72

Each Participant covenants and undertakes with each other Participant that neither it nor its Affiliates, nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents will make, offer, or authorise with respect to the matters which are the subject of this Agreement, any payment, gift, promise or other advantage, whether directly or through any other person or entity, to or for the use or benefit of any public official (i.e., any person holding a legislative, administrative or judicial office, including any person employed by or acting on behalf of a public agency, a public enterprise or a public international organisation) or any political party or political party official or candidate for office, where such payment, gift, promise or advantage would violate (a) English law or (b)the laws relating to corruption applicable to such Participant. 1

Each obligation of a Participant (including the Participant acting in the capacity of Operator) hereunder, other than the obligation to make payments of money, shall be suspended while such Participant is prevented or hindered from complying therewith by any cause beyond the reasonable control of such Participant provided that a lack of funds shall be deemed not to be a cause beyond reasonable control. In such event, such Participant shall give notice of suspension as soon as reasonably possible to the other Participants stating the date and extent of such suspension and the cause of it. Any of the Participants whose obligations have been suspended as aforesaid shall resume the performance of such obligations as soon as reasonably possible after the removal of the cause and shall so notify all the other Participants.77In this clause 25 "Force Majeure” means any cause beyond the reasonable control of such Participant, and which such Participant by the exercise of reasonable diligence is unable to prevent, avoid or remove, provided that a lack of funds shall not constitute Force Majeure.2

1see: http://www.oilandgas.org.uk/issues/stdagreements/worddocs/joint_operating_agreement.dochttp://www.oilandgas.org.uk/issues/stdagreements/worddocs/joint_operating_agreement.doc
2see:http://www.oilandgas.org.uk/issues/stdagreements/worddocs/joint_operating_agreement.dochttp://www.oilandgas.org.uk/issues/stdagreements/worddocs/joint_operating_agreement.doc