Document:

Aurora Gold Corporation
                        Suite 1505 - 1060 Alberni Street,
                          Vancouver, B.C. Canada E 4K2

                            Telephone: (604) 687-4432
                            Facsimile: (604) 687-4709

October 1, 1999

Patagonia Gold Corporation
Suite 1505- 1060 Alberni Street,
Vancouver, B.C. Canada
V6E 4K2

Attention: David Jenkins,

Dear Sirs:

Re:  Aurora Gold Corporation (the "Company")
     Letter of Intent:  San Diego  Exploration  Reconnaissance  Concession Joint
     Venture Guatemala, Central America

This  letter  is  intended  to  document  our  mutual  understanding  prior to a
commitment of funds from Patagonia Gold Corporation and/or associated  companies
for the acquisition of the San Diego mineral exploration  reconnaissance licence
and  the  exploration  of  the  San  Diego  mineral  exploration  reconnaissance
concession, Guatemala Central America.

Aurora  Gold  Corporation  has been  awarded  exclusive  title to the San  Diego
mineral exploration  reconnaissance licence by the government of Guatemala.  The
mineral  exploration  reconnaissance  license  confers  on the  titleholder  the
exclusive rights to identify and locate possible areas for  exploration,  within
the  licenses  territorial  limits and to unlimited  depth in the  subsoil.  The
license was awarded to Aurora Gold Corporation in September 1999.

Patagonia Gold Corporation  and/or associated  companies shall have the right to
earn a fifty  percent  (50%)  interest  in the  San  Diego  mineral  exploration
reconnaissance licence upon payment of the following amounts:

     1.   The  payment of USD Nine  Thousand  Two  Hundred and Fifty (USD 9,250)
          Guatemala  government fee for the acquisition of the San Diego mineral
          exploration reconnaissance license and

                                       1

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     2.   The payment of USD Eighteen  Thousand Six Hundred Seventeen and 25/100
          (USD  18,617.25)  for a Phase 1  exploration  program to be  conducted
          between  November 1, 1999 and March 31, 2000 on the San Diego  mineral
          exploration  reconnaissance concession. The work program shall consist
          of  geological  reconnaissance,  sampling of rock  outcrops and stream
          sediment sampling.

Yours truly,

Aurora Gold Corporation

/s/ Cameron Richardson                                     October 1, 1999
----------------------------------
Cameron Richardson
Controller and Corporate Secretary
(Authorized Representative)

Acceptance of these terms by Patagonia Gold Corporation

For and on behalf of Patagonia Gold Corporation

/s/ David Jenkins                                          October 1, 1999
----------------------------------
David Jenkins
President
Patagonia Gold Corporation
(Authorized Representative)

                                       2Exhibit 10.26

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"),  made as of September 21, 1998, by
and between  Remington  Products  Company,  L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
(the "Company"), and Wilan van den Berg, residing in Austria ("Executive").

                                   WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS,  the  Company  desires  to  retain  Executive  to  serve it in the
capacity of Executive Vice President  International  and to perform  services on
its behalf in said position;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  foregoing  and  of the  mutual
promises and covenants  herein  contained,  the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.   EMPLOYMENT

     The Company agrees to cause  Remington  Consumer  Products Ltd  ("Remington
UK"), its wholly owned UK subsidiary,  to employ  Executive and Executive agrees
to serve  Remington  UK and the  Company on the terms and  conditions  set forth
herein.

2.   TERM

     This Agreement shall be for an initial period of two (2) years and shall be
automatically  renewed for successive  periods of one year each unless Executive
gives  notice to the  Company  at least 30 days prior to the  expiration  of the
initial term or any renewal term.

3.   POSITION AND DUTIES

     a.   Executive shall serve as Executive Vice President International of the
          Company and shall perform such duties  normally  associated  with such
          position,  as well as such duties and  services  as may be  reasonably
          prescribed  from  time  to  time  by the  President  of  the  Company.
          Executive  shall perform such duties to the best of his ability and in
          a diligent and proper manner.

     1.   Except  during  vacations  and  periods of illness,  Executive  shall,
          during the term of this  Agreement,  devote all his business  time and
          attention to the performance of services for the Company and Remington
          UK.  The  Executive  shall  cooperate  reasonably  in any  sale of the
          Company, IPO or similar transaction.

4.   COMPENSATION AND RELATED MATTERS

     a.   Salary.  During  the  period  of  Executive's   employment  hereunder,
          Remington UK shall pay to Executive an annual base salary in UK pounds
          equal to US  $250,000  as of the date you  report to work  payable  in
          accordance with the normal payroll practices of Remington UK.

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     b.   Welfare  and  Retirement  Benefits.  Executive  shall be  entitled  to
          participate in all of Remington UK's employee  pension plans,  welfare
          benefit plans,  including  medical and group insurance plans, or other
          welfare or  retirement  benefits or  arrangements  in which  executive
          officers of Remington UK are entitled  generally to participate on the
          same basis as other  executive  employees.  Furthermore,  you shall be
          immediately eligible to participate in Remington UK's deferred benefit
          pension plan.

     c.   Bonus/Incentive Compensation.

          (i)  The Executive  shall be included in Remington UK's bonus plan for
               the fiscal year commencing on January 1, 1999 with a target bonus
               of 45% of  annual  base  salary.  The  amount  of  actual  bonus,
               including when paid,  etc., will be in accordance with all of the
               provisions  of the bonus  program as announced  to all  executive
               employees of Remington UK. If  Executive's  employment  commences
               prior to October  1,  1998,  Executive  shall be  eligible  for a
               pro-rata  bonus  for  fiscal  year  1998,  but not less  than the
               equivalent  of US $35,000  using the exchange rate as of the date
               you report to work.  Executive is  guaranteed a minimum of 50% of
               target bonus for 1999..

          (ii) The Executive shall  participate in the Company's  Phantom Equity
               Program by having  allocated to him 0.5% pursuant to the terms of
               the Time Based  Phantom  Equity  Agreement,  0.4% pursuant to the
               terms of the Performance  Based Phantom Equity Agreement and 0.1%
               pursuant  to the terms of the  Super  Performance  Based  Phantom
               Equity  Agreement.  A copy of each  such  agreement  is  attached
               herebo as Exhibits A, B and C.

     d.   Business Expenses. Executive shall be reimbursed from Remington UK for
          all reasonable and necessary  business  related  expenses  incurred by
          Executive  in  performing  services  hereunder;   provided  that  such
          expenses  are  incurred  and  accounted  for in  accordance  with  the
          policies and procedures established by Remington UK from time to time.

     e.   Automobile. Remington UK shall provide Executive with an automobile of
          quality in keeping  with the  position of  Executive  Vice  President.
          Expenses  associated with the automobile will be paid for in line with
          current policies and practices  applicable to all senior executives of
          Remington UK.

     6.   Relocation  Expenses.  Executive shall be reimbursed from Remington UK
          for all  reasonable  costs  related to  relocating  Executive  and his
          family to the United Kingdom customarily paid by employers, including,
          but not limited to, (i) the costs of moving Executive,  his family and
          property to the United Kingdom,  (ii) transportation and related costs
          for  reasonably  required  trips  by  Executive's  wife to the  United
          Kingdom  to assist  in  locating  a house,  (iii)  costs of  temporary
          housing for  Executive  from the date of  commencement  of  employment
          until  the date he moves  into a  permanent  residence  in the  United
          Kingdom  and,  (iv) an  amount  equal  to one  month  salary  to cover
          miscellaneous  moving expenses and costs after Executive has relocated
          to the United Kingdom.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

     7.   Housing  Allowance  Executive shall receive a housing  allowance in UK
          pounds  equal to US $50,000 per year ($4,167 per month) as of the date
          his employment  commences,  which shall be paid to Executive i monthly
          installments, commencing upon 30 days following the date Executive and
          his family has moved into a permanent  resident in the United Kingdom.
          Taxes,  if  any,  on  his  housing   allowance  shall  be  Executive's
          responsibility.

5.   TERMINATION

     Executive's  employment  hereunder  may be  terminated  under the following
     circumstances:

     a.   Death.  Executive's  employment  hereunder  shall  terminate  upon his
          death.

     2.   Disability. If Executive is unable to timely and regularly perform its
          duties  hereunder  due  to  physical  or  mental  illness,  injury  or
          incapacity,  as  determined  by the  President  of the Company in good
          faith,  based on medical  evidence  acceptable to him (a "Disability")
          and such Disability  continues for a period of six consecutive months,
          then,  notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary  contained  in this
          Agreement, the Company may terminate Executive's employment hereunder.
          A return to work for less than  thirty  consecutive  days  during  any
          period of  Disability  shall not be deemed to interrupt the running of
          (and shall be included in) the aforementioned six-month period.

     3.   Cause.  Executive's employment hereunder may be terminated at any time
          for  cause.  For  purposes  of this  Agreement,  "Cause"  shall mean a
          termination  of  employment  of the  Executive  by the  Company or any
          subsidiary thereof due to (i) the commission by Executive of an act of
          fraud  or  embezzlement  (including  the  unauthorized  disclosure  of
          confidential or proprietary  information of the Employer or any of its
          subsidiaries  which results in financial loss to the Company or any of
          its subsidiaries), (ii) the commission by Executive of a felony, (iii)
          Executive's willful misconduct as an employee of the Company or any of
          its subsidiaries,  (iv) Executives  willful failure to render services
          to the  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  in  accordance  with the
          Executive's  employment which failure amounts to a material neglect of
          Executive's duties to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (v) a
          willful material breach by Executive of the covenants in Section 3(a),
          Section 3(b) and Sections 8 and 9 hereof.

     d.   Termination  Without Cause.  The Company may at any time terminate the
          Executive for any reason and, except for the amounts payable  pursuant
          to  subsection  6 hereof,  Executive  shall have no claim  against the
          Company   under  this   Agreement  or  otherwise  by  reason  of  such
          termination.

6.   COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION

     a.   If  Executive's  employment is  terminated by the Company  pursuant to
          Section  5(d),  then  Executive  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  the
          Severance  Benefit  during the  Severance  Term in lieu of any further
          salary or other payments to Executive for

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

          periods  subsequent  to the date of  termination.  Any  bonus or other
          incentive compensation payments to Executive for periods subsequent to
          the date of  termination  shall be pursuant to and in accordance  with
          the  terms  of the  applicable  bonus  or  incentive  plan;  provided,
          however,  that if the  termination  occurs  at any time  during  1999,
          Executive  shall receive the guaranteed  minimum  specified in Section
          4(c)(i) or the  amount  payable  in  accordance  with the terms of the
          applicable  bonus plan,  whichever  is greater.  During the  Severance
          Term,  Executive  shall be  entitled  to  participate  in all  Company
          benefit plans to the extent that Executive participated therein on the
          date of  termination,  to the extent the Company's  plans  permit.

     b.   If  Executive's  employment  terminates  for  any  reason  other  than
          pursuant to Section 5(d),  Executives  compensation and benefits shall
          cease upon the date of such termination.

     c.   For purposes of this Agreement,"Severance  Term" shall mean the twelve
          (12) month period commencing on the effective date of the termination.
          "Severance Benefit" shall mean the salary that would have been payable
          from  the  effective  date  of  termination  through  the  end  of the
          Severance  Term  based  upon the base  salary in effect on the date of
          termination.

     d.   The Severance  Benefit shall be paid during the Severance  Term in the
          same  manner and on the same  dates  that the  salary  would have been
          payable had Executive not been terminated..

     e.   Executive  understands and agrees that the Severance  Benefit shall be
          reduced (i) by any sums payable to Executive pursuant to any severance
          or termination pay program maintained by the Company,  Remington UK or
          required by law and (ii) by an amount equal to 75% of any compensation
          earned by Executive during the Severance Term.

7    TAXES

     Remington UK shall deduct from all amounts payable under this Agreement all
taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments.

8.   CONFIDENTIALITY

     Executive acknowledges that the information, observations and data obtained
by him while employed under the terms of this Agreement, concerning the business
or affairs of the Company and its  subsidiaries  which are not  available to the
public,  customers,  suppliers and  competitors  of the Company which are in the
nature of trade  secrets,  are  proprietary  or the  disclosure  of which  could
reasonably  be expected to cause a financial  loss to the Company,  or otherwise
have a material adverse effect on the Company  ("Confidential  Information") are
the property of the Company or such subsidiary. Therefore, Executive agrees that
he shall not disclose to any unauthorized  person or use for his own account any
Confidential  Information without the prior written consent of the Board, unless
and to the extent that the aforementioned  matters become generally known to and
available  for use by the public other than as a result of  Executive's  acts or
omissions to act.  Executive  shall deliver to the Company at the termination of
employment, or at any other time the Company may request, all memoranda,  notes,
plans, records, reports, computer tapes and software

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

and other documents and data (and copies thereof)  relating to the  Confidential
Information,  work  product  or  the  business  of  the  Company  or  any of its
subsidiaries which he may then possess or have under his control.

9.   NON-COMPETE. NON-SOLICITATION

     a.   Executive  agrees  that  during the time he is employed by the Company
          and during the  Severance  Term,  he shall not directly or  indirectly
          own, manage,  control,  participate in, consult with,  render services
          for, or in any manner engage in any business  that  competes  anywhere
          with the  business  which  competitive  with the  Business (as defined
          herein)  of the  Company  or its  subsidiaries,  or  take  any  action
          inconsistent with the Executive's fiduciary relationship as an officer
          or employee of the Company.  as businesses  exist or are in process on
          the date of the  termination  of  Executive's  employment.  "Business"
          means the sale and distribution of consumer products which constitutes
          more than 5% of the  Company's  revenues  during the last three fiscal
          years of Executive's employment or such shorter period, if applicable.
          Nothing herein shall  prohibit  Executive from owning not more than 5%
          of the  outstanding  stock of any class of a company which is publicly
          traded,  so long  as  Executive  has no  active  participation  in the
          business of such Company..

     b.   Executive shall not directly or indirectly  through another entity (i)
          induce or attempt to induce any Senior Executive of the Company or its
          subsidiaries to leave the employ of the Company or such subsidiary, or
          in any way interfere with the relationship  between the Company or its
          subsidiaries  and any Senior Executive  thereof,  (ii) hire any person
          who was a Senior  Executive of the Company or its  subsidiaries at any
          time during Executive's employment with the Company until the later of
          the first anniversary of the termination of Executive's employment, or
          (iii) for a one year  period  after  the  termination  of  employment,
          induce or attempt to induce any customer,  supplier, licensee or other
          business  relation of the Company or its  subsidiaries  to cease doing
          business with the Company or its subsidiaries, or in any way interfere
          with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee or
          business  relation  and  the  Company  or  its  subsidiaries.  "Senior
          Executive"  shall mean any  employee of the Company or any  subsidiary
          with significant managerial  responsibility over material areas of the
          business of the Company or such subsidiary, including, but not limited
          to, financial, marketing, sales, distribution or manufacturing.

     c.   If,  at the  time  of  enforcement  of  this  Section  9, a  court  or
          arbitrator  shall hold that the duration,  scope or area  restrictions
          stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing,  the
          parties  agree that the  maximum  duration,  scope or area  reasonable
          under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated duration,
          scope or area and that the court or  arbitrator  shall be  allowed  to
          revise the restrictions  contained herein to cover the maximum period,
          scope and area permitted by law.

     d.   In the event of the breach or a threatened breach by Executive, of any
          of the  provisions  of Section 10 or this Section 9, the  Company,  in
          addition and  supplementary  to other rights and remedies  existing in
          its  favor,  may  apply to any  court of law or  equity  of  competent
          jurisdiction for specific performance or

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

          injunctive  or other  relief  in  order  to  enforce  or  prevent  any
          violations of the provisions  hereof (without  posting a bond or other
          security).

10.  SUCCESSORS: BINDING AGREEMENT

     a.   This  Agreement  shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
          Company and any successor of the Company,  including,  any corporation
          acquiring  directly  or  indirectly  all or  substantially  all of the
          membership  Units,  business  or assets  of the  Company,  whether  by
          merger,   restructuring,   reorganization,   consolidation,   sale  or
          otherwise (and such successor shall thereafter be deemed the "Company"
          for  the  purposes  of  this   Agreement).   Each  of  the   Company's
          subsidiaries are hereby  acknowledged to be third-party  beneficiaries
          with respect to the  provisions of Sections 10 and 11 hereof and shall
          be entitled to enforce such provisions as if they were parties hereto.

     b.   This  Agreement and all rights of Executive  hereunder  shall inure to
          the benefit of and be  enforceable  by  Executive's  personal or legal
          representatives,   executors,   administrators,   successors,   heirs,
          distributees, devisees and legatees. If Executive should die while any
          amounts would be still payable to him hereunder if he had continued to
          live, all such amounts,  unless otherwise  provided  herein,  shall be
          paid in  accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement to  Executive's
          devisee,  legates,  or  other  beneficiary  or,  if  there  be no such
          beneficiary, to Executive's estate.

11.  NOTICE

     For the  purposes  of  this  Agreement,  notices,  demands  and  all  other
communications  provided for in the  Agreement  shall be in writing and shall be
deemed  to have  been  duly  given  when hand  delivered  or  (unless  otherwise
specified)  when  mailed  by  United  States  certified  mail,   return  receipt
requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

               If to Executive:

               If to the Company:

               Remington Products Company, L.L.C.
               60 Main Street
               Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604
               Attention: General Counsel

or to such  other  address  as any party  may have  furnished  to the  others in
writing in accordance  herewith,  except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.

12.  SURVIVORSHIP

     The respective rights and obligations of the parties  hereunder,  including
the rights and  obligations  set forth in Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of this
Agreement, shall survive any

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

termination  of  this  Agreement  to  the  extent   necessary  to  the  intended
preservation  of such rights and  obligations.  In  addition,  the terms of this
Agreement shall continue in effect as provided in Section 6(g).

13.  MISCELLANEOUS

     a.   The  parties  hereto  agree that this  Agreement  contains  the entire
          understanding  and agreement  between them,  and  supersedes all prior
          understandings  and  agreements  between  the parties  respecting  the
          employment  by the Company of  Executive,  and that the  provisions of
          this Agreement may not be modified,  waived or discharged  unless such
          waiver,  modification  or discharge is agreed to in writing  signed by
          the parties  hereto.  No waiver by either  party hereto at any time of
          any breach by the other  party  hereto  of, or  compliance  with,  any
          condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other
          party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar  provisions or
          conditions  at the  same  or at  any  prior  or  subsequent  time.  No
          agreements or representations,  oral or otherwise, express or implied,
          with  respect to the  subject  matter  hereof have been made by either
          party  which  are not set  forth  expressly  in  this  Agreement.  The
          validity,  interpretations,   construction  and  performance  of  this
          Agreement  shall be governed  by the laws of the State of  Connecticut
          without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

     b.   The invalidity or  unenforceability  of any provision or provisions of
          this Agreement shall not affect the validity or  enforceability of any
          other provision or provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in
          full force and effect.

     c.   Executive agrees to execute such further agreements and documents,  if
          necessary,  which may be required under or pursuant to the laws of the
          United Kingdom in connection with his employment;  provided,  however,
          that such agreements shall under no  circumstances  reduce any benefit
          to be provided to Executive hereunder.

     d.   This  Agreement may be executed in one or more  counterparts,  each of
          which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
          constitute one and the same instrument.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
     of the date and the year first above written.

REMINGTON PRODUCTS COMPANY, L.L.C.

                                          By:
---------------------------------            -----------------------------------
Name: Neil P. DeFeo                                  Wilan van den Berg
Title: President and CEO

                                      -7-

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