Document:

Exhibit 10.1

     

    Exhibit
      10.1

     

    On
      March
      20, 2007, the Board of Directors of Commerce Bancorp, Inc.
      (the “Company”)
      ratified the following items: 

     

    
      	·  	
              2006
                cash bonus and stock option grants for the Company’s Chief Executive
                Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Named Executive
                Officers:

            

    

    

    
      	 
	
              Name

            	 	
              Title

            	 	
              Cash
                Bonus

            	 	
              Stock
                Option Grants1 

            	 
	
              Vernon
                W. Hill, II

            	 	 	
              Chairman
                and Chief Executive Officer

            	 	
              $

            	
              1,500,000

            	 	 	
              200,000

            	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	
              Douglas
                J. Pauls

            	 	 	
              Executive
                Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

            	 	
              $

            	
              150,000

            	 	 	
              30,000

            	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	
              Dennis
                M. DiFlorio

            	 	 	
              President

            	 	
              $

            	
              500,000

            	 	 	
              125,000

            	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	
              Robert
                D. Falese, Jr. 

            	 	 	
              President,
                Commercial & Investment Banking

            	 	
              $

            	
              500,000

            	 	 	
              125,000

            	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	
              George
                E. Norcross, III

            	 	 	
              Chairman
                & Chief Executive Officer, Commerce Banc Insurance Services,
                Inc.

            	 	
              $

            	
              500,000

            	 	 	
              125,000

            	 

    

    

    

    
      	·  	
              2007
                Base Salaries for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial
                Officer and Named Executive Officers:

            

    

    

    
      	 
	
              Name

            	 	
              Title

            	 	
              Base
                Salary

            	 
	
              Vernon
                W. Hill, II

               

            	 	 	
              Chairman
                and Chief Executive Officer

              
              

            	 	
              $

              
              

            	
              1,000,000

              
              

            	 
	
              Douglas
                J. Pauls

               

            	 	 	
              Executive
                Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

              
              

            	 	
              $

              
              

            	
              600,000

              
              

            	 
	
              Dennis
                M. DiFlorio

               

            	 	 	
              President
                

              
              

            	 	
              $

              
              

            	
              1,000,000

              
              

            	 
	
              Robert
                D. Falese, Jr.

               

            	 	 	
              President,
                Commercial & Investment Banking

              
              

            	 	
              $

              
              

            	
              900,000

              
              

            	 
	
              George
                E. Norcross, III

               

            	 	 	
              Chairman
                & Chief Executive Officer, Commerce Banc Insurance Services,
                Inc.

            	 	
              $

            	
              988,000

            	 

    

     

    
      1
        Grants
        made pursuant to the Company’s 2004 Employee Stock Option Plan at an exercise
        price of $33.12, the market price on the date of grant.

    

     

     

    25Unassociated Document

     

    LA
      CURRITA GROUPINGS AGREEMENT

     

     

    OPTION
      TO EARN INTEREST AND FORM JOINT VENTURE 

     

     

    THIS
      AGREEMENT AND TERMS WITHIN THIS AGREEMENT ARE BEING ENTERED INTO BY BOTH PARTIES
      TO REPLACE, IN ITS ENTIRETY, THE “LA CURRITA GROUPINGS” JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT
      BETWEEN AMERMIN S.A. de C.V., a 97% OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF TARA GOLD RESOURCES
      CORP. AND RAVEN GOLD CORP. DATED AUGUST 23, 2006, AS AMENDED BY AMENDMENT NO.
      1
      TO JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT DATED MARCH 30, 2007. THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FOR
      OPTIONS TO EARN-IN FROM TARA GOLD RESOURCES CORP., BY RAVEN GOLD CORP., OF
      AN
      INITIAL 25%, FOLLOWED BY 40% AND UP TO A 60% JOINT VENTURE INTEREST IN THE
      LA
      CURRITA GROUPINGS IN CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO.

     

    

     

    WHEREAS:

     

    A. Tara
      Gold
      Resources Corp. has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the La Currita
      Groupings (“La Currita”), the La Currita Mill and mining operations (together
      the “La Currita”) located in Chihuahua, Mexico. 

     

    B. La
      Currita is approximately 192 acres and the claims comprising La Currita are
      as
      described in the table appended hereto as Schedule “A”.

     

    C. Amermin
      S.A. de C.V., a 97% owned subsidiary of Tara Gold Resources Corp. (“Tara”) and
      Raven Gold Corp. (“Raven”) entered into the Joint Venture Agreement, dated
      August 23, 2006, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Joint Venture Agreement,
      dated
      March 30, 2007, which provided an option for Raven to earn up to 60% interest
      in
      the La Currita Groupings. This existing agreement is appended hereto as Schedule
      “B”, and Amendment No. 1 is appended hereto as Schedule “C”.

     

    D. Tara
      and
      Raven have both invested money and efforts into La Currita towards meeting
      the
      terms of the August 23, 2006 agreement. These monies and efforts are considered
      historical and will not be re-addressed in this agreement.

     

    E. Tara
      and
      Raven have discussed the corporate focus of both parties and focus needed for
      La
      Currita to uncover the full potential of the project. It has been decided by
      both parties to refocus its efforts and capital towards a more extensive
      exploration program. Both parties decided that this is best expressed by a
      new
      agreement, this agreement (“Agreement”).

     

    F. All
      figures in this Agreement are expressed in United States Dollars.

     

    

    
      
        
 

         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    NOW
      THEREFORE:

     

    
      	
              1)

            	
              To
                earn an initial 25% undivided interest in La Currita, Raven
                must:

            

    

     

    
      	 	
              a.

            	
              Make
                a payment of $250,000 upon the execution of this Agreement;
                

            

    

     

    
      	 	
              b.

            	
              Make
                a payment of $50,000 no later than May 4,
                2007;

            

    

     

    
      	 	
              c.

            	
              Make
                a payment of $205,000 no later than May 20, 2007 to address the final
                property payment and IVA Taxes due;

            

    

     

    
      	 	
              d.

            	
              Make
                a payment of $100,000 no later than May 31, 2007;
                and

            

    

     

    
      	 	
              e.

            	
              Deliver
                500,000 Rule 144 common shares of Raven, to Tara, by May 15,
                2007.

            

    

     

    
      	
              2)

            	
              Upon
                earning 25% participating interest in La Currita, Raven shall be
                the
                operator of all exploration efforts for the joint venture, so long
                as it
                meets all of the deadlines stated in Paragraph 3 & 4 of this
                agreement. If at anytime Raven fails to meet any of the deadlines
                outlined
                in 3 & 4, it shall immediately cease to be operator of exploration
                and/or production efforts. Tara may have its representatives on location
                at any and all times to observe all
                operations.

            

    

     

    
      	
              3)

            	
              Raven
                may elect to increase its interest in La Currita to 40%, by providing
                notice to Tara to do so by June 10, 2007 and by meeting the following
                terms:

            

    

     

    
      	 	
              a.

            	
              Deliver
                an additional 500,000 Rule 144 common shares, to Tara, at notification
                on
                or before June 10, 2007;

            

    

     

    
      	 	
              b.

            	
              Spend
                $1,375,000 on La Currita exploration on or before May 30, 2008. Only
                direct exploration costs are eligible to be counted towards the La
                Currita
                spending. Indirect costs, such as management overhead, are not
                eligible;

            

    

     

    
      	 	
              c.

            	
              Provide
                to Tara an audited statement of the expenditures provided by an
                independent accounting firm to be mutually accepted by both parties,
                along
                with supporting documents, on a quarterly basis and upon spending
                the
                required $1,375,000. Additionally, Raven shall supply Tara with all
                documents related to expenditures on a monthly basis; related to
                all
                expenditures made on a trailing 90 day period;
                and

            

    

     

    
      	 	
              d.

            	
              Provide
                Tara 90 days to review the final audit statement of the expenditures
                and
                await Tara’s acceptance of the eligible spending and letter stating that
                Raven has earned its 40% participating interest, this letter is to
                be
                issued to Raven no later than 7 days after the review period is over
                to a
                maximum review period of 90 days. 

            

    

     

    
      	 	
              e.

            	
              In
                the event that Raven fails to take any of the actions by the dates
                outlined in subparagraphs a) through c) above, Raven shall forfeit
                the
                ability to increase its interest
                in La Currita and furthermore shall forfeit any claims to any payments
                or
                costs expended or any shares delivered to Tara pursuant to subparagraphs
                a. & b. 

            

    

    
      
        
 

         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

     

    
      	 	
              f.

            	
              Upon
                Raven earning 25%, the parties shall in good faith negotiate a definitive
                joint venture agreement containing the usual representations, warrantees
                and content typical of a joint venture agreement on or before May
                30,
                2008. If for any reason the parties cannot negotiate the definitive
                joint
                venture agreement, it will be resolved by
                arbitration.

            

    

     

    
      	
              4)

            	
              Raven
                may elect to increase its interest in La Currita to 60%, by providing
                notice to Tara to do so on or before June 10, 2008 and by meeting
                the
                following terms: 

            

    

     

    
      	 	
              a.

            	
              Deliver
                an additional 500,000 Rule 144 common shares, to Tara, at notification
                to
                increase its interest to 60%;

            

    

     

    
      	 	
              b.

            	
              Spend
                an additional $2,875,000 on La Currita exploration on or before November
                30, 2009. Only direct exploration costs are eligible to be counted
                towards
                the La Currita spending. Indirect costs, such as management overheard,
                are
                not eligible;

            

    

     

    
      	 	
              c.

            	
              Provide
                to Tara an audited statement of the expenditures provided by an
                independent accounting firm to be mutually accepted by both parties,
                along
                with supporting documents, on a quarterly basis and upon spending
                the
                required additional $2,875,000. Additionally, Raven shall supply
                Tara with
                all documents related to expenditures on a monthly basis; related
                to all
                expenditures made on a trailing 90 day period;
                and

            

    

     

    
      	 	
              d.

            	
              Provide
                Tara 90 days to review the final audit statement of the expenditures
                and
                await Tara’s acceptance of the eligible spending and letter stating that
                Raven has earned its 60% participating interest, this letter is to
                be
                issued to Raven no later than 7 days after the review period is over
                to a
                maximum review period of 90 days. 

            

    

     

    
      	
              5)

            	
              Raven
                will make an additional payment of $100,000 to Tara on every anniversary
                date of this agreement to maintain its interest earned and to keep
                the
                Agreement in good standing. 

            

    

     

    
      	
              6)

            	
              Until
                and unless Raven earns its 60% interest pursuant to paragraph 4,
                Tara
                shall not be required to fund any Joint Venture costs or any other
                expenditures; Raven will have sole responsibility for such costs
                or
                expenditures. Upon Raven earning 60% participating interest, Raven
                and
                Tara shall be required to fund all joint venture costs and expenditures
                in
                proportion to each party's participating interest. Raven will provide
                to
                Tara an audited statement of the expenditures, along with supporting
                documents, on a quarterly basis and give Tara 90 days to review the
                audit
                statement before forwarding, to Raven, its participating interest
                of the
                expenditures. If either party elects not to contribute its proportionate
                share to an approved program and budget such parties' participating
                interest shall be subject to straight-line dilution. Raven shall
                defend
                and indemnify Tara from any nd
                all claims for acts related to this Agreement; and furthermore shall
                be
                responsible to remove any liens filed arising from its actions.
                

            

    

    
      
        
           

        

         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

     

    
      	
              7)

            	
              Once
                a participant interest has been diluted to a 10% interest, this interest
                will automatically convert into a 3% N.S.R. and the Agreement will
                become
                null and void. For a period of no longer then 1 year, the majority
                party
                will have the option to reduce the 3% NSR to 1% in exchange for a
                $2,000,000 payment. 

            

    

     

    
      	
              8)

            	
              Should
                Raven decide not to pursue exploration efforts, i.e. at outlined
                in
                paragraphs 3 & 4, then Raven will cease to be the operator of La
                Currita. In such a case, Raven will hold a silent, non-voting,
                participation interest that it has fully earned by meeting all the
                terms
                for that interest level. Raven’s silent, non-voting, participation
                interest, shall be subject to straight-line dilution upon continued
                investment into the project by Tara and/or other consequent joint
                venture
                partners. All other terms of this Agreement shall remain in effect
                and
                binding on each party.

            

    

     

    
      	
              9)

            	
              Raven
                and Tara will form a Management Committee consisting of two
                representatives from each joint venture party. The operator shall
                present
                work programs and budgets to the Management Committee for approval.
                In the
                event of a tie vote, the Operator, at the time of a given vote, shall
                have
                the deciding vote. 

            

    

     

    
      	
              10)

            	
              The
                Management Committee, along with other invited guests as needed,
                shall
                meet regularly by teleconference, at a minimum of twice monthly,
                to make
                decisions on future work and update all parties on current
                efforts.

            

    

     

    
      	
              11)

            	
              Raven
                will make all efforts to establish an on-line accounting system to
                track
                all costs and exploration spending associated with La Currita, but
                in any
                event, such accounting system shall be in place by December 31, 2007.
                The
                Management Committee will have access to this system and all information
                within this system. Tara Gold will be given access to this system
                for the
                purposes of migrating relevant information and integrating the relevant
                information, into its own accounting
                system.

            

    

     

    
      	
              12)

            	
              Tara
                owns 100% of the Mill, has the rights to 100% of the revenue generated
                from the Mill, is the operator of the Mill, and will operate the
                Mill
                until Tara recovers the operating capital it has already expended
                into the
                Mill (Estimated at 3 months). Tara will provide a summary of Mill
                expenditures to Raven. Raven will supply the capital to release all
                employees working at the Mill (Estimated $40,000) so that Tara can
                rehire
                these employees and remove any future financial liability to Raven
                from
                Mill operations. Upon recovery of its total investment, (Estimated
                at
                $400,000, Tara to provide Raven with statements of expenditures with
                supporting documentation) the Mill will be jointly owned by the parties
                at
                the participation interest earned and future decisions regarding
                the Mill
                will be based on the participation interests.

            

    

     

    
      	
              13)

            	
              It
                is understood that Tara has an agreement with Paramount Gold Mining
                Corp,
                which it holds under the “San Miguel Joint Venture Agreement” dated August
                3rd, 2005 to supply and process ore at the Mill at a minimum rate
                of 75
                tons per day and its first right of refusal to
                participate in any Mill improvements that will increase the daily
                capacity
                of the Mill. Tara will make all efforts to dissolve this term from
                the
                “San Miguel Joint Venture
                Agreement”.

            

    

    
      
        
 

         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

     

    
      	
              14)

            	
              In
                the event either party desires, at any time, to sell, transfer, assign
                or
                otherwise dispose of any of their interests in the La Currita Groupings
                (whether now held or hereafter acquired) (the "Offered Interest"),
                or
                receives a bona fide offer from a third party to purchase such Offered
                Interest, the selling party shall deliver a notice (the "Notice")
                to the
                other party stating (i) the selling party's bona fide intention to
                sell or
                transfer the Offered Interest, (ii) the amount of such Offered Interest
                to
                be sold or transferred, (iii) the price for which the selling party
                proposes to sell or transfer such Offered Interest, (iv) the name
                of the
                proposed Investor or transferee, or class of Investor or transferee,
                and
                (v) all other material terms and provisions relating to the proposed
                sale
                or transfer, including an executed copy of the proposed transfer
                document.
                Within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Notice, the other party
                may
                elect in writing to purchase all or any part of the Offered Interest
                to
                which the Notice refers, at the price per share and the other terms
                and
                provisions of sale specified in the Notice. The closing shall then
                be held
                thirty (30) days following the other party’s exercise of its purchase
                rights hereunder. Full payment for all of the Offered Interest to
                which
                the Notice refers and with respect to which the other party elects
                to
                purchase shall be made by cash or check in US funds to the selling
                party
                upon transfer of such interest. 

            

    

     

    
      	
              15)

            	
              Any
                future economic benefits gained through La Currita and the Mill will
                be
                divided according to the participation interest of each party at
                the time
                of benefit.

            

    

     

    
      	
              16)

            	
              Subject
                to any disclosure requirements as promulgated by the Securities and
                Exchange Commission, the parties agree to consult each other and
                agree on
                joint news releases in the event of any public disclosure. Furthermore,
                all news releases shall be jointly reviewed and released with the
                following format included at the beginning of each news release:
“CHICAGO,
                “Appropriate Date” (MARKETWIRE) - (Other OTC: TRGD.PK) Tara Gold Resources
                Corp. and Raven Gold Corp (“ABCI.PK”) are pleased to announce...”. This text
                may be revised by Tara at any time.

            

    

     

    
      	
              17)

            	
              If
                Raven Gold securities become de-listed from the stock exchange, for
                any
                reason and for a maximum period of 3 months time, then any cumulative
                share payments already made to Tara will be converted at a price
                of US
                $0.75 per share and payments will be forwarded to Tara at a rate
                of
                $75,000 per month, beginning the 1st day of the month following the
                delisting and continuing on the 1st day of every month until all
                the
                shares are converted to cash. Upon delisting, any future share payments
                will be made at the time outlined in the Agreement except that the
                payment
                will be in cash, equivalent to the conversion of the shares at US
                $0.75
                per share owed to Tara.

            

    

     

    
      	
              18)

            	
              In
                the event that Raven fails to obtain its 60% interest in La Currita,
                pursuant to paragraph 4, Raven will retain only the silent, non-voting,
                participation interest that it has fully earned by meeting all of
                the
                requirements contained in paragraphs 1 and/or 3. Raven’s silent,
                non-voting, participation interest, at the time of dissolution of
                Agreement, shall be subject to straight-line dilution upon continued
                investment into the project by Tara Gold and/or other consequent
                joint
                venture partners of the La Currita Groupings. This clause will be
                extended
                to
                and be included in all future joint venture agreements for the La
                Currita
                Groupings with Raven.

            

    

    
      
        
 

         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

     

    
      	
              19)

            	
              The
                agreements of the respective parties to the Agreement shall be binding
                on
                the parties’ respective successors and
                assigns.

            

    

     

    
      	
              20)

            	
              This
                Agreement is the sole and complete expression of the understandings
                and
                agreements of the parties hereto and may not be amended or altered
                in any
                way, except in writing executed by all parties hereto. This Agreement
                supersedes any and all prior or contemporaneous agreements of the
                parties,
                whether written or oral.

            

    

     

    
      	
              21)

            	
              The
                provisions of the Agreement are contractual and are enforceable as
                such.

            

    

     

    
      	
              22)

            	
              This
                Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and if so executed, each
                counterpart shall be deemed an
                original.

            

    

     

    
      	
              23)

            	
              Neither
                the parties hereto or the parties’ respective attorneys shall be deemed
                the drafter of this Agreement in any litigation, or other proceeding
                which
                hereafter may arise between or among
                them.

            

    

     

    
      	
              24)

            	
              Any
                dispute which may arise under the Agreement shall be governed by
                the laws
                of the State of Illinois. The parties each hereby submit to the
                jurisdiction of the Illinois courts and to venue in Cook County for
                resolution of any dispute that may arise under the
                Agreement.

            

    

     

    
      	
              25)

            	
              Neither
                party has relied upon the representations made by the other in entering
                into this Agreement and have been responsible for their own due
                diligence.

            

    

     

    Kindly
      signify your acceptance of the terms contained herein by signing in the
      appropriate space below and returning a copy of the fully executed Agreement
      to
      Tara to the attention of the President by facsimile at 630-456-4135. Upon
      receipt by facsimile as aforesaid, the Agreement will be considered executed
      and
      a binding obligation of the parties will have been formed.

     

    The
      above
      noted terms are hereby accepted this 3rd
      day of
      May, 2007.

     

    TARA
      GOLD
      RESOURCES CORP.

     

    Per:

     

    /s/
      Francis R. Biscan, Jr

    
      
        

      

    

    Francis
      R. Biscan Jr., President and CEO

     

    RAVEN
      GOLD CORP.

     

    Per:

     

    /s/
      Gary Haukeland

    
      

    

    Gary
      Haukeland, CEO and Director

    
      
         

         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    Schedule
      A

     

    La
      Currita Groupings

     

    

    

      
        	
                 

                NAME
                  OF ESTATE

              	
                 

                TITLE
                  NUMBER

              	
                 

                SURFACE
                  (HS) 

              
	
                 

                SULEMA
                  2

              	
                 

                191332

              	
                 

                15-82-80

              
	
                 

                EL
                  ROSARIO 

              	
                 

                185236

              	
                 

                10-95-68

              
	
                 

                LA
                  CURRA

              	
                 

                186172

              	
                 

                37-65-9294

              
	
                 

                LA
                  CURRITA

              	
                 

                99/2515
                  (Pending)

              	
                 

                13-88-1337

              

      

    

    
      
        
 

         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    Schedule
      B

     

    Joint
      Venture Agreement of August 23, 2006

     

    

     

    *
      Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report filed with the SEC on
      Form 8-K on September 22, 2006.

    
      
        
 

         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    Schedule
      C

     

    Amendment
      No. 1 to Joint Venture Agreement 

     

    Dated
      March 30, 2007

     

    

     

    *
      Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report filed with the SEC on
      Form 8-K/A on April 3, 2007.

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