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EXHIBIT 10
CONCESSION MODIFICATION AGREEMENT
Modification agreement of the partial assignment of rights contract signed on
December 19, 1995, which according to the following declarations and clauses is
signed by: on one hand, API Ensenada, S.A. de C.V., to be referred to as API,
represented by Ing. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ in his capacity as Director General;
and on the other, Ensenada Cruiseport Village, S.A. de C.V., to be referred to
as the Operator, represented by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ in his capacity as authorized
representative.
DECLARATIONS
1. The parties declare that:
1.1 Signing of the contract. On Dec. 19, 1995 a contract was signed (to be
referred to as the "Original Contract") by virtue of which the API partially
granted to the Operator its rights and obligations with respect to the areas
which are marked as the Granted Area in said contract. Said contract, which is
attached to this document as Exhibit A was registered before the Secretary of
Communications and Transportation under the number API ENS ▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇/96, on
Feb. 8, 1996.
1.2 The legal status of the parties and the powers of their representatives
are established on the following terms:
1.2.1 Of API. The legal status of API and the powers of its representatives
were duly confirmed as per the terms of the original contract and have not been
modified in any way.
1.2.2 Of the Operator. The legal status of the Operator was duly confirmed
as per the terms of the original contract, and have not been modified in any
way.
As confirmed in official document 264,429, signed before the oath of Lic. ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Notary number 10 of the Federal District, Sr. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
is the legal representative of the Operator, and has power to carry out
administrative acts, which are sufficient for the signing of this contract, and
which have not been cancelled or modified in any way.
1.3 Definitions. It is agreed that the definitions contained in the 2nd
article of the Port Laws, in the 2nd article of the Navigation Laws, and in the
original contract, shall be applied to this document, unless they shall be
assigned a different meaning in the same document; that the terms of those
documents shall have the meaning that is assigned to them in said documents,
and that they shall be used in plural form when making reference jointly to
concepts or persons referred to, without same affecting their meaning.
2. The Operator Declares that:
2.1 Request for the modification of the original contract. On Oct. 9, 1996,
a request was presented to API to modify the original contract, for the reasons
which are described and referred to in the same document, and which are
fundamentally based on the real costs of the dredging work which the Operator
shall carry out in the common areas of the port, and which are in the area of
$US 4,320,000.00 an amount which is notably higher that that which was
estimated at the moment of signing the contract referred to. This request is
attached hereto as Exhibit B.
2.2 Compliance with the original contract. On the date of signing this
document, all payments agreed to in the original contract are current.
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MODIFICATION AGREEMENT, PAGE TWO
3. API Declares:
3.1 Origins of the modification. From analysis of the request referred to
in declaration 2.1 the following was noted:
a) to determine the amount of the rent payments agreed to in the original
contract, it was taken into account that the Operator would authorize economic
assistance to API to carry our construction dredging work in the common areas
of the port area of Ensenada, B.C. which are charged to API as per the terms of
the Concession Title.
b) at a later time it was confirmed that the cost of the dredging
referred to in the preceding section will be significantly higher than that
which was originally forecast, due to which the economic assistance referred to
will increase in an important manner, which carries with it a substantial
change in the financial projections of the Operator.
c) the proposal of the Operator refers fundamentally to the modification
of the terms of payment of the rent, and not therefore to the actual totals of
same, which have not been changed;
d) in the 48th clause of the original contract, it is agreed that it may
be revised, for among other reasons, at any time if the parties agree to same;
3.2 Authorization of the modification. At the meeting of the Board of
Directors, held on Nov. 15, 1996, the members of the Board leaned of the
request for the modification which is contracted in this document, and they
agreed to same as per the certification which is attached hereto as Exhibit C.
Having declared as above, the parties agree as follows:
CLAUSES:
FIRST: Modification of the definitions. The parties agree to modify the
definition of the rent payment inserted in the chapter of definitions in the
original contract so that the text shall read as follows:
RENT PAYMENT: The amount of money which, before VAT tax, the Operator shall pay
to API for the use, and exploitation of the Granted Area, in the form and as
per the terms established in this contract. The rent payment consists of a
fixed portion and a variable portion, which are defined as follows:
FIXED PORTION: The fixed portion consists of the amounts of money stipulated in
fraction 1 of the 31st clause of this contract, which were determined by (a)
adding the total resulting from applying corresponding percentage to the
appraised value of the Granted Area (i) the amount of bringing current this
total by an increase of 2% per year, which shall be applied starting in the
8th year of validity of this contract (that is, or the original contract), and
(II) the anticipated sum of the anchorage and port fees of the cruise ships
stop each year at the port and which have together a gross registered weight
equal to or less than 18,900,000 tons (TRB), whose payment the Operator will
guarantee and shall make to API commencing when they begin to operate the
terminal, and until the end of the term of this contract; and (b) deducting
from the resulting total the amount of economic assistance that the Operator
provides to API for carrying out the dredging work which are referred to in the
19th clause.
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MODIFICATION AGREEMENT, PAGE THREE
VARIABLE PORTION
The variable portion shall be the money that represents 20% of the anchorage
and port fees in excess of a total weight of 18,900,000 TRB as mentioned in the
preceding section on an annual basis which is paid by the cruise ships that
call at the port each year.
SECOND: Modification of the clauses. The parties agree to modify sections IV
and VII of the first clause, the nineteenth clause, the second and third
paragraphs of the twentifirst clause, the thirtisecond clause, as well as the
sections I, II, and VII of the fortithird clause, and of the paragraph which
follows this last clause in the original contract, so that those texts shall
literally as follows:
First. Granting of rights and obligations.
IV. To charge and collect, subject to current legislation, fees for
the Services and for other services provided in the granted area, without
exceeding the maximum tariffs which in each case may be established by the
governing authorities or by API.
VII. To charge and receive the port or anchorage fees from the
cruise ships which arrive in the granted area or within the area marked in
Exhibit 16, with the understanding that this statement does not grant to the
Operator any other right over said area marked in Exhibit 16, agreeing that
said fees shall be established by API and shall be based upon the proposals
presented by the Operator.
NINETEENTH: Investments and specific work. The Operator is obligated
to comply with the amounts, terms and conditions specified in the program of
investments which is duly attached and dated as Exhibit 14, as well as to
comply with the development of the projects and carrying out of the work as
specified below:
I. The Operator shall deliver to API.
1. A design plan of the works to be carried out within the granted
area, at the latest by March 1, 1996.
2. The Executive Project of the works to be carried out in the
first phase, at the latest by December 31, 1996.
3. The Executive Project of second phase, at the latest by Sept.
30, 1997.
The Design Plan and Executive Project may be modified by the Operator
as long as such is previously approved by API, and as long as the changes do
not modify the basic form or function of the works, nor the time for execution
of same.
II. The Operator is obligated to begin the work of the first phase,
which are referred to in the sub-section 2 of the section I of this clause, by
March 15, 1997 at the latest, and those of the second phase, referred to in the
sub-section 3 of said section, within a maximum time limit of two calender
months starting from when API approves the corresponding Executive Project in
writing and from when the Operator has received all environmental permits that
said works may require.
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MODIFICATION AGREEMENT, PAGE FOUR
The general concepts of the works are marked out in the program which
is attached hereto as Exhibit 15-B, in which additionally are specified the
time limits for completing said works, with the understanding that the program
of such works as well as the dates mentioned may be subject to changes if
necessary due to environmental rulings or regulations which affect the
Operator. Such changes require the written approval by API to take effect.
III. In the same manner the Operator is obligated to carry out dredging
for construction, and for maintenance during the valid period of this contract,
in the area so marked on the map attached as Exhibit 16, and which includes the
portion of water within the granted area and that between said area and the
zone of ship movements of the Port.
The parties agree that the material produced from the dredging
mentioned as per the terms of the preceding paragraph shall be the property of
the Operator and of API 50% each, and because of which, the Operator agrees to
deposit API's portion of the material in the place or places so designated in
writing by API within the port, at the Operator's expense.
IV. Based on that specified in the above section, the parties agree that
the Operator shall carry out, with 200,000 m3 of material which is produced by
dredging, re-filling work in the area which is so marked on the map which forms
part of Exhibit 15-B. This work should be completed no later than Dec. 31,
1996.
TWENTIFIRST: Investments, works and specific obligations charged to API.
The parties agree that, due to the elements which were taken into
account to determine the amount and form of payment of the users fees (rent),
the investment made by the Operator to carry out the dredging work and
refilling that is referred to in the sections III and IV of the 19th clause
shall not cause any modification in the amount of the economic assistance by
the Operator in any manner, nor shall it cause any variation in the amounts due
as the fixed portion of the users fees, until the termination of this contract
or until its extension is requested.
API shall, at its cost and expense, re-locate the ship Catalina, which
is currently located in an area bordering the granted area, away from the
granted area, at the latest 15 days after the Operator notifies API in writing
that as a result of its dredging work, there is deep enough water around said
vessel to move it. In the case of a delay in compliance, API shall pay to the
Operator agreed damages as per the terms of clause 32, in the amount of 300
times the official daily minimum salary in Ensenada, for each month of the
delay.
THIRTIFIRST. Users Fees for the partial assignment of rights. During
the valid period of this contract, the Operator shall pay to API the fixed and
variable portions of the Users Fees as follows:
I. The fixed portion shall be paid monthly in accordance with the
following schedule, in which the annual amount due is stated in U.S. Dollars.
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MODIFICATION AGREEMENT, PAGE FIVE
ANNUAL AMOUNT OF THE USERS FEES
YEAR OF THE CONTRACT ANNUAL USERS FEES IN US$
1 54,000
2 108,000
3 & 4 280,000
5-10 560,000
11-15 1,430,000
16-24 1,990,000
25-32 2,5000,000
33-35 2,999,000
During each of the years 36-47 inclusive, the extension period of the
contract, the Operator shall pay to API the amount of 2,999,000 US$ as the fixed
portion of the users fees.
The fixed portion of the users fees shall be paid in 12 equal monthly
payments in advance, during the 12-17th of each corresponding month. The first
payment shall be paid on the date of the signing of this contract.
If payment is made in national currency (pesos) the conversion shall be
made at the interbank purchase exchange rate in effect on the date payment is
made.
II. The variable portion of the users fees shall be paid monthly during
the first five days of each succeeding month, starting from the date when it
appears probable that the gross tonnage of the cruise lines arriving at the port
shall reach a total which on an annual basis exceeds the amount indicated in the
corresponding section of the chapter on definitions. If payment is made in
national currency, payment shall be converted as described in the preceding
section.
For effects of the preceding section, the computation of gross tonnage
shall be made on an annual basis, starting from the date when the Operator
receives the first cruise ship at its terminal.
Said computation shall be carried out by the Operator, who shall
communicate it to API by monthly reports, during the fist five days of the next
month, regardless of whether at the date of its presentation any obligation of
payment has been created as per the terms of this section.
Each of the reports should previously be reconciled with the Port
Captain of Ensenada, and in the case of any discrepancy between the
calculations of the Operator and the Port Captain, the report of the latter
shall prevail.
THIRTISECOND. Penalty Interest. In the event that the Operator does not
cover any monetary obligation in a punctual manner, charged to it and in favor
of API, penalty interest shall be charged from the date when the obligation
should have been met, and until the date when it is covered. In the case that
API does not comply with any monetary obligation, penalty interest shall also
become due during the period of non-compliance.
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MODIFICATION AGREEMENT, PAGE SIX
The monetary obligations referred to in this clause include, in a
specific and non-limited manner, the fixed and variable portions of the users
fees, and any credits due to API derived from its own activities within the
granted area, when fees are collected by the Operator, any payments charged to
the Operator and which may be paid by API for the execution, demolition,
re-construction or installation of works, equipment or systems for the
conservation, repairs to or maintenance of the granted area; or for damages
caused to API or to third parties; the payment of premiums for bonds or
insurance policies or for deductibles payable for same; and en general, any
payments made by API on behalf of the Operator, or due to the non-compliance
with the obligations of the latter.
FORTITHIRD. Recision of the contract. The parties agree that the
present contract may be cancelled by API, without need of judicial resolution or
arbitration, if the Operator shall incur any of the following conditions on the
number of occasions indicated.
I. For acting contrary to that indicated in any of the sections I-IV,
VIII, IX or X of clause 38, on the first occasion.
II. For acting contrary to that indicated in any of the sections V,
VII, XII, or XVI of the same clause number 38, on the second occasion.
VII. For not carrying out the investments and specific works conforming
with that specified in clause 19, on the first occasion. In the case of the
re-filling work referred to in section IV of the cited clause, then the case
shall be disposed of as per section XVII of clause 38.
When any of the cases specified in sections, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XIII,
and XVI of the 38th clause shall be presented, in which cancellation is an
option, it shall be necessary that (I) API notify the Operator in writing of the
acts, or omissions which constitute the non-compliance. (II) that a period of
time be fixed, of at least three business days to remedy same, (III) that after
the period fixed for remedy the Operator shall continue in non-compliance and
(IV) that the cancellation shall be duly communicated in writing by API to the
Operator in a timely manner. In other cases where cancellation is an option, it
shall be sufficient that API make the notification mentioned in point IV above.
In the event that controversy arises regarding grounds for cancellation, the
cancellation shall remain in effect until and unless a resolution to the
contrary is found as per that specified in this clause.
THIRD. Additions in the clauses. The parties agree to insert a
modification into the introduction of clause 38; to add this same modification
into the section XVII; and that, in the second paragraph of clause 39, mention
of the referred to section XVII shall be made, so that the contractual
dispositions mentioned shall remain stated in the following terms.
THIRTIEIGHTH. Agreed to Penalties. In case of delay in the compliance
of its obligations assumed by the Operator in this contract, or in the event of
non-compliance of the same, the Operator shall pay to API as stipulated
damages, the amount arrived at by multiplying the official daily minimum wage
in Ensenada, B.C. at the time when the infraction takes place, by the number of
times indicated below; with the understanding that, should it refer to the case
specified in section XVII, the penalty shall be fixed as per that specified in
that same section.
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MODIFICATION AGREEMENT, PAGE SEVEN
XVII. For not complying in a timely manner with the total execution of
the re-filling work which are referred to in section IV of clause 19, $USD
1,000.00 for each day of delay, with the understanding that in the case referred
to in this section, that which is specified in the following two paragraphs
shall not be applied, nor that established in clause 39; and that the specified
penalty shall be subject to demand for immediate payment day after day.
THIRTININTH. Procedure for payments of the agreed penalties.
No time for payment shall be extended when dealing with non-compliance
as specified in sections I-V, inclusive, and in section XVII of the preceding
clause, nor when, due to non-compliance the normal operations in the granted
area of the port are affected.
FOURTH: Substitution of the exhibits of the original contract. The
parties agree that, from the date when this document is signed, the Exhibit 15-B
which is attached hereto shall replace Exhibit 15 in the original contract; and
that the other Exhibits of this latest contract shall remain valid.
FIFTH: Continuing validity of the original contract. Except for the
modifications and additions expressly agreed to in this document, the original
contract shall remain wholly valid in all its aspects, and therefore cannot be
determined to have been superceded in any way.
SIXTH: Interpretation and integration. For the interpretation,
integration and compliance with this contract, and for the resolution of any
controversies or conflicts arising from same, the same criteria shall be
followed as is specified in the 51st and 52nd clauses of the original contract,
according to the case.
SEVENTH: Registration of the agreement. This agreement shall be
registered by API before the Secretary of Communications and Transportation,
within five days of its being signed.
This agreement is signed in triplicate in Ensenada, B.C. on No. 21,
1996.
FOR API FOR THE OPERATOR
Ingot. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Zambia ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Director General Legal Representative