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4DS MEMORY LIMITED — AGM Information 2022
Oct 30, 2022
64258_rns_2022-10-30_61605b43-e0c6-4c19-a9df-36e01f664317.pdf
AGM Information
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4DS Memory Limited | ABN 43 145 590 110 Level 2, 50 Kings Park Road, West Perth WA 6005 PO Box 271, West Perth WA 6872
+61 8 6377 8043 | [email protected] | www.4dsmemory.com
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31 October 2022
Dear Shareholder
Upcoming Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
The Company’s Annual General Meeting is scheduled to be held at the Conference Room, Quest Kings Park, 54 Kings Park Road, West Perth WA on Wednesday, 30 November 2022 at 11.30 am (AWST) ( Meeting ).
The Company strongly encourages Shareholders to lodge a directed proxy form by Monday, 28 November 2022 at 11.30 am (AWST) . Shareholder questions should also be submitted in advance of the Meeting as this will provide management with the best opportunity to prepare answers. Further details of how to participate are set out in the Notice of Meeting.
The Notice of Meeting and Annual Report can be viewed and downloaded from: https://announcements.4dsmemory.com.
Shareholders who have nominated an email address and have elected to receive electronic communications from the Company, will receive an email to their nominated email address with a link to an electronic copy of the important Meeting documents.
In accordance with sections 110C-110K the Corporations Act, as amended by the Corporations Amendment (Meetings and Documents) Act 2022 (Cth), no hard copy of the Notice of Annual General Meeting and Explanatory Statement will be circulated, unless a shareholder has requested a hard copy.
If you are unable to access any of the important Meeting documents online or if you wish to receive a hard copy of the Meeting documents please contact our share registry, Automic, on 1300 288 664 (within Australia) or +612 9698 5414 or via email at [email protected].
Your right to elect to receive documents electronically or in hard copy
4DS Memory will no longer send a hard copy of the meeting documents unless a shareholder requests a copy be mailed.
We encourage all shareholders to provide an email address so that we can send investor communications electronically when they become available online, which includes items such as meeting documents and annual reports.
Shareholders can still elect to receive some or all their communications in hard copy or electronic form, or elect not to receive certain documents such as annual reports.
To review your communications preferences or sign up to receive your shareholder communications via email, please update your communication preferences at https://investor.automic.com.au/.
If you are a shareholder and would like a hard copy of a communication, need further information about the options available to you or have questions about your holding, visit https://investor.automic.com.au/ or contact our share registry:
Telephone (within Australia): 1300 288 664
Telephone (outside Australia): +61 2 9698 5414
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://investor.automic.com.au/
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4DS Memory Limited | ABN 43 145 590 110 Level 2, 50 Kings Park Road, West Perth WA 6005 PO Box 271, West Perth WA 6872
+61 8 6377 8043 | [email protected] | www.4dsmemory.com
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Contact information
Investors: David McAuliffe 4DS Memory +61 408 994 313 [email protected]
About 4DS
4DS Memory Limited (ASX: 4DS), with facilities located in Silicon Valley, is a semiconductor development company of non-volatile memory technology, pioneering Interface Switching ReRAM for next generation gigabyte storage in mobile and cloud. Established in 2007, 4DS owns a patented IP portfolio, comprising 32 USA patents granted (four of which have now expired), 1 allowed patent and 1 patent application, which have been developed in-house to create high-density Storage Class Memory. 4DS has a joint development agreement with Western Digital subsidiary HGST, a global storage leader, which accelerates the evolution of 4DS technology. 4DS also collaborates with imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. The combination of imec’s widely acclaimed leadership in microchip technology and profound software and information and communication technology expertise makes them unique.
For more information, please visit www.4dsmemory.com.
Disclaimer
This release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based on the Company’s management’s beliefs, assumptions and expectations and on information currently available to management. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results or performance of 4DS to be materially different from the results or performance expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such forward looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Company’s present and future business strategies and the political and economic environment in which 4DS will operate in the future, which are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance and no representation or warranty is made as to the likelihood of achievement or reasonableness of any forward-looking statements or other forecast. To the full extent permitted by law, 4DS and its directors, officers, employees, advisers, agents and intermediaries disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to information to reflect any change in any of the information contained in this release (including, but not limited to, any assumptions or expectations set out in the release).
You should not place undue reliance on these forward- looking statements. Except as required by law or regulation (including the ASX Listing Rules) we undertake no obligation to update these forward- looking statements.
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4DS MEMORY ACN 145 590 110 NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is given that the Meeting will be held at:
TIME : 11.30 am AWST
DATE : 30 November 2022
PLACE : Conference Room, Quest Kings Park, 54 Kings Park Road, West Perth WA
The business of the Meeting affects your shareholding and your vote is important.
This Notice should be read in its entirety. If Shareholders are in doubt as to how they should vote, they should seek advice from their professional advisers prior to voting.
The Directors have determined pursuant to Regulation 7.11.37 of the Corporations Regulations 2001 (Cth) that the persons eligible to vote at the Meeting are those who are registered Shareholders at 4.00 pm AWST on 28 November 2022.
BUSINESS OF THE MEETING
AGENDA
1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
To receive and consider the annual financial report of the Company for the financial year ended 30 June 2022 together with the declaration of the Directors, the Director’s report, the Remuneration Report and the auditor’s report.
2. RESOLUTION 1 – ADOPTION OF REMUNERATION REPORT
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass, with or without amendment, the following resolution as a non-binding resolution :
“That, for the purposes of section 250R(2) of the Corporations Act and for all other purposes, approval is given for the adoption of the Remuneration Report as contained in the Company’s annual financial report for the financial year ended 30 June 2022.”
Note: the vote on this Resolution is advisory only and does not bind the Directors or the Company.
A voting prohibition statement applies to this Resolution. Please see below.
IF MORE THAN 25% OF THE VOTES CAST ON RESOLUTION 1 ARE VOTED AGAINST ADOPTION OF THE REMUNERATION REPORT, EACH DIRECTOR HAS ADVISED THAT THEY INTEND TO RESIGN. REFER TO THE EXPLANATORY STATEMENT FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
3. RESOLUTION 2 – SPILL RESOLUTION
If less than 25% of the votes cast on Resolution 1 are voted against adoption of the Remuneration Report, the Chair will withdraw Resolution 2.
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass, with or without amendment, the following resolution as an ordinary resolution :
“That, for the purposes of section 250V(1) of the Corporations Act and for all other purposes, approval is given for:
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(a) the Company to hold another meeting of Shareholders within 90 days of the date of this Meeting ( Spill Meeting ); and
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(b) all Vacating Directors to cease to hold office immediately before the end of the Spill Meeting; and
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(c) resolutions to appoint persons to offices that will be vacated pursuant to (b) to be put to vote at the Spill Meeting.”
A voting prohibition statement applies to this Resolution. Please see below.
Note : This Resolution will only be put to the AGM if at least 25% of the votes validly cast on Resolution 1 are against that Resolution.
IF RESOLUTION 2 IS REQUIRED TO BE PUT TO THIS MEETING, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE AGAINST RESOLUTION 2.
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4. RESOLUTION 3 – RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTOR – GUIDO ARNOUT
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass, with or without amendment, the following resolution as an ordinary resolution :
“That, for the purpose of clause 15.4 of the Constitution, Listing Rule 14.4 and for all other purposes, Guido Arnout, a Director, retires by rotation, and being eligible, is re-elected as a Director.”
5. RESOLUTION 4 – RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTOR – HOWARD DIGBY
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass, with or without amendment, the following resolution as an ordinary resolution :
“That, for the purpose of clause 15.2 of the Constitution, Listing Rule 14.4 and for all other purposes, Howard Digby, a Director, retires by rotation, and being eligible, is re-elected as a Director.”
6. RESOLUTION 5 – APPROVAL OF 7.1A MANDATE
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as a special resolution :
“That, for the purposes of Listing Rule 7.1A and for all other purposes, approval is given for the Company to issue up to that number of Equity Securities equal to 10% of the issued capital of the Company at the time of issue, calculated in accordance with the formula prescribed in Listing Rule 7.1A.2 and otherwise on the terms and conditions set out in the Explanatory Statement.”
7. RESOLUTION 6 – RATIFICATION OF PRIOR ISSUE OF OPTIONS
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass, with or without amendment, the following resolution as an ordinary resolution :
“That, for the purposes of Listing Rule 7.4 and for all other purposes, Shareholders ratify the issue of 15,500,000 Options on the terms and conditions set out in the Explanatory Statement.”
A voting exclusion statement applies to this Resolution. Please see below.
8. RESOLUTION 7 – AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION
“That, for the purposes of section 136(2) of the Corporations Act and for all other purposes, approval is given for the Company to amend its Constitution in the manner described in the Explanatory Statement.”
Dated: 31 October 2022
By order of the Board
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Peter Webse Company Secretary
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Voting Prohibition Statements
| Resolution 1 – Adoption of Remuneration Report |
A vote on this Resolution must not be cast (in any capacity) by or on behalf of either of the following persons: (a) a member of the Key Management Personnel, details of whose remuneration are included in the Remuneration Report; or (b) a Closely Related Party of such a member. However, a person (thevoter) described above may cast a vote on this Resolution as a proxy if the vote is not cast on behalf of a person described above and either: (a) the voter is appointed as a proxy by writing that specifies the way the proxy is to vote on this Resolution; or (b) the voter is the Chair and the appointment of the Chair as proxy: (i) does not specify the way the proxy is to vote on this Resolution; and expressly authorises the Chair to exercise the proxy even though this Resolution is connected directly or indirectly with the remuneration of a member of the Key Management Personnel. |
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| Resolution 2 – Spill Resolution |
A vote on this Resolution must not be cast (in any capacity) by or on behalf of either of the following persons: (a) a member of the Key Management Personnel, details of whose remuneration are included in the Remuneration Report; or (b) a Closely Related Party of such a member. However, a person (thevoter) described above may cast a vote on this Resolution as a proxy if the vote is not cast on behalf of a person described above and either: (a) the voter is appointed as a proxy by writing that specifies the way the proxy is to vote on this Resolution; or (b) the voter is the Chair and the appointment of the Chair as proxy: (i) does not specify the way the proxy is to vote on this Resolution; and expressly authorises the Chair to exercise the proxy even though this Resolution is connected directly or indirectly with the remuneration of a member of the Key Management Personnel. |
Voting Exclusion Statements
In accordance with Listing Rule 14.11, the Company will disregard any votes cast in favour of the Resolution set out below by or on behalf of the following persons:
Resolution 6 – Ratification of A person who participated in the issue or is a counterparty to the
prior issue of Options agreement being approved (namely the US based employees or an associate of that person or those persons.
However, this does not apply to a vote cast in favour of the Resolution by:
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(a) a person as a proxy or attorney for a person who is entitled to vote on the Resolution, in accordance with the directions given to the proxy or attorney to vote on the Resolution in that way; or
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(b) the Chair as proxy or attorney for a person who is entitled to vote on the Resolution, in accordance with a direction given to the Chair to vote on the Resolution as the Chair decides; or
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(c) a holder acting solely in a nominee, trustee, custodial or other fiduciary capacity on behalf of a beneficiary provided the following conditions are met:
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(i) the beneficiary provides written confirmation to the holder that the beneficiary is not excluded from voting, and is not an associate of a person excluded from voting, on the Resolution; and
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(ii) the holder votes on the Resolution in accordance with directions given by the beneficiary to the holder to vote in that way.
Voting by proxy
To vote by proxy, please complete and sign the enclosed Proxy Form and return by the time and in accordance with the instructions set out on the Proxy Form.
In accordance with section 249L of the Corporations Act, Shareholders are advised that:
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each Shareholder has a right to appoint a proxy;
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the proxy need not be a Shareholder of the Company; and
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a Shareholder who is entitled to cast two or more votes may appoint two proxies and may specify the proportion or number of votes each proxy is appointed to exercise. If the Shareholder appoints two proxies and the appointment does not specify the proportion or number of the member’s votes, then in accordance with section 249X(3) of the Corporations Act, each proxy may exercise one-half of the votes.
Shareholders and their proxies should be aware that:
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if proxy holders vote, they must cast all directed proxies as directed; and
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any directed proxies which are not voted will automatically default to the Chair, who must vote the proxies as directed.
Voting in person
To vote in person, attend the Meeting at the time, date and place set out above.
Should you wish to discuss the matters in this Notice please do not hesitate to contact the Company Secretary on +61 8 6377 8043.
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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
This Explanatory Statement has been prepared to provide information which the Directors believe to be material to Shareholders in deciding whether or not to pass the Resolutions.
1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
In accordance with the Corporations Act, the business of the Meeting will include receipt and consideration of the annual financial report of the Company for the financial year ended 30 June 2022 together with the declaration of the Directors, the Directors’ report, the Remuneration Report and the auditor’s report.
The Company will not provide a hard copy of the Company’s annual financial report to Shareholders unless specifically requested to do so. The Company’s annual financial report is available on its website at www.4dsmemory.com .
2. RESOLUTION 1 – ADOPTION OF REMUNERATION REPORT
2.1 General
The Corporations Act requires that at a listed company’s annual general meeting, a resolution that the remuneration report be adopted must be put to the shareholders. However, such a resolution is advisory only and does not bind the company or the directors of the company.
The remuneration report sets out the company’s remuneration arrangements for the directors and senior management of the company. The remuneration report is part of the directors’ report contained in the annual financial report of the company for a financial year.
The chair of the meeting must allow a reasonable opportunity for its shareholders to ask questions about or make comments on the remuneration report at the annual general meeting.
2.2
Voting consequences
A company is required to put to its shareholders a resolution proposing the calling of another meeting of shareholders to consider the appointment of directors of the company ( Spill Resolution ) if, at consecutive annual general meetings, at least 25% of the votes cast on a remuneration report resolution are voted against adoption of the remuneration report and at the first of those annual general meetings a Spill Resolution was not put to vote. If required, the Spill Resolution must be put to vote at the second of those annual general meetings.
If more than 50% of votes cast are in favour of the Spill Resolution, the company must convene a shareholder meeting ( Spill Meeting ) within 90 days of the second annual general meeting.
All of the directors of the company who were in office when the directors' report (as included in the company’s annual financial report for the most recent financial year)
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was approved, other than the Managing Director of the company, will cease to hold office immediately before the end of the Spill Meeting but may stand for re-election at the Spill Meeting.
Following the Spill Meeting those persons whose election or re-election as directors of the company is approved will be the directors of the company.
The Board advises that if more than 25% of the votes cast on Resolution 1 are voted against adoption of the remuneration report, they all intend to resign as soon as at least one replacement director can be found and, in any event within 90 days of the Meeting or as long as a required under the Board members’ contracts with the Company if that is longer than 90 days.
The Directors believe this to be the appropriate course of action as a shareholder vote in which more than 25% of the votes are against adoption of the remuneration report indicates that shareholders are not supportive of the Board’s current remuneration policies. The Company Secretary has also advised that he will resign at the same time as the Directors (i.e. in any event, within 90 days of the Meeting).
In this instance, shareholders will have an opportunity to elect a completely new Board which can set its own remuneration policies.
The Board believes it has, in the past 2 years, operated tirelessly to progress the Company’s technology and is remunerated at rates consistent with or less than comparable companies.
2.3 Previous voting results
At the Company's previous annual general meeting, the votes cast against the remuneration report considered at that annual general meeting were more than 25%. Accordingly, the Spill Resolution will be relevant for this Meeting if at least 25% of the votes cast on this Resolution are voted against adoption of the Remuneration Report. Refer to Resolution 2 and Section 3 for further information.
The board recommends shareholders vote IN FAVOUR of Resolution 1.
3. RESOLUTION 2 – SPILL RESOLUTION
If less than 25% of the votes cast on Resolution 1 are voted against adoption of the Remuneration Report, the Chair will withdraw Resolution 2.
3.1 General
The Corporations Act requirements for this Resolution to be put to vote are set out in Section 2.2.
The effect of this Resolution being passed is the Company will be required to hold another meeting of Shareholders within 90 days of the date of this Meeting ( Spill Meeting ) and the Vacating Directors will cease to hold office immediately before the end of the Spill Meeting (unless they have resigned prior to this date – see
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Section 2.2 above). The business of the Spill Meeting will be to put to vote resolutions to appoint persons to offices vacated by the Vacating Directors.
In the event a Spill Meeting is required a separate notice of meeting will be distributed to Shareholders with details about those persons who will seek election as directors of the Company at the Spill Meeting.
3.2 Proxy voting restrictions
Shareholders appointing a proxy for this Resolution should note the voting restrictions applying to Resolution 1 apply in the same manner to this Resolution.
3.3 Board Comment and Recommendation
If Resolution 2 is put to this Meeting and you support your current Directors and wish for them to continue as Directors, YOU SHOULD VOTE AGAINST the Spill Resolution (Resolution 2).
IF RESOLUTION 2 IS REQUIRED TO BE PUT TO THIS MEETING, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE AGAINST RESOLUTION 2.
The Chair of the Meeting intends to vote all undirected proxies AGAINST Resolution 2.
4. RESOLUTION 3 – ELECTION OF DIRECTOR – GUIDO ARNOUT
4.1 General
The Constitution allows the Directors to appoint at any time a person to be a Director either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing Directors, but only where the total number of Directors does not at any time exceed the maximum number specified by the Constitution.
Pursuant to the Constitution and Listing Rule 14.4, any Director so appointed holds office only until the next annual general meeting and is then eligible for election by Shareholders but shall not be taken into account in determining the Directors who are to retire by rotation (if any) at that meeting.
Dr Guido Arnout, having been appointed initially on 7 December 2015 (as Managing Director) and subsequently on 15 March 2022 (as a non-executive Director), will retire in accordance with the Constitution and Listing Rule 14.4 and being eligible, seeks election from Shareholders.
4.2 Qualifications and other material directorships
Dr Arnout has specific expertise with over 30 years in commercialising electronics technology from concept to product. Dr Arnout was the founding President & CEO of PowerEscape, which introduced the first tools for the development of low-power software executing on multicore devices. Dr Arnout was also founding President & CEO of CoWare, which pioneered system-level design tools for hardware-software co-design and the time-based licensing business model.
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Dr Arnout co-founded the Open SystemC Initiative (OSCI), an industry consortium to standardise a language for system level design, and as its President submitted the SystemC language to IEEE. Dr. Arnout served as VP of Engineering and later senior VP of marketing of CrossCheck Technology. He co-founded and later became VP of Engineering of Silvar-Lisco, the first commercial EDA (electronic design automation) company.
4.3 Independence
If re-elected the Board does not consider Dr Arnout will be an independent Director.
4.4 Board recommendation
The Board has reviewed Dr Arnout’s performance since his appointment to the Board and considers that his skills and experience will continue to enhance the Board’s ability to perform its role. Accordingly, the Board supports the re-election of Dr Arnout and recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of Resolution 3.
5. RESOLUTION 4 – RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTOR – HOWARD DIGBY
5.1 General
Listing Rule 14.4 and clause 15.2 of the Constitution provide that, other than a Managing Director, a director of an entity must not hold office (without re-election) past the third annual general meeting following the director’s appointment or three years, whichever is the longer. However, where there is more than one Managing Director, only one is entitled to be exempt from this rotation requirement.
Mr Howard Digby, who has served as a Director since 7 December 2015 and was last re-elected on 29 November 2019, retires by rotation and seeks re-election.
5.2 Qualifications and other material directorships
Mr Digby started his career at IBM and has spent over 25 years managing technology related businesses across the Asia Pacific region, of which 12 years were spent in Hong Kong. More recently, Mr Digby was with The Economist Group as Regional Managing Director.
Prior to this Mr Digby held senior management roles at Adobe and Gartner where his clients included major semiconductor players inclusive of Samsung, Hynix and TSMC. Upon returning to Perth, Mr Digby served as Executive Editor of WA Business News and now spends his time as an advisor and investor, having played key roles in several M&A and reverse takeover transactions.
Mr Digby currently holds other directorships as a Non-Executive Director of Elsight Limited (ASX: ELS), Non-Executive Director of Spenda Limited (ASX: SPX) and as the Non-Executive Chairman of Singular Health Group Ltd (ASX: SHG).
5.3 Independence
If re-elected the Board considers Mr Digby will be an independent Director.
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5.4 Board recommendation
The Board has reviewed Mr Digby’s performance since his appointment to the Board and considers that his skills and experience will continue to enhance the Board’s ability to perform its role. Accordingly, the Board supports the re-election of Mr Digby and recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of Resolution 4.
6. RESOLUTION 5 – APPROVAL OF 7.1A MANDATE
6.1 General
Broadly speaking, and subject to a number of exceptions, Listing Rule 7.1 limits the amount of Equity Securities that a listed company can issue without the approval of its shareholders over any 12 month period to 15% of the fully paid ordinary securities it had on issue at the start of that period.
However, under Listing Rule 7.1A, an eligible entity may seek shareholder approval by way of a special resolution passed at its annual general meeting to increase this 15% limit by an extra 10% to 25% ( 7.1A Mandate ).
An ‘eligible entity’ means an entity which is not included in the S&P/ASX 300 Index and has a market capitalisation of $300,000,000 or less. The Company is an eligible entity for these purposes.
As at the date of this Notice, the Company is an eligible entity as it is not included in the S&P/ASX 300 Index and has a current market capitalisation of $38,473,901 (based on the number of Shares on issue and the closing price of Shares on the ASX on 21 October 2022).
Resolution 5 seeks Shareholder approval by way of special resolution for the Company to have the additional 10% placement capacity provided for in Listing Rule 7.1A to issue Equity Securities without Shareholder approval.
If Resolution 5 is passed, the Company will be able to issue Equity Securities up to the combined 25% limit in Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A without any further Shareholder approval.
If Resolution 5 is not passed, the Company will not be able to access the additional 10% capacity to issue Equity Securities without Shareholder approval under Listing Rule 7.1A, and will remain subject to the 15% limit on issuing Equity Securities without Shareholder approval set out in Listing Rule 7.1.
6.2 Technical information required by Listing Rule 7.1A
Pursuant to and in accordance with Listing Rule 7.3A, the information below is provided in relation to Resolution 5:
(a) Period for which the 7.1A Mandate is valid
The 7.1A Mandate will commence on the date of the Meeting and expire on the first to occur of the following:
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(i)
the date that is 12 months after the date of this Meeting;
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(ii) the time and date of the Company’s next annual general meeting; and
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(iii) the time and date of approval by Shareholders of any transaction under Listing Rule 11.1.2 (a significant change in the nature or scale of activities) or Listing Rule 11.2 (disposal of the main undertaking).
(b) Minimum price
Any Equity Securities issued under the 7.1A Mandate must be in an existing quoted class of Equity Securities and be issued for cash consideration at a minimum price of 75% of the volume weighted average price of Equity Securities in that class, calculated over the 15 trading days on which trades in that class were recorded immediately before:
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(i) the date on which the price at which the Equity Securities are to be issued is agreed by the entity and the recipient of the Equity Securities; or
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(ii) if the Equity Securities are not issued within 10 trading days of the date in Section 7.2(b)(i), the date on which the Equity Securities are issued.
(c) Use of funds raised under the 7.1A Mandate
The Company intends to use funds raised from issues of Equity Securities under the 7.1A Mandate for expanding or accelerating the Company’s existing business activities including to further develop the Company’s Interface Switching ReRam technology and for general working capital.
(d) Risk of Economic and Voting Dilution
Any issue of Equity Securities under the 7.1A Mandate will dilute the interests of Shareholders who do not receive any Shares under the issue.
If Resolution 5 is approved by Shareholders and the Company issues the maximum number of Equity Securities available under the 7.1A Mandate, the economic and voting dilution of existing Shares would be as shown in the table below.
The table below shows the dilution of existing Shareholders calculated in accordance with the formula outlined in Listing Rule 7.1A.2, on the basis of the closing market price of Shares and the number of Equity Securities on issue or proposed to be issued as at 21 October 2022.
The table also shows the voting dilution impact where the number of Shares on issue (Variable A in the formula) changes and the economic dilution where there are changes in the issue price of Shares issued under the 7.1A Mandate.
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| Dilution | Dilution | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Shares on Issue (Variable A in Listing Rule 7.1A.2) |
Shares issued – 10% voting dilution |
Issue Price | |||
| $0.013 | $0.026 | $0.039 | |||
| 50% decrease |
Issue Price |
50% increase |
|||
| Funds Raised | |||||
| Current | 1,427,682,108 Shares |
142,768,210 Shares |
$1,855,986 | $3,711,973 | $5,567,960 |
| 50% increase |
2,141,523,162 Shares |
214,152,316 Shares |
$2,783,980 | $5,567,960 | $8,351,940 |
| 100% increase |
2,855,364,216 Shares |
285,536,421 Shares |
$3,711,973 | $7,423,946 | $11,135,920 |
*The number of Shares on issue (Variable A in the formula) could increase as a result of the issue of Shares that do not require Shareholder approval (such as under a pro-rata rights issue or scrip issued under a takeover offer) or that are issued with Shareholder approval under Listing Rule 7.1.
The table above uses the following assumptions:
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There are currently 1,479,765,442 Shares on issue.
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The issue price set out above is the closing market price of the Shares on the ASX on 21 October 2022 (being $0.026).
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The Company issues the maximum possible number of Equity Securities under the 7.1A Mandate.
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The Company has not issued any Equity Securities in the 12 months prior to the Meeting that were not issued under an exception in Listing Rule 7.2 or with approval under Listing Rule 7.1.
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The issue of Equity Securities under the 7.1A Mandate consists only of Shares. It is assumed that no Options are exercised into Shares before the date of issue of the Equity Securities. If the issue of Equity Securities includes quoted Options, it is assumed that those quoted Options are exercised into Shares for the purpose of calculating the voting dilution effect on existing Shareholders.
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The calculations above do not show the dilution that any one particular Shareholder will be subject to. All Shareholders should consider the dilution caused to their own shareholding depending on their specific circumstances.
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This table does not set out any dilution pursuant to approvals under Listing Rule 7.1 unless otherwise disclosed.
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The 10% voting dilution reflects the aggregate percentage dilution against the issued share capital at the time of issue. This is why the voting dilution is shown in each example as 10%.
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The table does not show an example of dilution that may be caused to a particular Shareholder by reason of placements under the 7.1A Mandate, based on that Shareholder’s holding at the date of the Meeting.
Shareholders should note that there is a risk that:
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(i) the market price for the Company’s Shares may be significantly lower on the issue date than on the date of the Meeting; and
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(ii) the Shares may be issued at a price that is at a discount to the market price for those Shares on the date of issue.
(e) Allocation policy under the 7.1A Mandate
The recipients of the Equity Securities to be issued under the 7.1A Mandate have not yet been determined. However, the recipients of Equity Securities could consist of current Shareholders or new investors (or both), none of whom will be related parties of the Company.
The Company will determine the recipients at the time of the issue under the 7.1A Mandate, having regard to the following factors:
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(i) the purpose of the issue;
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(ii) alternative methods for raising funds available to the Company at that time, including, but not limited to, an entitlement issue, share purchase plan, placement or other offer where existing Shareholders may participate;
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(iii) the effect of the issue of the Equity Securities on the control of the Company;
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(iv) the circumstances of the Company, including, but not limited to, the financial position and solvency of the Company;
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(v) prevailing market conditions; and
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(vi) advice from corporate, financial and broking advisers (if applicable).
(f)
Previous approval under Listing Rule 7.1A
The Company previously obtained approval from its Shareholders pursuant to Listing Rule 7.1A at its annual general meeting held on 29 November 2021 ( Previous Approval ).
During the 12 month period preceding the date of the Meeting, being on and from 30 November 2021, the Company has not issued or agreed to issue any Equity Securities pursuant to the Previous Approval.
6.3 Voting Exclusion Statement
As at the date of this Notice, the Company is not proposing to make an issue of Equity Securities under Listing Rule 7.1A. Accordingly, a voting exclusion statement is not included in this Notice.
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7. RESOLUTION 6 – RATIFICATION OF PRIOR ISSUE OF OPTIONS
7.1 General
On 31 May 2022, the Company issued 15,500,000 Options to US based employees of the Company in consideration for employment services ( Incentive Options ).
Broadly speaking, and subject to a number of exceptions, Listing Rule 7.1 limits the amount of equity securities that a listed company can issue without the approval of its shareholders over any 12 month period to 15% of the fully paid ordinary securities it had on issue at the start of that 12 month period.
The Company obtained approval to increase its limit to 25% at the annual general meeting held on 29 November 2021.
The issue of the Incentive Options does not fit within any of the exceptions set out in Listing Rule 7.2 and, as it has not yet been approved by Shareholders, it effectively uses up part of the 15% limit in Listing Rule 7.1, reducing the Company’s capacity to issue further equity securities without Shareholder approval under Listing Rule 7.1 for the 12 month period following the date of issue of the Incentive Options. For the avoidance of doubt, the Incentive Options are being ratified under Listing Rule 7.1.
Listing Rule 7.4 allows the shareholders of a listed company to approve an issue of equity securities after it has been made or agreed to be made. If they do, the issue is taken to have been approved under Listing Rule 7.1 and so does not reduce the company’s capacity to issue further equity securities without shareholder approval under that rule.
The Company wishes to retain as much flexibility as possible to issue additional equity securities in the future without having to obtain Shareholder approval for such issues under Listing Rule 7.1. Accordingly, the Company is seeking Shareholder ratification pursuant to Listing Rule 7.4 for the issue of the Incentive Options.
Resolution 6 seeks Shareholder ratification pursuant to Listing Rule 7.4 for the issue of the Incentive Options.
7.2 Technical information required by Listing Rule 14.1A
If Resolution 6 is passed, the Incentive Options will be excluded in calculating the Company’s combined 25% limit in Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A, effectively increasing the number of equity securities the Company can issue without Shareholder approval over the 12 month period following the date of issue of the Incentive Options.
If Resolution 6 is not passed, the Incentive Options will be included in calculating the Company’s combined 25% limit in Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A, effectively decreasing the number of equity securities that the Company can issue without Shareholder approval over the 12 month period following the date of issue of the Incentive Options.
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7.3 Technical information required by Listing Rule 7.5
Pursuant to and in accordance with Listing Rule 7.5, the following information is provided in relation to Resolution 6:
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(a) the Incentive Options were issued to US based employees there were not Key Management Personnel;
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(b) in accordance with paragraph 7.4 of ASX Guidance Note 21, the Company confirms that none of the recipients were:
-
(i) related parties of the Company, members of the Company’s Key Management Personnel, substantial holders of the Company, advisers of the Company or an associate of any of these parties; and
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(ii) issued more than 1% of the issued capital of the Company;
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(c) 15,500,000 Incentive Options were issued on the terms and conditions set out in Schedule 1;
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(d) the Incentive Options were issued on 31 May 2022;
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(e) the Incentive Options were issued at a nil issue price, in consideration for employement services by the US based employees. The Company has not and will not receive any other consideration for the issue of the Incentive Options (other than in respect of funds received on exercise of the Incentive Options);
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(f) the purpose of the issue of the Incentive Options was to incentivise the employees and meet the Company’s obligations under the respective employment agreements; and
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(g) the Incentive Options were not issued under an agreement.
8. RESOLUTION 7 – AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION
A company may modify or repeal its constitution or a provision of its constitution by special resolution of Shareholders.
Resolution 7 is a special resolution which will enable the Company to amend its existing Constitution ( Amended Constitution ).
The Amended Constitution is broadly consistent with the provisions of the existing Constitution. Many of the proposed changes are administrative or minor in nature including but not limited to:
- (a) Additional Directors (clause 15.4): the additional director’s clause has been amended to be consistent with ASX Listing Rule 14.4;
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-
(b) Holding Company (clauses 1.1 and 17.9): Directors are authorised to act in the best interests of any Holding Company (as defined in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)); and
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(c) Deemed receipt of Notice (clause 27.4): deemed receipt by post is the day after posting and that all deemed receipt can be later if required by the Corporations Act or the Listing Rules.
A copy of the Amended Constitution is available for review by Shareholders at the office of the Company. A copy of the Amended Constitution can also be sent to Shareholders upon request to the Company Secretary. Shareholders are invited to contact the Company if they have any queries or concerns.
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GLOSSARY
-
$ means Australian dollars.
-
7.1A Mandate has the meaning given in Section 7.1.
ASIC means the Australian Securities & Investments Commission.
ASX means ASX Limited (ACN 008 624 691) or the financial market operated by ASX Limited, as the context requires.
Board means the current board of directors of the Company.
Business Day means Monday to Friday inclusive, except New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and any other day that ASX declares is not a business day.
Chair means the chair of the Meeting.
Closely Related Party of a member of the Key Management Personnel means:
-
(a) a spouse or child of the member;
-
(b) a child of the member’s spouse;
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(c) a dependent of the member or the member’s spouse;
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(d) anyone else who is one of the member’s family and may be expected to influence the member, or be influenced by the member, in the member’s dealing with the entity;
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(e) a company the member controls; or
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(f) a person prescribed by the Corporations Regulations 2001 (Cth) for the purposes of the definition of ‘closely related party’ in the Corporations Act.
Company means 4DS Memory (ACN 145 590 110).
Constitution means the Company’s constitution.
Corporations Act means the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
Directors means the current directors of the Company.
Equity Securities includes a Share, a right to a Share or Option, an Option, a convertible security and any security that ASX decides to classify as an Equity Security.
Explanatory Statement means the explanatory statement accompanying the Notice.
Key Management Personnel has the same meaning as in the accounting standards issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board and means those persons having authority and
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responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Company, or if the Company is part of a consolidated entity, of the consolidated entity, directly or indirectly, including any director (whether executive or otherwise) of the Company, or if the Company is part of a consolidated entity, of an entity within the consolidated group.
Listing Rules means the Listing Rules of ASX.
Managing Director means the Managing Director of the Company who may, in accordance with the Listing Rules, continue to hold office indefinitely without being re-elected to the office.
Meeting means the meeting convened by the Notice.
Notice means this notice of meeting including the Explanatory Statement and the Proxy Form.
Option means an option to acquire a Share.
Proxy Form means the proxy form accompanying the Notice.
Remuneration Report means the remuneration report set out in the Director’s report section of the Company’s annual financial report for the year ended 30 June 2022.
Resolutions means the resolutions set out in the Notice, or any one of them, as the context requires.
Section means a section of the Explanatory Statement.
Share means a fully paid ordinary share in the capital of the Company.
Shareholder means a registered holder of a Share.
Vacating Directors means the Directors who were directors of the Company when the resolution to make the directors’ report considered at the last annual general meeting of the Company was passed, other than the Managing Director at that time.
Variable A means “A” as set out in the formula in Listing Rule 7.1A.2.
WST means Western Standard Time as observed in Perth, Western Australia.
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SCHEDULE 1 – TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS
(a) Entitlement
Each Option entitles the holder to subscribe for one Share upon exercise of the Option.
(b)
Exercise Price
The Options have an exercise price of $0.10 being the closing price of the Company’s shares on the ASX on the day prior to the issue of the Options ( Exercise Price ).
(c) Expiry Date
Each Option will expire at 5:00pm (WST) on 31 May 2027, being the date that is 5 years form the issue date of the options ( Expiry Date ). An Option not exercised before the Expiry Date will automatically lapse on the Expiry Date.
(d) Vesting Dates
The Options will vest as follows (each a Vesting Date ):
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(i) 25% of the Options: 30 November 2022; (ii) 7.5% of the Options: 28 February 2023; (iii) 7.5% of the Options: 31 May 2023; (iv) 7.5% of the Options: 31 August 2023;
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(v) 7.5% of the Options: 30 November 2023; (vi) 7.5% of the Options: 28 February 2024; (vii) 7.5% of the Options: 31 May 2024;
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(viii) 7.5% of the Options: 31 August 2024;
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(ix) 7.5% of the Options: 30 November 2024;
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(x) 7.5% of the Options: 28 February 2025; and
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(xi) 7.5% of the Options: 31 May 2025.
unless the Board (acting reasonably) waives the applicable Vesting Dates and determines that the Options vest immediately.
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(e) Acceleration
If:
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(i) the Company enters into a scheme of arrangement with its members or any class thereof pursuant to section 411 of the Corporations Act;
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(b) a Takeover Period (given the meaning set out below) commences;
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(c) a person or a group of associated persons having a relevant interest in, subsequent to the grant of the Options, sufficient Shares to give it or them the ability in general meeting to replace all or a majority of the Board in circumstances where such ability was not already held by a person associated with such person or group of associated persons;
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(d) any person or corporation having a relevant interest in not less than 90% of the Shares of the Company issues a notice of meeting convening a meeting of shareholders in order to enter into a scheme of arrangement (pursuant to the provisions of the Corporations Act) which, if implemented would result in a person or corporation having a relevant interest in not less than 90% of the Shares, the Options will be free of any conditions of exercise and/or vesting and may be exercised at any time before they expire; or
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(e) the Board forms the view (acting reasonably) that one of the events set out in (i) – (v) is likely to occur,),
then the Board may declare an Option to be free of any conditions of vesting and exercise.
Options which are so declared free of any restrictions on vesting and exercise may be exercised at any time before the Expiry Date.
For the purposes of this item, a Takeover Period means in relation to a takeover bid in respect of Shares, the period referred to in section 624 of the Corporations Act, provided that where a takeover bid is publicly announced prior to the service of a bidder's statement on the Company in relation to that takeover bid, the takeover period shall be deemed to have commenced at the time of that announcement.
(f) Exercise Period
(i) All unvested Options will expire on termination of employment for any reason whatsoever, unless the Board makes a determination (in its absolute discretion) that: (ii) the employee’s performance during the term; and (iii) the circumstances of the termination of the employment, (f) are such that all unvested Options on the date of termination will continue to vest according the vesting schedule in Section 3 above and only expire on the Expiry Date. (g) An Option may only be exercised at any time after the applicable Vesting Date and prior to the Expiry Date.
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221021 Notice of AGM - final
(g) Notice of Exercise
The Options may be exercised during the Exercise Period by notice in writing to the Company ( Notice of Exercise ) and payment of the Exercise Price for each Option being exercised in Australian currency by electric funds transfer or other means of payment acceptable to the Company. Any Notice of Exercise of an Option received by the Company will be deemed to be effective notice of the exercise of that Option on and from the date of receipt of the Notice of Exercise and the receipt of the full amount of the Exercise Price for each Option exercised in cleared funds.
The Options may only be exercised in multiples of 1,000 on each occasion.
(h)
Shares issued on exercise
Shares issued on exercise of the Options will rank equally with the then issued shares of the Company.
(i)
Quotation of Shares on exercise
Application will be made by the Company to ASX for quotation of the Shares issued upon the exercise of the Options.
(j)
Timing of issue of Shares
After the Exercise Date, the Company must, within, five business days:
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(i) issue the number of Shares required under these terms and conditions in respect of the number of Options specified in the Notice of Exercise and for which cleared funds have been received by the Company;
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(h) if required, give ASX a notice that complies with section 708A(5)(e) of the Corporations Act, or, if the Company is unable to issue such a notice, lodge with ASIC a prospectus prepared in accordance with the Corporations Act and do all such things necessary to satisfy section 708A(11) of the Corporations Act to ensure that an offer for sale of the Shares does not require disclosure to investors; and
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(i) if admitted to the official list of ASX at the time, do all such acts, matters and things to obtain the grant of official quotation of the Share on ASX no later than 5 Business Days after issuing the Shares.
(k)
Participation in new issues
There are no participation rights or entitlements inherent in the Options and holders will not be entitled to participate in new issues of capital offered to Shareholders during the currency of the Options. However, the Company will give holders of the Options notice of the proposed issue prior to the date for determining entitlements to participate in any such issue.
(l)
Adjustment for bonus issues of Shares
If the Company makes a bonus issue of Shares or other securities to existing Shareholders (other than an issue in lieu or in satisfaction of dividends or by way of dividend reinvestment):
-
(i) the number of Shares which must be issued on the exercise of an Option will be increased by the number of Shares which the Optionholder would have received if the Optionholder had exercised the Option before the record date for the bonus issue; and
-
(j) no change will be made to the Exercise Price.
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(m) Adjustment for entitlement issue
If the Company makes an issue of Shares pro rata to existing Shareholders (other than an issue in lieu or in satisfaction of dividends or by way of dividend reinvestment), the Exercise Price of an Option will be adjusted according to the following formula:
New exercise price = O – E[P-(S+D)]
N+1
Where:
-
O = the old Exercise Price of the Option.
-
E = the number of underlying Shares into which one Option is exercisable.
-
P = average market price per Share weighted by reference to volume of the Company’s Shares during the 5 trading days ending on the day before the ex rights date or ex entitlements date of the relevant pro rata issue.
-
S = the subscription price of a Share under the pro rata issue.
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D = the dividend due but not yet paid on the existing underlying Shares (except those to be issued under the pro rata issue).
-
N = the number of Shares with rights or entitlements that must be held to receive a right to one Share.
(n)
Adjustments for reorganisation
If there is any reorganisation of the issued share capital of the Company, the rights of the Optionholder will be varied to comply with the Listing Rules which apply to the reorganisation at the time of the reorganisation.
(o)
Options not quoted
The Company will not apply to ASX for quotation of the Options.
(p)
Options transferable
The Options are transferable by the holder subject to any restriction or escrow arrangements imposed by ASX or under applicable Australian securities laws and provided that the transferee agrees with the holder and the Company to be bound to these terms and conditions prior to the transfer.
(q)
Lodgement Instructions
Cheques shall be in Australian currency made payable to the Company and crossed "Not Negotiable". The application for shares on exercise of the Options with the appropriate remittance should be lodged at the Company's share registry.
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