Document:

exhibit10-2.htm

Exhibit 10.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED AGENCY AGREEMENT

October 22, 2010

VISTA GOLD CORP.

7961 Shaffer Parkway, Suite 5

Littleton, CO 80127

Attention:                      Michael B. Richings, Chief Executive Officer

Dear Sirs:

Sprott Private Wealth L.P. and Wellington West Capital Markets Inc. (collectively, the “Agents”), understand that Vista Gold Corp. (“Vista” or the “Corporation”) proposes to issue and sell up to 14,676,740 special warrants (“Special Warrants”) at a price of US$2.30 per Special Warrant (the “Offering Price”) for total subscription proceeds of approximately US$33,756,502 (the “Offering”).  Each Special Warrant will entitle the holder thereof, upon deemed exercise thereof, without additional consideration, to one common share in the capital of the Corporation (a “Share”) and one common share purchase warrant (a “Warrant”), subject to adjustment, in certain circumstances as described in the certificates representing the Special Warrants (the “Special Warrant Certificate”).

 

Each Warrant will be exercisable to acquire, subject to adjustment as set out in the Warrant Indenture (as hereinafter defined), one common share in the capital of the Corporation (a “Warrant Share”) at any time from the issuance of the Warrant until 4:30 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the date (the “Expiry Date”) which is the earlier of the date that is five years after the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), and the 25th business day following the date on which the Corporation chooses to provide notice that an Acceleration Event (as hereinafter defined) has occurred, at the Exercise Price (as hereinafter defined).

 

The parties acknowledge that the Offering is subject to, among other things, approval of the shareholders of the Corporation for the issuance of the Special Warrants, the issuance of the Shares and Warrants on the deemed exercise of the Special Warrants and the issuance of the Warrant Shares issuable on the exercise of the Warrants, as required by the Toronto Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex and any other applicable authorities.

 

An amount equal to 100% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Special Warrants (the “Escrowed Amount”) will be deposited into escrow (“Escrow”) with the Special Warrant Agent (as hereinafter defined) and will be dealt with in accordance with the terms of the Special Warrants (as summarized in Section 4 hereof).

 

DEFINITIONS

In this Agreement:

 

“Acceleration Event” means any time the closing trading price of the Common Shares on the NYSE Amex is at least 35% above the then current Exercise Price of the Warrants on 15 or more consecutive trading days.

 

“Agents” has the meaning given to it in the preamble to this Agreement;

 

  

- 1 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

“Agreement” means this agreement between the Corporation and the Agents dated as of the date hereof;

 

“AIF” means the annual report on Form 10-K of the Corporation dated March 16, 2010;

 

“best of the Corporation’s knowledge” means to the best of the Corporation’s knowledge after due inquiry;

 

“Business Day” means a day which is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a statutory or civic holiday in Vancouver, British Columbia, Toronto, Ontario or Denver, Colorado;

 

“Canadian GAAP” means Canadian generally accepted accounting principles as set forth in the Handbook of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants or a successor entity, as amended from time to time;

 

“Canadian Securities Laws” means, as applicable, the securities laws, regulations, rules, instruments, rulings, orders and notices in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, the applicable policy statements issued by the securities regulators or regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada;

 

“Canadian Securities Regulators” means the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada;

 

“Closing” means the completion of the issue and sale by the Corporation of the Special Warrants;

 

“Closing Date” means October 22, 2010 or such other date as the Corporation, the Finders and the Agents may agree upon in writing;

 

“Closing Time” means 11:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on the Closing Date or such other time on the Closing Date as the Corporation, the Finder and the Agents may agree;

 

“Common Shares” means the common shares of the Corporation, which the Corporation is authorized to issue as constituted on the date hereof;

 

“Compensation Warrants” has the meaning given to it in subsection 7(b);

 

“Compensation Warrant Certificate” means the certificate representing the Compensation Warrants;

 

“Compensation Warrant Share” has the meaning given to it in subsection 7(b);

 

“Concordia Project” means the Concordia gold project located in Baja California Sur, Mexico;

 

“Corporation” means Vista Gold Corp.;

 

“Corporation’s Auditors” means Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP or such firm of chartered accountants as the Corporation may from time to time appoint as auditors of the Corporation;

 

“Disclosure Documents” means, collectively, all of the documentation which has been filed by or on behalf of the Corporation since December 31, 2009 with the relevant Canadian Securities Regulators pursuant to the requirements of applicable Canadian Securities Laws, including all press releases filed on SEDAR;

 

“Environmental Laws” has the meaning given to it in subsection 5(ff);

 

  

- 2 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

“Escrow Deadline” means 4:30 p.m. (Vancouver time) on December 15, 2010 or such other date as may be agreed to by the Agents, the Finder and the Corporation;

 

“Exercise Price” means:

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
US$3.50 at any time up to and including 4:30 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the first anniversary of the Closing Date;

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
US$4.00 at any time after the first anniversary of the Closing Date and up to and including 4:30 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the second anniversary of the Closing Date;

 

	
  

	
(iii)

	
US$4.50 at any time after the second anniversary of the Closing Date and up to and including 4:30 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the third anniversary of the Closing Date;

 

	
  

	
(iv)

	
US$5.00 at any time after the third anniversary of the Closing Date and up to and including 4:30 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the Expiry Date.

 

“Exercise Date” means, with respect to any Special Warrants, the date upon which the Special Warrants are deemed to be exercised;

 

“Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation as at and for the year ended December 31, 2009 (the “Audited Financial Statements”) and the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements as at and for the six-month period ended June 30, 2010, including the notes to such statements and, as applicable, the related auditors’ report on such statements;

 

“Finders” means, collectively, Global and SAM;

 

“Global” means Global Resource Investments, Ltd.;

 

“Global Finder’s Agreement” means the finder’s agreement dated on or about September 29, 2010 between the Corporation and Global pursuant to which Global agrees to locate and introduce the Corporation to potential Purchasers in the United States and elsewhere outside of Canada;

 

“Indemnified Party” has the meaning given to it in Section 11 of this Agreement;

 

“Leased Premises” has the meaning given to it in subsection 5(y);

 

“Meeting” means the special meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation at which the Shareholder Approval will be sought;

 

“Material Adverse Effect” when used in connection with an entity means any change, event, violation, inaccuracy, circumstance or effect that is materially adverse to the business, assets (including intangible assets), capitalization, financial condition or results of operations of such entity and its parent (if applicable) or subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

“Mining Rights” shall have the meaning given to it in subsection 5(mm) hereof;

 

“misrepresentation”, “material fact”, “material change”, “affiliate”, “associate” shall have the respective meanings given to it in the Securities Act (British Columbia);

 

“Mt. Todd Project” means the Mt. Todd gold mine located in the Northern Territory, Australia;

 

  

- 3 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

“Notice” has the meaning given to it in Section 18 of this Agreement;

 

“NYSE Amex” means NYSE Amex Equities stock exchange;

 

“Purchaser” means a purchaser of Special Warrants pursuant to the Offering;

 

“Regulation S” means Regulation S as promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act;

 

“Registration Statement” means a registration statement or statements on appropriate form under the U.S. Securities Act relating to the resale of the Shares, the Warrants, the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Compensation Warrants, and registering the issuance of Common Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants by non-original holders of the Warrants who received the Warrants upon resale pursuant to the Registration Statement;

 

“SAM” means Sprott Asset Management L.P.;

 

“SAM Finder’s Agreement” means the finder’s agreement dated on or about the date hereof between the Corporation and SAM pursuant to which SAM agrees to introduce the Corporation to certain of the investment funds managed by SAM;

 

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;

 

“Securities” means the Special Warrants, the Common Shares and Warrants issuable upon exercise of the Special Warrants and the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants;

 

“Securities Regulators” means, collectively, the Canadian Securities Regulators and the SEC;

 

“Shareholder Approval” means the passing of a resolution by the majority of the shareholders of the Corporation at a special meeting of shareholders approving the terms of the Offering;

 

“Special Warrant Agent” means Computershare Trust Company of Canada in its capacity as special warrant agent under the Special Warrant Indenture;

 

“Special Warrant Indenture” means the indenture to be dated as of the Closing Date, and to be entered into between the Corporation and the Special Warrant Agent pursuant to which the Special Warrants will be issued;

 

“Special Warrants” has the meaning given to it in the first paragraph of this Agreement;

 

“Sprott” means Sprott Private Wealth L.P.;

 

“Subscription Agreements” means collectively, the subscription agreements entered into between the Corporation and each of the Purchasers in respect of the Offering and includes all schedules thereto;

 

“Subsidiaries” means those subsidiaries set out in the AIF under the heading “Item 1. Business - Corporate Organization Chart” and “Subsidiary” means any one of them;

 

“Transfer Agent” means Computershare Investor Services Inc.;

 

“TSX” means the Toronto Stock Exchange;

 

  

- 4 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

“United States” or “U.S.” means the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any state of the United States, and the District of Columbia;

 

“U.S. Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

 

“U.S. Person” means a “U.S. person” as such term is defined in Regulation S;

 

 “U.S. Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and

 

“Warrant Agent” means Computershare Trust Company of Canada in its capacity as warrant agent under the Warrant Indenture;

 

“Warrant Indenture” means the indenture to be dated as of the Closing Date, and to be entered into between the Corporation and the Warrant Agent pursuant to which the Warrants will be issued.

 

Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, words importing only the singular number include the plural and vice versa and words importing gender include all genders. References to “Sections”, “subsections” or “clauses” are to the appropriate section, subsection or clause of this Agreement.

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

	
1.

	
The Offering and Appointment of Agents

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the terms and conditions set out below, the Corporation hereby appoints the Agents to act as its agents in Canada and the Agents hereby accept such appointment, to effect the sale, in conjunction with the Finders, of up to 14,676,740 Special Warrants for an aggregate purchase price of up to approximately US$33,756,502, on a “best efforts” basis (i) to persons resident in Canada on a private placement basis, and (ii) in such other jurisdictions as may be agreed by the Corporation provided that no prospectus filing or comparable obligation arises and the Corporation does not thereafter become subject to continuous disclosure obligations in such other jurisdictions.  The Agents agree to use best efforts to sell the Special Warrants, but it is hereby understood and agreed that the Agents shall act as agents only and are under no obligation to purchase any of the Special Warrants, although any Agent or any employee of any Agent may subscribe for Special Warrants, subject to applicable laws and applicable rules and by-laws of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, if so desired.

 

	
2.

	
Compliance with Securities Laws

 

The Corporation shall fulfil and comply with, to the satisfaction of the Agents (acting reasonably), all requirements of the Canadian Securities Laws required to be fulfilled or complied with by the Corporation to permit the creation, issuance, offering and sale of the Special Warrants through the Agents.

 

The parties acknowledge that Securities have not been and will not be registered at the time of issuance under the U.S. Securities Act or applicable state securities laws, except for the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants which may be registered at the time of issuance, and the Special Warrants may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of any persons in the United States or any U.S. Persons except pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and the applicable laws of any applicable state of the United States.

 

  

- 5 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
3.

	
Representations, Warranties, Covenants and Obligations of the Agents

 

Each Agent represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the Corporation that:

 

	
(a)

	
the Agent has complied and will comply with the Canadian Securities Laws in connection with the distribution of the Special Warrants, and shall offer the Special Warrants for sale to the public directly upon the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement.  The Agent has offered and will offer for sale to the public and sell the Special Warrants only in those jurisdictions where they may be lawfully offered for sale or sold.

 

	
(b)

	
the Agent shall distribute the Special Warrants in a manner which complies with and observes all applicable Canadian Securities Laws and will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell or deliver any Special Warrants to any person in any jurisdiction other than Canada except in a manner which will not require the Corporation to comply with the registration, prospectus, filing or other similar requirements under the applicable securities laws of such other jurisdictions.

 

	
(c)

	
The Agents, on behalf of themselves and their affiliates, has offered and will offer the Special Warrants only in “offshore transactions” in accordance with Rule 903 of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.  Accordingly, none of the Agents, their affiliates nor any person acting on their behalf: (i) has made or will make any offer to sell or any solicitation of an offer to buy, any Special Warrants to, or for that account or benefit of, any person in the United States or any U.S. Person; (ii) has made or will make any sale of Special Warrants to any purchaser unless such purchaser is not a U.S. Person nor a person within the United States and is not purchasing for the account or benefit of any person in the United States or any U.S. Person and, at the time the buy order was or will have been originated, the purchaser was outside the United States and not a U.S. Person, or the Agent, affiliate or person acting on behalf of either reasonably believed that such purchaser was outside the United States and not a U.S. Person; (iii) has engaged or will engage in any “directed selling efforts” (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) in the United States with respect to any of the Securities.

 

	
(d)

	
The Agent (i) is not a person in the United States or a U.S. Person, (ii) is not receiving the Agents’ Special Warrants, including the Common Shares and Warrants issuable upon exercise of the Agents’ Special Warrants, or the Compensation Warrants for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person, (iii) has no present intention of distributing the Agents’ Special Warrants, including the Common Shares and Warrants issuable upon exercise thereof, or the Compensation Warrants into the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, a U.S. Person or a person in the United States, and (iv) the Agents will not offer, sell, pledge or transfer, directly or indirectly, any of the Agents’ Securities, Compensation Warrants and/or Compensation Warrant Shares into the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, a U.S. Person, or a person in the United States unless pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws; and (v) the Agents will not engage in any hedging transactions in relation to the Securities, the Compensation Warrants or the Compensation Warrant Shares except in accordance with the U.S. Securities Act.

 

	
(e)

	
The Agents acknowledge that the Agents’ Special Warrants, the Warrants issuable upon exercise of the Agents’ Special Warrants and the Compensation Warrants may not be exercised by a person in the United States, a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person and the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Agent’s Special Warrants, the Warrants issuable upon exercise of the Agents’ Special Warrants, or the Compensation Warrants may not be delivered to an address in the United States unless such exercise is registered under the U.S.

 

  

- 6 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
  

	
Securities Act and any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or such exercise is pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements where the Corporation has received an opinion of legal counsel of recognized standing in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation and the Special Warrant Agent or Warrant Agent, as the case may be, to such effect.

 

	
(f)

	
The Agents acknowledge that the Securities the Compensation Warrants and the Compensation Warrant Shares will be “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act and will be subject to a “hold period” pursuant to Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act and a distribution compliance period under Regulation S during which such securities may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred except pursuant to registration under the U.S. Securities Act and in accordance with all applicable state securities laws, pursuant to the requirements of Regulation S, or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements.  The Agents acknowledges that removal of the U.S. restrictive legend pursuant to resales under Rule 904 of Regulation S is not permitted pursuant to Rule 905 of Regulation S.

 

	
(g)

	
The Agent agrees that it will send to each “distributor” (as defined in Regulation S), dealer (as defined in Section 2(a)(12) of the U.S. Securities Act), or other person who is receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration in respect of the Securities to which it sells Securities during the six months after the later of the commencement of the Offering and the date of closing of the Offering (the “Distribution Compliance Period”), a confirmation or other notice setting forth that during the Distribution Compliance Period offers and sales of the Securities within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. Persons may not be made, except in compliance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act, pursuant to registration of the Securities under the U.S. Securities Act or pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.

 

	
4.

	
Escrow

 

	
  

	
The Corporation and the Agents acknowledge and agree that an amount equal to 100% of the gross proceeds of the Offering (the “Escrowed Funds”) will be held by the Special Warrant Agent in accordance with the terms of the Special Warrant Indenture until the Meeting.  After the Meeting, the Escrowed Funds will be distributed as follows:

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
if the Shareholder Approval is obtained at the Meeting prior to the Escrow Deadline, the Escrowed Funds (together with all interest earned thereon) will be released to the Corporation; and

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
if the Shareholder Approval is not obtained prior to the Escrow Deadline, the Escrowed Funds will be returned to the Purchasers and any interest thereon will be released to the Corporation.

 

	
5.

	
Representations and Warranties of the Corporation

 

The Corporation represents and warrants to the Agents and to each of the Purchasers and their permitted assigns, that each of the following representations and warranties is true and correct on the date of this Agreement:

 

  

- 7 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
  

	
(a)

	
the Corporation and each of the Subsidiaries is a corporation duly incorporated, continued or amalgamated and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it was incorporated, continued or amalgamated, as the case may be, has all requisite corporate power and authority and is duly qualified and holds all necessary material permits, licences and authorizations necessary or required to carry on its business as now conducted and to own, lease or operate its properties and assets and no steps or proceedings have been taken by any person, voluntary or otherwise, requiring or authorizing its dissolution or winding up, and the Corporation has all requisite power and authority to enter into each of this Agreement, the Subscription Agreements, the Special Warrant Indenture and the Warrant Indenture, and to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder;

 

	
  

	
(b)

	
other than the Subsidiaries, the Corporation does not beneficially own, or exercise control or direction over, 10% or more of the outstanding voting shares of any entity;

 

	
  

	
(c)

	
all of the Subsidiaries, and the Corporation’s direct and indirect holdings and interests in each one, are as set out in the AIF under the heading “Item 1. Business – Corporate Organization Chart;

 

	
  

	
(d)

	
all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Subsidiaries are issued as fully paid shares, in each case free and clear of all mortgages, liens, charges, pledges, security interests, encumbrances, claims or demands whatsoever and no person, firm or corporation has any agreement, option, right or privilege (whether pre-emptive or contractual) capable of becoming an agreement, for the purchase from the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries of any interest in any of the shares in the capital of any of the Subsidiaries;

 

	
  

	
(e)

	
each of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Subscription Agreements, the Special Warrant Indenture and the Warrant Indenture, and the performance by the Corporation of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, the issue and sale of the Special Warrants hereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, the Subscription Agreements, the Special Warrant Indenture and the Warrant Indenture, do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a material default under (whether after notice or lapse of time or both) (A) any statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Corporation including, without limitation, Canadian Securities Laws, the rules and regulations of the TSX and NYSE Amex, and United States federal and state securities laws; (B) the constating documents, by-laws or resolutions of the Corporation which are in effect at the date hereof; (C) any mortgage, note, indenture, contract, agreement, joint venture, partnership, instrument, lease or other document to which the Corporation is a party or by which it is bound; or (D) any judgment, decree or order binding the Corporation or the Subsidiaries or the property or assets of the Corporation or the Subsidiaries;

 

	
  

	
(f)

	
none of the Corporation or any Subsidiary has approved, is contemplating, has entered into any agreement in respect of, or has any knowledge of: (A) the purchase of any property material to the Corporation or assets or any interest therein or the sale, transfer or other disposition of any property material to the Corporation or assets or any interest therein currently owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation or any Subsidiary whether by asset sale, transfer of shares or otherwise; or (B) the change of control (by sale or transfer of shares or sale of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary or otherwise) of the Corporation or any Subsidiary;

 

	
  

	
(g)

	
the Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP and, together with certifications of the Corporation’s annual filings for 2009 and 2010, present

 

  

- 8 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
  

	
fully, fairly and correctly in all material respects, the financial condition of the Corporation as at the dates thereof and the results of the operations and the changes in the financial position of the Corporation for the periods then ended and contain and reflect adequate provisions or allowance for all reasonably anticipated liabilities, expenses and losses of the Corporation and there has been no change in accounting policies or practices of the Corporation since December 31, 2009. The Financial Statements have been reconciled to the generally accepted accounting principles of the United States  in accordance with the U.S. Securities Act and the SEC’s rules and guidelines;

 

	
  

	
(h)

	
all taxes (including income tax, capital tax, payroll taxes, employer health tax, workers’ compensation payments, property taxes, custom and land transfer taxes), duties, royalties, levies, imposts, assessments, deductions, charges or withholdings and all liabilities with respect thereto including any penalty and interest payable with respect thereto (collectively, “Taxes”) due and payable by the Corporation and the Subsidiaries have been paid, except where the failure to pay such taxes would not constitute an adverse material fact in respect of the Corporation or have a Material Adverse Effect on the Corporation.  All tax returns, declarations, remittances and filings required to be filed by the Corporation and the Subsidiaries have been filed with all appropriate governmental authorities and all such returns, declarations, remittances and filings are complete and accurate and no material fact or facts have been omitted therefrom which would make any of them misleading, except where such failure would not constitute an adverse material fact in respect of the Corporation or have a Material Adverse Effect on the Corporation.  To the best of the knowledge of the Corporation, no examination of any tax return of the Corporation or any Subsidiary is currently in progress and there are no issues or disputes outstanding with any governmental authority respecting any taxes that have been paid, or may be payable, by the Corporation or any Subsidiary, in any case, except where such examinations, issues or disputes would not constitute an adverse material fact in respect of the Corporation or have a Material Adverse Effect on the Corporation;

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
the Corporation’s Auditors are independent public accountants as required by the U.S. Securities Act and the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and are independent with respect to the Corporation under applicable Canadian Securities Laws and there has never been a reportable disagreement (within the meaning of National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure) between the Corporation and its Auditors;

 

	
  

	
(j)

	
the Corporation has established and maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the U.S. Exchange Act) and “internal controls over financial reporting” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the 1934 Act); such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Corporation, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer by others within those entities, and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to perform the functions for which they were established; and the Corporation has taken all reasonably necessary actions to ensure that, the Corporation and the Subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors, in their capacities as such, will be in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;

 

	
  

	
(k)

	
the Corporation maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s

 

  

- 9 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences;

 

	
  

	
(l)

	
the Corporation is in compliance with the certification requirements with respect to the Corporation’s annual and interim filings with the Canadian Securities Regulators;

 

	
  

	
(m)

	
the audit committee of the Corporation is comprised and operates in accordance with the requirements of National Instrument 52-110 – Audit Committees of the Canadian Securities Administrators;

 

	
  

	
(n)

	
the Corporation is a reporting issuer not in default for purposes of Canadian Securities Laws in jurisdictions which recognize the concept of reporting issuer status. Further, the Corporation is not an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 of the U.S. Securities Act) as of the eligibility determination date for purposes of Rules 164 and 433 under the U.S. Securities Act with respect to the Offering.

 

	
  

	
(o)

	
as at the Closing Date, except as contemplated by this Agreement and as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, other than restricted stock units (“RSU”) and stock options issued to employees and executive officers of the Corporation during the last fiscal quarter, no holder of outstanding shares in the capital of the Corporation will be entitled to any pre-emptive or any similar rights to subscribe for any Common Shares or other securities of the Corporation and no rights, warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares in the capital of the Corporation are outstanding;

 

	
  

	
(p)

	
except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, no legal or governmental proceedings or inquiries are pending to which the Corporation, or any of its Subsidiaries, is a party or to which its property is subject that would result in the revocation or modification of any material certificate, authority, permit or license necessary to conduct the business now owned or operated by the Corporation and its Subsidiaries which, if the subject of an unfavourable decision, ruling or finding would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Corporation and, to the best of the Corporation’s knowledge, no such legal or governmental proceedings or inquiries have been threatened against or are contemplated with respect to the Corporation or its Subsidiaries or with respect to their properties;

 

	
  

	
(q)

	
none of the Corporation nor its Subsidiaries is in violation of its constating documents or in default in the performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, trust deed, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or its property may be bound;

 

	
  

	
(r)

	
the Corporation and each of its Subsidiaries owns or has the right to use under license, sub-license or otherwise all material intellectual property used by the Corporation and its Subsidiaries in its business, including copyrights, industrial designs, trade marks, trade secrets, know how and proprietary rights, free and clear of any and all encumbrances;

 

	
  

	
(s)

	
any and all of the agreements and other documents and instruments pursuant to which the Corporation and its Subsidiaries hold the property and assets thereof (including any

 

  

- 10 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

interest in, or right to earn an interest in, any property) are valid and subsisting agreements, documents or instruments in full force and effect, enforceable in accordance with the terms thereof, neither the Corporation nor any Subsidiary is in default of any of the provisions of any such agreements, documents or instruments nor has any such default been alleged that, in each case could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Corporation, and such properties and assets are in good standing under the applicable statutes and regulations of the jurisdictions in which they are situated and all leases, licences and claims pursuant to which the Corporation or any Subsidiary derive the interests thereof in such property and assets are in good standing and there has been no default under any such lease, licence or claim that could reasonably be expected to have a Materially Adverse Effect on the Corporation.  None of the properties (or any interest in, or right to earn an interest in, any property) of the Corporation or any Subsidiary is subject to any right of first refusal or purchase or acquisition right;

 

	
  

	
(t)

	
each of this Agreement, the Subscription Agreements, the Special Warrant Indenture and the Warrant Indenture has been or will be duly authorized and executed and delivered by the Corporation and constitutes or will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Corporation enforceable against the Corporation in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and except as limited by the application of equitable principals when equitable remedies are sought, and by the fact that rights to indemnity, contribution and waiver, and the ability to sever unenforceable terms, may be limited by applicable law;

 

	
  

	
(u)

	
at the Closing Time, all necessary corporate action will have been taken by the Corporation (i) to allot and authorize the creation, issuance and sale of the Special Warrants, (ii) to allot and authorize the creation and issuance of the Warrants and the Compensation Warrants, (iii) to allot and reserve for issuance, the Shares upon the deemed exercise of the Special Warrants, Warrant Shares upon the due exercise of the Warrants and Compensation Warrant Shares upon the due exercise of the Compensation Warrants;

 

	
  

	
(v)

	
no order or ruling suspending the sale or ceasing the trading in any securities of the Corporation (including the Special Warrants) has been issued by any securities regulatory authority and is continuing in effect and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the best knowledge of the Corporation, are pending, contemplated or threatened by any regulatory authority;

 

	
  

	
(w)

	
the authorized capital of the Corporation consists of an unlimited number of Common Shares and an unlimited number of preferred shares, which, as at the close of business on September 28, 2010, (i) 46,596,708 Common Shares and no preferred shares were issued and outstanding as fully paid and non-assessable shares in the capital of the Corporation, and (ii) 177,500 RSUs, 2,563,661 stock options and 200,000 warrants were issued and outstanding;

 

	
  

	
(x)

	
the Corporation has not made any loans to or guaranteed the obligations of any person other than the Subsidiaries;

 

	
  

	
(y)

	
with respect to each premises of the Corporation or its Subsidiaries which is material to the Corporation and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and which the Corporation or

 

  

- 11 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
  

	
any of its Subsidiaries occupies as tenant (the “Leased Premises”), the Corporation or such Subsidiary occupies the Leased Premises and has the exclusive right to occupy and use the Leased Premises and each of the leases pursuant to which the Corporation and/or its Subsidiaries occupies the Leased Premises is in good standing and in full force and effect;

 

	
  

	
(z)

	
the Corporation and each Subsidiary is in compliance with all laws respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, pay equity and wages, except where non-compliance with such laws could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Corporation or any Subsidiary, and has not and is not engaged in any unfair labour practice;

 

	
  

	
(aa)

	
no labour dispute with the employees of the Corporation or any Subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Corporation, is imminent, and the Corporation is not aware of any existing or imminent labour disturbance by the employees of any of its or any Subsidiary’s principal suppliers, manufacturers or contractors, which, in either case, may reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

	
  

	
(bb)

	
except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, to the best knowledge of the Corporation, none of the directors, officers or employees of the Corporation or any associate or affiliate of any of the foregoing had or has any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction or any proposed transaction with the Corporation or its Subsidiaries which, as the case may be, materially affects, is material to or will materially affect the Corporation;

 

	
  

	
(cc)

	
the assets of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries and their business and operations are insured against loss or damage with responsible insurers on a basis consistent with insurance obtained by reasonably prudent participants in comparable businesses, and such coverage is in full force and effect, and the Corporation has not failed to promptly give any notice of any material claim thereunder;

 

	
  

	
(dd)

	
the Transfer Agent at its principal offices in Vancouver and Toronto has been duly appointed as registrar and transfer agent for the Common Shares;

 

	
  

	
(ee)

	
the minute books of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries for the periods from their respective dates of incorporation to the date hereof are all of the minute books of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, respectively, and contain copies of all material proceedings (or certified copies thereof or drafts thereof pending approval) of the shareholders, the directors and all committees of directors of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries to the date of review of such corporate records and minute books and there have been no other meetings, resolutions or proceedings of the shareholders, directors or any committees of the directors of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries to the date hereof not reflected in such minute books and other records on a consolidated basis;

 

	
  

	
(ff)

	
to the best of the Corporation’s knowledge, neither the Corporation nor any of its Subsidiaries has been in material violation of, in connection with the ownership, use, maintenance or operation of its property and assets, including the Leased Premises, any applicable federal, provincial, state, municipal or local laws, by-laws, regulations, orders, policies, permits, licences, certificates or approvals having the force of law, domestic or foreign, relating to environmental, health or safety matters (collectively the

 

  

- 12 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
  

	
“Environmental Laws”) which would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Corporation;

 

	
  

	
(gg)

	
without limiting the generality of subsection (ff) immediately above, the Corporation and each of its Subsidiaries, do not have any knowledge of, and have not received any notice of, any material claim, judicial or administrative proceeding, pending or threatened against, or which may affect, either the Corporation or any Subsidiary or any of the property, assets or operations thereof, relating to, or alleging any violation of any Environmental Laws, the Corporation is not aware of any facts which could give rise to any such claim or judicial or administrative proceeding and neither the Corporation nor any Subsidiary nor any of the property, assets or operations thereof is the subject of any investigation, evaluation, audit or review by any governmental authority (which term means and includes, without limitation, any national, federal government, province, state, municipality or other political subdivision of any of the foregoing, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled (through stock or capital ownership or otherwise) by any of the foregoing) to determine whether any violation of any Environmental Laws has occurred or is occurring or whether any remedial action is needed in connection with a release of any contaminant into the environment, except for compliance investigations conducted in the normal course by any governmental authority, in each case which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Corporation;

 

	
  

	
(hh)

	
there are no orders, rulings or directives issued, pending or, to the best of the Corporation’s knowledge threatened against the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries under or pursuant to any Environmental Laws requiring any work, repairs, construction or capital expenditures with respect to the property or assets of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries (including the Leased Premises) which would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Corporation;

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
to the best of the Corporation’s knowledge, the Corporation and its Subsidiaries are not subject to any contingent or other liabilities relating to the restoration or rehabilitation of land, water or any other part of the environment (except for those derived from normal exploration or mining activities including requirements to post bonds to underwrite the cost of rehabilitation) or non-compliance with Environmental Laws which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Corporation;

 

	
  

	
(jj)

	
other than Global pursuant to the Global Finder’s Agreement and SAM pursuant to the this Agreement, there is no person acting or purporting to act at the request or on behalf of the Corporation that is entitled to any brokerage or finder’s fee in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

	
  

	
(kk)

	
except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, each of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries holds all requisite licences, registrations, qualifications, permits and consents necessary or appropriate for carrying on its business as currently carried on and all such licences, registrations, qualifications, permits and consents are valid and subsisting and in good standing in all material respects except where the failure to hold such licences, registrations, qualifications, permits and consents would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Corporation.  In particular, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, neither the Corporation nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or adverse modification of any material mining or exploration permit or licence, nor have any of

 

  

- 13 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
  

	
them received notice of the revocation or cancellation of, or any intention to revoke or cancel, any mining claims, groups of claims, exploration rights, concessions or leases with respect to any of the Corporation’s resource properties where such revocation or cancellation would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Corporation;

 

	
  

	
(ll)

	
except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, the Corporation and the Subsidiaries are the absolute legal and beneficial owners of, and have good and marketable title to, all of the material property or assets thereof as described in the Disclosure Documents, and no other Mining Rights (as defined below) are necessary for the conduct of the business of the Corporation or any Subsidiary as currently conducted, none of the Corporation or any Subsidiary knows of any claim or the basis for any claim that might or could materially and adversely affect the right thereof to use, transfer or otherwise exploit such Mining Rights and, none of the Corporation or any Subsidiary has any responsibility or obligation to pay any material commission, royalty, license fee or similar payment to any person with respect to the Mining Rights thereof;

 

	
  

	
(mm)

	
the Corporation and its Subsidiaries hold either freehold title, mining leases, mining concessions, mining claims or participating interests or other conventional property or proprietary interests or rights, recognized in the jurisdiction in which a particular property described in the Disclosure Documents is located (collectively, “Mining Rights”), in respect of the ore bodies and minerals located in properties in which the Corporation and the Subsidiaries have an interest as described in the Disclosure Documents under valid, subsisting and enforceable title documents or other recognized and enforceable agreements or instruments, sufficient to permit the Corporation or the applicable Subsidiary to explore the minerals relating thereto; all property, leases or claims in which the Corporation or any Subsidiary has an interest or right have been validly located and recorded in accordance in all material respects with all applicable laws and are valid and subsisting except where the failure to be so would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Corporation; and each of the proprietary interests or rights and each of the documents, agreements and instruments and obligations relating thereto referred to above is currently in good standing in the name of the Corporation or a Subsidiary except where the failure to be so would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Corporation;

 

	
  

	
(nn)

	
the definitive form of certificate representing the Common Shares is in proper form under the laws of Yukon, complies with the requirements of the TSX and NYSE Amex and does not conflict with the constating documents of the Corporation;

 

	
  

	
(oo)

	
since the date of the most recent Financial Statements, the Corporation has not declared or paid any dividends or declared or made any other payments or distributions on or in respect of any of its shares and has not, directly or indirectly, redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired any of its shares or agreed to do so or otherwise effected any return of capital with respect to such shares;

 

	
  

	
(pp)

	
the Corporation is not in default in any material respect of any requirement of Securities Laws, applicable securities laws in the United States, the TSX or NYSE Amex and the Corporation is not included in a list of defaulting reporting issuers maintained by the Canadian Securities Regulators;

 

	
  

	
(qq)

	
all disclosure filings required to be made by the Corporation pursuant to Canadian Securities Laws, applicable securities laws in the United States, and the rules and regulations of the TSX and NYSE Amex have been made and such disclosure and filings

 

  

- 14 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
  

	
were true and accurate as at the respective dates thereof and the Corporation has not filed any confidential material change reports;

 

	
  

	
(rr)

	
the Corporation is not aware of any legislation, or proposed legislation (published by a legislative body), which it anticipates will materially and adversely affect the business, affairs, operations, assets, liabilities (contingent or otherwise) or prospects of the Corporation and the Subsidiaries, considered as a whole;

 

	
  

	
(ss)

	
none of the Corporation, any Subsidiary or, to the Corporation’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries has, directly or indirectly, while acting on behalf of the Corporation or its Subsidiaries,: (i) used any corporate funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds; (iii) violated any provision of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (Canada) or the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (United States) or similar legislation; or (iv) made any other unlawful payment. The operations of the Corporation and each Subsidiary are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial record-keeping and reporting requirements of the United States Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statues of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Corporation or any subsidiary with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Corporation, threatened. Neither the Corporation nor any subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of the Corporation, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Corporation or any Subsidiary is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”), and the Corporation will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC;

 

	
  

	
(tt)

	
None of the Corporation, its affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Agents, their affiliates and any person acting on their behalf, as to whom the Corporation makes no representation), has engaged or will engage in any “directed selling efforts” (as defined in Regulation S) in the United States with respect to any of the Securities;

 

	
  

	
(uu)

	
The Corporation is not, and following the application of the proceeds of the sale of the Securities will not be, an “investment company,” as such term is defined under the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, under such Act;

 

	
  

	
(vv)

	
None of the Corporation, its affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Agents, their affiliates  and any person acting on their behalf, as to whom the Corporation makes no representation), have taken, or will take, any action that would cause the exemption from registration provided by Rule 506 of Regulation D or the exclusion from registration provided by Rule 903 of Regulation S, to be unavailable for

 

  

- 15 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
  

	
the offer or sale of the Special Warrants pursuant to the Global Finder’s Agreement or this Agreement;

 

	
  

	
(ww)

	
In connection with offers and sales of Special Warrants made to, or for the account or benefit of, persons outside the United States and non-U.S. Persons, the Corporation, its affiliates and any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Agents, their affiliates and any person acting on their behalf, as to whom the Corporation makes no representation) have complied and will comply with the requirements for an “offshore transaction,” as such term is defined in Regulation S;

 

	
  

	
(xx)

	
None of the Corporation, its affiliates, or any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Agents, their affiliates and any person acting on their behalf, as to whom the Corporation makes no representation) has taken or will take any action that would constitute a violation of Regulation M under the U.S. Exchange Act in connection with the offer or sale of the Special Warrants; and

 

	
  

	
(yy)

	
The Corporation is currently eligible to file a Registration Statement on Form S-3, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to remain eligible to use such Form.

 

	
6.

	
Covenants of the Corporation

 

The Corporation hereby covenants to the Agents and to each of the Purchasers and their permitted assigns, and acknowledges that each of them is relying on such covenants in purchasing the Special Warrants, that the Corporation shall:

 

	
  

	
(a)

	
duly execute the Subscription Agreements which have been duly completed by the Purchasers, the Special Warrant Indenture and the Warrant Indenture, and duly and punctually perform all the obligations to be performed by it under this Agreement, the Subscription Agreements, the Special Warrant Indenture and the Warrant Indenture;

 

	
  

	
(b)

	
fulfil or cause to be fulfilled, at or prior to the Closing Date, each of the conditions required to be fulfilled by it pursuant to this Agreement;

 

	
  

	
(c)

	
use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the approval of the TSX and NYSE Amex to list the Shares, Warrant Shares and Compensation Warrant Shares on such stock exchanges on that date which is four months and one day after the Closing Date, subject only to standard listing conditions in respect of the TSX and subject only to official notice of issuance if required in respect of NYSE Amex;

 

	
  

	
(d)

	
use commercially reasonable efforts obtain the approval of the TSX to list the Warrants on such stock exchange on that date which is four months and one day after the Closing Dates, subject only to the standard listing conditions of the TSX;

 

	
  

	
(e)

	
fulfil all legal requirements to permit the creation, issuance, offering and sale of the Special Warrants as contemplated in this Agreement and file or cause to be filed all documents, applications, forms or undertakings reasonably required to be filed by the Corporation and take or cause to be taken all action reasonably required to be taken by the Corporation in connection with the purchase and sale of the Special Warrants so that the distribution of the Special Warrants may lawfully occur by way of exemption from

 

  

- 16 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
  

	
the requirement to file a prospectus in Canada or a Registration Statement in the United States or similar document in any other jurisdiction;

 

	
  

	
(f)

	
until the Exercise Date shall have occurred, use commercial reasonable efforts to promptly provide to the Agents and the Finder, prior to the publication, filing or issuance thereof, any communication to the public;

 

	
  

	
(g)

	
ensure that the Special Warrants and Compensation Warrants when issued on the Closing Date contain all material attributes substantially in the form described in this Agreement and that the Shares and Warrants, the Warrant Shares and the Compensation Warrant Shares duly reserved and allotted for issuance upon the due exercise of the Special Warrants, Warrants or Compensation Warrants, as the case may be, in accordance with their terms;

 

	
  

	
(h)

	
ensure that the Special Warrants (upon payment therefor), the Shares and Warrants (upon the deemed exercise of the Special Warrants), the Compensation Warrants, the Warrant Shares (upon due exercise of the Warrants) and the Compensation Warrant Shares (upon due exercise of the Compensation Warrants) will be validly issued as fully paid and non-assessable securities in the capital of the Corporation;

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
comply with each of the covenants of the Corporation set out in the Subscription Agreements, the Special Warrant Indenture and the Warrant Indenture;

 

	
  

	
(j)

	
use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, at or prior to the Escrow Deadline, the Shareholder Approval; and

 

	
  

	
(k)

	
use commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement filed and declared effective by the SEC within four months of the date that the Shareholder Approval is obtained and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the earlier of (i) the date that is six months after the Expiry Date and (ii) the date on which all the Warrants have been exercised, and all the Common Shares not initially issued upon exercise of the Warrants pursuant to the  Registration Statement that were issued to the original Purchasers of the Warrants upon exercise of such Warrants have been resold, either pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise pursuant to Rule 144 under U.S. Securities Act or are no longer held by such original Purchaser, provided that the Corporation will in no way be liable or responsible to the Purchaser if notwithstanding such efforts such effectiveness does not occur within the foregoing time period or at all.

 

	
  

	
(l)

	
use commercially reasonable efforts to apply to the SEC for exemptive relief in relation to the Corporation’s late filing of its Current Report on Form 8-K on May 11, 2010 to enable the Corporation to file the Registration Statement on Form S-3, if the Corporation otherwise meets the requirements of that form on the date it files the Registration Statement.

 

  

- 17 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
7.

	
Fees and Expenses

 

	
  

	
(a)

	
In consideration of the services rendered by the Agents in connection with the Offering, the Corporation agrees to issue to the Agents that number of Special Warrants equal to 5% of the aggregate number of Special Warrants sold by the Agents to Purchasers pursuant to the Offering (excluding, for greater certainty, any Special Warrants placed by the Finders or issued to the Finders in respect of fees payable to the Finders).

 

	
  

	
(b)

	
The Corporation also agrees to issue to the Agents that number of compensation warrants (“Compensation Warrants”) equal to 5% of the aggregate number of Special Warrants sold by the Agents to Purchasers pursuant to the Offering (excluding, for greater certainty, any Special Warrants placed by the Finders or issued to the Finders in respect of fees payable to the Finders). Each Compensation Warrant shall be exercisable for one Common Share (a “Compensation Warrant Share”) at a price of US$2.30 for a period of two years following the Closing Date.

 

	
  

	
(c)

	
The Corporation shall reimburse the Agents for, all reasonable fees and disbursements of the Agent’s legal counsel as well as all reasonable “out-of-pocket” expenses of the Agents (the “Agents’ Expenses”).

 

	
8.

	
Closing Deliveries

 

The purchase and sale of the Special Warrants shall be completed at the Closing Time concurrently at the offices of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver, British Columbia and Heenan Blaikie LLP, Toronto, Ontario or at such other place or places as the Agents, the Finders and the Corporation may agree upon.  At the Closing Time, the Corporation shall duly and validly deliver to the Agents and the Finders definitive certificates representing the Special Warrants, registered in the name or names as directed by Sprott on behalf of the Agents and the Finders not less than one Business Day prior to the Closing Time, against payment by the Agents and the Finders to the Special Warrant Agent of the aggregate purchase price for the Special Warrants to the Corporation, by certified cheque or wire transfer.

 

	
9.

	
Closing Conditions

 

The Agents’ obligation to complete the Closing at the Closing Time shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Corporation contained in this Agreement as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, the performance by the Corporation of its obligations under this Agreement in all material respects and the following conditions:

 

	
  

	
(a)

	
The Agents shall have received at the Closing Time a legal opinion dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel to the Agents, acting reasonably, addressed to the Agents from Canadian counsel to the Corporation, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, as to the laws of Canada and each Canadian province or territory where Special Warrants are sold, which counsel in turn may rely upon the opinions of local counsel where they deem such reliance proper as to the laws other than those of Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec and as to matters of fact, on certificates of the Corporation’s Auditors, the Transfer Agent, public officials and officers of the Corporation and correspondence with public and stock exchange officials with respect to the following matters:

 

  

- 18 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
that the Corporation is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Yukon Territory, with the corporate power and authority under such law to conduct its business;

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
the authorized and issued capital of the Corporation immediately prior to the Closing Date;

 

	
  

	
(iii)

	
that the Corporation (a) has the corporate power to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, the Subscription Agreements, the Warrant Indenture and the Special Warrant Indenture, and (b) has taken all corporate action necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Subscription Agreements, the Warrant Indenture and the Special Warrant Indenture;

 

	
  

	
(iv)

	
the execution and delivery by the Corporation of each of this Agreement the Subscription Agreements, the Warrant Indenture and the Special Warrant Indenture do not, and the performance by the Corporation of its obligations thereunder will not, (a) result in a violation of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws or (b) result in a violation of the applicable laws of the Yukon Territory or the federal laws of Canada applicable therein;

 

	
  

	
(v)

	
that the Special Warrants, Warrants and Compensation Warrants have been duly authorized by the Corporation and, when issued and delivered upon the due exercise of the Special Warrants, Warrants or Compensation Warrants, as the case may be, the Shares, Warrant Shares and Compensation Warrant Shares, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;

 

	
  

	
(vi)

	
that the Transfer Agent at its principal offices in Vancouver and Toronto has been duly appointed as transfer agent and registrar for the Common Shares;

 

	
  

	
(vii)

	
that Computershare Trust Company of Canada has been duly appointed as special warrant agent under the Special Warrant Indenture and as warrant agent under the Warrant Indenture;

 

	
  

	
(viii)

	
that the offering, issue, sale and delivery of the Special Warrants by the Corporation to the Purchasers in accordance with the Subscription Agreement, and of the Compensation Warrants to the Agents, has been effected in such a manner as to be exempt, either by statute, regulation, instrument or order, from the prospectus requirements of the applicable Canadian Securities Laws and no prospectus is required, no other document will be required to be filed, no proceeding will be required to be taken and no approval, permit, consent, order or authorization of any regulatory authority will be required to be obtained under the applicable Canadian Securities Laws to permit the offering, issue, sale and delivery of the Special Warrants to the Purchasers and the Compensation Warrants to the Agents; it being noted however that the Corporation is required to file with the applicable Canadian Securities Regulators within 10 days of the date of issue and sale of the Special Warrants (i) a report prepared and executed in accordance with Form 45-106F1 prescribed by NI 45-106 in respect of Special Warrants purchased by Purchasers in reliance on registration exemptions contained in NI 45-106, (ii) the applicable fee, if any, and (iii) in the case of British Columbia a fee checklist in Form 11-901F, if applicable;

 

  

- 19 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
  

	
(ix)

	
that the issue of the Shares and Warrants upon the deemed exercise of the Special Warrants, the Warrant Shares upon the due exercise of the Warrants and of the Compensation Warrant Shares upon the due exercise of the Compensation Warrants in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof will be exempt from the prospectus requirements of the applicable Canadian Securities Laws and no prospectus is required, no other document will be required to be filed, no proceeding will be required to be taken and no approval, permit, consent, order or authorization of any regulatory authority will be required to be obtained under the applicable Canadian Securities Laws to permit the issuance by the Corporation of the Shares and Warrants upon the deemed exercise of the Special Warrants, the Warrant Shares upon the due exercise of the Warrants and the Compensation Warrant Shares upon the due exercise of the Compensation Warrants.

 

	
  

	
(x)

	
that the first trade by a holder of the Special Warrants, Shares, Warrants and/or the Warrant Shares, or by the Agents of the Compensation Warrant Shares, other than a trade which is otherwise exempt under the applicable Canadian Securities Laws, will be deemed to be a distribution and subject to the prospectus requirements of the applicable Canadian Securities Laws, unless:

 

	
  

	
(a)

	
the Corporation is and has been a reporting issuer in a jurisdiction of Canada for the four months immediately preceding such first trade,

 

	
  

	
(b)

	
at the time of such first trade at least four months have elapsed from the date of issue of the Special Warrants or the Compensation Warrants, as the case may be,

 

	
  

	
(c)

	
the certificates representing the Special Warrants or the Compensation Warrants and if issued prior to that date which is four month and one day following the Closing Date, the Shares, Warrants, Warrant Shares or Compensation Warrant Shares, as the case may be, bear the legend prescribed under clause 2.5(2)3 of National Instrument 45-102 Resale of Securities of the Canadian Securities Administrators (“NI 45-102”),

 

	
  

	
(d)

	
the trade is not a “control distribution” as such term is defined in section 1.1 of NI 45-102,

 

	
  

	
(e)

	
no unusual effort is made to prepare the market or to create a demand for the security that is the subject of the trade,

 

	
  

	
(f)

	
no extraordinary commission or consideration is paid to a person or company in respect of the trade, and

 

	
  

	
(g)

	
if the selling security holder is an insider or officer of the Corporation, the selling security holder has no reasonable grounds to believe that the Corporation is in default of applicable Canadian Securities Laws; and

	
  

	
(xi)

	
as to all other legal matters reasonably requested by counsel to the Agents relating to the distribution of the Special Warrants.

 

  

- 20 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
  

	
(b)

	
The Agents shall have received at the Closing Time a title opinion of local counsel in Australia and Mexico dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel to the Agents, acting reasonably, addressed to the Agents, the Finders and Purchasers in respect of the Mt. Todd Project and Concordia Project, respectively.

 

	
  

	
(c)

	
The Agents shall have received at the Closing Time an opinion of Dorsey Whitney LLP dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel to the Agents, acting reasonably, addressed to the Agents to the effect that no registration under the U.S. Securities Act is required in respect of the Offering in the United States pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the issuance of the Securities.

 

	
  

	
(d)

	
The Agents shall have received at the Closing Time certificates dated the Closing Date, addressed to the Agents and counsel to the Agents and signed by appropriate officers of the Corporation, with respect to the articles and by-laws of the Corporation, all resolutions of the board of directors of the Corporation relating to this Agreement, the incumbency and specimen signatures of signing officers of the Corporation and with respect to such other matters as the Agents may reasonably request.

 

	
  

	
(e)

	
The Agents shall have received at the Closing Time a certificate or certificates dated the Closing Date, addressed to the Agents and counsel to the Agents and signed on behalf of the Corporation by the Chief Executive Officer and by the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation or other officers of the Corporation acceptable to the Agents, certifying for and on behalf of the Corporation after having made due enquiry, that:

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
since the date of the Audited Financial Statements (A) there has been no material change (actual, anticipated, contemplated, proposed or threatened, whether financial or otherwise) in the business, financial condition, affairs, operations, business prospects, assets, liabilities or obligations (contingent or otherwise) or capital of the Corporation, and (B) no transaction has been entered into by either of the Corporation which is material to the Corporation, other than as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents;

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
there are no contingent liabilities affecting the Corporation which are material to the Corporation, other than as disclosed in this Agreement;

 

	
  

	
(iii)

	
no order, ruling or determination having the effect of suspending the sale or ceasing the trading of the Common Shares or any other securities of the Corporation has been issued by any regulatory authority and is continuing in effect and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of such officers, contemplated or threatened under any of the Canadian Securities Laws or by any other regulatory authority;

 

	
  

	
(iv)

	
the Corporation has complied with and satisfied in all material respects the covenants, terms and conditions of this Agreement on its part to be complied with and satisfied up to the Closing Time;

 

	
  

	
(v)

	
the representations and warranties of the Corporation contained in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date

 

  

- 21 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
  

	
with the same force and effect as if made at and as of the Closing Time after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

 

	
  

	
(vi)

	
such other matters as the Agents may reasonably request.

 

	
  

	
(f)

	
The Agents shall not identified any material adverse changes or misrepresentations or any items materially adversely affecting the Corporation’s affairs which exist as of the date hereof but which have not been widely disseminated to the public.

 

	
10.

	
Rights of Termination

 

This Agreement may be terminated in the discretion of the Agents by written notice to the Corporation given prior to the Closing Time in the event that:

 

	
  

	
(a)

	
the Corporation is in material breach of any term, condition, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or any representation or warranty given by the Corporation in this Agreement is determined to have been untrue, false or misleading in any material way as of the date upon which such was given; or

 

	
  

	
(b)

	
at or prior to the Closing Time:

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
there shall have occurred any adverse material change or there shall be discovered any previously undisclosed adverse material fact in relation to the Corporation; or

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
there shall have occurred any change in the Canadian Securities Laws or any inquiry, investigation or other proceeding is made or any order is issued under or pursuant to any statute of Canada or any province thereof or any statute of the United States or any state thereof or any stock exchange in relation to the Corporation or any of its securities (except for any inquiry, investigation or other proceeding based upon activities of the Agents and not upon activities of the Corporation);

 

which, in the opinion of the Agents, prevents or restricts trading in or the distribution of the Special Warrants or the Common Shares or adversely affects or would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the market price or value of the Common Shares; or

 

	
  

	
(iii)

	
there should develop, occur or come into effect or existence any event, action, state, condition or major financial occurrence or catastrophe of national or international consequence or any law or regulation which, in the reasonable opinion of the Agents, seriously adversely affects or involves, or will seriously adversely affect or involve, the financial markets or the business, operations or affairs of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

	
  

	
(iv)

	
a cease trading order is made by any securities regulator or other competent authority by reason of the fault of the Corporation or its directors, officers or agents and such cease trading order is not rescinded within 48 hours;

 

	
  

	
(v)

	
the state of the financial markets where the Special Warrants are marketed is such that in the opinion of the Agents, acting reasonably, it would be unprofitable to offer the Special Warrants for sale; or

 

  

- 22 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
  

	
(vi)

	
the Agents identify a material adverse fact with respect to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or the Special Warrants which existed as of the date hereof but which had not been disclosed to the Agents.

 

The rights of termination contained herein may be exercised by the Agents and are in addition to any other rights or remedies the Agents may have in respect of any default, act or failure to act or non-compliance by the Corporation in respect of any of the matters contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise.  In the event of any such termination, there shall be no further liability on the part of the Agents to the Corporation or on the part of the Corporation to the Agents except in respect of any liability which may have arisen prior to or arise after such termination under any of Sections 11 or 12.

 

	
11.

	
Indemnity

 

	
  

	
(a)

	
The Corporation covenants and agrees to indemnify and save harmless each of the Agents and their respective affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, employees, shareholders and agents (collectively, “Agents’ Personnel”), against all losses (other than loss of profits), claims, damages, liabilities, and reasonable costs or expenses, whether joint or several, caused or incurred by reason of or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby including, without limitation, the following:

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
the omission or alleged omission to state in any certificate of the Corporation or of any officer of the Corporation delivered in connection with the Offering any material fact required to be stated therein where such omission or alleged omission constitutes or is alleged to constitute a misrepresentation;

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
the non-compliance or alleged non-compliance by the Corporation with any material requirement of applicable securities laws, including the Corporation’s non-compliance with any statutory requirement to make any document available for inspection; and

 

	
  

	
(iii)

	
a material breach of any representation, warranty or covenant of the Corporation contained in this Agreement to be entered into in connection with the Offering or the failure of the Corporation to comply in all material respects with any of its obligations hereunder or thereunder,

 

and will reimburse the Agents and any Agents’ Personnel promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions in respect thereof, as incurred.

The Corporation shall not, without the prior written consent of the Agents, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Agent or any of the Agents’ Personnel are a party to such claim, action, suit or proceeding), unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of the Agents and Agents’ Personnel from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an indemnifying party shall not be liable for the settlement of any claim or action in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

  

- 23 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
  

	
(b)

	
If any matter or thing contemplated by this indemnity shall be asserted against any party in respect of which indemnification is or might reasonably be considered to be provided (an "Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party will notify the Corporation as soon as possible and in any event on a timely basis, of the nature of such claim, provide copies of relevant documentation, keep the Corporation advised of the progress thereof and discuss with the Corporation any significant actions proposed.  The Corporation shall be entitled (but not required) to assume the defence of any suit brought to enforce such claim; provided, however, that the defence shall be through legal counsel acceptable to the Indemnified Party, acting reasonably, and that no settlement may be made by the Corporation or the Indemnified Party without the prior written consent of the other, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.

 

	
  

	
(c)

	
The indemnity in paragraph (a) shall not apply to the extent that: (i) such Indemnified Party has been negligent or has committed wilful misconduct or any fraudulent act in the course of its performance of professional services rendered under this Agreement; or (ii) such losses, expenses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Indemnified Party may be subject were caused by the negligence, wilful misconduct or fraudulent act of the Indemnified Party.

 

	
  

	
(d)

	
In any claim, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain other counsel to act on the Indemnified Party's behalf, provided that the fees and disbursements of such other counsel reasonably incurred shall be paid by the Indemnified Party, unless (i) the Corporation and the Indemnified Party mutually agree to retain such other counsel, (ii) the Corporation fails to appoint counsel to act on behalf of the Indemnified Party in respect of such claim within a reasonable period of time, or (iii) the named parties to any such claim (including any third or implicated party) include both the Indemnified Party on the one hand and the Corporation, on the other hand, and the representation of the Corporation and the Indemnified Party by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential conflicting interests. In the event that the Indemnified Party retains other counsel to act on the Indemnified Party's behalf in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, the fees and disbursements of such other counsel shall be paid by the Corporation to the extent that they have been reasonably incurred.

 

	
  

	
(e)

	
With respect to any Indemnified Party who is not a party to this Agreement, it is the intention of the Corporation to constitute Sprott as trustee for such Indemnified Party of the rights and benefits of this Section and Sprott agrees to accept such trust and to hold the rights and benefits of this Section in trust for an on behalf of such Indemnified Party.

 

	
12.

	
Contribution

 

	
  

	
(a)

	
Contribution by Corporation

 

In order to provide for a just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnity provided in Section 11 would otherwise be available in accordance with its terms but is, for any reason (other than the occurrence of the events referred to in paragraph 12(c)(i) and (ii)), unavailable to or unenforceable by the Agents or enforceable otherwise than in accordance with its terms or insufficient to hold any Indemnified Party harmless, the Corporation shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by any Indemnified Party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits received by the Corporation on the one hand and any Indemnified Party on the other hand but also the relative fault of the Corporation or any Indemnified Party as well as any relevant equitable considerations. The Corporation shall in any event be liable to contribute to the amount paid or payable by an Indemnified

 

  

- 24 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

Party as a result of a claim under Section 11, any amounts in excess of the Agency Fee or any portion of such fee actually received by the Indemnified Party.  The Agents shall not in any event be liable to contribute, in the aggregate, any amounts in excess of the Agency Fee or any portion of such fee actually received.  However, no party who has engaged in any fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, wilful misconduct or negligence shall be entitled to claim contribution from any person who has not engaged in such fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, wilful misconduct or negligence.

 

	
  

	
(b)

	
Right of Contribution in Addition to Other Rights

 

The rights to contribution provided in this Section shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any other right to contribution which the Agents may have by statute or otherwise at law.

 

	
  

	
(c)

	
Calculation of Contribution

 

If the Corporation may be held to be entitled to contribution from the Agents under the provisions of any statute or at law, the Corporation shall be limited to contribution in an amount not exceeding the lesser of:

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
the portion of the full amount of the loss or liability giving rise to such contribution for which the Agents are responsible, as determined in subsection 

12(a), and

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
the amount of the aggregate fee actually received by the Agents from the Corporation under this Agreement.

 

	
  

	
(d)

	
Right of Contribution in Favour of Others

 

With respect to any Indemnified Party who is not a party to this Agreement, it is the intention of the Corporation to constitute the Agents as trustees for such Indemnified Party of the rights and benefits of this Section and the Agents agree to accept such trust and to hold the rights and benefits of this Section in trust for and on behalf of such Indemnified Party.

 

	
13.

	
Severability

 

If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be void or unenforceable in whole or in part, it shall be deemed not to affect or impair the validity of any other provision of this Agreement and such void or unenforceable provision shall be severable from this Agreement.

 

	
14.

	
Survival of Representations and Warranties

 

The representations, warranties, covenants, obligations and agreements of the Corporation contained in this Agreement and in any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement or in connection with the purchase and sale of the Special Warrants shall survive the purchase of the Special Warrants and shall continue in full force and effect for a period of two years following the Closing Date regardless of any subsequent disposition of the Special Warrants by the Purchasers or the termination of the Agents’ obligations and shall not be limited or prejudiced by the distribution of the Special Warrants.

	
15.

	
Time of the Essence

 

Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement.

 

  

- 25 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
16.

	
Governing Law

 

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of British Columbia and the laws of Canada applicable in British Columbia and the parties hereto irrevocably attorn to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of such province.

 

	
17.

	
Funds

 

Unless otherwise specified, all funds referred to in this Agreement shall be in United States dollars.

 

	
18.

	
Notice

 

Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, any notice or other communication to be given under this Agreement (a “Notice”) shall be in writing addressed as follows:

 

If to the Corporation, addressed and sent to:

Vista Gold Corp.

7961 Shaffer Parkway, Suite 5

Littleton, CO 80127

Attention:  Michael B. Richings, Chief Executive Officer

Fax:           (720) 981-1186

Email:           miker@vistagold.com

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

1200 Waterfront Centre

200 Burrard Street

P.O. Box 48600

Vancouver, BC

V7X 1T2

Attention:                      Melanie M. Bradley

Fax:                      (604) 622-5824

Email:                      mebradley@blgcanada.com

If to the Agents, addressed and sent to:

Sprott Private Wealth LP

Royal Bank Plaza

South Tower, Suite 2700

200 Bay Street, P.O. Box 27

Toronto, Ontario

M5J 2J1

Attention:                      Kirstin McTaggart

Fax:                      (416) 943-4065

Email:                      kmctaggart@sprott.com

  

- 26 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

Wellington West Capital Markets Inc.

145 King Street West

Suite 700

Toronto, Ontario

M5H 1J8

Attention:                      William Washington

Fax:                      (416) 642-1910

Email:                      wwashington@wwcm.com

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Heenan Blaikie LLP

Bay Adelaide Centre

Suite 2900, P.O. Box 2900

333 Bay Street

Toronto, Ontario

M5H 2T4

Attention:                      Sonia Yung

Fax:                      (416) 360-8425

Email:                      syung@heenan.ca

or to such other address as any of the persons may designate by Notice given to the others.

 

Each Notice shall be personally delivered to the addressee or sent by fax to the addressee and (i) a Notice which is personally delivered shall, if delivered on a Business Day, be deemed to be given and received on that day and, in any other case, be deemed to be given and received on the first Business Day following the day on which it is delivered; and (ii) a Notice which is sent by fax shall be deemed to be given and received on the first Business Day following the day on which it is sent.

 

	
19.

	
Entire Agreement

 

The provisions herein contained constitute the entire agreement between the parties relating to the Offering and supersede all previous communications, representations, understandings and agreements between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof whether verbal or written.

 

	
20.

	
Press Releases

 

Any press release connected with the Offering issued by the Corporation shall be issued only after consultation with the Agents and the Finders and in compliance with Canadian Securities Laws and applicable securities laws in the United States.

 

	
21.

	
Counterparts

 

This Agreement may be executed by anyone or more of the parties to this Agreement in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

	
22.

	
Facsimile

 

  

- 27 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

	
  

	
The Corporation and the Agents shall be entitled to rely on delivery by facsimile of an executed copy of this Agreement and acceptance by the Corporation and the Agents of that delivery shall be legally effective to create a valid and binding agreement between the Corporation and the Agents in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

 

[THE REST OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

  

- 28 -

  

Exhibit 10.2

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding and is agreed to by you, please signify your acceptance by executing this letter where indicated below and returning the same to the Agents upon which this letter as so accepted shall constitute an agreement among us.

 

Yours very truly,

SPROTT PRIVATE WEALTH L.P. by its general partner, Sprott Private Wealth GP Inc.

By:          /s/  Kristin McTaggart /s/                                                                 

Authorized Officer

WELLINGTON WEST CAPITAL MARKETS INC.

By:           /s/ William Washington /s/                                                                

Authorized Officer

The foregoing offer is accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written.

VISTA GOLD CORP.

By:          /s/  Michael B. Richings /s/                                                                 

Authorized Officer

  

- 29 -exhibit10-3.htm

Exhibit 10.3

 

September 30, 2010

VISTA GOLD CORP.

7961 Shaffer Parkway, Suite 5

Littleton, CO

80127

Attention: Michael B. Richings

                   Chief Executive Officer

Dear Sirs:

Re:           Provision of Finder Services for your Private Placement

This letter confirms the terms on which Global Resource Investments, Ltd. (“Global” or the “Finder”) agrees to provide services as a finder (the “Services”) in respect of a private placement (the “Private Placement”) by Vista Gold Corp. (the “Company”) of up to US$30,000,000 of special warrants (the “Special Warrants”), each exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company (a “Share”) and one Share purchase warrant (a “Warrant”). Global understands that:

	
(a)

	
the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) and the NYSE Amex provide that the Private Placement must be subject to shareholder approval because the number of Shares to be issued and made issuable under the Private Placement will exceed 25% of the current number of issued and outstanding Shares;

	
(b)

	
the Private Placement will be closed by October 22, 2010 but until shareholder approval is obtained the subscription funds will be held, in escrow, by Computershare Trust Company of Canada (the “Escrow Agent”) and, should such approval

	
  

	
(i)

	
not be obtained by December 15, 2010 (or such other date as may be agreed to by the Finder and the Company), the escrowed subscription funds will be returned to the subscribers without interest or deduction and any interest earned on the subscription funds will be released to the Company, or

	
  

	
(ii)

	
be obtained by such date, the escrowed subscription funds, together with any interest earned thereon, will be delivered to the Company;

	
(c)

	
the issue price of the Special Warrants will be US$2.30 per Special Warrant and each Special Warrant will automatically be exercised, immediately upon receipt of shareholder approval of the

	
7770 El Camino RoadŸCarlsbad, CA92009

(760) 943-3939 Ÿ (800) 477-RULE Ÿ Fax: (760) 943-3938 Ÿ www.globalresourceinvestments.com

	
 

  

- 1 -

  

Exhibit 10.3

VISTA GOLD CORP.

September 30, 2010

	
  

	
Private Placement and without payment of further consideration or taking of any further action by the holder, into one Share and one Warrant;

	
(d)

	
each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase a further Share (a “Warrant Share”) at a purchase price (the “Exercise Price”) equal to

	
  

	
(i)

	
US$3.50 during the first year,

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
US$4.00 during the second year,

 

	
  

	
(iii)

	
US$4.50 during the third year, and

 

(iv)           US$5.00 during the fourth and fifth years;

	
(e)

	
if, at any time after the four month restricted resale period in Canada and the registration referred to in (f) below, the closing trading price of the Shares on the NYSE Amex is at least 35% above the current Exercise Price of the Warrants on 15 or more consecutive trading days, the Company will have the option, exercisable within five trading days of such 15 trading day period, to give notice (which shall be deemed delivered on the fifth business day after mailing) that the Warrants must be exercised and, if the Warrants are not exercised within an additional 20 trading days of such request, they will be cancelled;

	
(f)

	
the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect, within four months of the date on which shareholder approval for the Private Placement is obtained, at its expense,

	
  

	
(i)

	
the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)of the United States of America (the “United States”)and bringing effective of a registration statement (the “U.S. Registration Statement”) on Form S-1 or such other form as may be available under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “1933 Act”)and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunderregistering the Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares for resale under the 1933 Act and shall maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the earlier of

(1)           the date that is six months after the Warrants have expired,

	
  

	
(2)

	
the date that is six months after the Warrants have been cancelled pursuant to (e) above, and

	
  

	
(3)

	
the date on which all the Warrants have been exercised, and all the Warrant Shares not initially issued upon exercise of the Warrants pursuant to the U.S. Registration Statement that were issued to the original purchasers of the Warrants upon exercise of such Warrants have been resold, either pursuant to the U.S. Registration Statement or otherwise pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933 Act or are no longer held by such original purchaser, and

	
  

	
(ii)

	
the listing, provided the listing requirements of the TSX are met, of the Warrants for trading on the TSX;

	
(g)

	
the Private Placement is subject to approval of the TSX, NYSE Amex and all other securities regulatory authorities having jurisdiction; and

	
7770 El Camino RoadŸCarlsbad, CA92009

(760) 943-3939 Ÿ (800) 477-RULE Ÿ Fax: (760) 943-3938 Ÿ www.globalresourceinvestments.com

	
[Missing Graphic Reference]

  

- 2 -

  

Exhibit 10.3

VISTA GOLD CORP.

September 30, 2010

	
(h)

	
the Private Placement is subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of the Company by October 15, 2010.

Description of Services

The Services shall include:

	
·

	
using commercially reasonable efforts to identify potential purchasers of up to 13,043,479 Special Warrants in the United States and elsewhere, outside of Canada, with whom the Finder has pre-existing business relationships, who the Finder reasonably believes are qualified to participate in the Private Placement and for whom the Finder believes the investment in the Securities is suitable under proposed FINRA Rule 2111;

	
·

	
arranging for such investors to receive, or directing them where to obtain, corporate and business related information of the Company from publicly available sources, including SEDAR and EDGAR;

	
·

	
introducing such investors to management of the Company and, if requested, assisting such qualified investors in completing the subscription agreement (“Subscription Agreement”) for the Private Placement provided by the Company; and

	
·

	
gathering and forwarding the completed Subscription Agreements to the Company’s legal counsel and the funds therefor to the Escrow Agent to hold, in escrow, pending shareholder approval of the Private Placement.

The Company acknowledges and confirms that:

	
(a)

	
the Services are provided as a finder and facilitator only and not as the Company’s agent; and

	
(b)

	
the Finder shall not bear any responsibility or assume any liability for any statements made by the Company in connection with the Private Placement, including the accuracy of any representations made by the Company to any investors in the Subscription Agreement provided by the Company.

Finder’s Fee and Expenses

In consideration for the Services, the Finder will be issued that number of:

	
(a)

	
Special Warrants equal to 5% of the number of Special Warrants purchased by investors introduced by the Finder; and

	
(b)

	
warrants (“Compensation Warrants”) equal to 5% of the number of Special Warrants purchased by investors introduced by the Finder, each Compensation Warrant entitling the Finder to purchase one Share (a “Compensation Warrant Share”) for two years from the date of the closing of the Private Placement at a price of US$ 2.30.

(collectively, the “Finder’s Fee”)

The Finder acknowledges that the payment of the Finder’s Fee is subject to the approval of the TSX and the NYSE Amex. The Company shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Finder’s legal

  

- 3 -

  

Exhibit 10.3

VISTA GOLD CORP.

September 30, 2010

counsel (the “Expenses”) in connection with the Private Placement. The Finder’s Fee and Expenses will be paid and delivered on closing of the Private Placement.

Conduct of the Services

The Finder acknowledges that the Shares, Warrants, Warrant Shares, Compensation Warrants and Compensation Warrant Shares have not been registered under the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws and may only be offered, sold and issued in transactions not subject to, or pursuant to exemptions from, such registration requirements and the registration and prospectus requirements in Canada. Accordingly, the activities of Global shall be limited to the location, identification and introduction to the Company of:

	
(a)

	
‘accredited investors’ (as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) under the 1933 Act  – “U.S. Accredited Investors”) located in the United States or who are ‘U.S. persons’ (as defined in Rule 902(k) of Regulation S (“Regulation S”) under the 1933 Act – “U.S. Persons”); and

	
(b)

	
investors located outside of the United States (and outside of Canada, since it is not registered under applicable Canadian securities legislation) who are not U.S. Persons and are able to purchase such securities in ‘offshore transactions’ (as such term is defined in Rule 902(h) of Regulation S) in accordance with applicable local securities law.

Finder’s Representations, Warranties and Covenants

The Finder represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the Company that it:

	
(a)

	
is a validly created limited partnership with an office at the address set out on the first page hereof;

	
(b)

	
is neither an insider, nor an associate of an insider of, the Company and deals at arm’s length to the Company;

	
(c)

	
is receiving the securities comprising the Finder’s Fee as principal for its own account and not for the benefit of any other person nor with a view to distribution;

	
(d)

	
is a U.S. Accredited Investor and an ‘accredited investor’ as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus and Registration Exemptions of the Canadian Securities Administrators;

	
(e)

	
is at the time hereof, and as of the time it will carry out the Services will be, duly registered and in good standing with respect thereto as a broker-dealer under applicable securities legislation in the United States and all states in which it is carrying out activities in connection with the Services and is a member in good standing with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (known as ‘FINRA’);

	
(f)

	
will not make any representations concerning the Company not authorized by the Company in writing or untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make any statement not misleading;

	
(g)

	
shall not

  

- 4 -

  

Exhibit 10.3

VISTA GOLD CORP.

September 30, 2010

	
  

	
(i)

	
offer to sell, or solicit an offer to buy, Special Warrants, Shares, Warrants or Warrant Shares (collectively, the “Securities”) to, or for the benefit or account of, any U.S. Person or person in the United States, except as provided in this Agreement, or otherwise engage in or issue any General Solicitation or General Advertising (as such terms are used in Rule 502(c) of Regulation D under the 1933 Act) and including any advertisement, article, notice, or other communication mentioning the securities, regarding the Company, its securities or the Private Placement nor in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Rule 506 of Regulation D,

	
  

	
(iii)

	
publish in any newspaper, magazine or similar medium or broadcast over television, radio or the Internet any information regarding the Company, its securities or the Private Placement, or

	
  

	
(iii)

	
host or participate in any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by General Solicitation or General Advertising regarding the Company, its securities or the Private Placement;

	
(h)

	
has not made or engaged nor shall it make or engage, except as provided in this Agreement, in any Directed Selling Efforts in the United States regarding the Company, its securities or the Private Placement. “Directed Selling Efforts” means directed selling efforts as that term is defined in Rule 902(c) of Regulation S under the 1933 Act and which, in general terms involves, subject to the exclusions from the definition of directed selling efforts contained in Regulation S, any activity undertaken for the purpose, or that could reasonably be expected to have the effect, of conditioning the market in the United States for any of the Securitiesand includes the placement of any advertisement in a publication with a general circulation in the United States that refers to the Private Placement;

	
(i)

	
shall make introductions only to potential investors

	
  

	
(i)

	
in the United States or who are U.S. Persons that Global has a reasonable basis to believe, and does reasonably believe, are U.S. Accredited Investors and with whom the Finder has pre-existing business relationships and who the Finder reasonably believes are qualified to participate in the Private Placement and

	
  

	
(ii)

	
outside the United States and Canada to persons who are not U.S. Persons, who will purchase securities in ‘offshore transactions’ in compliance with Rule 903 of Regulation S under the 1933 Act and in accordance with applicable law of the jurisdiction;

	
(j)

	
shall conduct its activities in such a manner that

	
  

	
(i)

	
the exemptions from registration for the offer and sale of the securities in the Private Placement to purchasers in the United States and to or for the account or benefit of U.S. Persons under Rule 506 of Regulation D and any applicable state securities laws or any order, rule or regulation promulgated thereunder are available,

	
  

	
(ii)

	
the exclusion from registration for the offer and sale of the securities in the Private Placement outside the United States to purchasers other than U.S. Persons are available under Regulation S, and

  

- 5 -

  

Exhibit 10.3

VISTA GOLD CORP.

September 30, 2010

(iii)           comply with all applicable United States federal and state broker-dealer requirements;

	
(j)

	
has and shall maintain all business and professional licenses, registrations and permits necessary or appropriate, and agrees to obtain and maintain any such license, registration or permit that may hereafter become necessary or appropriate, under all applicable laws and regulations, and shall otherwise comply with all applicable laws and regulations to complete the services under this Agreement; and

	
(k)

	
will only provide the Services, and receive the Finder’s Fee, in compliance with the laws of the jurisdictions in which the Private Placement is offered and sold.

All representations and warranties contained herein are accurate as of the date hereof and will be accurate as of the date of the closing of the Private Placement.

Company’s Representations, Warranties and Covenants

The Company represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the Finder that:

	
(a)

	
the Company’s record of filings available to the public, including on SEDAR, EDGAR and its website, are accurate in all material respects and do not omit to state any material fact required to be stated or necessary to prevent a statement in the public record from being false or misleading in the circumstances in which it was made;

	
(b)

	
except with respect to offers and sales to U.S. Accredited Investors within the United States made in reliance upon any exemption from registration under Rule 506 of Regulation D under the 1933 Act, neither the Company nor any person acting on its behalf (other than the Finder, for which no representation or warranty is made), has made or will make any:

	
  

	
(i)

	
offer to sell, or any solicitation of an offer to buy, any Special Warrants to a U.S. Person or a person in the United States; or

	
  

	
(ii)

	
sale of Special Warrants unless, at the time the buy order was or will have been originated:

	
  

	
(1)

	
the purchaser is outside the United States and not a U.S. Person, or

	
  

	
(2)

	
the Company and any person acting on its behalf reasonably believe that the purchaser is outside the United States and not a U.S. Person;

	
(c)

	
during the period in which the Special Warrants are offered for sale, neither the Company nor any person acting on its behalf (other than the Finder, for which no representation or warranty is made) has:

	
  

	
(i)

	
made or will make any Directed Selling Efforts, or

	
  

	
(ii)

	
engaged in, or will engage in, any form of General Solicitation or General Advertising with respect to the Private Placement, the Company or its securities in the United States or to U.S. Persons, including advertisements, articles, notices or other communications

  

- 6 -

  

Exhibit 10.3

VISTA GOLD CORP.

September 30, 2010

	
  

	
published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or on the Internet, or broadcast over radio, television or the Internet, or any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by General Solicitation or General Advertising;

	
(d)

	
all representations and warranties made by the Company in the Subscription Agreement are incorporated by reference herein and made to and for the benefit of the Finder; and

	
(e)

	
from the date hereof until the expiry of the Warrants and for a period of 12 months thereafter, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain its status as a reporting issuer under applicable securities legislation in Canada and as a reporting issuer subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), to file all required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of 1934 Act, submit electronically and post on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T of the 1933 Act.

All representations and warranties contained herein are accurate as of the date hereof and will be accurate as of the date of the closing of the Private Placement.

Conditions of Closing

It shall be a condition precedent to the closing of the Private Placement as it relates to investors introduced by the Finder that the Company shall:

	
(a)

	
prepare forms of the Subscription Agreement and Warrant, Special Warrant and Compensation Warrant certificates in consultation with, and subject to the approval of, acting reasonably, the Finder and its legal counsel; and

	
(b)

	
deliver to the Finder and its legal counsel an opinion regarding various Canadian legal matters related to the Private Placement and a certificate of an officer of the Company regarding various factual matters, in each case in a form reasonably acceptable to the Finder and their legal counsel.

At the closing, the Finder will provide a certificate, substantially in the form attached hereto, relating to the conduct of the Private Placement by it in the United States and to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. Persons.

Removal of U.S. Legends and Registration Rights

The Finder acknowledges that the Shares, Warrants, Warrant Shares, Compensation Warrants and Compensation Warrant Shares shall be subject to restricted resale periods in Canada and the United States and will bear all legends required under the 1933 Act and National Instrument 45-102 Resale of Securities of the Canadian Securities Administrators and by the TSX.

The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be filed with the SEC to register the resale of the Shares, the Warrants, the Warrant Shares, the Compensation Warrants and the Compensation Warrant Shares by the subscribers of the Private Placement or the Finder, as the case may be, under the 1933 Act and cause such U.S. Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC within four months of the date on which shareholder approval for the Private Placement is obtained.

  

- 7 -

  

Exhibit 10.3

VISTA GOLD CORP.

September 30, 2010

If, after issuance, any of the Shares, Warrants or Warrant Shares are being sold pursuant to Rule 144 of the 1933 Act by the original purchasers thereof, the U.S. restrictive legend on such securities may be removed by delivery to the Company’s transfer agent of an opinion of legal counsel of recognized standing in form and substance satisfactory to the Company and the Company’s transfer agent, to the effect that the legend is no longer required under applicable requirements of the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws. To facilitate such removal, Vista shall request such opinions from its own legal counsel, at Vista’s expense, if the seller and its securities broker provide, at the seller’s expense, such declarations and certificates as may reasonably be required by Vista’s legal counsel and such legal counsel is reasonably satisfied that the legend may be removed under the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable state securities laws, all as in effect at such time.

Indemnification

The Company shall indemnify the Finder against any liabilities arising hereunder as set out on the attached Indemnity.

[Balance of page intentionally blank]

  

- 8 -

  

Exhibit 10.3

VISTA GOLD CORP.

September 30, 2010

Acceptance

If the foregoing correctly reflects our agreement please sign below where indicated.

Yours truly,

GLOBAL RESOURCE INVESTMENTS, LTD.

Per:           /s/ Jeffrey Howard, CEO /s/

Jeffrey Howard, Chief Executive Officer

Name                      Position

ACKNOWLEDGED and AGREED

as of the 30th day of September, 2010

VISTA GOLD CORP.

Per:           /s/ Michael B. Richings /s/

Michael B. Richings, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Name                                Position

  

- 9 -

  

Exhibit 10.3

INDEMNITY

The Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Finder and each of the directors, officers, employees and shareholders of the Finder (together called the “Finder’s Group”) harmless from and against any and all expenses, losses, claims, actions, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several (including amounts paid in reasonable settlement of any actions, suits, proceedings or claims), and the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel that may be incurred in advising with respect to and defending any claim that may be made against the Finder’s Group or to which the Finder’s Group may become subject or otherwise involved in any capacity insofar as such expenses, losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon, directly or indirectly, any breach of a representation, warranty or covenant of the Company in this Agreement or the Subscription Agreement. This indemnity shall not apply to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment that has become non-appealable shall determine that:

	
(a)

	
any member of the Finder’s Group has, in the course of such performance, been negligent or dishonest, engaged in willful misconduct, acted in bad faith or committed any fraudulent act; and

 

	
(b)

	
the expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as to which indemnification is claimed, were directly caused by such negligence, dishonesty, willful misconduct, bad faith or fraud.

 

If any claim contemplated hereby is asserted against, or any potential claim contemplated hereby comes to the knowledge of, any member (the “Indemnified Party”) of the Finder’s Group, the Indemnified Party shall notify the Company as soon as possible of the nature of such claim (but any failure to so notify shall not affect the Company’s liability under this indemnity) and the Company shall be entitled (but not required) to assume the defense on behalf of the Indemnified Party of any suit brought to enforce such claim. Any such defense shall be through legal counsel acceptable to the Indemnified Party and no admission of liability shall be made by the Company or the Indemnified Party without, in each case, the prior written consent of the Company and the Indemnified Party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. Any Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such suit and participate in the defense thereof and the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of that Indemnified Party unless:

 

	
(a)

	
the Company fails to assume the defense of such suit on behalf of the Indemnified Party within a reasonable period of receiving notice of such suit and, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, the expiration of such period shall be deemed to occur on the second clear business day immediately preceding the date by which the Indemnified Party is required by law to take action (such as the filing of an appearance, notice or other document) in connection with defending such suit;

 

	
(b)

	
the employment of such counsel has been authorized by the Company; or

 

	
(c)

	
the named parties to any such suit include both the Indemnified Party and the Company and the Indemnified Party has been advised by counsel that there may be one or more defenses available to the Indemnified Party different from or in addition to those available to the Company,

 

whereupon, in each of which such cases, the Company shall not have the right to assume the defense of such suit on behalf of the Indemnified Party but shall be liable to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Indemnified Party.

 

If for any reason (other than the occurrence of the preceding events) the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to the Finder’s Group or insufficient to hold them harmless, then the Company shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Finder’s Group as a result of such expense, loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Finder on the other hand but also the relative fault of the Company and the Finder’s Group, as well as any relevant equitable considerations provided that, in any event, the Company shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Finder’s Group as a result of such expense, loss, claim, damage or liability any excess of such amount over the amount of the fees received by the Finder hereunder.

 

The indemnity and contribution obligations of the Company shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have, extend upon the same terms and conditions to the Finder’s Group and be binding upon and enure to the benefit of any successors, assigns, heirs and personal representatives of any of the Finder’s Group.

 

The foregoing provisions shall survive the completion of Services.

 

  

- 10 -

  

Exhibit 10.3

FINDER’S CERTIFICATE

In connection with the private placement (“Private Placement”) in the United States and to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. Persons of the special warrants (the “Special Warrants”) exercisable to acquire common shares and warrants of Vista Gold Corp.(the “Company”) pursuant to the Finder's Agreement dated September 30, 2010 (the “Finder Agreement”) between Global Resource Investments, Ltd. (“Global”) and the Company, Global does hereby certify as follows:

(i)           Global is, and was throughout the Private Placement, duly registered as a broker-dealer with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (known as the ‘SEC’) and with each state securities regulatory authority in whose jurisdiction it has introduced subscribers to the Company to purchase the Special Warrants and is and was throughout the Private Placement a member in good standing with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (known as ‘FINRA’);

(ii)           All offers of Special Warrants in the United States by Global have been effected in accordance with all applicable United States federal and state laws and regulations governing the registration and conduct of securities brokers and dealers;

(iii)           In respect of the Special Warrants offered by Global within the United States and to, or for the benefit or account of, U.S. Persons (collectively, “U.S. Offerees”), Global had reasonable grounds to believe and did believe, immediately prior to the Private Placement, that each U.S. Offeree was a U.S. Accredited Investor and, on the date hereof, Global continues to believe that each U.S. Offeree purchasing Special Warrants is a U.S. Accredited Investor;

(iv)           No form of Directed Selling Efforts was used by Global and no form of General Solicitation or General Advertising was used by Global in connection with the offer of the Special Warrants in the United States or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. Persons; and

(v)           Global’s activities in connection with the Private Placement have been conducted in accordance with the Finder Agreement and, in the United States, and to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. Persons in accordance with the requirements of Rule 506 of Regulation D under the 1933 Act and, outside of the United States to non-U.S. Persons, in accordance with the requirements of Regulation S under the 1933 Act.

Terms used in this certificate have the meanings given to them in the Finder Agreement.

DATED this 22nd day of October, 2010 

GLOBAL RESOURCE INVESTMENTS, LTD.

By:  /s/ Jeffrey Howard, CEO /s/

Jeffrey Howard,  Chief Executive Officer

Name                      Position

  

- 11 -

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00180-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00180-of-00352.parquet"}]]