From Royal Gold Today Feb 4th, 2010.
Taparko
Production has improved at Taparko such that High River has notified the Company that Somita is attempting to satisfy the Completion Test, as defined in the Funding Agreement. The Completion Test commenced on December 1, 2009 and will continue for 90 days.
Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Funding Agreement dated February 22, 2006 (the "Funding Agreement"), between Royal Gold, Inc. and Somita SA ("Somita"), a 90% owned subsidiary of High River and the operator of Taparko, Somita is in breach of certain obligations under the Funding Agreement. As security for the Company's investment in Somita, two of High River's subsidiaries have pledged their equity interests in Somita and High River (West Africa) Ltd., the corporate parent of Somita. This pledge will remain in effect until certain production and performance standards have been attained at the Taparko mine, sufficient to satisfy the Completion Test. Thereafter, if Somita satisfies the requirements of the Completion Test, the pledge of the equity interests in Somita and its corporate parent (High River (West Africa) Ltd.) will terminate and this security will be released.
In addition, Royal Gold obtained as collateral a pledge of shares of certain equity investments in public companies held by High River. The market value of the pledged shares is approximately $59.5 million as of December 31, 2009. The Company's carrying value of its royalty interests at Taparko was approximately $15.3 million as of December 31, 2009. The pledge of High River's equity investments will remain in effect until the satisfaction of certain requirements as provided in the construction contract between Somita and its construction contractor.