limited to expenditures incurred
in the construction, operation and maintenance of any and all facilities that
may be necessary to receive, store and dispose of a Party's share of production)
17
in excess of the cost of constructing, maintaining and operating the Joint
Assets incurred by the reason of taking in kind or separate disposition by such
Party of its proportionate share of the sulphur so produced shall be borne by
that Party. It is the intent of the Parties that any sulphur mine constructed
hereunder will include such facilities beyond the wellhead as are necessary to
transport the sulphur production to a permanent short-term storage facility or
other point from which separate delivery may be taken and to provide or
construct such storage or other facility and its ancillary load-out facilities
as may be necessary.
18.02 ELECTION TO NOT RECEIVE AND NOT PAY. Each Party other than the
Operator shall have the right, exercisable by notice to Operator within 15 days
after its receipt from Operator of the Production Work Plan and Budget for the
Budget Year covered by such Work Plan and Budget, to elect (i) not to receive
such Party's share of sulphur produced at the Mine during such Budget Year, and
(ii) not to pay such Party's share of Joint Expenses for such Budget Year;
provided, however, that such Party shall not have such right with respect to any
Budget Year if the Work Plan and Budget for such Budget Year received from the
operator indicates that the estimated total unit cost (less depreciation) per
ton of sulphur to be produced at the Mine during such Budget Year exceeds the
Tampa Posting as of the time such Work Plan and Budget is received by such Party
from Operator; nor shall such party have such right if at the time of such
election there remains to be produced less than thirty percent of the largest
total of proven, recoverable reserves underlying the Property (such total being
the same as reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission by Operator in
its Form 10K). The term "Tampa Posting" as used herein shall mean the arithmetic
average of the high and low contract price per ton of Frasch Sulfur FOB Tampa
published in GREEN MARKETS FERTILIZER MARKET INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY, under the
heading Green Markets Price-Scan U.S. Domestic Spot Quotes, for Contracts. If
such Party makes such election, such Party shall forfeit its right to receive
its share of sulphur produced at the Mine during such Budget Year and shall have
no obligation to pay its share of Joint Expenses for such Budget Year except as
hereinafter in this Section 18.02 provided. Such Party's share of Joint Expenses
for such Budget Year shall be allocated proportionately to the other Parties
using the proportionate allocation methodology employed in Sections 9.01 and
9.02 above (with necessary changes in points and details). If at the end of the
Budget Year for which such Party made the election provided for by this Section
18.02, the Operator determines that the actual total unit cost (less
depreciation) per ton to produce sulphur at the Mine during such year exceeds
the time weighted per ton average price for such year based on prices reported
to the Minerals Management Service for payment of royalties for such year
(hereinafter referred to as the "Average Price") . then such Party shall pay to
the Joint Account within 15 days after receipt of operator's invoice therefor,
an amount calculated by (i) subtracting the "Average Price" per ton for such
year from (ii) the actual total unit cost (less depreciation) per ton of sulphur
produced at the Mine during such year, and (iii) multiplying the remainder by
(iv) the number of tons representing such Party's proportionate share of sulphur
produced at the Mine during such year.
IX. DEFAULT
In the event of any default by any Party or Operator in the performance of
any of its obligations under this Agreement, other than payment of dollar
amounts due Operator for the Joint Account, the non-defaulting Party or Parties
shall give to the defaulting Party written notice of the default. If the default
is not cured within 60 days after receipt of the notice, or if the defaulting
Party has not within that time begun action to cure the same and does not
thereafter diligently prosecute such action to completion, the non-defaulting
Party or Parties may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction for
any and all damages of whatsoever nature incurred by it as a result of the
default. If the defaulting Party disagrees that a default occurred, it shall so
advise the nondefaulting Party or Parties in writing within 30 days after
receipt of the notice of default. The Parties shall attempt to resolve the
dispute by mutual agreement, but if they are unable to do so within 60 days
after the notice of default, the issue of default shall be submitted to a court
of competent jurisdiction. The defaulting Party shall not be deemed to be in
default unless it is so adjudged by such court and until all appeals from said
decision have either been exhausted or waived. If the defaulting Party is found
to be in default by the court, it shall have 60 days after the date on which all
appeals have been exhausted or waived in which to either cure the default, begin
action to diligently cure the same, or pay damages awarded by such court to the
non-defaulting Party or Parties.
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If at any time during the Exploration and Development Programs, a Party
which is a Participating Interest Owner at such time should default in making
payments due Operator for the Joint Account, operator, in addition to any other
rights and remedies it may have in law or at equity or pursuant to this
Agreement, shall have the right, exercisable at any time after the expiration of
the ninetieth (90th) day following such defaulting Party's receipt of Operator's
written notice of such default, to give such defaulting Party a notice of
forfeiture, upon receipt of which notice such defaulting Party shall, within 15
days of its receipt thereof, relinquish and assign all of such Party's interest
in and to the Joint Assets and this Agreement, effective as of the date such
notice is given, to the remaining other Participating Interest Owners and such
defaulting Party shall be due no recompense whatsoever from such owners for such
relinquishment and assignment. Such defaulting Party's unpaid share of the Joint
Expenses prior to and after any such forfeiture, and such Party's forfeited
interest shall be allocated proportionately to the then remaining other
Participating Interest Owners by Operator using the same proportionate
allocation methodology employed in Sections 9.01 and 9.02 above with respect to
allocation of Relinquished Interests and Partial Relinquished Interests (with
necessary changes in points and details) and such then remaining other owners
shall have no right to decline such allocation and shall pay their respective
proportionate shares of such unpaid share within 15 days of each such owner's
receipt of operator's notice of such allocation and accompanying invoice. Should
such a default by such a Party occur during the Production Program and remain
uncured for a period of 365 consecutive days after Operator's notice of default,
operator shall have the same right to effect forfeiture of such Party's
interests as hereinabove provided in this paragraph with respect to default
during the Exploration and Development Programs; provided, however, that in
addition to such right to effect forfeiture, Operator shall have the right prior
to such forfeiture, exercisable at the time notice of default is given to such
Party, to sell such Party's share of sulphur produced during the period
following Operator's notice of default for the purpose of applying the proceeds
of such sale to such Party's unpaid share of the Joint Expenses during such
period, and Operator shall have no obligation to account to any such Party for
any of such proceeds so applied.
XX. TERMINATION
20.01 EVENTS OF TERMINATION. This Agreement shall terminate upon the
earlier to occur of the following:
(a) The mutual agreement of the Parties;
(b) Such time as none of the Parties own jointly any interest in
the Property;
(c) The fiftieth anniversary of the Effective Date.
20.02 PROCEDURE. Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to (a) or
(c) or Section 20.01, the Parties shall satisfy all liabilities resulting from
Joint operations, including but in no way limited to expenditures that Operator
has firmly committed to make pursuant to an approved Work Plan and Budget, and
shall sell or otherwise agree on the disposition of all Joint Assets other than
the Property. All liabilities and expenses shall be several and not joint and
shall be borne and paid by the Parties in proportion to their respective
Participating Interests. The proceeds of sale shall be distributed to the
Parties in proportion to their Participating Interests. At termination the
Parties shall retain their undivided interests in the Property as joint owners,
equal to their respective Participating Interests therein, and such undivided
interests shall cease being subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. The Parties shall execute such assignments and cross-assignments as
may be necessary to reflect their ownership of their undivided interests in the
Property. Upon termination, the Policy Committee, or its appointee, shall have
the right and authority to take all action necessary to wind up the activities
being terminated and all costs and expenses so incurred by the Policy Committee,
or its appointee, shall be expenses for the Joint Account. Termination of this
Agreement shall not relieve any Party from any liability that has accrued or
attached prior to the date of such termination.
20.03 RECLAMATION AND ABANDONMENT SECURITY. Unless prior to the
commencement of Steaming Operations the Parties agree to another procedure to be
utilized for charging abandonment and reclamation costs to the Joint Account
(examples of other possible procedures set forth hereinbelow), Operator shall
charge each Non-Operator, in each monthly billing to such Non-Operator after
Steaming Operations commence, an amount equal to such Non-
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Operator's proportionate share of the total cost for abandonment and
reclamation of the Property and Joint Assets (including costs required by
government or other authority) apportioned ratably over the Operator's
estimated life of commercially producible reserves at the Mine as such cost
may be reasonably estimated by Operator and revised from time to time as
operator shall deem necessary.
EXAMPLES:
A. The Operator will charge the Joint Account monthly with a reasonably
estimated cost for abandonment and reclamation, including costs
required by government or other authority. In so doing receivable
accounts for each Party will be debited for each Party's proportionate
share of such charges and a reserve account will be credited for the
total monthly charge. Each Non-Operator will post a bond with the
Operator for its proportionate share of the total estimated
abandonment and reclamation costs. As required, such bonds will be
revised to reflect each Non-Operator's proportionate share of revised
abandonment and reclamation costs. At the time abandonment and
reclamation costs are incurred by the Operator, each Party will be
billed its proportionate share of such costs. Cash remitted to the
operator in payment of such billings will be applied against each
Party's receivable account. At the end of the operating life of the
Joint Operations, the difference between the total abandonment costs
incurred and the total charges to the reserve account will be charged
or credited to the reserve account of the Parties' receivable accounts
in proportion to their respective interests.
B. A reasonably estimated cost for abandonment and reclamation of the
Joint Property, including costs required by government or other
regulatory authority, will be provided for in the Joint Account and
included in a reserve account. A charge for these estimated costs will
be included by the Operator in each monthly billing to the
Non-Operators. Interest will be earned on the total reserve account
balance and credited to the Joint Account on a monthly basis based
upon an interest rate to be agreed to by the Parties. At the end of
the operating life of the Joint Operations, the difference between the
total abandonment and reclamation costs incurred and the total charged
to the reserve account will be charged or credited to the Joint
Account.
XXI. NOTICES
Any notice, election, payment or other correspondence required or permitted
under this Agreement shall be made in writing and shall be sufficiently
delivered if delivered personally to the Party to whom directed by courier or
otherwise deposited in the United States certified or registered mail, sent by
Western Union telegram or mailgram, or sent by telecopy if followed immediately
by written Notice by U.S. certified or registered mail, with all necessary
postage or charges fully prepaid, return receipt requested (or in the case of a
telecopy, telegram or mailgram, confirmation of delivery), and addressed to the
Party to whom directed at its below specified address, to wit:
As to Freeport:
Freeport Sulphur Company Division
Freeport-McMoRan Resource Partners,
Limited Partnership
P. 0. Box 61520
New Orleans, Louisiana 70161
Attention: Mr. Robert W. Noel
Telecopy: (504) 582-4064
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As to IMC:
IMC Fertilizer, Inc.
2315 Sanders Road
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Telecopy: (312) 564-8600
Telephone:(312) 564-8600
As to Felmont:
Felmont Oil Corporation
350 Glenborough, Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77067
Attention: Vice President, Special Projects
Telecopy: (713) 872-7838
Telephone: (713) 872-9741
Such notice, election, payment or other correspondence shall be deemed to
have been properly given upon receipt by the Party to whom directed. A Party may
change its address for the purpose of notices or communications under this
Agreement by furnishing notice of the change to the other Parties in compliance
with this Article XXI.
XXII. GOVERNING LAW
Except with respect to issues relating to the title to the Property, this
Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the
State of Louisiana and the United States.
XXIII. CONSTRUCTION
The headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not
be taken or construed to define or limit any of the terms or provisions of this
Agreement. Unless otherwise provided or unless the context shall otherwise
require, words importing the singular shall include the plural, words importing
the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, and vice versa.
XXIV. WAIVER
The failure or omission by either Party to enforce any provision of this
Agreement shall not be considered to be a waiver of that provision or of the
default of another Party of its obligations under that provision or under any
other provision of this Agreement.
XXV. SEVERABILITY
It is understood and agreed by the Parties that if any part, term or
provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
illegal or unenforceable or both, the Parties desire that the court of competent
jurisdiction reform that part, term or provision in such a manner as to
approximate the intent of the Parties as expressed in this Agreement, and the
validity of the remaining portions or provisions shall not be affected.
XXVI. FURTHER ASSURANCES
The Parties shall execute such further agreements, conveyances and other
documents as may be reasonably requested by any Party to effectuate the intent
and any provisions of this Agreement.
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XXVII. CONFIDENTIALITY
27.01 INFORMATION. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all
information obtained in connection with the performance of this Agreement shall
be the exclusive property of the Parties and shall not be disclosed, whether by
press release or otherwise, to third Parties other than Affiliates that have a
bona fide need to be informed and that undertake to abide by this Article XXVII,
without the prior written consent of the other Parties. Consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld. Each Party shall be bound by the confidentiality
provisions of this Article XXVII until the Property is surrendered pursuant to
Article XV above or until one year after termination of this Agreement,
whichever occurs first.
27.02 DISCLOSURE PURSUANT TO LAWS OR REGULATIONS. Nothing contained in
this Article XXVII shall prohibit either Party from furnishing to any
governmental agency to which it is subject, any information that it believes in
good faith is required to be so furnished or required to be disclosed by
pertinent law or regulation. A Party making such disclosure shall use its best
efforts to restrict, to the full extent permitted by such law or regulation, its
distribution.
27.03 DISCLOSURE FOR PURPOSES OF SALE OR TRANSFER OF AN INTEREST.
Nothing in this Article XXVII shall prohibit a Party from furnishing to any
entity with which it is in good faith negotiating for the sale of its interest
such information as may reasonably be required by such entity. The intended
recipient of such information shall be required to give a written secrecy
commitment that the information will not be disseminated to any persons other
than those involved directly in the evaluation of the proposed acquisition and
that the information will not be utilized for any purpose other than the
evaluation of the proposed acquisition.
27.04 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. The Parties will consult with each other
before issuing any press releases or otherwise making any public statements with
respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and none of
them shall issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior
to such consultation except, in the case of each Party, as may be required by
law or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national
securities exchange.
27.05 COPIES OF INFORMATION AND/OR RELEASES TO PARTIES. Complete
copies of information disclosed and/or released pursuant to this Article XXVII
shall be sent to each Party at the time of disclosure and/or release.
27.06 FILING AND RECORDING. Notwithstanding anything contained to the
contrary in this Article XXVII, the Policy Committee, with the consent of all
Parties, shall cause to be recorded, in such manner and at such times and in
such places, such instrument or instruments as, in the opinion of legal counsel,
may be necessary to preserve the validity of the right of first refusal created
by Section 17.03, or any other rights created under this Agreement.
XXVIII. INTEREST
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, no
interest shall be payable pursuant to this Agreement at a rate or in an amount
in excess of that allowed under applicable law.
XXIX. LAWS AND REGULATIONS
This Agreement shall be subject to all valid and applicable laws, rules and
regulations.
XXX. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement takes precedence over all correspondence and written or oral
agreements among any two or more of the Parties prior to the Effective Date
covering the subject matter of this Agreement and not specifically identified
and incorporated in this Agreement. No agent or representative of any Party has
authority to make, and the Parties shall not be bound by, or be liable for, any
statement, representation, promises or agreement not specifically set
22
forth in this Agreement. No changes, amendments or modifications of the terms
of this Agreement shall be valid unless reduced to writing and signed by the
Parties. The terms and provisions of this Agreement shall survive the
execution and delivery of any and all instruments of assignment provided for
in this Agreement.
XXXI. INUREMENT
Subject to the provisions of Article XVII above, the terms, conditions,
covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement shall extend to, be binding
upon, and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Parties.
EXECUTED as of the date first written above.
WITNESSES: FREEPORT-MCMORAN RESOURCE
PARTNERS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
/s/ John M. Ackerman
- ------------------------------
/s/ Scarlett L. Navia By: /s/ Robert B. Foster
- ------------------------------ ---------------------------
Robert B. Foster, President
FREEPORT SULPHUR DIVISION
IMC FERTILIZER, INC.
/s/ Denise H. Hieber
- ------------------------------
/s/ Peter Aucoin By: /s/ James L. Frye
- ------------------------------ ---------------------------
James L. Frye, Vice
President, Special Projects
and Uranium Marketing
FELMONT OIL CORPORATION
/s/ Arlene Murdock
- ------------------------------
/s/ Leslie A. Thepocki By: /s/ Leroy L. Wal
- ------------------------------ ---------------------------
Leroy L. Wal
Vice President
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