Terms & Conditions — Bullion Holding

1. Scope of Services

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern the coordination and documentation of bullion holding arrangements by Golden Ark Reserve, operated under Golden Ark General Trading (FZC) LLC (القوس الذهبي للتجارة العامة (شركة منطقة حرة)), established in Sohar Free Zone, Sultanate of Oman (the “Operating Entity”).

The scope covered by these Terms includes:
(a) client onboarding gating and instruction validation, including AML/KYC and sanctions screening controls;
(b) coordination of allocation record creation and maintenance for client-held bullion identified by bar lists and serial numbers, and issuance of client-facing evidence outputs through agreed reporting channels;
(c) contractual payment confirmation steps associated with an instruction or transaction (the “payment confirmation / contractual payment leg”);
(d) coordination of client instructions for release, transfer, or delivery through licensed third-party operators, subject to applicable agreements, cut-off times, and operational conditions.

Physical vault handling, storage, and transport are performed by licensed third-party operators under their operating procedures and service terms.

2. Client Eligibility and Onboarding

Services under these Terms are available to qualified investors and corporate counterparties accepted through onboarding.

Client onboarding is executed under Compliance Checks that include AML/KYC, sanctions screening, and beneficial ownership verification where applicable.

The Client provides accurate and complete onboarding information and provides updated information when changes occur in ownership, control, authorised signatories, domicile, or risk-relevant attributes.

Golden Ark Reserve may request additional documents or information required by applicable law, regulatory requests, or internal compliance controls, including source-of-funds and source-of-wealth information where applicable.

Access to services is granted only after onboarding acceptance is issued through an approved channel and a Client mandate is recorded for authorised instructions.

Client Instructions submitted without a valid mandate, or submitted through non-approved channels, are treated as unauthorised until validated.

3. Allocation Records and Holding Status

Bullion held under these Terms is recorded as client-held bullion identified by bar lists and serial numbers, with an Allocation Record maintained through agreed reporting channels.

An Allocation Record evidences the holding status of specific bars allocated to the Client and may include refiner/manufacturer identifiers, bar serial numbers, fineness, and weight attributes.

Holding status is evidenced through the Evidence Set issued for the Client, which may include allocation statements, bar lists, instruction confirmations, and operator-issued records where available.

Golden Ark Reserve coordinates creation and update of Allocation Records based on validated Client Instructions and third-party operator confirmations applicable to the relevant vault handling process.

An Allocation Record is treated as effective for client-facing purposes when the Evidence Set includes a confirmation issued through an approved Reporting Channel.

Discrepancies between Client-provided records and operator-issued records are resolved through reconciliation of the Evidence Set and instruction logs, with corrective outputs issued through the Reporting Channel.

4. Third-Party Operator Model (Hong Kong Route)

Bullion holding under these Terms is executed through licensed third-party operators that perform vault handling, storage, inventory movements, and transport under their facility rules, operating procedures, and service terms.

Where engaged for the Hong Kong route, Brink’s acts as the licensed third-party Vault Operator and/or Carrier under its facility rules, operating procedures, and service terms. Golden Ark Reserve coordinates execution and maintains the allocation record set and client-facing evidence outputs.

Role allocation under the third-party operator model is defined as follows:

Golden Ark Reserve performs instruction intake, mandate checks, compliance gating, coordination of operator-facing requests, and issuance of the client-facing Evidence Set through the agreed Reporting Channel.
The Vault Operator performs physical acceptance, vault handling, storage, inventory control events, and release processing within the facility workflow.
The Carrier performs transport execution, handover events, and delivery movements under its chain-of-custody procedures.

Operator substitution and operational changes are executed through an updated instruction path and updated Evidence Set outputs when a different operator, facility, or carrier is engaged for a given instruction or holding state.

Facility access and physical interaction with the bullion are governed by the applicable Vault Operator access rules, including identification requirements, appointment and escort rules, and permissible access modes. Client-facing record access is delivered through the agreed Reporting Channel as Evidence Set outputs and does not constitute facility access rights.

Instruction processing under the third-party operator model is subject to cut-off times, operational windows, and validation gates that include: (i) mandate verification, (ii) compliance gating status, (iii) payment confirmation status where relevant, and (iv) operator acceptance of the requested action within its procedures.

Hold events may occur when an instruction triggers a compliance review, a lawful request, an operator control event, or a facility security workflow. Hold events are documented through the instruction log and reflected in the next issued Evidence Set output.

5. Client Instructions (Release, Transfer, Delivery)

Client Instructions are accepted only through agreed channels and only from authorised signatories recorded in the Client mandate.

A Client mandate defines the authorised persons, required signature format, approval thresholds, and instruction classes permitted under the mandate.

Golden Ark Reserve validates each Client Instruction against: (i) the Client mandate, (ii) onboarding status, (iii) current compliance gating status, and (iv) operational feasibility within the applicable third-party operator procedures.

Instruction classes covered by these Terms include:

allocation record request and confirmation;
reporting and Evidence Set requests;
release instruction for collection or onward movement;
transfer instruction between vault locations or operator accounts where supported;
delivery coordination instruction through a Carrier.

Each instruction is processed through an instruction log that records: instruction receipt time, identity verification, mandate check outcome, compliance gating outcome, operator-facing submission time where applicable, and client-facing confirmation issuance time.

Instruction finality is defined per instruction class:

an instruction is treated as accepted when Golden Ark Reserve issues an acceptance confirmation through the Reporting Channel;
an instruction is treated as executed when the Evidence Set includes an execution confirmation based on third-party operator processing and documented handover events where applicable.

Cut-off times and operational windows apply to instruction execution, including banking cut-offs for payment confirmation steps and facility operational windows for vault handling events.

Payment-dependent instructions are executed only after payment confirmation is recorded as completed for the relevant contractual payment leg.

Golden Ark Reserve may decline or suspend an instruction when the instruction triggers a compliance review, lacks sufficient authorisation evidence, conflicts with a lawful request, conflicts with operator facility rules, or cannot be executed within the applicable operational conditions.

Cancellation and amendment rules apply as follows:

a cancellation request is treated as a new Client Instruction and is subject to mandate and compliance validation;
an instruction amendment is processed only before operator execution steps begin within the operator workflow;
instruction cancellation after operator execution begins is processed as an operational unwind request and is subject to operator feasibility and documented outcomes.

Delivery coordination requires delivery input data sufficient for lawful transport execution, including destination details, receiving party identification where applicable, and required import/export documentation where applicable to the route.

Client-provided delivery details are treated as authoritative for routing and documentation preparation purposes, and accuracy of delivery details is the Client responsibility.

Evidence outputs for release, transfer, or delivery instructions may include release orders, handover confirmations, chain-of-custody documents, and operator-issued acknowledgements where available through the engaged operator workflow.

6. Reporting, Evidence Outputs, and Record Access

Golden Ark Reserve issues client-facing reporting and Evidence Set outputs through the agreed Reporting Channel recorded for the Client.

Reporting under these Terms covers: (i) Allocation Records, (ii) instruction acceptance and execution confirmations, and (iii) supporting documents obtained from third-party operators where available for the relevant holding or movement event.

Evidence Set outputs may include, as applicable:

Allocation Record and Bar List extracts identifying client-held bullion by bar serial numbers and attributes;
instruction acceptance confirmations with timestamps and mandate validation status;
execution confirmations reflecting operator processing milestones for release, transfer, or delivery coordination;
operator-issued records that evidence vault handling, release events, and handover events where available under the engaged operator workflow.

Record access is delivered as document access and data access through the Reporting Channel and is separate from facility access rights.

Facility access, physical inspection access, and collection access are governed by the applicable Vault Operator access rules and require completion of operator identity checks and facility procedures.

Reporting frequency is defined by the applicable client arrangement and may include periodic statements and event-driven statements issued upon completion of a validated instruction.

Availability of reporting delivery is subject to system availability, security controls, and operational maintenance windows for the Reporting Channel.

Golden Ark Reserve maintains an instruction log that records instruction receipt, mandate validation outcome, compliance gating outcome, operator-facing submission milestones where applicable, and client-facing evidence issuance milestones.

Correction and reconciliation are executed through a controlled update process when an inconsistency is identified between client-facing evidence outputs and operator-issued records.

A reconciliation event produces an updated Evidence Set output that identifies the corrected data points and the effective timestamp of the updated record.

The Client maintains secure control of designated reporting endpoints, authorised recipients, and authentication credentials used to receive Evidence Set outputs.

Changes to authorised recipients and Reporting Channel configuration are processed as Client Instructions and require mandate validation before taking effect.

Evidence Set outputs are issued for operational and recordkeeping purposes and support compliance, audit, and instruction traceability for the holding arrangement.

7. Fees, Third-Party Charges, and Taxes

Fees payable under these Terms are defined in a fee schedule, order form, written quotation, or other written commercial terms issued for the Client and accepted through an authorised channel.

Fee components may include: (i) onboarding and compliance processing fees where applicable, (ii) coordination and documentation fees for instruction handling and Evidence Set issuance, and (iii) periodic administration fees where applicable to the holding arrangement.

Third-party operator charges apply when vault handling, storage, inventory movements, release processing, or transport is performed under a Vault Operator or Carrier workflow. Third-party charges include operator fees, facility fees, handling fees, and transport charges assessed under the third party’s procedures and terms.

Third-party charges may be billed as pass-through costs, billed at cost or as stated in the applicable commercial terms for the Client, and may require pre-funding before an instruction is submitted into an operator workflow.

Invoices are issued by the Operating Entity under the Client’s commercial terms and specify the applicable payment instructions, currency, and settlement deadlines for the contractual payment leg.

Payment deadlines and cut-off times apply to each invoice and to each instruction that requires payment confirmation before execution coordination can proceed.

Tax treatment, duties, levies, and withholding requirements are determined by applicable law in the relevant jurisdictions connected to the Client, the payment route, and the location of any third-party operator actions. The Client maintains responsibility for tax compliance, declarations, reporting obligations, and determination of tax residency status.

The Client provides tax identification details, tax residency details, and any required withholding documentation when requested for invoicing, payment processing, or compliance checks.

Amounts payable under these Terms are paid net of any bank fees and intermediary charges arising in the payment route, unless the applicable commercial terms define an alternative allocation of such charges.

A payment is treated as confirmed only when cleared funds are received in accordance with the payment instructions and the contractual payment leg is recorded as completed for the relevant invoice or instruction.

8. Compliance Controls and Instruction Holds

Golden Ark Reserve applies Compliance Checks to onboarding, ongoing relationship maintenance, and Client Instructions processed under these Terms.

Compliance Checks include AML/KYC, sanctions screening, beneficial ownership verification where applicable, and source-of-funds/source-of-wealth validation where applicable.

Golden Ark Reserve applies ongoing monitoring controls to Client Instructions and to changes in Client risk profile, including changes in ownership, control, authorised signatories, jurisdictions, and payment routes.

An instruction hold is applied when a Client Instruction triggers a compliance review gate, a lawful request gate, or an operator control gate within the third-party operator workflow.

A compliance review gate is triggered by risk indicators that require clarification, additional documents, enhanced due diligence steps, or internal approvals under the compliance framework.

A lawful request gate is triggered when a competent authority issues a request, order, or restriction that applies to the Client, the transaction, the payment route, or the third-party operator action.

A third-party operator control gate is triggered when the engaged operator applies facility controls, security procedures, inventory controls, or release constraints under its operating procedures.

A hold event produces an instruction log entry that records the hold trigger category, the effective timestamp, and the required remediation inputs.

Remediation inputs may include updated onboarding documents, additional identity evidence, beneficial ownership evidence, transaction rationale, payment documentation, or other supporting evidence required by the applicable gate.

Golden Ark Reserve processes remediation inputs through mandate validation and compliance validation before instruction processing resumes.

Golden Ark Reserve may require a replacement instruction when the original instruction cannot be executed within the operational window due to a hold event or expiry of operator cut-offs.

Information requests may be received from competent authorities connected to tax, customs, sanctions, or financial crime enforcement, including Hong Kong tax authorities such as the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) where a payment route or third-party operator action creates a relevant nexus.

The Client provides accurate tax residency and entity classification data when requested for invoicing, withholding assessment, or authority response processing.

Contracting and invoicing under these Terms are performed by the Operating Entity established in Sohar Free Zone, Sultanate of Oman, and third-party operator actions in Hong Kong are performed by the engaged operator under its licenses and procedures.

Authority response handling and disclosure steps are executed under applicable law and are recorded in the instruction log and the Evidence Set where disclosure is permitted.

A compliance hold remains effective until the applicable gate is cleared, the instruction is replaced, or the instruction is closed with a documented outcome.

9. Risk Events, Insurance Evidence, and Claims Pathway

A risk event under these Terms is an event that affects (i) the physical condition of the bullion, (ii) the ability to execute an instruction, or (iii) the integrity of the Allocation Record and Evidence Set.

Risk event categories include:

physical loss, damage, or theft events occurring within a third-party operator facility workflow;
inventory control discrepancies identified by the Vault Operator during reconciliation or release processing;
transport incidents occurring during Carrier execution and handover events;
legal or regulatory restriction events that restrict movement, release, or reporting;
force majeure events that restrict facility operations, transport execution, or banking operations relevant to a payment confirmation leg.

Insurance coverage for physical risk events is provided through the applicable third-party operator insurance arrangements and/or route-specific insurance arrangements connected to the engaged operator workflow, subject to the applicable policy terms, limits, exclusions, and claims procedures.

Insurance evidence is delivered to the Client only as part of the Evidence Set when such evidence is available through the engaged operator workflow or the applicable commercial terms for the Client.

Insurance evidence may include, where available:

operator-issued confirmation of insured status for the holding or for a defined route;
certificate extracts or confirmations that reference the applicable insurance program;
incident reference numbers and operator incident reports issued under operator procedures.

Golden Ark Reserve coordinates documentation and evidence collection for risk events through the instruction log and the Evidence Set and does not control third-party operator policy terms, coverage decisions, or claims adjudication.

A risk event triggers an operational control response that includes:

creation of a risk event log entry with timestamp and event category;
suspension of affected release, transfer, or delivery instructions until the event is triaged;
reconciliation steps against operator-issued records and the current Allocation Record;
issuance of a client-facing event notice through the Reporting Channel when a material impact is confirmed.

A discrepancy event is treated as material when the discrepancy affects bar identifiers, serial numbers, weight attributes, or holding status reflected in client-facing outputs.

A discrepancy event remediation path includes:

reconciliation of the Evidence Set against operator inventory records;
issuance of a corrected Evidence Set output with an effective timestamp;
submission of an operator query and receipt of an operator-issued correction record where available.

A claims pathway applies when a physical loss or damage event is confirmed by the engaged operator workflow and a claim route exists under the applicable insurance arrangements.

Claims coordination under these Terms follows this sequence:

the Client receives a client-facing incident notice and an initial Evidence Set packet that identifies the event category and the affected records;
Golden Ark Reserve requests operator incident documentation and route documentation applicable to the event;
the Client provides claim-required inputs that are Client-controlled, including ownership evidence, beneficiary details, and any authority-facing declarations required by applicable law;
the claim submission is executed through the applicable channel defined by the engaged operator workflow or the applicable commercial terms;
claim outcomes are documented through Evidence Set outputs when documentation can be issued lawfully and operationally.

Valuation for incident reporting and claim coordination follows the valuation mechanism defined in the applicable commercial terms, custody-related documents, and insurance policy terms connected to the event, including any policy-defined valuation date, valuation source, and settlement currency.

Instruction execution remains suspended for affected bars when a legal hold, operator hold, or claims hold applies to the bars within the operator workflow.

A force majeure or regulatory restriction event produces an Evidence Set output that records the restriction category, effective date, and instruction impacts where such disclosure is permitted.

The Client maintains responsibility for reviewing insurance evidence made available through the Evidence Set and for obtaining independent advice on coverage scope, exclusions, and tax or reporting consequences connected to any claim proceeds.

10. Liability Allocation and Limits

Liability under these Terms is allocated by function and by control over the relevant operational step.

Golden Ark Reserve liability scope under these Terms relates to instruction intake, mandate validation, compliance gating, coordination of operator-facing requests, and issuance of client-facing Evidence Set outputs through the Reporting Channel.

Third-party operator liability scope relates to vault handling, storage, inventory control events, release processing within the facility workflow, transport execution, and chain-of-custody handover events executed under operator procedures and service terms.

A liability event is assessed against the control point that produced the event, using the instruction log, Evidence Set outputs, and operator-issued records where available.

Direct loss category under these Terms is limited to direct, documented loss arising from a proven failure of Golden Ark Reserve to execute a validated instruction workflow step within its control points, or a proven failure to issue an Evidence Set output consistent with validated instruction status and available operator records.

Liability cap for Golden Ark Reserve is defined as the lesser of:
(a) the total Fees paid by the Client to the Operating Entity for the specific instruction or service period giving rise to the claim, or
(b) the amount expressly stated as a cap in the applicable commercial terms for the Client.

Excluded loss categories for Golden Ark Reserve under these Terms include:

indirect or consequential losses, including lost profit, lost opportunity, and business interruption;
losses arising from third-party operator actions outside the Golden Ark Reserve control points, including facility rules, inventory workflows, access rules, and transport workflows;
losses arising from banking route events, intermediary bank actions, currency conversion spreads, or payment delays occurring outside the Golden Ark Reserve control points;
losses arising from Client-provided data errors, including beneficiary details, delivery details, addresses, and import/export documentation data supplied by the Client.

Client responsibility for instruction accuracy applies to all Client-provided data used for instruction execution coordination, including destination, recipient identity data where applicable, and documentary inputs required for transport or customs processing.

Indemnity allocation applies as follows:

the Client indemnifies the Operating Entity for losses and costs arising from incorrect, incomplete, or unauthorised Client Instructions submitted through the agreed channels or arising from mandate configuration errors controlled by the Client;
the Client indemnifies the Operating Entity for losses and costs arising from unlawful use of services, sanctions breaches, or misrepresentation of beneficial ownership, source-of-funds, or tax residency data supplied by the Client.

Claims notification and evidence requirements apply as follows:

a claim notice is submitted through an agreed channel and includes the instruction reference, the alleged failure point, and the claimed loss category;
the claim notice includes supporting evidence sufficient to reconcile the claim against the instruction log and the Evidence Set;
Golden Ark Reserve issues a written claim response that identifies the assessed control point, the available records reviewed, and the remediation pathway or dispute pathway applicable to the claim.

Remediation pathway is applied before monetary compensation where a corrective operational output resolves the impact, including re-issuance of corrected Evidence Set outputs, instruction replacement processing, or reconciliation outputs with effective timestamps.

Time limits apply to claims as follows:

a claim relating to reporting outputs or instruction handling is submitted within the time window stated in the Client’s commercial terms or, where not stated, within a reasonable period after the Client receives the relevant Evidence Set output;
a claim relating to operator-handled physical events follows the operator claims windows and evidence requirements applicable to the engaged workflow and insurance pathway.

Tax and regulatory consequence allocation is handled as follows:

tax determinations, declarations, filings, and authority-facing positions are controlled by the Client and the Client’s advisors;
Golden Ark Reserve evidence outputs support recordkeeping and instruction traceability and do not constitute tax advice or tax determinations.

11. Confidentiality and Data Handling

Confidential Information includes any non-public information relating to the Client, Client Instructions, Allocation Records, Evidence Set outputs, pricing or Fees, payment details, onboarding materials, and compliance documentation exchanged under these Terms.

Golden Ark Reserve applies confidentiality controls to Confidential Information through access limitation, secure storage, and controlled delivery through the Reporting Channel.

The Client applies confidentiality controls to Reporting Channel endpoints, authorised recipients, and authentication credentials used to receive Evidence Set outputs.

Disclosure of Confidential Information is permitted only under the following categories:

disclosure to the Client’s authorised recipients recorded under the Client mandate and Reporting Channel configuration;
disclosure to licensed third-party operators engaged for execution of a specific instruction or holding workflow, limited to the data required to execute the relevant step;
disclosure required by applicable law, regulation, court order, or competent authority request;
disclosure to professional advisors, auditors, and insurers of a party where such disclosure is required for compliance, audit, insurance, or dispute handling, subject to confidentiality obligations.

Data shared with third-party operators is limited to instruction execution data and identity data required under operator facility rules and transport rules.

Golden Ark Reserve maintains recordkeeping for instruction logs, compliance gating outcomes, and Evidence Set outputs for a retention period defined by applicable law and internal compliance controls.

Record retention applies to onboarding materials, instruction logs, payment confirmation evidence, and operator-facing submission records where applicable.

Record deletion and data minimisation are executed only when permitted by applicable law, retention obligations, and lawful request constraints.

The Client acknowledges that authority requests may require disclosure of transaction-related and tax-related data where a competent authority has jurisdiction over the Client, the payment route, or an operator action nexus, including disclosure requests issued by the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department (IRD) where applicable.

Golden Ark Reserve processes authority requests through a controlled lawful request workflow that includes: (i) verification of request validity, (ii) scope limitation to required disclosure, (iii) disclosure recording in the instruction log, and (iv) client notification where notification is permitted.

Cross-border data transfer may occur where a Reporting Channel endpoint, third-party operator workflow, or authority request requires transfer of data across jurisdictions.

Cross-border data transfer is executed under applicable law and under security controls that include encryption in transit where supported by the Reporting Channel and access control to retained records.

Golden Ark Reserve Evidence Set outputs are operational records issued for instruction traceability and do not constitute legal, tax, or regulatory advice.

The Client maintains responsibility for its own tax classification, tax residency determination, and authority-facing positions connected to any record or payment route under these Terms.

12. Term, Termination, and Exit Procedures

These Terms apply from the effective date stated on this page and apply to the Client from the date the Client is accepted through onboarding and a Client mandate is recorded.

A holding arrangement under these Terms remains active while the Client maintains an accepted onboarding status and while any client-held bullion remains recorded under the applicable Allocation Record.

Golden Ark Reserve may suspend services under these Terms for the Client when a compliance hold applies, when a lawful request applies, or when a third-party operator control gate prevents execution of instructions.

Termination may be initiated by the Client or by Golden Ark Reserve through a written notice submitted through an agreed channel.

Termination does not automatically release or move bullion. Termination triggers an exit workflow that requires Client Instructions for release, transfer, or delivery coordination.

The exit workflow requires the following steps:

the Client submits an exit instruction that identifies the intended exit method: release for collection, transfer to another operator where supported, or delivery coordination to a destination;
Golden Ark Reserve validates the exit instruction against the Client mandate, onboarding status, compliance gating status, and payment confirmation status where applicable;
Golden Ark Reserve coordinates operator-facing exit processing under the engaged operator procedures and operational windows;
Golden Ark Reserve issues an exit Evidence Set output that includes the operator processing confirmation milestones where available.

Exit processing is subject to third-party operator facility rules, access rules, appointment and identification requirements, cut-off times, and any outstanding operator fees or facility charges connected to the bars.

Exit instructions may require provision of additional documentary inputs controlled by the Client, including receiving party identification, destination address details, and import/export documentation where applicable to the route.

Golden Ark Reserve may require settlement of outstanding Fees and pass-through third-party charges before submitting an exit instruction into an operator workflow.

A partial exit instruction is permitted when the instruction identifies specific bars by serial numbers or identifies a specific subset of bars in a bar list extract, and when the operator workflow supports partial release processing.

A bulk exit instruction is permitted when the instruction identifies a bar list reference and the operator workflow supports bulk processing under the applicable operational windows.

An exit workflow may be delayed or suspended when a compliance hold applies, a lawful request applies, an operator control gate applies, or a force majeure event restricts facility operations or transport execution.

Upon completion of the exit workflow for all client-held bullion, Golden Ark Reserve issues a closure confirmation through the Reporting Channel that identifies the closure effective date and the final Evidence Set output reference.

Record retention continues after termination for the retention period required by applicable law and compliance controls, including retention of onboarding and instruction logs.

Termination does not affect accrued payment obligations, liability allocations, confidentiality obligations, and dispute resolution obligations that survive termination.

13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Sultanate of Oman.

The Operating Entity contract counterparty for these Terms is established in Sohar Free Zone, Sultanate of Oman, and invoices and contractual payment obligations under these Terms are issued by the Operating Entity in accordance with the Client’s commercial terms.

Third-party operator actions connected to bullion holding, vault handling, and transport execution are performed by the engaged licensed operators under their facility rules, operating procedures, and service terms.

A dispute under these Terms is any disagreement relating to (i) interpretation of these Terms, (ii) instruction handling and coordination steps, (iii) Evidence Set outputs, (iv) Fees and payment obligations, or (v) liability allocation under these Terms.

Disputes are handled through the following sequence:

written notice of dispute is submitted through an agreed channel and includes the instruction reference, disputed issue category, and supporting documents;
the parties execute a negotiation period intended to resolve the dispute through clarification, reconciliation outputs, or corrective Evidence Set issuance where applicable;
escalation to formal dispute resolution occurs when negotiation does not resolve the dispute within the time window stated in the Client’s commercial terms or, where not stated, within a reasonable period.

Formal dispute resolution is executed through arbitration or court proceedings in Oman as determined by the applicable commercial terms agreed with the Client.

Arbitration, where applied, is administered by a recognised arbitration institution in Oman under Omani law and under arbitration rules specified in the applicable commercial terms.

Interim relief and urgent measures may be sought where required to preserve records, comply with lawful requests, or prevent irreversible operational impacts connected to a release, transfer, or delivery instruction.

Each party maintains responsibility for its own legal and advisory costs unless a binding award or court decision allocates costs differently under applicable law.

Dispute resolution does not suspend compliance holds or lawful request holds that apply to a Client or to specific bars under the engaged operator workflow.

A dispute resolution outcome is documented through a written decision, award, or settlement record and is referenced in the instruction log and the Evidence Set where lawful and operationally permitted.

14. Notices and Standard Legal Clauses

A notice under these Terms is any formal communication relating to onboarding status, instruction acceptance, instruction execution confirmation, compliance holds, fee invoices, termination, or dispute initiation.

Notices are delivered through the Reporting Channel or through other agreed channels recorded for the Client, and a notice is treated as received when the notice is issued to the authorised recipients recorded under the Client mandate.

The Client maintains responsibility for keeping authorised recipients, email addresses, portal accounts, and other Reporting Channel endpoints current, and for maintaining access to authentication credentials used to receive notices.

A change to authorised recipients or Reporting Channel endpoints is processed only after mandate validation and confirmation through an approved channel.

A waiver of any provision under these Terms is effective only when issued in writing by an authorised representative of the Operating Entity.

Assignment by the Client of rights or obligations under these Terms is effective only with written consent issued by the Operating Entity through an authorised channel.

Assignment by the Operating Entity is permitted where the assignment does not reduce the Client’s rights to receive Evidence Set outputs for existing instructions and does not change the governing law stated in these Terms, subject to notice issued through the Reporting Channel.

Severability applies such that if any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, the remaining provisions remain effective and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted.

Entire agreement structure applies such that these Terms operate together with the Client’s accepted commercial terms, fee schedule, and any instruction mandate documents recorded for the Client, and those documents form the full contractual framework for services covered by these Terms.

Order of precedence applies as follows where documents conflict:

a signed or explicitly accepted order form or commercial terms issued for the Client;
the Client mandate and instruction authorisation documents;
these Terms as published on the website for the effective date;
operational notices and reporting outputs issued under an instruction log.

Force majeure applies to events outside a party’s reasonable control that restrict facility operations, transport execution, banking operations, or lawful performance of instruction coordination steps, including regulatory interventions, facility closures, transport restrictions, or system outages affecting Reporting Channels.

A force majeure event triggers an operational notice through the Reporting Channel that identifies the event category, affected instruction classes, and the expected operational impact where disclosure is feasible.

No partnership, agency, or fiduciary relationship is created by these Terms. Golden Ark Reserve performs execution coordination and documentation under these Terms and third-party operators perform physical vault handling and transport under their own service terms and procedures.

15. No Advice, Reliance, and Independent Advisors

Golden Ark Reserve issues Evidence Set outputs for operational recordkeeping, instruction traceability, and compliance support.

Evidence Set outputs serve as transaction and holding records and are used for documentation and verification purposes within the holding arrangement.

The Client maintains responsibility for legal, tax, accounting, and regulatory determinations connected to the Client’s holdings, payments, instructions, and reporting obligations.

The Client obtains independent professional advice for legal, tax, accounting, regulatory, and jurisdiction-specific matters connected to the Client’s activities under these Terms.

Any operational information provided under these Terms is interpreted by the Client within the Client’s own governance, approvals, and advisor review process.