Nymex Exercise And Abandonment Procedures For The October Silver And Gold Options Which Expire On Friday September 14, 2001

Standard auto exercise (1 Tick) procedures are in place. To exercise any out of the money option or to abandon any in the money option, clearing member representatives must fax to NYMEX Clearing the following information at 212-303-8538. Clearing Member number, Option ID, Account, Strike, Clearing House, and exercise/abandon, name and signature of clearing member representative and contact number.

All Clearing Member representatives shall confirm to the Exchange receipt of this information by phoning NYMEX Clearing at +1 212-891-8162. The phone line should only be used for this expiration procedure.

All other inquiries should be directed to +1 212-891-8166.

NYMEX will post on its website (www.nymex.com) the settlement prices for the October 2001 Gold Futures as well as the December 2001 silver futures which the October Gold Silver Options exercise into respectively.

The Exercise/Abandonment instructions must be forwarded to NYMEX Clearing as per the above procedures no later than three hours following the posting of the applicable futures settlement prices.