Document:

Exhibit 10.3 Joint Venture and Management Agreement

Exhibit 10.3

NBD PARTNERS ENERGY, KOREA

 ‘PARTY A’

AND

GREAT SOUTH LAND MINERALS LIMITED

‘PARTY B’

JOINT VENTURE

AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

08TH February 2012

JOINT VENTURE AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Clause

Page

1.

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

1

2.

CONDITIONS SUBSEQUENT

3

3.

PURPOSE

3

4.

BUSINESS PLAN

3

5.

NAME OF THE JOINT VENTURE

4

6.

DURATION

4

7.

THE MANAGER

4

8.

APPOINTMENT OF MANAGER

5

9.

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE MANAGER

6

10.

THE MANAGER

7

11.

FINANCING OF THE JOINT VENTURE

7

12.

DEALING WITH THE RESOURCES OF THE JOINT VENTURE

8

13.

LIABILITY OF JOINT VENTURERS

8

14.

PROFITS AND LOSSES AND ACCOUNTS

9

15.

BANK AND BRANCH DETERMINED BY THE MANAGER

9

16.

INTEREST UNDER AGREEMENT NOT TO BE CHARGED

10

17.

RELATIONSHIP OF JOINT VENTURERS

10

18.

INDEMNITY FOR BREACH

11

19.

MUTUAL COVENANTS

11

20.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

12

21.

SALE OF INTEREST IN JOINT VENTURE

14

22.

TERMINATION

17

23.

PROCEDURE FOLLOWING TERMINATION

17

24.

DISPUTE DETERMINATION

18

25.

CONFIDENTIALITY

18

26.

PUBLICITY

19

27.

TIME AND REMEDY OF DEFAULT

19

28.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

19

29.

NOTICES

20

30.

GOVERNING LAW

21

31.

JURISDICTION

21

32.

BREACH OF AGREEMENT

21

33.

MISCELLANEOUS

21

SCHEDULE 1

24

Constitution

24

SCHEDULE 2

25

Company Management Fee

25

THIS JOINT VENTURE AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT is made this 08th day of February 2012.

		
	BETWEEN

	NBD PARTNERS ENERGY of 13th Floor, Prudential Tower, 838 Yeoksam_dong Kangnam_gu Seoul Korea 135-982 

(‘PARTY A’)

	

AND

	

GREAT SOUTH LAND MINERALS LIMITED ABN 54 068 650 386 Registered in the Australian State of Tasmania, Registered office at Level 3, 65 Murray Street Hobart, TAS, AUSTRALIA 7000 

(‘PARTY B’)

ON THE BASIS THAT:

A.

Party A is an investor in commercial oil, gas & hydrocarbon ventures in the Australian State of Tasmania with access to funding sources and pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Loan Agreement dated 08TH February 2012, is entitled to 10% equity in Energy Corporation International and may maintain a 49% interest in the Licence which belongs to Party B in Tasmania.

B.

Party B is an oil and gas explorer registered and operating in Australia and pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Loan Agreement with Party A dated 08th February 2012, may maintain a 51% interest in the Licence in Tasmania. 

C.

Parties A & B have agreed to participate in a Joint Venture to operate & develop the oil and gas assets (including any coal Interests established over the Existing Projects through Party B or a Related Party entity of Party B) and the Project through a company to be called Empire NBD JV Pty Ltd (subject to registration);

D.

It is the purpose of this Agreement to record the terms and conditions of the involvement of the parties hereto in the Joint Venture.

THE PARTIES AGREE THAT:

1.

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

1.1

Definitions

In this Agreement:

		
	 
	 

	Agreement

	means this Joint Venture and Management Agreement as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time

	 
	 

	Associate

	has the meaning ascribed to that term by Division 2 of Part 1.2 of the Corporations Law, Australia.

	 
	 

	Auditor

	Means the nominated Auditor of the Joint Venture or such other auditor as the Joint Venturer party may determine from time to time.

	 
	 

	Board

	means the Board of Directors of the Company

	 
	 

	Business

	means the business of oil, gas and coal exploration & development.

	 
	 

	Business Day

	means a day on which banks are open for business in Tasmania excluding Saturday and Sunday and Public Holidays.

	 
	 

	Chairman

	means the Chairman of the Board and as provided for in this Agreement

	 
	 

	Commencement Date

	means the Agreement Date

	 
	 

	Company

	Means Empire NBD Energy JV Pty Ltd or other such nominated JV Management Company, to be registered with consent from the Parties.

	 
	 

	Constitution

	means the Constitution of a copy of which is and may be annexed to Schedule 1 of this Agreement (post signing).

	 
	 

	Corporations Law

	means the Corporations Act 2001 of Australia

2

		
	 
	 

	dollar or $

	means Australian dollars unless otherwise expressly provided.

	 
	 

	EBIT

	means at any time the operating profit or loss before deducting interest and any provision for income tax and excluding all abnormal and extraordinary items of the Business.

	 
	 

	encumbrance

	means any mortgage, charge (whether fixed or floating), pledge, lien, lease, title retention or conditional sale agreement, covenant, bill of sale, hire or hire purchase agreement, option, restriction as to transfer, use or possession, subordination to any right of any other Person, and any other encumbrance, security, restriction or interest whatsoever.

	 
	 

	Existing Projects

	Means the identified oil, gas and coal potential bearing structures and wellbore sites identified as “Bellevue” and “Thunderbolt” with respective coordinates being (approximately):

Bellevue: 465,660E, 533,8904N; 

Thunderbolt: 466,844E, 5287200N.

	 
	 

	Financial Year

	means any period of 12 months commencing on 1 July and ending on 30 June in any year, OR the period 01 January to 31 December in any year, to be nominated by the Joint Venturers in accordance with its statutory reporting requirements.

	 
	 

	Joint Venture (or JV)

	means the joint understanding and contractual arrangements between Party A and Party B on the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement and any agreement entered into pursuant to this Agreement for the objects set out therein.

	 
	 

	Joint Venture Expenses

	means all amounts:

	 
	(a)

necessary to acquire assets of the Joint Venture;

	 
	(b)

otherwise authorised by the Manager or this Agreement.

	 
	 

	Joint Venturers

	means Party A and Party B as Joint Venturers pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any of their successors or permitted assigns.

	 
	 

	Licence

	Means the current exploration licence in the Tasmanian State of Australia, described and registered as EL14/2009.

	 
	 

	Manager

	means Empire NBD Energy JV Pty Ltd ( (subject to registration) of Level 3, 65 Murray Street Hobart, Tas 7000 or other nominated management company as determined by the Parties.

	 
	 

	Month

	means a calendar month.

	 
	 

	Permitted Bank Charge

	means a mortgage, charge, lien or other encumbrance over the interest of a Joint Venturer in the Joint Venture permitted under Clause 16.1(a)(ii).

	 
	 

	Person

	means any individual, corporation, Energy JV, firm, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organisation, governmental body or other entity or legal person.

	 
	 

	Prescribed Equity

	means the following percentage interest in the Joint Venture, namely:

	 
	(a)

Party A - 49%; and

	 
	(b)

Party B - 51%,

	 
	or such other percentages as may be determined hereunder.

	 
	 

	Prime Rate

	means the reference rate for bank overdrafts in excess of $100,000.00 set from time to time by the Westpac Bank.

	 
	 

	Principal RBC

	means:

	 
	(a)

in the case of Party A: NBD ENERGY, South Korea (NBD) a company incorporated in Korea, whose registered office is at 13th Floor, Prudential Tower, 838 Yeoksam_dong Kangnam_gu, Seoul 135-982.

	 
	(b)

in the case of Party B: Empire Energy Corporation International of 4500 College Blvd, Suite 230 Leawood, Kansas, 66211, USA.

	 
	 

	Project

	Means the development and exploitation in respect of natural oil, gas and coal reserves for commercial benefit over the Existing Projects within the Licence area.

3

		
	 
	 

	Related Body Corporate

	means a related body corporate within the meaning of  Division 6 of the Corporations Act 2001.

	Resources

	Means, naturally occurring oil, gas and other coal derived reserves or resources which may accrue to the JV or be extracted by the JV in the furtherance of this Agreement under any type of authorised Licence or Lease.

	 
	 

	Services

	means all financial, administrative, operational and any other similar services required to operate the Business.

	 
	 

	Joint Venture Management Agreement

	means the agreement between the Manager, Empire NBD Energy JV Pty Ltd or other such nominated company, subject to registration, created to manage the affairs of the Joint Venture.

1.2

Interpretation

In this Agreement unless the contrary intention appears:

(a)

the singular includes the plural and vice versa;

(b)

where a word or phrase is given a definite meaning, any part of speech or other grammatical form in respect of that word or phrase shall have a corresponding meaning;

(c)

a reference to any gender includes a reference to all other genders;

(d)

a reference to any legislation or to any provision of any legislation includes a reference to any modification or re-enactment of or any provisions substituted for such legislation or provisions;

(e)

an agreement, representation or warranty made by two or more Persons is made by them jointly and by each of them severally;

(f)

an agreement, representation or warranty made in favour of two or more Persons is made for the benefit of them jointly and for each of them severally; and

(g)

if an act required to be done under this Agreement on or by a given day is done after 5:30 pm on that day, it is taken to be done on the following day.

1.3

Headings

Headings are inserted for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

1.4

Weekends and Holidays

Where any act is required by this Agreement to be done on a given day and that day is not a Business Day then the act is required to be done on the next following Business Day.

2.

CONDITIONS SUBSEQUENT

2.1

It is a condition subsequent to this Agreement that immediately upon execution the Parties will do all things necessary to ensure:

(a)

The shares in the Company will be issued on a proportional basis to the Prescribed Equity; and

(b)

Simon Lee and Malcolm Roy Bendall will be appointed Directors of the Company.

3.

PURPOSE

3.1

The Parties hereby declare and acknowledge that they have entered this Agreement for the purpose of developing and exploiting the Project on the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement.

3.2

The Parties intend this Agreement to regulate the manner in which the JV will develop the Projects and the interests of each party in the manner in which the Projects are further developed to such time as (and past such time in absence of any new agreement) the Resources are extracted from the Projects and sold by the Parties on terms agreeable to the Parties.

4

4.

BUSINESS PLAN

4.1

The Parties agree that prior to the execution of this Agreement (or in the event this is not provided), as soon as possible subsequent to the execution of this Agreement, Party B will undertake to provide Party A with a Business Plan.  It is a condition of this Agreement that the Business Plan provides an accurate scope of the Projects including (but not limited to):

(a)

A budget, updated semi-annually, outlining actual costs of the previous 6 months and an estimate of the forward 6 months;

(b)

Explanations for any variation of more than 10% from the estimated costs of the previous six months (if any); and

(c)

A running total of costs incurred on behalf of the Joint Venture.

4.2

The initial Business Plan provided by Party B shall include forward estimates for the completion of the Projects to such stage where extracted Resources have been sold pursuant to a contract of sale in excess of $100,000 to a third party at arm’s length terms.

4.3

Irrespective of the shareholdings of the parties, in the event that Party B deviates by more than 15% from the estimate provided pursuant to clause 4.2, Party A shall have the option to remove any Manager currently conducting the business of the Project and replace the Manager with representatives of its choosing for no less than one year.

4.4

In the event that Party A does not exercise its rights under clause 4.3, Party A shall continue to have the ability to exercise its rights under 4.3 until the defect is cured.  

5.

NAME OF THE JOINT VENTURE 

5.1

The name of the Joint Venture shall be " Empire NBD Energy JV Pty Ltd” (or such other name as may be agreed by the Joint Venturers) and the Manager will conduct the Business under this name.  The Manager may register the name (or any other agreed JV Energy JV name) as a business name as required by relevant legislation but will not apply for registration of the name as a trade mark.

5.2

Party A will procure that the Manager is granted a licence of the name "Empire NBD Energy JV Pty Ltd " for the purpose of being used as part of the name of the Joint Venture in accordance with Clause 5.1 and Party B will procure that the Manager is granted a licence of the name "Empire NBD Energy JV Pty Ltd " for the purpose of being used as part of the name of the Joint Venture in accordance with Clause 5.1. 

5.3

If for any reason Party A ceases to be a Joint Venturer, the Joint Venture shall immediately cease using the name " Empire NBD Energy JV Pty Ltd ", and if for any reason Party B ceases to be a Joint Venturer, the Joint Venture shall immediately cease using the name " Empire NBD Energy JV Pty Ltd ". The Manager acknowledges and agrees that the grant of the licences of the name " Empire NBD Energy JV Pty Ltd” will not confer any proprietary rights on the Manager and the name remain the sole property of the relevant licensors.

The parties will procure that the name of the Joint Venture and any company name or business name associated or used in connection with the Joint Venture is altered as soon as practicable to give effect to this clause.

6.

DURATION 

The Joint Venture shall be established with effect from the Commencement Date and shall, subject as provided herein, continue in existence until the Joint Venture is terminated and the underlying property of the Joint Venture has been sold and proceeds of sale distributed between the shareholders of the Company proportionate to the parties’ shareholding in the Company at the time of any such distribution.

7.

THE MANAGER 

7.1

The Joint Venturers agree that the Constitution must provide, amongst other things, the following:

(a)

Rights of Shares and Composition of Board

(b)

Quorum

A quorum at general meetings shall be no less than 2 (two) directors of the Company.

5

(c)

Appointment, Suspension and Renewal

By notice in writing to the other Joint Venturer, each Joint Venturer may remove or suspend a person appointed by it as a director and appoint another person in their place and may appoint another director temporarily in the place of the person so removed, suspended or in place of a sick or absent director, providing that the appointment of a person is an authorised  representative from one of the RBC’s.

(d)

Alternate Directors

(i)

By notice in writing to the Secretary, a director may appoint a person to be an alternate director in his place during such period as he thinks fit.

(ii)

An alternate director is entitled to notice of Board meetings and, if the appointor is not present at such meeting, is entitled to attend and vote in his place.

(iii)

An alternate director may exercise any powers that the appointor may exercise and the exercise of any such powers by the alternate director shall be deemed to be the exercise of the power by the appointing director.

(iv)

The appointment of an alternate director may be terminated at any time by the appointing director by notice in writing to the Secretary and will cease once the appointing director ceases to hold office as a director.

(e)

Frequency

(i)

There shall be Board meetings on a regular basis to be determined by the Board but not less than two times in each Financial Year.

(ii)

Not less than 5 Business Days written notice (including the provision of an agenda) (or such shorter period as all of the directors shall agree upon) shall be given to all directors for each such meeting, or in the case of a meeting proposed to be held by conference telephone or other electronic means at which the directors are not required to be physically present, not less than 4 Business Days written notice of such a meeting (or such shorter period as all of the directors shall agree upon) shall be given to all directors.

(f)

Additional Meetings

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (e), additional Board meetings may be convened by any director giving the other directors not less than 5 Business Days written notice (including the provision of an agenda) (or such shorter period as all of the directors shall agree upon) of such a meeting, or in the case of a meeting to be held by conference telephone or other electronic means at which the directors are not required to be physically present, by giving the other directors not less than 3 Business Days written notice of such a meeting (or such shorter period as all of the directors shall agree upon).

(g)

Venue

All Board meetings shall be held at venues convenient to the directors and in the absence of any agreement to the contrary shall be held by telephone conference.

(h)

Meetings by Telephone

(i)

The directors may dispatch business and adjourn and otherwise regulate Board meetings as they think fit.

(ii)

Without limiting the discretion of the directors to regulate their meetings, the directors may if they think fit, confer by radio, telephone, closed circuit television or other electronic means or audio or audio visual communication and a resolution passed by such conference shall, notwithstanding the directors are not present together in one place at the time of the conference, be deemed to have been passed at a Board meeting held on the day on which and at the time at which the conference was held.

(iii)

The provisions of this Agreement and the Constitution relating to Board meetings shall apply so far as they are capable of application mutatis mutandis to such conferences.

6

(i)

Statement of Directors Deemed a Resolution

(i)

If all directors (or their alternates) have signed a document containing a statement that they are in favour of a resolution in the terms set out in the document, a resolution in those terms shall be deemed to have been passed in a Board meeting held on the day in which the document was signed and at that time at which the document was last signed by a director or if the directors signed the document on different days, on the day on which and at the time at which the document was last signed by a director.

(ii)

For the purpose of this paragraph (i), two or more separate documents containing statements in identical terms each of which is signed by one or more directors shall together be deemed to constitute one document containing a statement in those terms signed by those directors on the respective days on which they signed the separate documents.

(j)

Transfer of Shares

The transfer of shares in the Manager shall be restricted and may only occur in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

8.

APPOINTMENT OF MANAGER 

The Joint Venturers hereby appoint the Manager as manager of the Joint Venture.

9.

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE MANAGER 

9.1

Powers of the Manager 

(a)

Except as otherwise provided for herein or as otherwise agreed by the Joint Venturers, the Manager shall make all decisions for the Joint Venture and shall have all rights, power and authority generally conferred by law or necessarily consistent with accomplishing this consistent with the purposes and features of the Joint Venture as set forth in Clause 3.

(b)

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Manager has the right consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Joint Venturers and with the Business and the purposes of the Joint Venture to:

(i)

subject to any applicable restrictions set forth in this Agreement, execute any and all customary agreements, contracts, documents, certifications and instruments in connection with the Business and purposes of the Joint Venture;

(ii)

protect and preserve the entitlements of the Joint Venture in respect of the assets at any time owned, acquired or created by the Joint Venture to the extent so empowered;

(iii)

perform all normal business functions and otherwise operate and carry out the day to day administration of the Business in accordance with and as limited by this Agreement;

(iv)

incur Joint Venture Expenses and customary and reasonable costs for start up, including outside legal services on behalf of the Joint Venture in connection with the Business and purposes of the Joint Venture;

(v)

engage in any kind of activity and perform and carry out contracts of any kind necessary to or in connection with or convenient or incidental to the day to day administration of the Joint Venture;

(vi)

enter into or dispose, extend or terminate any lease, enter into any contract for purchase or disposal of any asset or part of the undertaking of the Joint Venture; and

(vii)

enter into any other business.

9.2

Duties of the Manager 

The Manager shall subject to the terms of this Agreement:

(a)

devote all of its time to carry out the day to day administration in the fulfilment of the Business and purposes of the Joint Venture and conduct the Business in an appropriate manner;

7

(b)

upon every reasonable request being made of it to inform the Joint Venturers and each of them of all matters, accounts, writings and other things which it may have become vested with concerning the Joint Venture;

(c)

carry out the day to day administration of the Joint Venture in a proper and professional manner in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement and insofar as it is legally able to do so shall supervise and administer the Business on a day to day basis so as to ensure the optimum exploitation of the assets of the Business;

(d)

cause to be kept such accounts and other records as will sufficiently explain the transactions and financial position of the Business to enable a true and fair profit and loss account and balance sheet to be prepared from time to time in accordance with generally accepted Australian Accounting Standards consistently applied by the accounting staff and shall cause such accounts to be kept in such a manner as to enable them to be conveniently and properly audited;

(e)

provide and/or oversee accounting staff who shall prepare monthly accounts as at the end of each month, year to date and yearly accounts during the currency of the Joint Venture or at such other times as the Joint Venturers may direct and shall provide the Joint Venturers with a copy of any balance sheet and profit and loss statement prepared in accordance with this clause.

(f)

Do all such things necessary to protect the interests of the Joint Venturers and the Licence held by the Parties.

9.3

No Liability 

Because it is only a representative of the Joint Venturers, the Manager shall have no liability to the Joint Venturers for losses sustained, liability incurred or damages suffered by any or both of the Joint Venturers as a result of the Manager's management of the Joint Venture as any liability of the Manager shall be a liability of the Joint Venture to be borne by the Joint Venturers as set forth in Clause 13.2.

9.4

Remuneration 

The Manager shall not receive any salary, fees, commission, profits, distributions, reimbursements or other compensation for its services as manager of the Joint Venture save and except in reimbursement of any costs and expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of the Joint Venturers in managing the Business, pursuant to Clause 9.2 and pursuant to the indemnity set out in Clause 13.2.

10.

THE MANAGER 

10.1

Manager of Joint Venture 

The Manager shall act as manager of the Joint Venture in accordance with the powers and duties conferred upon the Manager in Clause 9.

10.2

Assets Held for Joint Venturers 

All agreements entered into or assets acquired or created or held by the Manager shall be so entered into or acquired or created or held for and on behalf of the Joint Venturers in their respective Prescribed Equity and the Manager shall have no beneficial interest therein or thereto.

10.3

Monies Required by the Manager

All monies required for the Manager to serve as manager of the Joint Venture (including the payment of Joint Venture Expenses) shall be funded by the Joint Venturers in proportion to their respective Prescribed Equity.

10.4

Relationship Between Manager and Joint Venturers 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein:

(a)

neither this Agreement nor any agreement referred to herein nor any acts or omissions of the Manager or of the Joint Venturers or any of them shall create or constitute or be deemed to have created or constitute the relationship of trustee and beneficiary between the Manager and any of the Joint Venturers;

(b)

the relationship between the Manager and the Joint Venturers shall be that of principal and agent and the Manager shall hold any assets of the Joint Venture merely as agent and not as trustee for the Joint Venturers; and

8

(c)

to the extent to which legal title to any asset belonging to the Joint Venturers vests in the name of the Manager, the Manager shall in all respects deal with such asset in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the directions of the Joint Venturers.

11.

FINANCING OF THE JOINT VENTURE 

11.1

Funding by Joint Venturers 

The Joint Venturers agree that 100% of the funding required at any time for the Joint Venture will be contributed by Party A in accordance with Clause 11.2.

11.2

Contributions by Each Joint Venturer

(a)

In respect of the funding to be provided by the Joint Venturers under Clause 11.1, the parties intend that the Initial Capital will be provided to the Company upon exercise of rights pursuant to the Convertible Loan Agreement executed between both parties’ Principal RBC subject to agreement of the Principal RBC’s of the transfer of rights to the Parties.

(b)

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, further capital that may be required for the advancement of the JV will be paid by the Parties proportionate to each party’s Proscribed Equity at the date on which the debt is incurred. 

(c)

The Parties intend that the Initial Capital is intended for the use by the JV in the development of the Projects and that the transfer of the Initial Capital to the control of the Company (or the application for the benefit of) will not grant any further rights to either Party. For the avoidance of doubt, the application of the Initial Capital to the Company for the development of the Project and the furtherance of the objectives of the JV (directly or indirectly) will not entitle either Party (or any Principal RBC) to any further rights, shares or benefits.

(d)

The parties agree that the Initial Capital will be used solely for the good-standing, benefit and advancement of the projects.

(e)

Contributions are to be made in accordance with Clause 11.3.

11.3

Payment of Contributions

(a)

The Company must submit for the approval of the Manager & Joint Venturers on or before the [20th] day of each Month a cash estimate for the next Month showing:

(i)

the estimated cash payments which will be required to be made during the relevant Month;

(ii)

the extent, if any, to which those estimated cash payments will be satisfied by cash on hand; and

(iii)

the amount which each Joint Venturer would be required to pay and the date or dates on which such payments will be required ("Cash Call") provided that all such Cash Calls are approved by the Board of the Manager.

(b)

The Company may, by not less than [5] Business Days' notice to the Joint Venturers, amend cash estimates or the date or dates on which payment is required.  

(c)

No Cash Calls are required to be paid by a Joint Venturer unless they have first been unanimously approved by the Board of the Manager.

(d)

The Joint Venturers agree to pay to the Company for the purposes of this Agreement a Cash Call which has been approved by the Board of the Manager pursuant to Clause 11.3(c) on or before the date specified by the Board.  

12.

DEALING WITH THE RESOURCES OF THE JOINT VENTURE

12.1

The Parties hereby warrant to each other that:

(a)

They will deal with the Resources of the JV in a proper manner, in good faith and for the joint benefit of the Parties to the JV;

9

(b)

That any Resources of the JV when dealt with for the benefit of one Party will accrue benefit of similar value to the other Party proportionate to each Party’s shareholding as amended from time to time and as at the date of any such divesture of the benefit of the relevant Resources; and

(c)

The Parties (or the JV) will under no circumstances, enter into forward contracts of sale in respect of the Resources without the express written acceptance of both Parties.

13.

LIABILITY OF JOINT VENTURERS 

13.1

Several Liability 

All contracts and agreements entered into on behalf of the Joint Venture shall where practicable be entered into by the Manager on behalf of the Joint Venturers and shall provide for the liabilities of the Joint Venturers to be several in proportion to the Prescribed Equity of each Joint Venturer. 

13.2

Liability to Equal Prescribed Equity 

Where for any reason any contract or agreement entered into for the purposes of the Joint Venture (whether in the name of the Manager), the Joint Venturers or any of them) or any act or omission of the Manager, the Joint Venturers or any of them involves the Joint Venturers in joint or joint and several liability, each Joint Venturer shall indemnify and keep indemnified the other Joint Venturer such that no Joint Venturer shall be responsible for more than its Prescribed Equity in relation to such joint or joint and several liability (“the Indemnity”). The Indemnity will not operate where any cost, loss or damage has been incurred as a result of a negligent act or omission or default by the Manager or the other Joint Venturer.

14.

PROFITS AND LOSSES AND ACCOUNTS 

14.1

Determination of Shares of Joint Venturers 

The net profit or net loss arising from the Joint Venture in respect of each Financial Year shall be determined, shared and/or borne in proportions equal to the Prescribed Equity of each Joint Venturer.

14.2

Quarterly Profit Distribution

Unless the Joint Venturers otherwise agree, within 10 Business Days after the end of each quarter during a Financial Year, there shall be distributed out of the cash funds available to the Joint Venture an amount equal to the whole of net profits, if any, for such quarter.

14.3

Accounts 

Within 20 Business Days of the end of each Month in each Financial Year, the Manager shall cause to be prepared and distributed to the Joint Venturers a profit and loss account for the Joint Venture for that Month prepared in accordance with generally accepted Australian Accounting Standards consistently applied.

14.4

Audit of Accounts 

The accounts of the Joint Venture as at the end of each Financial Year shall be audited by the Auditor within 60 days of the end of each Financial Year in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and Corporations Act requirements.

14.5

Surplus Funds 

In addition to any distribution in accordance with Clause 14.2, at the end of each Financial Year funds which are surplus to the projected operating requirements and projected capital needs of the Joint Venture shall be distributed to the Joint Venturers in accordance with each Joint Venturer's Prescribed Equity.

14.6

Failure to make Capital Contribution

(a)

Notwithstanding the other provisions of Clause 14 (but subject to clause 14.6(b) below), in the event that a Joint Venturer fails to make a contribution required under Clause 11, the defaulting Joint Venturer shall not be entitled to receive any distribution or other inter-party payments (including rent, interest and licence fees) whilst and so long as such contribution remains outstanding unless the non-defaulting Joint Venturer has served a Conversion Notice in regard to that contribution in accordance with Clause 20.6.

10

(b)

In the event the restriction on distributions under Clause 14.6(a) above is exercised by the JV, the Parties may agree (in writing) to set-off any costs incurred or owing by either Party against any distribution due to be made.

15.

BANK AND BRANCH DETERMINED BY THE MANAGER

15.1

Funds of the Joint Venture shall be promptly deposited into and kept in a bank account or accounts at a bank or banks designated by the Manager.

15.2

No funds belonging to the Joint Venture shall be mingled with funds not belonging to the Joint Venture and no funds shall be withdrawn from any bank account of the Joint Venture except for the purposes provided for in this Agreement.

15.3

The signatories for the bank account shall be agreed by the Parties from time to time.

16.

INTEREST UNDER AGREEMENT NOT TO BE CHARGED

16.1

No Assignment 

(a)

Subject to this Clause 16 and Clauses 20 and 21, no Joint Venturer shall lease, sell, assign or in any way part with possession of its interest in the Joint Venture or the shares of the Manager or any part thereof, transfer, Encumber, declare itself a trustee or otherwise deal with its interest in the Joint Venture or the shares in the Manager or any part thereof without obtaining the prior written consent of the other Joint Venturer which consent may not be unreasonably withheld provided however that each of the Joint Venturers shall be entitled (subject to giving prior written notice to the other Joint Venturer of its intention) to Encumber its interest in the Joint Venture to:

(i)

a Related Body Corporate of that Joint Venturer; and/or

(ii)

to a bank or other financial institution where the purpose of such Encumbrance is to assist the particular Joint Venturer in making any contribution to the Joint Venture in accordance with this Agreement and, in particular, Clause 11;

(iii)

provided that such Encumbrance shall be expressed to be subject to the terms of this Agreement and in particular Clauses 20 and 21.

(b)

For the purpose of this Clause 16.1, a change in shareholding of a Joint Venturer so that a change occurs in the control of that Joint Venturer as exists at the Commencement Date shall be deemed to be an assignment.

16.2

Assignment 

A Joint Venturer (in this clause "Assignor") may assign, sell, transfer or otherwise part with possession of (in this clause "Assign") the whole of its interest in the Joint Venture and its shares in the Manager (but not part thereof) to a third party (in this clause "Assignee") provided that:

(a)

the Assignee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement;

(b)

the Assignor shall first have agreed in writing with the other Joint Venturer to Assign the interest in the Joint Venture and the shares in the Manager to the Assignee;

(c)

the Assignor shall have entered into a guarantee and indemnity (in the reasonable opinion of the other Joint Venturer satisfactory in form and substance) in favour of the other Joint Venturer in respect of the due performance by the Assignee of its obligations under this Agreement and any other agreement in respect of the Joint Venture.

16.3

Partition Without Consent of the Other Joint Venturer 

A Joint Venturer shall not:

(a)

apply for the partition or an order for the sale of its interest in the Joint Venture or the shares in the Manager; or

(b)

be entitled to receive as distributions any assets or property other than money

save with the written consent of the other Joint Venturer or in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

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17.

RELATIONSHIP OF JOINT VENTURERS 

17.1

Limit of Joint Venturers' Liabilities 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained but subject to Clause 13.2, neither this Agreement nor any agreement referred to herein nor the acts or omissions of the Joint Venturers or of either of them or the Manager:

(a)

shall result nor are they intended to result in the creation of any relationship whereby a Joint Venturer shall be held responsible or liable for any act or omission of the other Joint Venturer either jointly or otherwise; 

(b)

shall authorise any Joint Venturer to pledge the credit of the other Joint Venturer; or

(c)

shall impair the independent status of any Joint Venturer or shall create any trust.

17.2

No Agency or Partnership JV Created 

No Joint Venturer shall act as or purport to act as the agent or make any promise or representation on behalf of the other Joint Venturer without its express written approval.

The Parties intend that this Agreement is for a Joint Venture only and does not constitute a Partnership JV.

18.

INDEMNITY FOR BREACH 

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the Joint Venturers covenant and agree with each other to indemnify and keep indemnified the other from and against any losses and damages which may arise in respect of any breach by that Joint Venturer of any provisions of this Agreement.

19.

MUTUAL COVENANTS 

19.1

Each Party Fiduciary of the Other 

(a)

Each party covenants and agrees with the other party that it is the fiduciary of that other party in relation to the party and to be just and faithful in all its activities and dealings with such other party in relation to the Joint Venture and otherwise to perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement.

(b)

This obligation does not relate to any businesses other than the Projects.

19.2

Parties to Keep Each Other Informed 

The parties shall keep each other fully informed and aware of all their respective activities in relation to this Agreement.

19.3

Parties to Assist Each Other 

The parties shall assist each other and generally do all acts, matters and things to ensure achievement of the objects of the Joint Venture.

19.4

Receipt of Money 

Each of the parties covenants and agrees with one another that forthwith upon the receipt of any monies belonging to the Joint Venture such party shall pay such monies into the appropriate bank account in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

19.5

Joint Venturers Not to Give Credit 

Each Joint Venturer undertakes that it shall not without the consent of the other Joint Venturer in respect of the Joint Venture:

(a)

give any credit and/or lend any money on behalf of the Joint Venture to any Person other than in the ordinary course of business of the Joint Venture conducted in a normal and proper manner;

(b)

subject to Clause 16.1(a)(ii), borrow or raise any money or incur any debt on account of the Joint Venture;

(c)

except as hereinbefore provided, draw, accept or endorse any negotiable instruments on account of the Joint Venture;

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(d)

compound, release or discharge any debt which shall be due or owing to the Joint Venture without receiving the full amount thereof;

(e)

guarantee, become bail, surety or security on behalf of the Joint Venture for any Person or do or knowingly suffer to be done anything whereby the property or assets of the Joint Venture may be attached or taken in execution; or

(f)

incur any liabilities on behalf of the Joint Venture and/or employ any of the monies and/or effects thereof other than in the ordinary course of business on behalf of the Joint Venture conducted in a normal and proper manner.

20.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT 

20.1

Events of Default 

Subject to Clause 20.2, a Joint Venturer shall have committed an event of default if:

(a)

it breaches any material provision of this Agreement and, where capable of rectification, the breach is not rectified within 15 Business Days of receipt of the notice requiring rectification served by the non-defaulting Joint Venturer;

(b)

a petition for winding up it or its Principal RBC is presented and it cannot within 14 days reasonably satisfy the other Joint Venturer that the petition is frivolous or vexatious or an order is made, or an effective resolution is passed, for its or its Principal RBC's winding up except where the winding up is for the purpose of reconstruction or amalgamation (and has been approved by the other Joint Venturer such approval not to be unreasonably withheld);

(c)

a provisional liquidator, administrator, receiver or receiver and manager of its or its Principal RBC's assets or any part thereof or any part of the income thereof is appointed or if a meeting of the creditors is convened or held pursuant to the Corporations Law or other similar law in any jurisdiction of which a relevant party or Primary RBC is subject to;

(d)

it makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or otherwise acknowledges insolvency or if it goes into liquidation (except for the purposes of amalgamation or reconstruction and in such manner that the company resulting therefrom effectively agrees to be bound by or assume the obligations imposed on the Joint Venturer under this Agreement) or if a provisional liquidator, or receiver and manager or judicial manager is appointed over its assets, undertakings or business or if it ceases or threatens to cease to carry on business;

(e)

any execution or other process of any Court or authority is issued against or levied upon it or its Principal RBC and not discharged or a stay of execution is not obtained within 30 days of the issue of the execution or other process or, a stay of execution having been so obtained, the said execution or process is not discharged within 10 weeks after the issue or levy of execution or process as the case may be;

(f)

it or its Principal RBC suspends payment generally or is unable to pay its debts within the meaning of the Corporations Law;

(g)

it or its Principal RBC enters into any arrangement, reconstruction or composition with creditors or any of them; or

(h)

the holder of any Permitted Bank Charge takes possession of the Joint Venturer's interest in the Joint Venture or takes any other step or does any other thing which results in the holder of the Permitted Bank Charge having the ability to control the interest of the Joint Venturer in the Joint Venture.

20.2

Disputes Regarding Events of Default 

If a dispute arises as to whether or not an event of default has occurred or whether or not a breach of this Agreement is capable of rectification, and the dispute remains unresolved after the procedure in Clause 24.1 has been implemented, such a dispute shall be referred for determination at the election of the Joint Venturer alleging that an event of default has occurred or that a breach is capable of rectification, either:

(a)

by an expert in accordance with the provisions of Clause 24; or

(b)

by a court of competent jurisdiction, 

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and it is expressly agreed that an event of default shall be deemed not to have occurred pending the determination of the dispute by the expert or the court as the case may be.

20.3

Consequences of Certain Events of Default

Should an event of default occur under Clause 20.1(b) to (h) inclusive and be continuing, then, without prejudice to its other rights and remedies whether under this Agreement or at general law, at the election (by notice in writing served on the defaulting Joint Venturer) of the non-defaulting Joint Venturer:

(a)

the defaulting Joint Venturer shall be deemed to have issued to the other Joint Venturer a Transfer Notice in accordance with the provisions of Clause 21.3 at a Proposed Price equal to the purchase price as determined in accordance with Clause 21.7 of that defaulting Joint Venturer's Prescribed Equity and the provisions of Clause 21 shall apply; or

(b)

this Agreement shall be terminated whereupon the provisions of Clause 23 will apply.

20.4

Consequences of any Other Events of Default 

Should an event of default occur under Clause 20.1(a) and be continuing, then, without prejudice to its other rights and remedies whether under this Agreement or at general law, the non-defaulting Joint Venturer shall be entitled (by notice in writing served on the defaulting Joint Venturer) to elect to exercise any of the following remedies:

(a)

if the default is a failure to pay any monies due to be paid hereunder, the non-defaulting Joint Venturer shall be entitled to pay and to notify the defaulting Joint Venturer that it has paid such monies and to charge the defaulting Joint Venturer interest on such monies at a rate per annum equal to 2% above the Prime Rate;

(b)

if the non-defaulting Joint Venturer so elects, the defaulting Joint Venturer shall be deemed to have issued to the other Joint Venturer a Transfer Notice in accordance with the provisions of Clause 21.3 at a Proposed Price equal to the purchase price as determined in accordance with Clause 21.7 of that defaulting Joint Venturer's Prescribed Equity and the provisions of Clause 21 shall apply; or

(c)

the non-defaulting Joint Venturer may terminate this Agreement whereupon the provisions of Clause 23 will apply.

PROVIDED THAT where the defaulting Joint Venturer rectifies its default prior to the payment and notification pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) or the election pursuant to sub-paragraphs (b) or (c), the default shall be deemed rectified.

In addition, if the non-defaulting Joint Venturer so elects, the defaulting Joint Venturer or the directors appointed by the defaulting Joint Venturer to the Board shall not be entitled either to attend or to vote at any general meeting or Board meeting of the Manager or otherwise to be consulted or to participate in any agreement, decision, determination, consent, approval or other action of the Joint Venturers or the Manager unless and until the default of such defaulting Joint Venturer shall be rectified.  Until such default is rectified, a quorum for the purposes of general meetings and Board meetings of the Manager shall be one representative appointed by the non-defaulting Joint Venturer;

20.5

Adjustment of Prescribed Equity 

In the event that a payment due under this Agreement is overdue for more than 15 Business Days and the non-defaulting Joint Venturer elects to exercise the remedy available under Clause 20.4(a), then the non-defaulting Joint Venturer may give a notice to the defaulting Joint Venturer pursuant to this Clause 20.5, in which case:

(a)

at any time after the expiration of 20 Business Days from the date of such notice; and

(b)

prior to the repayment of the amount of such payment (together with all interest thereon) ("Default Payment") by the defaulting Joint Venturer,

the non-defaulting Joint Venturer ("Electing Party") may elect by notice in writing to the Manager ("Conversion Notice") to convert the Default Payment made by it to equity whereupon the provisions of Clause 20.6 shall apply.

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20.6

Conversion Notices 

(a)

In the event that a Conversion Notice is served on the Manager pursuant to Clause 20.5, the Prescribed Equity of the defaulting Joint Venturer ("the Reducing Party") shall be reduced and of the Electing Party shall be correspondingly increased in accordance with the following formula :

CPE  =    DP/V x 100

where

CPE

is the change in Prescribed Equities of the Reducing Party and the Electing Party;

DP

is the amount of the Default Payment (as defined in Clause 20.5) as at the date the change in Prescribed Equity takes effect; and

V

is the fair value of the entire Joint Venture determined and certified by the Auditor (who shall be engaged by the Manager for this purpose), acting as expert and not as an arbitrator, as what in its opinion is the fair value of the entire Joint Venture on a going concern basis assuming a willing (but not anxious) vendor and a willing (but not anxious) purchaser contracting at arm's length.

(b)

For the sake of clarity, the Joint Venturers agree that in the event that an Electing Party's Prescribed Equity is to be increased in accordance with this clause, its new Prescribed Equity shall be equal to its Prescribed Equity prior to such increase plus CPE.

20.7

Deemed Change to Prescribed Equity 

Where a Joint Venturer's Prescribed Equity has been changed pursuant to Clause 20.5:

(a)

the Prescribed Equity of the other Joint Venturer shall be deemed to reflect its new equity in the Joint Venture and all references to "Prescribed Equity" in respect to that Joint Venturer in this Agreement must be construed accordingly; and

(b)

the event of default to which such change relates shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, including Clause 20.4(a), shall be deemed to have been rectified.

20.8

Adjustment to Shareholder and Director Votes

In the event that the Prescribed Equity of a Joint Venturer exceeds 50% then, for as long as such Prescribed Equity exceeds 50%:

(a)

questions arising at a general meeting or at a Board meeting shall be determined by majority vote; and

(b)

such Joint Venturer in its capacity as a shareholder of the Manager or the directors of the Manager appointed by such Joint Venturer and present and entitled to vote at a general meeting or at a Board meeting (as the case may be) shall have collectively 51% of the vote.

21.

SALE OF INTEREST IN JOINT VENTURE 

21.1

Transfers Only in Accordance with this Clause 

(a)

Save as allowed by Clause 16, no Joint Venturer may Transfer any of its Prescribed Equity other than in accordance with this Clause 21 and any Transfer made in contravention of this Clause 21 shall be void ab initio.

(b)

No Joint Venturer shall without the consent of the other Joint Venturer have the right to seek or purport to sell or Transfer its Prescribed Equity unless it simultaneously seeks or purports to sell or Transfer its interest in the Manager to the purchaser or transferee of its Prescribed Equity.

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21.2

Transfers with Consent 

(a)

Any Joint Venturer may Transfer all or part only of its Prescribed Equity to any Person approved in writing by the other Joint Venturer.

(b)

It shall be a condition precedent to such Transfer that the selling Joint Venturer procures that the purchaser enters into an agreement with the other Joint Venturer agreeing to be bound by all terms of this Agreement as if it were a party to it.

21.3

Transfer Notice 

(a)

A Joint Venturer wishing to Transfer all or part only of its Prescribed Equity ("Offeror" and "Sale Interest" respectively) other than pursuant to Clause 16 or 21.2 shall give notice in writing ("Transfer Notice") to the other Joint Venturer ("Offeree").

(b)

The Transfer Notice shall only specify the price and financial conditions which deal with the payment of money upon which the Offeror is prepared to Transfer the Sale Interest (hereinafter called "the Proposed Price").

21.4

Offer to Other Joint Venturer 

Forthwith upon receipt of the Transfer Notice, the Offeree shall be deemed to have received an offer (such offer to be open for acceptance for a period of 20 Business Days) ("Acceptance Period") to acquire the Sale Interest at the Proposed Price.

21.5

Acceptance or Rejection 

The Offeree may within the Acceptance Period:

(a)

accept the offer at the Proposed Price and such acceptance may be conditional upon the receipt by the Offeree of any necessary statutory approvals provided such condition is reasonable in all the circumstances; or

(b)

reject the offer (and the Offeree shall be deemed to have rejected the offer if it fails to accept the offer under Clause 21.5(a) within the Acceptance Period).

21.6

Offeror May Sell 

If the offer is rejected by the Offeree pursuant to Clause 21.5(b), the Offeror may, within the period of three (3) months immediately thereafter, Transfer the Sale Interest at a price not more favourable than the Proposed Price to any Person provided always:

(a)

that Person agrees in writing to be bound by and to observe such of the provisions of this Agreement as are still existent and which are binding on the Offeror.

21.7

Last Match Right 

(a)

Prior to the Offeror Transferring the Sale Interest in accordance with Clause 21.6, the Offeror shall give to the Offeree a further written notice of such proposed Transfer ("Third Party Notice").

(b)

The Third Party Notice shall state the name of the proposed purchaser and of the Persons who control such purchaser as well as the material terms and conditions of the proposed sale.

(c)

The Offeree shall then be given the option, exercisable by giving notice ("Exercise Notice") to the Offeror within 30 days following service of the Third Party Notice ("Exercise Period"), to take a Transfer of the Sale Interest on substantially the same terms and conditions as set out in the Third Party Notice (i.e. any non-cash equivalent consideration will be assigned a monetary value by mutual agreement or, in the absence of mutual agreement, by the Auditor) provided, however, that the Offeree shall not be required to satisfy any term or condition which cannot readily be satisfied by reason of circumstances specially applicable to the proposed purchaser.

(d)

If the Offeree exercises this option to take such Transfer, then such Transfer shall be completed within 30 days of the Exercise Notice.

16

(e)

If the Offeree does not elect to take such Transfer of the Sale Interest within the Exercise Period or fails to take such Transfer within the 30 day period specified in paragraph (d), the Offeror shall be free to Transfer the Sale Interest in accordance with Clause 21.6 but only to the proposed purchaser and upon substantially the same terms and conditions stated in the Third Party Notice and the Joint Venturers shall comply with Clause 33.3.

(f)

The following procedures shall apply to any assessment by the Auditor under paragraph (c):

(i)

either Joint Venturer may refer the assessment of the monetary value to the Auditor if agreement cannot be reached within 15 days following service of the Exercise Notice;

(ii)

the Joint Venturers shall provide all information and documents within their possession or control reasonably requested by the Auditor to enable it to make the assessment; and

(iii)

the Auditor shall act as an expert and not as an arbitrator, its determination shall be final and binding on the parties (save for manifest error) and its costs shall be borne equally by the Joint Venturers.

21.8

Determination of Purchase Price in the Event of Default

In the event that a Transfer Notice is deemed to have been issued pursuant to Clauses 20.3(a) or 20.4(b), then the Transfer Notice shall be deemed to have been issued by the defaulting Joint Venturer in accordance with Clause 21.3 at a purchase price determined by the Auditor, acting as an expert and not as an arbitrator, as the fair value of the defaulting Joint Venturer's Prescribed Equity in the following manner:

(a)

the Auditor shall certify what in its opinion is the fair value of the entire Joint Venture assuming a willing (but not anxious) vendor and a willing (but not anxious) purchaser contracting at arm's length;

(b)

the fair value so certified shall then be apportioned to the proportion that the defaulting Joint Venturer's Prescribed Equity represents of the entire Joint Venture.

21.9

Cost of Valuation

The cost of the determination of the purchase price in accordance with Clause 21.8 shall be borne by the defaulting Joint Venturer.

21.10

Deemed Change to Prescribed Equity 

Where part of a Joint Venturer's Prescribed Equity has been transferred pursuant to this clause, the Prescribed Equity of the other Joint Venturer shall be deemed to reflect its new equity in the Joint Venture and all references to "Prescribed Equity" in respect to that Joint Venturer in this Agreement must be construed accordingly.

21.11

Completion of Purchase 

(a)

Subject to Clause 21.7(d), the completion of any purchase under this clause shall take place on a date selected by the relevant purchaser which is not later than 20 Business Days after the later to occur of the date of its acceptance of the Offeror's offer and the date of approval of any reasonable statutory approvals necessary for such purchase.

(b)

If the interest of a Joint Venturer is transferred pursuant to Clause 21.8 and there are monies owing by the defaulting Joint Venturer to the non-defaulting Joint Venturer then the non-defaulting Joint Venturer shall be entitled to set off such monies owing against the purchase price.

21.12

Transfer 

For the purposes of this Clause 21, "Transfer" means the transfer by a Joint Venturer and/or a deemed assignment within the meaning of Clause 16.1(b).

21.13

Change of Control of Party B 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that there is a change of control of the Party B the following will apply:

17

(a)

Subject to sub-paragraph (b), Party A may serve a written notice on Party B (within 90 days of Party A becoming aware of such change of control) electing to either:

(i)

purchase the whole of Party B's Prescribed Equity (including its interest in the Manager) for its market value as at the date of service of such notice (as determined by the Auditor applying the methodology set out in Clause 21.8); or

(ii)

sell to Party B the whole of Party A's Prescribed Equity (including its interest in the Manager) for an amount calculated on a proportionate basis using the methodology set out at Clause 20.6(a) above.

21.14

Change of Control of Party A 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that there is a change of control of Party A (the following will apply:

(a)

Subject to sub-paragraph (b), Party B may serve a written notice on Party A (within 90 days of Party B becoming aware of such change of control) electing to either:

(i)

purchase the whole of Party A's Prescribed Equity (including its interest in the Manager) for its market value as at the date of service of such notice (as determined by the Auditor applying the methodology set out in Clause 21.8); or

(ii)

sell to Party A the whole of Party B's Prescribed Equity (including its interest in the Manager) for an amount calculated on a proportionate basis using the methodology set out in Clause 20.6(a) above:

(iii)

Notwithstanding sub-paragraph (a), in the event that the said change of control occurs as a result of Party A listing on the Australian Stock Exchange (or other Registered Exchange) Party B may only serve a written notice on Party A (within 90 days of Party B becoming aware of such change of control) requiring Party A to purchase the whole of Party B's Prescribed Equity (including its interest in the Manager) for its market value at the date the notice is served pursuant to this Clause 21.14 (as determined by the Auditor applying the methodology set out in Clause 21.8).  

21.15

The parties agree that completion of any transaction for the purposes of Clauses 21.13 and 21.14 shall occur within 30 days of service of a notice pursuant to Clause 21.13 or 21.14.

22.

TERMINATION 

22.1

Termination by Agreement

The Joint Venturers may terminate this Agreement and the Joint Venture at any time by mutual agreement.

22.2

Occurrence of Termination 

This Agreement shall be terminated and the Joint Venture dissolved upon the earliest to occur of the following:

(a)

the agreement of the Joint Venturers pursuant to Clause 22.1;

(b)

the election of a non-defaulting Joint Venturer pursuant to Clauses 20.3(b) or 20.4(c); or

(c)

the termination date specified in a notice given pursuant to Clause 22.3.

22.3

Termination by Controlling Joint Venturer

A Joint Venturer with a Prescribed Equity greater than 80% may terminate the Joint Venture at any time by giving notice in writing to the other Joint Venturer specifying a termination date not less than 1 month after the date of service of such notice.

22.4

Right to Terminate Not to Prejudice Other Rights 

The rights to terminate this Agreement and dissolve the Joint Venture shall take effect without prejudice to the rights that a Joint Venturer may have had against the other Joint Venturer arising before the termination.

18

23.

PROCEDURE FOLLOWING TERMINATION 

23.1

Accounts on Termination 

Upon the termination of the Joint Venture in any of the circumstances described in Clause 22.2, a full accounting in writing shall be taken of all the assets of the Joint Venture and of all the liabilities connected therewith by a special liquidator appointed in accordance with Clause 23.4 and immediately after such accounting shall be taken, all the assets (other than cash) of the Joint Venture shall be realised and sold to their best advantage and the monies arising from such sale and other monies of the Joint Venture shall be applied in the following manner:

(a)

first, in payment of any costs and expenses connected with the taking of the above accounting and the realisation or sale of the above assets;

(b)

secondly, in payment and discharge of any debts or liabilities connected with the Joint Venture;

(c)

thirdly, in payment of any of the non-defaulting Joint Venturer's (if and only if the Joint Venture has been terminated pursuant to Clauses 20.3(b) or 20.4(c), costs, interest, losses or expenses incurred in connection with the Joint Venture by the non-defaulting Joint Venturer as a result of the default by the defaulting Joint Venturer;

(d)

fourthly, any surplus shall be paid to the Joint Venturers in proportion to their respective Prescribed Equities.

23.2

Sale of Assets to Joint Venturers 

Either Joint Venturer may purchase any of the assets of the Joint Venture upon any sale made pursuant to this clause.

23.3

Assets deemed sold at best price 

For the purposes of this clause, an asset of the Joint Venture shall be deemed to be realised and sold to the best advantage if so realised and sold at a price by the special liquidator appointed pursuant to Clause 23.4.

23.4

Special Liquidator 

A special liquidator for the purposes of this Clause 23 shall be appointed by the Manager provided however that if the Board cannot agree upon who should be appointed special liquidator within 10 Business Days of the date of termination of the Joint Venture, such special liquidator shall be as nominated by the President for the time being of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia on the application of either Joint Venturer.

24.

DISPUTE DETERMINATION 

24.1

Chief Executives to Consult

In the event that the Joint Venturers are in dispute regarding any matter relating to the Manager, the Joint Venture or otherwise arising out of this Agreement, then either Joint Venturer may by notice in writing to the other Joint Venturer refer the dispute to the chief executive of each Joint Venturer who shall consult with one another in good faith and use their best endeavours to resolve such dispute to the mutual satisfaction of both Joint Venturers without the resort to litigation or arbitration.

24.2

Joint Venturers to Agree Consultant

In the event that the chief executives cannot resolve the dispute within 30 days of referral, then either Joint Venturer may give notice of particulars of such dispute to the other Joint Venturer and require that such dispute mediated internally by a barrister of an Australian Bar Association acceptable to both of the Joint Venturers who shall give a non-binding determination in respect of the dispute.

24.3

Appointment if no agreement on consultant

Should the Joint Venturers be unable to agree on such a consultant within 10 Business Days of the date of such notice of dispute, either Joint Venturer may request the President for the time being of the nominated Australian (State) Bar Association to nominate an appropriate person (having regard to the matters the subject of dispute) to determine the matters so under dispute and the Joint Venturers hereby agree to accept as consultant the person so nominated.

19

24.4

Expert not Arbitrator 

The consultant who has been agreed upon or appointed shall act as an expert and not as an arbitrator and his decision (including any decision as to costs) shall be final and binding upon the Joint Venturers in the absence of manifest error on the part of the consultant.

24.5

Costs of Arbitrator

In the event of any third party consultant or arbitrator being appointed to resolve a dispute between the Parties, any costs or expenses in resolution of the dispute shall be borne equally between the parties.

25.

CONFIDENTIALITY

25.1

Confidentiality Obligation 

Subject to Clauses 25.2, each of the Joint Venturers hereby covenants with the other that, in consideration of the Joint Venturers agreeing to establish the Joint Venture and entering into this Agreement, it will procure that it, its Associates and Related Bodies Corporate (other than in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement) will not (without the consent of the other Joint Venturer), divulge to any Person (other than in accordance with this Agreement or as required by law) any confidential and commercially valuable knowledge pertaining to the Business or assets of the Joint Venture ("Confidential Information").

25.2

Permitted Disclosure

A Joint Venturer may divulge Confidential Information to a Person if:

(a)

the Confidential Information is in the public domain;

(b)

disclosure is required by law;

(c)

the disclosure is necessary for the purpose of obtaining any consent, authorisation, approval or licence from any government or public body or authority;

(d)

it is necessary or desirable that the disclosure be made to any taxation or fiscal authority;

(e)

the disclosure is made on a confidential basis to the officers, employees or agents of a Joint Venturer or to the professional advisers of a Joint Venturer for the purposes of obtaining professional advice in relation to this Agreement or the enforcement of this Agreement or otherwise for the purpose of consulting those professional advisers;

(f)

the disclosure is made by a Joint Venturer on a confidential basis to any actual or prospective financier or agent of a financier to the Joint Venturer;

(g)

the disclosure is necessary in relation to any procedure for discovery of documents or any proceedings before any court, tribunal or regulatory body; or

(h)

the disclosure is necessary for the purposes of obtaining listing on any stock exchange.

26.

PUBLICITY

26.1

Except as may be required by law (including the Listing Rules of any relevant stock exchange), no press release or other announcements concerning this Agreement shall be made without the prior written approval of the Joint Venturers, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

26.2

The Joint Venturers shall co-operate as to the timing and contents of any such announcement.

27.

TIME AND REMEDY OF DEFAULT

27.1

Subject to the provisions hereof, time shall in all respects be of the essence of this Agreement.

20

27.2

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Joint Venturer defaults under this Agreement the non-defaulting Joint Venturer shall not be entitled to exercise any of its rights arising out of the default (save where a specific time period is specifically provided elsewhere in this Agreement) other than its right to sue for money then owing until it has served the defaulting Joint Venturer with a notice specifying the default and requesting the defaulting Joint Venturer to:

(a)

either :

(i)

remedy the default; or

(ii)

if the default cannot be remedied, pay to the non-defaulting Joint Venturer an amount and/or take such action as is sufficient to put the non-defaulting Joint Venturer in substantially the same commercial and economic position as it would have been in had the default not occurred;

(b)

pay all legal costs occasioned by the default; and

(c)

pay any interest due under this Agreement,

within 15 Business Days of service of the notice, and the defaulting Joint Venturer fails to comply with the notice.

28.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 

28.1

Party A

Party A represents and warrants to Party B that:

(a)

Party A is a duly incorporated corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of South Korea with all the requisite power to enter into this Agreement and perform its obligations hereunder;

(b)

this Agreement has been duly and validly authorised, executed and delivered by Party A, and constitutes Party A's legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms; and 

(c)

the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Party A and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not violate, breach, conflict with or create adverse rights under any corporate charter, by-laws, contract or agreement, or anything else to which Party A is a party or by which Party A or its assets are subject.

28.2

Party B 

Party B represents and warrants to Party A that:

(a)

It is a duly incorporated corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Tasmania Australia with all the requisite power to enter into this Agreement and perform its obligations hereunder;

(b)

this Agreement has been duly and validly authorised, executed and delivered by them, and constitutes their legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms; and

(c)

the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by them and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not violate, breach, conflict with or create adverse rights under any corporate charter, by-laws, contract or agreement, or anything else to which either is a party or by which they or their assets are subject.

21

29.

NOTICES

Unless and until the party provides a different address or facsimile number by notice in writing to other parties to this Agreement its address for notices shall be to:

	
	(a)

if it is Empire NBD Energy JV Pty Ltd

C/- Level 3, 65 Murray Street, 

Hobart Tasmania Australia 7000

Attention: Mr Malcolm Bendall

Facsimile No.:+613 6234 9075

Email

cullumcille@aol.com; empireenergy@btinternet.com 

	

	(b)

if it is Great South Land Minerals Limited

Level 3, 65 Murray Street

Hobart, Tasmania Australia 7000

Attention: Mr Malcolm Bendall

Facsimile No.:+613 6234 9075

	(c)

if it is NBD PARTNERS ENERGY, South Korea (NBD) 

13th Floor, Prudential Tower, 838 Yeoksam_dong Kangnam_gu

Seoul, South Korea 135-982

Attention: Mr Simon Lee

Facsimile No.:

	Email

simonlee@nemopartners.com 

	(d)

If they be the Manager to all of the parties outlined in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above.

29.2

Any notice given as provided by this clause shall be deemed received by the party to whom it is addressed when:

(a)

in the case of any notice delivered by hand, when so delivered;

(b)

in the case of any notice sent by facsimile, upon the issue of a transmission control or other like report from the despatching facsimile machine which shows the relevant number of pages comprised in the notice to have been sent and the result of the transmission is "OK".

(c)

In the case of any notice sent by email, upon receipt of a response or a successful email delivery receipt, whichever is the earlier in time.

30.

GOVERNING LAW 

This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and shall be governed by the laws for the time being in force in Tasmania, Australia.

31.

JURISDICTION 

31.1

Each of the parties irrevocably submits to and accepts the exclusive jurisdiction of any of the Courts of Tasmania or the Federal Court of Australia (as relevant).

31.2

Each of the parties irrevocably waives, and agrees to waive:

(a)

any immunity for the jurisdiction of any court or for any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) which that party may have or in the future acquire; 

(b)

any objection that party may now or in the future have to the venue of any such legal process; and

(c)

the claim they may have now or in the future have that any such process has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

32.

BREACH OF AGREEMENT

A breach by a Joint Venturer of its obligations under the Agreement will be deemed to be a breach of that Joint Venturer's obligations under this Agreement.

22

33.

MISCELLANEOUS 

33.1

Costs and Stamp Duty

Each of the parties hereto shall be responsible for its own costs and expenses of and in connection with and incidental to the preparation and carrying into effect of this Agreement and for the preparation of any document contemplated hereunder provided that any stamp duty chargeable upon or in respect of this Agreement or any document or instrument prepared pursuant to this Agreement or contemplated hereunder shall be borne and paid by the Joint Venturers equally.

33.2

Unavoidable Events

No failure or omission to carry out or observe any term of this Agreement will give rise to a claim by any party against another or result in a breach of this Agreement if such failure or omission arises by reason of delay or inability to perform caused by war, whether declared or not, civil rebellion, strike, fire, storm or other severe action of the elements, accident, government or statutory restriction or from other similar causes which are unavoidable or beyond the reasonable control of the relevant party.

33.3

Further Acts

Each of the parties will without further consideration sign, execute and deliver any document and shall perform any other act which may be necessary or desirable to give full effect to this Agreement.

33.4

Entire Understanding

This Agreement supersedes all prior representations, arrangements, understandings and agreements between the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement and sets forth the entire and exclusive agreement and understanding between the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.

33.5

Successors and Assigns

This Agreement shall ensure to the benefit of and be binding upon each of the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

33.6

No Waiver or Variation

A provision of or a right created under this Agreement may not be waived or varied except in writing signed by the party or parties to be bound by the waiver or variation.

33.7

Partial Exercise of Rights

No single or partial exercise by any party of any right, power or remedy under this Agreement shall preclude any other or further exercise of that or any other right, power or remedy.

33.8

No Exclusion of Rights

The rights, powers or remedies provided in this Agreement are cumulative with and not exclusive of any rights, powers or remedies provided independently of this Agreement.

33.9

Severance

If any provision of this Agreement is judged invalid or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability (unless deletion of such provision would materially adversely affect one of the parties) will not affect the operation or interpretation of any other provision of this Agreement to the intent that the invalid or unenforceable provision will be treated as severed from this Agreement.

33.10

Application of Legislation

Unless application is mandatory by law, no legislation, proclamation, order, regulation or moratorium whether present or future shall apply to this Agreement so as to extinguish, impair, delay or otherwise alter the rights, powers or remedies of any of the parties.

23

33.11

Counterparts

This Agreement may consist of a number of counterparts, each of which when executed shall be an original and all the counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

33.12

Indemnity

Each indemnity under this Agreement is a continuing indemnity and shall constitute a separate and independent obligation of the party giving the indemnity from its other obligations under this Agreement and shall survive the execution, delivery and termination of this Agreement.

33.13

Powers of Attorney

In the event that this Agreement is executed under power of attorney, each of the attorneys executing this Agreement hereby warrants that he has at the time of executing this Agreement no notice of revocation of the power of attorney under the authority of which he executes this Agreement.

33.14

Recitals

The parties acknowledge that the Recitals are true and correct and shall form part of this Agreement.

24

EXECUTED as an Agreement.

			
	SIGNED by

pursuant to Section 126 of the Corporations Act 2001 for NBD PARTNERS ENERGY, SOUTH KOREA 

in the presence of:

	)

)

)

)

	

___________________________________________

Director/Secretary

___________________________________________

Director/Secretary

	

___________________________________________

Signature of Witness

___________________________________________

Name of Witness (block letters)

	

			
	SIGNED by

pursuant to Section 126 of the Corporations Act 2001 for GREAT SOUTH LAND MINERALS LIMITED ACN 068 650 386 in the presence of:

	)

)

)

)

	

/s/: Malcolm Bendall                                         

CEO/Director

	

/s/: Gerry Murrell                                            

Signature of Witness

GERRY MURRELL                                        

Name of Witness (block letters)

	

/S/: Nicole Chesterman                                      

Secretary

			
	SIGNED by

pursuant to Section 126 of the Corporations Act 2001 for Empire NBD Energy JV Pty Ltd 

in the presence of:

	)

)

)

)

	

/s/: Malcolm Bendall                                         

Director/Secretary

	

/s/: Gerry Murrell                                            

Signature of Witness

GERRY MURRELL                                        

Name of Witness (block letters)

	

/s/: Simon Hyeon Lee                                        

Director/Secretary

25

SCHEDULE 1

Constitution (to be drafted)

26

SCHEDULE 2

Company Management Fee

The Joint Venture Company Management Fee for the First Financial Year shall be AUD$450,000.00Exhibit 10.4 Convertible Loan Agreement

Exhibit 10.4

DATED 08th February 2012

NBD Partners Energy, South Korea (1)

Empire Energy Corporation International (2)

Convertible Loan Agreement

Relating to a $50,000,000 USD convertible loan facility.

CONTENTS

1.

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

1

2.

THE LOANS

3

3.

PURPOSE

3

4

DRAWDOWN

3

5

CONVERSION AMOUNT

3

6

REPAYMENT

4

7

ILLEGALITY

4

8

CONVERSION PROCESS

4

9

FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL TO JOINT VENTURE

5

10

TAX

5

11

BORROWER WARRANTIES

5

12

REORGANISATION OF THE BORROWER

6

13

DEALINGS WITH THE LICENCE

6

14

DECISION MAKING BY THE LENDER

6

15

ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSER

6

16

PAYMENT MECHANICS

6

17

NOTICES

6

18

CONFIDENTIALITY

7

19

PARTIAL INVALIDITY

8

20

REMEDIES AND WAIVERS

8

21

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

8

22

COUNTERPARTS

8

23

COSTS

8

24

GOVERNING LAW

8

25

JURISDICTION

9

SCHEDULE 1

14

SCHEDULE 2

15

SCHEDULE 3

16

SCHEDULE 4

17

SCHEDULE 5

18

SCHEDULE 6

19

SCHEDULE 7

20

SCHEDULE 8

21

THIS AGREEMENT is dated 08th February 2012.

between:

(1)

NBD Partners Energy, South Korea (NBD) a company incorporated in Korea, whose registered office is at 13th Floor, Prudential Tower, 838 Yeoksam_dong Kangnam_gu Seoul Korea 135-982 (the Lender); and 

(2)

EMPIRE ENERGY CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL (Empire) whose registered office is at 4500 College Blvd, Suite 230, Leawood, KS, USA, 66211 (the Borrower).

WHEREAS

The Lender has agreed to initially advance the First Tranche of the Facility Deposit Amount set out opposite his/their name in Schedule 1 (USD$100,000) to the Borrower and at the Lender’s discretion, advance the Second Tranche (USD$9,900,000 or part thereof) of the Facility Amount as set out in Schedule 1, and in exchange for total advances of USD$10,000,000 being made as per Schedule 1, a 10% unencumbered interest in the Licence will be granted, and as an option at the lenders further discretion, advance to the borrower a Third Tranche Amount (USD$40,000,000), representing total advances of USD$50,000,000 (refer Schedule 1) which will entitle the Lender to a 49% stake in the Licence (to include oil & gas, and certain coal and coal seam interests at the nomination of Empire) and a first right of refusal to Joint Venture in the Licence, subject to the terms of this Agreement and finalisation of a Joint Venture & Management Agreement. In addition to the above, Empire can arrange for an equity provision of not more than 10% of the shares on issue in the company as at the date of this Agreement to be issued at the Borrowers discretion.

It is AGREED as follows:

1.

DEFINITIONS AND Interpretation

1.1

Definitions

In this Agreement:

Accounts 

the published Report and Financial Statements of the Borrower for the -nine months ended 30 September 2010 (or other such regulatory period) including the Chairman’s Statement, Directors’ Report and other reports and reviews and notes to the accounts. 

Act

The Corporations Act 2001 (Australia).

Exchange

if applicable, the name of the relevant Market (whether registered in South Korea or in the USA), a market operated by the name of relevant Exchange, as applicable.

Availability Period 

the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and including the dates noted within the Schedules herein.

Business Day

a day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in London.

Confidential Information 

shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in clause 18.1.

Control

the acquisition of shares holding 30 per cent or more of the voting rights of the Lender.

Conversion Amount

the percentage of ownership of the Licence to be delivered to the Lender following the delivery by the Lender of a Conversion Notice in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (amounting to 10% for the first USD$10,000,000 advanced in total and 49% to be issued in exchange for the total advances of USD$50,000,000 being executed at the lenders discretion) subject to decrease or increase in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) 

Conversion Notice

a notice substantially in the form set out in Schedule 3.

Directors

directors of the Lender from time to time appointed. 

Draw down Date

the date of which a Loan is to be made under this Agreement.

Draw down Request

means a notice substantially in the form set out in Schedule 2.

Page 1

Encumbered Interest

means the interest granted to NBD in the Licence subsequent to the Facility Amount, but prior to the Event as referred to in Schedule 1.

Facility Amounts

The amount agreed to be advanced by the Borrower equal to the amount set out opposite his name in Schedule 1, itemised as the First Tranche and Second Tranche, of which the Second Tranche may be advanced in part, thereof.

Facility Amount Deposit

Shall mean USD$100,000 payable as an Option Fee prior to or at the time of entering into this Agreement or shortly thereafter by mutual consent.

Final Amount

or Third Tranche, is the amount to be provided to the Borrower by the Lender, equal to the amount set out opposite his name in Schedule 1.

Facility Equity Provision

Empire can provide and arrange at its discretion the transfer of 10% equity (shares) in Empire Energy Corporation International (EEGC:PK).

Fundraising Proposals

the Lender’s proposal to raise additional finance through a placing of new Shares (as it may apply) with certain investors from time to time.

General Meeting

the general meeting of the company to be held for the purpose of proposing, and if thought fit passing, certain resolutions including any Specific or Special Resolutions.

Licence

means tenement Exploration Licence number EL14/2009 held by Empire’s wholly owned subsidiary, Great South Land Minerals Limited ACN 068 650 386 in the State of Tasmania, Australia.

Loan

means the loan made or to be made under this Agreement, or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of such loan.

Party

means a party to this Agreement.

First Completion Event

means the Lender providing the Borrower with (Second Tranche) total USD$10,000,000 in funding to convert the secured Licence to an unencumbered 10% ownership of the Licence.

Reorganisation Event

an event pursuant to which any person or persons obtains Control of the Borrower as a result of making a general offer to acquire the whole of the issued share capital of the Borrower which is either unconditional or is made on a condition such that if it is satisfied the person(s) making the offer will have Control of the Borrower, or through a court or regulatory approved scheme.

Repayment Date

the date falling 12 calendar months from (and including) the Draw down Date.

Security

a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other security interest securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having similar effect.

Unencumbered Interest

means the interest granted to NBD in the Licence subsequent to the Event as described in Schedule 1.

Form of Interest

the conversion instrument substantially in the form set out in 

Instrument

Schedule 3.

1.2

Construction

(A)

Unless a contrary indication appears, any reference to this Agreement to:

(1)

a person includes any person, firm, company, corporation, government, state or agency of a state or any association, trust or partnership (whether or not having separate legal personality) or tow or more of the foregoing;

(2)

assets includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of every description. 

(3)

$, dollars, or USD means the lawful currently for the time being of the United States of America;

Page 2

(4)

a provision of law is reference to that provision as amended or re-enacted; and

(5)

this Agreement means this Agreement (including the Schedules) as amended or supplemented. 

(B)

Section, clause and schedule headings are for ease of reference only.

(C)

References to the singular shall include references to the plural and vice versa and references to the masculine, feminine and the neuter shall include all such genders.

(D)

General words shall not be given a restrictive meaning by reason for their being preceded or followed by words indicating a particular class or examples of acts, matters or things, and the word ‘including’ shall be construed without limitation.

1.3

Third party rights

A person who is not a Party has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce or enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement.

2.

ThE loans

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lender shall make available to the Borrower a convertible dollar loan facility that may be drawn once only by the Borrower, in an amount equal to the Facility Amount.

3.

PURPOSE

3.1

The Lender may only apply the Loan towards working capital purposes and other exploration and development purposes as determined by the Directors of the Lender and the Borrower from time to time. 

3.2

The Lender is not bound to monitor or verify the application by the Borrower of any amount advanced under this Agreement.

4

Drawdown

4.1

Delivery of a Draw down Request

The Borrower may draw down the Loan by delivering to the Lender a duly completed Draw down Request not later than 12 p.m (AEST) on the last day of the Availability Period. A Draw down Request is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless:

(A)

The Draw down Request is delivered to the lender within the Availability Period; 

and

(B)

the proposed Draw down Date is a Business Day within the Availability Period,

4.2

Upon the Lender providing the Facility Amounts to the Borrower must:

(A)

procure that a 10% interest in the Licence is to be lodged within 7 days of the funding being deposited into the Borrowers nominated account and registered in the name of the Lender, by the Minister for Energy and Resources in Tasmania, Australia, after the Draw down Request is served on the Lender or within such other period of time as is agreed by the Converting Lender.

4.3

Advancing the Loans

The Lender shall be obliged to advance the Facility Amounts to the Borrower in accordance with the Draw Down Requests, but only if on the proposed Draw down Date the warranties to be made to the Lender in clause 11 are true and accurate in all material respects.

5

conversion amount

5.1

Should the Lender choose to exercise its right of Conversion of the Loan to an Unencumbered interest, the Lender must, prior to the Repayment Date, give notice to the Borrower in substantially the same form as Schedule 3.

Page 3

5.2

In consideration of the Lender agreeing (as it may or may not choose to do it at its sole discretion) to advance the Second Tranche Amount to the Borrower on the terms of this Agreement (in substantially the same form as Schedule 4), the Borrower shall do all things necessary to transfer and register, 10% ownership of the Licence to the Lender (or such other person(s) as he may direct).

5.3

In consideration of the Lender agreeing (as it may or may not choose to do it at its sole discretion) to advance the Third Tranche Amount to the Borrower on the terms of this Agreement (in substantially the same form as Schedule 6), the Borrower shall do all things necessary to transfer and register, 49% ownership of the Licence to the Lender (or such other person(s) as he may direct).

5.4

The transfer of the Licence represents an encumbered interest held by the Lender and the retention of ownership of the Licence by the Lender is contingent upon the occurrence of the Completion Event as noted in Schedules 5 & 7.

6

repayment

6.1

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Borrower shall repay the Loan in full (together with any other amounts then owed by it to the Lender under this Agreement) immediately upon the Repayment Date.

6.2

The Lender may not demand repayment of his Loan pursuant to this clause 6 at any time prior to the Repayment Date

6.3

Upon the Repayment Date the Lender may, at its sole discretion, choose to exercise a right of retention of the Licence for the Final Amount (as defined by the Completion Event) which upon payment of the Final Amount will become an unencumbered interest vested in the Lender.

6.4

Should the Lender exercise it right pursuant to Clause 6.3, then the Licence will become an unencumbered interest and the Lender will own outright, without any charge or lien whatsoever, an initial 10% interest in the Licence.

6.5

The Borrower will do all things necessary, including (but not limited to) granting a power of attorney to the Lender in order to perfect the Lenders interest the Licence.

6.6

Should the Lender choose not to exercise its right in accordance with this clause then the Facility Amount will be recoverable by the Lender from the Borrower as a liquidated debt. The parties agree that a statement signed by a director of the Lender will be prima facie proof as to the repayment of the Facility Amount or otherwise.

6.7

Should the Borrower fail, for whatever reason, to transfer the 10% and 49% unencumbered interests in the Licence (as it applies to this agreement), the Borrower warrants that it intends the Lender to have a 10% equitable interest in the Licence (and 49% should the Third Tranche be advanced) and such interest includes an equitable and contractual right to 10% and 49% respectively, of all benefits that may accrue (at any time) directly or indirectly as a result of the ownership of the Licence.

7

Illegality

If it becomes unlawful in any relevant jurisdiction for the Lender to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund or maintain his Loan then, upon the Lender may, upon notifying the Borrower, immediately terminate this Agreement and the Loan facility and the Borrower shall repay the Loan in full (together with any other amounts then owed by it under this Agreement in relation to that Loan) on the date specified by the Lender (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law).

8

conversion process

8.1

Subject to clause 6, at any time one calendar month following the Draw down Date and up to and including the Repayment Date, the Lender (Converting Lender) may require the Borrower to register a 10% interest in the Licence in favour of the Lender will temporarily abate the Borrower’s obligation to repay the whole of the outstanding Converting Lender’s Loan (but not part thereof) by delivering to the Borrower a Conversion Notice up to the Repayment Date. This obligation to repay the Loan subsequent of the service of the Conversion notice will be held in abeyance until the Lender elects to provide the Borrower with the Final Amount (or Second Tranche) in exchange for an Unencumbered Interest. Should the Lender fail to issue a notice in substantially the same form as Schedule 5, the Initial amount will be repayable by the Borrower to the Lender on the Repayment Date.

8.2

For the avoidance of doubt, the Converting Lender may only deliver one Conversion Notice to the Borrower.

8.3

Subject to clause 6, following receipt of the Conversion Notice, the Borrower must:

Page 4

(A)

Deliver to the Converting Lender (or to such person(s) and in the name(s) of such persons(s) as the Converting Lender may direct) notice executed by duly authorised representatives of the Borrower notice of the registration of the Lender’s interest in the Licence and evidence of an Encumbered Interest in the licence and the Borrower shall promptly despatch free of charge to the persons entitled thereto notice for the unencumbered interest in the Licence.

8.4

The Converting Lender’s Loan shall not be discharged, and shall remain outstanding, until such time as the Converting Lender (or the person(s) to whom the Converting Lender directed ownership of the Unencumbered Licence) has been fully as having a 10% interest (or 49% interest as the case may be) in the Licence after the Event.

8.5

Empire further agrees that a Facility Equity Provision can be made available to the Lender in the form of an equivalent amount of not more than 10% of issued capital of the Company as at the date of this Agreement which can be caused and made available to the Lender upon written request and will be issued at the discretion of the Empire.  

9

FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL TO Joint Venture

9.1

Upon advance by the Lender of the First and Second Tranches of the Facility Amount Deposit and Facility Amounts representing USD$100,000 & USD$9,900,000 (or part thereof) noted in Schedule 1, and subject to the receipt of the Final Amount or Third Tranche Amount by the Borrower of US$40,000,000 being advanced within 90 days of signing this Agreement after which event the Lender will be entitled to be vested a total 49% interest in the Licence and any Coal Licence interests at the nomination of Empire (including any negotiated Production Rights) as the Lender, its associates of affiliates may be entitled to by law, the Lender will maintain a first right of refusal to enter into terms for a Joint Venture into the Licence.

9.2

Such terms to be determined in reference to clause 9.1 will be the subject of a Joint Venture and Management Agreement and a separate Commercial Agreement to be agreed and executed between the parties.

10

TAX

10.1

All payments to be made by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be made free and clear of and without any deduction or withholding for or on account of tax unless it is required by law to make any such payment subject to any such deduction or withholding, in which case the sum payable by the Borrower in respect of which such deduction or withholding is required to be made shall be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making of such deduction or withholding, the Lender receives and retains (free from any liability in respect of any such deduction or withholding) a new sum equal to the sum which he would have received and so retained had no such deduction or withholding been made or required to be made.

10.2

If the Borrower makes any payment under this Agreement subject to any such deduction or withholding, it will:

(A)

Account in full for the amount so deducted or withheld to the relevant taxation or other competent authority on or before its due date; and

(B)

Furnish to the Lender a certificate of deduction or withholding or equivalent evidence thereof.

11

borrower warranties

11.1

The Borrower hereby warrants to the Lender at the date of this Agreement that save as may be expressly disclosed in writing:

(A)

the Borrower is not engaged in any legal or arbitration proceedings which may have or have had a significant effect on the financial or trading position of the Borrower taken as a whole and so far as the Borrower is aware no such legal or arbitration proceedings are pending or threatened against the Borrower and there are no circumstances known to the Borrower, having made reasonable enquiry, which are likely to give rise to any such legal or arbitration proceedings;

(1)

the Accounts give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Borrower as at 30 September 2010 and of its results for the year ended on that date and (save as disclosed in the Accounts) have been prepared in accordance with the Act and generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied including all Statements of Accounting Practice and Financial Reporting Standards; and

(2)

there has been no material adverse change in the financial or trading position and no material depletion in the net assets of the Borrower;

(B)

save as disclosed in the Accounts there are no rights (whether conditional or otherwise) to require the issue of any shares or other securities of the Borrower outstanding and in force;

Page 5

(C)

the Agreement has been duly approved by the Board of Directors of the Borrower and is a valid and binding obligation of the Borrower;

(D)

the Borrower has not taken any action nor, to the best of the knowledge, information and belief of the Borrower have any other steps been taken or legal proceedings started or threatened against the Borrower for its administration, winding up or dissolution or for it to enter into any arrangement or composition  for the benefit of creditors or for the appointment of an administrative receiver, an administrator or a receiver, trustee or similar officer of it or any of its properties, revenues or assets nor have any orders been made for any of the foregoing.

11.2

The Borrower acknowledges that the Lender is entering into this Agreement in reliance on the Warranties.

11.3

Each of the warranties set out in clause 11.1 is deemed to be repeated by the Borrower by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing on the Draw down Date and each Interest Payment Date.

12

REORGANISATION OF THE BORROWER

The Borrower shall give notice in writing to the Lender of a proposed Reorganisation Event at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the date on which such Reorganisation Event is to complete.

13

dealings with the licence

13.1

The Borrower warrants that during the term of this Agreement and prior to receiving notice of the Lender’s decision not to issue a Conversion Notice the Borrower will not do any thing, or omit to do any thing that will impede, interfere with or otherwise adversely affect the value of the Licence, or the Lender’s interest in the Licence, without the express written permission of the Lender.

13.2

The Borrower further warrants that the Lender will have the exclusive option to purchase an interest in the Licence up to the Repayment Date and that the Borrower will not, without the express written permission of the Lender, allow any other entity to purchase any interest or prospective interest or option in the Licence.

14

Decision making by the lender

All matters requiring a decision by the Lender under this Agreement shall be determined by the Lender.

15

Assignment and TRANSFER

15.1

Lender may assign

The Lender may assign or transfer any of its rights, benefits or obligations under this Agreement.

15.2

Borrower may not assign

The Borrower may not assign or transfer any of its rights, benefits or obligations under this Agreement in respect of the Lender or enter into any transaction or arrangement which would result in any of those rights, benefits or obligations passing to or being held in trust for or for the benefit of another person without the prior written consent of the Lender.

16

Payment mechanics

16.1

Payments

All payment to be made under this Agreement by (i) the Borrower to the Lender shall be made in USD to the account specified in writing by the Lender (Refer Schedule 2 & Schedule 4) to the Borrower and (ii) by the Lender to the Borrower shall be made in USD to the account specified in writing by the Borrower to the Lender.

16.2

Business Days

Any payment which is due to be made on a day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).

17

notices

17.1

Communications in writing

Page 6

Any communication to be made under or in connection with this Agreement shall be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by e-mail, letter or by hand.

17.2

Addresses

The address and e-mail address of each Party for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with this Agreement is:

(A)

In the case of the Borrower, at its registered office or sent by e-mail to: empireenergy@btinternet.com, marked for the attention of, CEO, Malcolm Bendall.

Address: Empire Energy Corporation International, Suite 240 / 4500 College Blvd, Leawood Kansas, USA 66211.

(B)

In the case of the Lender:

Name: Mr Simon Lee, CEO

E-mail: simonlee@nemopartners.com

Address: NBD Partners Energy 13th Floor, Prudential Tower, 838 Yeoksam_dong Kangnam_gu Seoul, South Korea 135-982. 

Or any substitute email address or addresses as any Party may notify to the others by not less than five Business Days’ notice.

17.3

Delivery

Any communication or document made or delivered by one person to another under or in connection with this Agreement must be in English and will only be effective:

(A)

If by way of fax, when received in legible form; or

(B)

If by way of letter, when it has been left at the relevant address or seven (7) Business Days after being deposited in the post postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address, or

(C)

If delivered by hand, when it has been left at the relevant address.

17.4

Notification of address and fax number

Each Party shall promptly notify the others of any change of address or fax number.

18

confidentiality

18.1

Confidentiality

Subject to clause 18.2 and to clause 18.4, each Party:

(A)

Shall treat as strictly confidential the provisions of this Agreement and the process of its negotiation and all information about any other Party obtained or received by it as a result of negotiating, entering into or performing its obligations under this Agreement (Confidential Information); and

(B)

Shall not, except with prior written consent of each other Party (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), make use of (save for the purposes of performing its obligations under this Agreement) or disclose to any person any Confidential Information. 

18.2 Permitted disclosure or use

Clause 18.1 shall not apply if and to the extent that the Party using or disclosing Confidential Information can demonstrate that:

18.2.1

Such disclosure is required by law or any regulation or is required, or required, by any supervisory, regulatory or governmental body having jurisdiction over it (including any Exchange, the Financial Services Authority, the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers and the Serious Fraud Office) and whether or not the requirement or request has the force of law; or

Page 7

18.2.2

Such disclosure is to its professional advisers or employees who may need to know, in relation to the negotiation, entry into or performance of this Agreement or any matter arising out of the same or, where the disclosing party is the Lender, is of information necessarily or reasonably disclosed to any person concerned with any transaction for financing a Loan or the granting of security over the same or over the benefit of this Agreement; or

18.2.3

Such disclosure is required in order to facilitate any assignment or proposed assignment of the whole or any part of the rights or benefits under this Agreement which is permitted by clause 15.1; or

18.2.4

In the case of disclosure or use, the Confidential Information concerned was lawfully in its possessions (as evidenced by written records) prior to its being obtained or received as described in clause 18.1(A); or

18.2.5

In the case of disclosure or use, the Confidential Information concerned has come into the public domain other than through its fault or the fault of any person to whom such Confidential Information has been disclosed in accordance with clause 18.1(B).

18.3

Continuance of restrictions

The restrictions contained in this clause 18 shall continue without limit of time.

18.4

Privilege

Where any confidential information is also privileged, the waiver of such privilege is limited to the purposes of this Agreement and does not, and is not intended to, result in any wider waiver of the privilege. Any Party hereto in possession of any confidential information relating to any other party hereto (a privilege holder) shall take all reasonable steps to protect the privilege of the privilege holder therein and shall inform the privilege holder if any step is taken by any other person to obtain any of its privileged confidential information.

19

Partial invalidity

If, at any time, any provision of this agreement is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be affected or impaired.

20

Remedies and waivers

No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of a Lender, any right or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy prevent any further or other exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

21

amendments and waivers

Any term of this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the written consent of all of the Parties.

22

counterparts

This Agreement may be entered into in any number of counterparts and by the Parties to it on separate counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered shall be an original, but all the counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

23

costs

Each Party shall bear his own costs arising out of or in connection with the preparation, negotiation and implementation of this Agreement.

24

governing law

This Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with Australian Law.

Page 8

25

jurisdiction

The Courts of Australia have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (including a dispute regarding the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement) (Proceedings) and the parties waive any objection to Proceedings in such courts on the grounds of venue or on the grounds that Proceedings have been brought in an inappropriate or inconvenient forum.

This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.

			
	EXECUTED as a DEED by 

NBD PARTNERS ENERGY SOUTH KOREA

	)

)

	 

	acting by:

	)

	/s/: Simon Hyeon Lee

	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	CEO/Director

	 
	 
	Director/Secretary

	 
	 
	 

			
	EXECUTED as a DEED by 

EMPIRE ENERGY CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

	)

)

	

/s/: Malcolm Bendall

	acting by: 

	)

	CEO/Director

	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	/S/: Nicole Chesterman

	 
	 
	CFO /Director

Page 9

SCHEDULE 1: Details of THE Lenders

			
	Lender

	Facility Deposit Amount (First Tranche) $USD

	Encumbered Interest

	NBD Partners Energy

13th Floor, Prudential Tower, 838 Yeoksam_dong Kangnam_gu Seoul Korea, 135-982

	$100,000

	10%

	 
	 
	 

			
	Lender

	Facility Amount (Second Tranche) $USD

	Unencumbered Interest

	NBD Partners Energy

13th Floor, Prudential Tower, 838 Yeoksam_dong Kangnam_gu Seoul Korea, 135-982

	$9,900,000

It is understood this may be advanced in part thereof, with the Unencumbered Interest of 10% granted when $10,000,000 is advanced in total.

	10%

	 
	 
	 

			
	Lender

	Final Amount (Option, Third Tranche $USD

	Unencumbered Interest

	NBD Partners Energy

13th Floor, Prudential Tower, 838 Yeoksam_dong Kangnam_gu Seoul Korea, 135-982

	$40,000,000

	49%

Page 10

SCHEDULE 2: Drawdown request # 1

From:

Empire Energy Corporation International

To:

NBD Partners Energy, South Korea 

Dated:

_______________2012

Dear Sir

 Empire First Deposit Tranche $(100,000) Convertible Loan Agreement

Dated 08th February 2012 (Agreement)

1.

This is a Draw down Request delivered pursuant to the Agreement.  Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Draw down Request unless specified otherwise.

2.

We wish to borrow a Loan on the following terms:

Proposed Draw down Date:

within 7 days of this Agreement (or, if that is not a Business Day, the next Business Day)

Total Draw down Amount:

USD$100,000

Your Draw down Amount:

USD$100,000

3.

The proceeds of this Loan should be credited to the account, details of which are set out below:

USD$100.00 split into 2 x USD$50,000 to be wired as per the instructions below, with confirmation of the wire to be sent to: Nicole.chesterman@gslm.com.au, CFO, Empire Energy Corporation International.

					
	Amount

	USD$50,000

	 
	Amount

	USD$50,000

	Bank

	International Barclays Bank, Isle of Man

	 
	Bank

	Westpac Banking Corporation, 28 Elizabeth Street, Hobart Tasmania Australia 7000

	Account Name

	Mr M R Bendall

	 
	Account Name

	Great South Land Minerals Limited

	Account:

	80599727

	 
	Account:

	BSB: 037-001

ACCOUNT NO: 475517

	Sort Code:

	20-26-77

	 
	Sort Code:

	 

	Swift Code:

	BARCGB22

	 
	Swift Code:

	WPACAU2S

4.

This Draw down Request is irrevocable.

Yours faithfully,

/s/ Malcolm R Bendall

Malcolm R Bendall, CEO Empire Energy Corporation International

Great South Land Minerals Limited

Page 11

SCHEDULE 3: Conversion Notice #1

To:

Empire Energy Corporation International (the Borrower)

We, NBD Partners Energy South Korea, being the Lender of a loan pursuant to a convertible USD loan agreement dated 08th February 2012 with Empire as Borrower (Agreement) hereby give notice of our desire to acquire an Encumbered Interest in the Licence, representing the Initial Amount advanced by us to the Borrower, in accordance with the terms of the Agreement.  The details are set out in the table below.

				
	Lender

	Nominee (if any)

	Delivery Address

	Loan Amount

	NBD Partners Energy

13th Floor, Prudential Tower, 838 Yeoksam_dong Kangnam_gu Seoul South Korea, 135-982

	Empire Energy Corporation International AND/OR Great South Land Minerals Limited (GSLM)

	Per Agreement

	$100,000.00

We agree to accept notice of the Encumbered Interest in the Licence to be issued to us pursuant hereto. We desire such Licence to be registered in our name or such person(s) designated by us and hereby authorise the entry of our name or such person(s) by me in the register of members in respect thereof:

Attention:

[CEO, Mr Simon Lee]

At:

[13th Floor, Prudential Tower, 838 Yeoksam_dong Kangnam_gu, Seoul, South Korea 135-982]

Signature(s) of recipient of the Lender

_________________________________

Dated: 

_________________________________

Page 12

SCHEDULE 4: Drawdown request #2 – SECOND TRANCHE

From:

Empire Energy Corporation International

To:

NBD Partners Energy, South Korea  

Dated:

Dear Sir,

 Empire Second Tranche $9,900,000 USD Convertible Loan Agreement

Dated 08th February 2012 (Agreement)

1.

This is a Draw down Request delivered pursuant to the Agreement.  Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Draw down Request unless specified otherwise.

2.

We wish to borrow a Loan on the following terms:

Proposed Draw down Date:

Total Draw Down Amount to be advanced within 45 days of this Agreement (or the next Business Day). 

First part of 2nd Tranche Draw down Amount:           

$900,000 to be made within 14 days

Second part of 2nd Tranche Draw Down Amount:

$9,000,000 to be made within 45 days

Total Draw Down Amount:

$9,900,000

3.

The proceeds of this Loan should be credited to the account to be nominated by the Borrower or as below:

3.1  Account holder:

Great South Land Minerals Limited

Account bank:

Westpac Banking Corporation, 

Branch Address:

28 Elizabeth Street, Hobart, Tasmania Australia, 7000

Branch BSB:

037-001

Account No:

475517

Account Name: 

Great South Land Minerals Limited

Swift Code: 

WPACAU2S

4.

This Draw down Request is irrevocable.

Yours faithfully,

/s/ Malcolm R Bendall

Malcolm R Bendall

Empire Energy Corporation International and Great South Land Minerals Limited

Page 13

SCHEDULE 5: Form of Notice of Exercise completion Event

To:

The Directors

Empire Energy Corporation International 

From:

NBD Partners Energy, South Korea

Dear Sirs,

COMPLETION EVENT FOR TRANSFER OF 10% UNENCUMBERED INTEREST

1.

I, the undersigned, duly authorise Director of NBD Partners Energy, South Korea declare that NBD Partners Energy, South Korea is lawfully entitled to an Unencumbered Interest in exchange for the First and Second Tranche advances totalling USD$10,000,000.00 representing the Facility Amount Deposit USD$100,000 and Facility Amount 2nd Tranche (total USD$9,900,000) which will be forwarded upon receipt of notice from Empire and or Great South Land Minerals Limited (as required) of the transfer of the Unencumbered Interest to NBD Partners Energy, South Korea.

2.

I provide notice that this notice of exercise is proper notice of intention and the receipt of which by Empire entitles NBD Partners Energy,South Korea to a 10% interest in exploration licence number EL14/2009 issued by the Tasmanian Government to Great South Land Minerals Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Empire).

Yours faithfully,

Signed:

_________________________________________________________________________

For and on behalf of: _______________________________________________________________

Date:

_________________________________________________________________________

Page 14

SCHEDULE 6: Drawdown request #3 – third TRANCHE

From:

Empire Energy Corporation International

To:

NBD Partners Energy, South Korea  

Dated:

Dear Sir,

Further Request to Draw Down, Option to advance $40,000,000 USD of $50,000,000 Convertible Loan Agreement (Completion Amount)

Dated 08th February 2012 (Agreement)

1.

This is a Draw down Request delivered pursuant to the Agreement.  Terms defined in the Agreement have the same meaning in this Draw down Request unless specified otherwise.

1.

We wish to borrow a Loan on the following terms:

Proposed Draw down Date:

within 120 days of this Agreement or otherwise by mutual consent (or, if that is not a Business Day, the next Business Day)

Total Draw down, this request

Amount:

$40,000,000

Your Draw down Amount:

$40,000,000

TOTAL FACILITY FULLY DRAWN:

$50,000,000.

1.

The proceeds of this Loan should be credited to the account details of which are to be nominated by the Borrower at the time of this request:

1.

This Draw down Request is irrevocable.

Yours faithfully,

/s/ Malcolm R Bendall

Malcolm R Bendall

Empire Energy Corporation International and Great South Land Minerals Limited

Page 15

SCHEDULE 7: Form of Notice of Exercise completion Event

To:

The Directors

Empire Energy Corporation International 

From:

NBD Partners Energy, South Korea

Dear Sirs,

COMPLETION EVENT FOR TRANSFER OF UNENCUMBERED 49% INTEREST

1.

I, the undersigned, duly authorise Director of NBD Partners Energy, South Korea declare that NBD Partners Energy, South Korea is lawfully entitled to an Unencumbered Interest in exchange for the advances of the First (including Facility Deposit Amount), Second and Third Tranches, totalling USD$50,000,000.00 which will be forwarded upon receipt of notice from Empire and or Great South Land Minerals Limited (as required) of the transfer of the Unencumbered Interest to NBD Partners Energy, South Korea.

2.

I provide notice that this notice of exercise is proper notice of intention and the receipt of which by Empire entitles NBD Partners Energy, South Korea to a total 49% interest in exploration licence number EL14/2009 issued by the Tasmanian Government to Great South Land Minerals Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Empire).

Yours faithfully,

Signed:

_________________________________________________________________________

For and on behalf of: _______________________________________________________________

Date:

_________________________________________________________________________

Page 16

SCHEDULE 8: INDICATIVE TERMS to joint venture

1.

The fulfilment of the obligations of the Lender to advance US$50,000,000 noted within this agreement herein are a condition precedent to the execution of the Joint Venture and Management Agreement and vesting of 49% interest in the Licence and any coal or coal seam interests at the nomination of Empire.

2.

Each party (or in the case of NBD Partners Energy, South Korea (NBD) an Australian or other registered subsidiary company) may hold an equity interest in specified percentages of an unincorporated joint venture.

3.

Royalties, taxes, operating costs, financial expenses and production expenses will be met rateably by the parties as documented within a Joint Venture and Management Agreement and may be based on their equity or respective interests.

4.

NBD Partners Energy, South Korea (NBD) will be entitled to 49% interest in the Licence (and any coal / coal seam interests at the nomination of Empire) and certain rights (subject to negotiation), in exchange for US$50,000,000 (total); which includes the First, Second and Third Tranche amounts to be advanced within 120 days of signing of this Agreement or a date otherwise to be determined with mutual consent.

5.

NBD Partners Energy, South Korea (NBD) may choose to raise the funding for its participation in the Joint Venture by way of project financing from other financial institution(s). Empire Energy (and Great South Land Minerals Limited, GSLM) agree to attempt to accommodate all reasonable requirements from the financial institution(s) in respect of security over NBDs share of the Joint Venture.

6.

On or before the advance of Option or Third Tranche representing USD$40,000,000.00 investment, NBD Partners Energy, South Korea (NBD), Empire Energy, GSLM will exercise their best endeavours and negotiate in good faith to enter into a Joint Venture and Management Agreement. A Joint Management Committee will be under management of the Joint Venture and will consist of up to 6 managers (but may commence with 2) with 50% representation from NBD and Empire/GSLM. The simple majority is adopted for all decisions of the Joint Management Committee and will be described in detail within the Joint Venture and Management Agreement.

7.

GSLM will be appointed by the Joint Venture to act as operator and to operate all identified works under the Licence (EL14/2009) or any other such licence obtained by GSLM or a related party of Empire that is recognised through this Agreement and any addendum to this agreement.

8.

The development of the Joint Venture must be carried out by the operator in accordance with the overall plan for the project and the annual programmes and budgets, in each case as decided and or approved by the Joint Venture board or management committee.

9.

If any party sells its share in the Joint Venture, the other parties will have a right of first refusal in respect of that share, details of which are documented within the proposed Joint Venture and Management Agreement.

Page 17

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