For the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006
($Cdn thousands except per share amounts and as noted)
During the first quarter of 2007, the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic accepted in the first reading and returned to committee for further deliberation draft legislation that, among other things, challenges the legal validity of Kumtor Gold Company (Kumtor) agreements with the Kyrgyz Republic, proposes recovery of additional taxes on amounts relating to past activities, and provides for the transfer of gold deposits (including Kumtor) to a state-owned entity. If the law is enacted, there would be a substantial risk of harm to Centerra's rights and therefore the value of Cameco's investment in Centerra.
As a result, Cameco and Centerra entered into discussions with the Kyrgyz Government. These discussions resulted in the signing of two agreements, both dated August 30, 2007, between the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and, respectively, Cameco and Centerra. Under the terms of the agreements, the Kyrgyz Government and Kyrgyzaltyn JSC, a joint stock company owned by the Kyrgyz Government, agree to support Centerra's continuing long-term development of the Kumtor project and agree to facilitate eventual divestiture of Cameco's interest in Centerra. In return, the Kyrgyz Government will receive 32,305,238 shares (22,305,238 net from Cameco and 10,000,000 treasury shares from Centerra) upon closing of the definitive legal agreements. Of these, 15,000,000 shares will be received immediately and 17,305,238 shares will be held in escrow to be released within four years subject to a number of conditions, including the approval by the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic.
These agreements were originally to expire on October 31, 2007, but the parties have agreed to extend the deadline for closing the transactions to April 30, 2008. The conditions that gave rise to these agreements still exist and Cameco believes the number of Centerra shares that would have been transferred to the Kyrgyz Government is indicative of the ultimate cost to remedy those conditions. Thus, Cameco has recorded a charge of $113,000,000 ($153,000,000 after a tax expense of $40,000,000).