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AFRICAN GOLD LTD. — AGM Information 2021
Jun 30, 2021
64265_rns_2021-06-30_91f5227e-cad5-4e26-93fb-da344fe581a2.pdf
AGM Information
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African Gold Limited ACN 624 164 852
Notice of Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at the offices of the Company, at Suite 23, 513 Hay Street, Subiaco 6008, Western Australia on Friday, 30 July 2021 at 10:00am (WST).
The Notice of Annual General Meeting should be read in its entirety. If Shareholders are in doubt as to how to vote, they should seek advice from their accountant, solicitor or other professional advisor prior to voting.
Should you wish to discuss any matter, please do not hesitate to contact the Company Secretary by telephone on (08) 6143 6749.
Shareholders are urged to vote by lodging the proxy form attached to the Notice
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African Gold Limited ACN 624 164 852 (Company)
Notice of Annual General Meeting
Notice is hereby given that the annual general meeting of Shareholders of African Gold Limited will be held at the offices of the Company, at Suite 23, 513 Hay Street, Subiaco 6008, Western Australia on Friday, 30 July 2021 at 10:00am (WST) ( Meeting ).
The Board is closely monitoring the rapidly changing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The health of the Company's Shareholders, employees and other stakeholders is of paramount importance. The Company will update shareholders if changing circumstances will impact planning or the arrangements for the Meeting by way of announcement on ASX.
The Explanatory Memorandum provides additional information on matters to be considered at the Meeting. The Explanatory Memorandum and the Proxy Form form part of the Notice.
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 as Shareholders on Wednesday, 28 July 2020 at 10:00am (WST).
Terms and abbreviations used in the Notice are defined in Schedule 1.
Agenda
Annual Report
To consider the Annual Report of the Company and its controlled entities for the financial year ended 31 December 2020, which includes the Financial Report, the Directors' Report and the Auditor's Report.
1 Resolution 1 – Remuneration Report
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass with or without amendment, as a non-binding ordinary resolution the following:
'That the Remuneration Report be adopted by Shareholders on the terms and conditions in the Explanatory Memorandum.'
2 Resolution 2 – Election of Director – Mr Simon Bolster
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass with or without amendment, as an ordinary resolution the following:
'That, in accordance with Article 10.3(j) of the Constitution, Listing Rule 14.4 and for all other purposes, Mr Simon Bolster, a Director who was appointed on 23 February 2021, retires and, being eligible, is elected as a Director on the terms and conditions in the Explanatory Memorandum.'
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3 Resolution 3 – Election of Director – Mr Peter Williams
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass with or without amendment, as an ordinary resolution the following:
'That, in accordance with Article 10.3(j) of the Constitution, Listing Rule 14.4 and for all other purposes, Mr Peter Williams, a Director who was appointed on 23 February 2021, retires and, being eligible, is elected as a Director on the terms and conditions in the Explanatory Memorandum.'
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Resolution 4 – Approval of 10% Placement Facility
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass with or without amendment, as a special resolution the following:
'That, pursuant to and in accordance with Listing Rule 7.1A and for all other purposes, Shareholders approve the issue of Equity Securities totalling up 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 on the terms and conditions in the Explanatory Memorandum.'
5 Resolution 5 – Approval of Employee Securities Incentive Plan
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass with or without amendment, as an ordinary resolution the following:
'That, pursuant to and in accordance with exception 13(b) of Listing Rule 7.2 and for all other purposes, Shareholders approve the employee incentive scheme of the Company known as the African Gold Ltd Employee Securities Incentive Plan and the issue of Securities under that plan, on the terms and conditions in the Explanatory Memorandum.'
6 Resolution 6 – Approval of potential termination benefits under the Plan
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass without or without amendment, as an ordinary resolution the following:
'That, conditional on Resolution 5 being approved, for a period commencing from the date this Resolution is passed and ending upon the expiry of all Securities issued or to be issued under the African Gold Ltd Employee Securities Incentive Plan, approval be given for all purposes including Part 2D.2 of the Corporations Act for the giving of benefits to any current or future person holding a managerial or executive office of the Company or a related body corporate in connection with that person ceasing to hold such office, on the terms and conditions in the Explanatory Memorandum.'
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Resolution 7 – Approval of issue of Director Options
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass without or without amendment, each as a separate ordinary resolution the following:
'That, conditional on Resolution 5 being approved and pursuant to and in accordance with Listing Rule 10.14 and for all other purposes, Shareholders approve the issue of the Director Options to the Directors (or their respective nominees) under the Plan as follows:
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(a) up to 2,000,000 Director Options to Simon Bolster;
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(b) up to 2,000,000 Director Options to Mathew O’Hara; and
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(c) up to 2,000,000 Director Options to Peter Williams,
on the terms and conditions in the Explanatory Memorandum.'
Voting exclusions
Pursuant to the Listing Rules, the Company will disregard any votes cast in favour of:
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(a) Resolution 4 if at the time of the Meeting, the Company is proposing to make an issue of Equity Securities under the 10% Placement Facility, by or on behalf of any persons who are expected to participate in, or who will obtain a material benefit as a result of, the proposed issue (except a benefit solely by reason of being a Shareholder), or any associate of those persons;
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(b) Resolution 5 by or on behalf of a person who is eligible to participate in the employee incentive scheme, or any of their respective associates;
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(c) Resolution 7(a) by or on behalf of a person referred to in Listing Rules 10.14.1, 10.14.2 or 10.14.3 who is eligible to participate in the Plan, or any of their respective associates;
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(d) Resolution 7(b) by or on behalf of a person referred to in Listing Rules 10.14.1, 10.14.2 or 10.14.3 who is eligible to participate in the Plan, or any of their respective associates;
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(e) Resolution 7(c) by or on behalf of a person referred to in Listing Rules 10.14.1, 10.14.2 or 10.14.3 who is eligible to participate in the Plan, or any of their respective associates;
The above voting exclusions do not apply to a vote cast in favour of the relevant Resolution by:
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(d) a person as proxy or attorney for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with directions given to the proxy or attorney to vote on the Resolution in that way;
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(e) the Chair as proxy or attorney for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with a direction given to the Chair to vote on the Resolution as the Chair decides; or
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(f) 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.
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Voting prohibitions
Resolution1: In accordance with sections 250BD and 250R of the Corporations Act, a vote on this Resolution must not be cast (in any capacity) by or on behalf of a member of the Key Management Personnel details of whose remuneration are included in the Remuneration Report, or a Closely Related Party of such a member.
A vote may be cast by such person if the vote is not cast on behalf of a person who is excluded from voting on this Resolution, and:
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(a) the person is appointed as a proxy by writing that specifies the way the proxy is to vote on this Resolution; or
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(b) the voter is the Chair and the appointment of the Chair as proxy does not specify the way the proxy is to vote on this Resolution, but expressly authorises the Chair to exercise the proxy even if this Resolution is connected with the remuneration of a member of the Key Management Personnel.
Resolution 7 (a), (b), and (c): In accordance with section 250BD of the Corporations Act, a person appointed as a proxy must not vote, on the basis of that appointment, on this Resolution if:
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(a) the proxy is either a member of the Key Management Personnel or a Closely Related Party of such member; and
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(b) the appointment does not specify the way the proxy is to vote on this Resolution.
However, the above prohibition does not apply if:
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(a) the proxy is the Chair; and
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(b) the appointment expressly authorises the Chair to exercise the proxy even though this Resolution is connected directly or indirectly with remuneration of a member of the Key Management Personnel.
Further, in respect of Resolution 7(a), (b) and (c), in accordance with section 224 of the Corporations Act, a vote on this Resolution must not be cast (in any capacity) by or on behalf of a related party of the Company to whom the Resolution would permit a financial benefit to be given, or an associate of such a related party.
However, the above prohibition does not apply if:
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(a) it is cast by a person as a proxy appointed by writing that specifies how the proxy is to vote on the Resolution; and
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(b) it is not cast on behalf of a related party of the Company to whom the Resolution would permit a financial benefit to be given, or an associate of such a related party.
Please note: if the Chair is a person referred to in the voting prohibition statement above (section 224 of the Corporations Act), the Chair will only be able to cast a vote as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote if the Chair is appointed as proxy in writing and the Proxy Form specifies how the proxy is to vote on the relevant Resolution. If you purport to cast a vote other than as permitted above, that vote will be disregarded by the Company (as indicated above)
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and you may be liable for breaching the voting restrictions that apply to you under the Corporations Act.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
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Oonagh Malone Company Secretary African Gold Limited Dated: 1 July 2021
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African Gold Limited ACN 624 164 852 (Company)
Explanatory Memorandum
1. Introduction
The Explanatory Memorandum has been prepared for the information of Shareholders in connection with the business to be conducted at the Meeting to be held at the offices of the Company, at Suite 23, 513 Hay Street, Subiaco 6008, Western Australia on Friday, 30 July 2021 at 10:00am (WST).
The Explanatory Memorandum forms part of the Notice which should be read in its entirety. The Explanatory Memorandum contains the terms and conditions on which the Resolutions will be voted.
The Explanatory Memorandum includes the following information to assist Shareholders in deciding how to vote on the Resolutions:
| Section 2 | Action to be taken by Shareholders |
|---|---|
| Section 3 | Annual Report |
| Section 4 | Resolution 1 – Remuneration Report |
| Section 5 | Resolution 2 – Election of Director – Mr Simon Bolster |
| Section 6 | Resolution 3 – Election of Director – Mr Peter Williams |
| Section 7 | Resolution 4 – Approval of 10% Placement Facility |
| Section 8 | Resolution 5 – Approval of Employee Securities Incentive Plan |
| Section 9 | Resolution 6 – Approval of potential termination benefits under the Plan |
| Section 10 | Resolutions 7 (a) to (c) – Approval of issue of Director Options |
| Schedule 1 | Definitions |
| Schedule 2 | Summary of Employee Securities Incentive Plan |
| Schedule 3 | Summary of Terms and Conditions of Director Options |
| Schedule 4 | Valuation of Director Options |
A Proxy Form is located at the end of the Explanatory Memorandum.
2. Action to be taken by Shareholders
Shareholders should read the Notice including the Explanatory Memorandum carefully before deciding how to vote on the Resolutions.
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2.1 Proxies
Voting by proxy
- (a) A Proxy Form is attached to the Notice. This is to be used by Shareholders if they wish to appoint a representative (a 'proxy') to vote in their place. All Shareholders are invited and encouraged to attend the Meeting or, if they are unable to attend in person, sign and return the Proxy Form to the Company in accordance with the instructions thereon. Lodgement of a Proxy Form will not preclude a Shareholder from attending and voting at the Meeting in person.
Please note that:
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(i) a member of the Company entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy;
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(ii) a proxy need not be a member of the Company; and
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(iii) a member of the Company 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, but where the proportion or number is not specified, each proxy may exercise half of the votes.
The enclosed Proxy Form provides further details on appointing proxies and lodging Proxy Forms.
- (b) Proxy vote if appointment specifies way to vote
Section 250BB(1) of the Corporations Act provides that an appointment of a proxy may specify the way the proxy is to vote on a particular resolution and, if it does:
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(i) the proxy need not vote on a show of hands, but if the proxy does so, the proxy must vote that way (i.e. as directed);
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(ii) if the proxy has 2 or more appointments that specify different ways to vote on the resolution – the proxy must not vote on a show of hands;
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(iii) if the proxy is the chair of the meeting at which the resolution is voted on – the proxy must vote on a poll, and must vote that way (i.e. as directed); and
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(iv) if the proxy is not the chair – the proxy need not vote on the poll, but if the proxy does so, the proxy must vote that way (i.e. as directed).
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(c) Transfer of non-chair proxy to chair in certain circumstances
Section 250BC of the Corporations Act provides that, if:
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(i) an appointment of a proxy specifies the way the proxy is to vote on a particular resolution at a meeting of the Company's members;
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(ii) the appointed proxy is not the chair of the meeting;
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(iii) at the meeting, a poll is duly demanded on the resolution; and
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(iv) either the proxy is not recorded as attending the meeting or the proxy does not vote on the resolution,
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the chair of the meeting is taken, before voting on the resolution closes, to have been appointed as the proxy for the purposes of voting on the resolution at the meeting.
2.2
Chair's voting intentions
The Chair intends to exercise all available proxies in favour of all Resolutions, unless the Shareholder has expressly indicated a different voting intention.
If the Chair is appointed as your proxy and you have not specified the way the Chair is to vote on Resolution 1 and Resolution 7(a), (b) and (c) by signing and returning the Proxy Form, you are considered to have provided the Chair with an express authorisation for the Chair to vote the proxy in accordance with the Chair's intention, even though Resolution 1 and Resolution 7(a), (b) and (c) are connected directly or indirectly with the remuneration of a member of the Key Management Personnel of the Company.
2.3
Submitting questions
Shareholders may submit questions in advance of the Meeting to the Company. Questions must be submitted by emailing the Company Secretary at [email protected] by 5.00 pm (WST) on Wednesday, 28 July 2021.
Shareholders will also have the opportunity to submit questions during the Meeting in respect to the formal items of business. In order to ask a question during the Meeting, please follow the instructions from the Chair.
The Chair will attempt to respond to the questions during the Meeting. The Chair will request prior to a Shareholder asking a question that they identify themselves (including the entity name of their shareholding and the number of Shares they hold).
3.
Annual Report
In accordance with section 317 of the Corporations Act, Shareholders will be offered the opportunity to discuss the Annual Report, including the Financial Report, the Directors' Report and the Auditor's Report for the financial year ended 31 December 2020.
There is no requirement for Shareholders to approve the Annual Report.
At the Meeting, Shareholders will be offered the opportunity to:
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(a) discuss the Annual Report which is available online at https://clients3.weblink.com.au/pdf/A1G/02359020.pdf
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(b) ask questions about, or comment on, the management of the Company; and
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(c) ask the auditor questions about the conduct of the audit and the preparation and content of the Auditor's Report.
In addition to taking questions at the Meeting, written questions to the Chair about the management of the Company, or to the Company's auditor about:
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(a) the preparation and content of the Auditor's Report;
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(b) the conduct of the audit;
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(c) accounting policies adopted by the Company in relation to the preparation of the financial statements; and
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(d) the independence of the auditor in relation to the conduct of the audit,
may be submitted no later than five business days before the Meeting to the Company Secretary at the Company's registered office.
4.
Resolution 1 – Remuneration Report
In accordance with subsection 250R(2) of the Corporations Act, the Company must put the Remuneration Report to the vote of Shareholders. The Directors' Report contains the Remuneration Report which sets out the remuneration policy for the Company and the remuneration arrangements in place for the executive Directors, specified executives and nonexecutive Directors.
In accordance with subsection 250R(3) of the Corporations Act, Resolution 1 is advisory only and does not bind the Directors. If Resolution 1 is not passed, the Directors will not be required to alter any of the arrangements in the Remuneration Report.
If the Company's Remuneration Report receives a 'no' vote of 25% or more ( Strike ) at two consecutive annual general meetings, Shareholders will have the opportunity to remove the whole Board, except the managing director (if any).
Where a resolution on the Remuneration Report receives a Strike at two consecutive annual general meetings, the Company will be required to put to Shareholders at the second annual general meeting a resolution on whether another meeting should be held (within 90 days) at which all Directors (other than the managing director, if any) who were in office at the date of approval of the applicable Directors' Report must stand for re-election.
The Company's Remuneration Report did not receive a Strike at the 2020 annual general meeting. If the Remuneration Report receives a Strike at this Meeting, Shareholders should be aware that if a second Strike is received at the 2022 annual general meeting, this may result in the re-election of the Board.
The Chair will allow a reasonable opportunity for Shareholders as a whole to ask about, or make comments on the Remuneration Report.
Resolution 1 is an ordinary resolution.
5. Resolution 2 – Election of Director – Mr Simon Bolster
5.1 General
Article 10.2(b) of the Constitution allows the Board 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 Article 10.3(j) of the Constitution, any Director so appointed holds office until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company but is eligible for election by Shareholders at that meeting.
In addition, Listing Rule 14.4 provides that a Director appointed as an addition to the Board must not hold office (without re-election) past the next annual general meeting.
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On 23 February 2021, Mr Simon Bolster was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Company. Accordingly, Mr Bolster resigns as a Director at the Meeting and, being eligible, seeks approval to be elected as a Director pursuant to Resolution 2.
If elected, the Board does not consider Mr Bolster to be an independent Director.
Resolution 2 is an ordinary resolution.
The Board (other than Mr Bolster) recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of Resolution 2 because his experience and qualifications will assist the Company achieving its strategic objectives in the short and medium-term.
5.2
Mr Simon Bolster
Mr Bolster is a geoscientist specialising in regolith, geochemistry and remote sensing. He has over 30 years of experience in the gold industry, and has worked in over 30 countries across 5 continents including 15 countries in Africa. Mr Bolster has worked for major mining companies including Normandy, Anglo American and Newmont where he held the roles of Consulting Geochemist and Global Manager of Remote Sensing and Spectral Geology. During his tenure with Newmont, he received an innovation award for new practical ways of mapping landscapes using 3D remote sensing techniques. He was also head of exploration for Gryphon Resources in West Africa, managing teams that that resulted in new economic discoveries at a number of projects. He co-founded and is Managing Director of Portable PPB which is researching and developing techniques to enable gold explorers to discover gold faster and explore smarter. He is a Non-Executive Director of ASX listed Riversgold Ltd.
Mr Bolster has acknowledged to the Company that he will have sufficient time to fulfil his responsibilities as a Director.
6. Resolution 3 – Election of Director – Mr Peter Williams
6.1
General
Article 10.2(b) of the Constitution allows the Board 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 Article 10.3(j) of the Constitution, any Director so appointed holds office until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company but is eligible for election by Shareholders at that meeting.
In addition, Listing Rule 14.4 provides that a Director appointed as an addition to the Board must not hold office (without re-election) past the next annual general meeting.
On 23 February 2021, Mr Peter Williams was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Company. Accordingly, Mr Williams resigns as a Director at the Meeting and, being eligible, seeks approval to be elected as a Director pursuant to Resolution 3.
If elected, the Board does not consider Mr Williams to be an independent Director.
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Resolution 3 is an ordinary resolution.
The Board (other than Mr Williams) recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of Resolution 3 because his experience and qualifications will assist the Company achieving its strategic objectives in the short and medium-term.
6.2 Mr Peter Williams
Mr Williams is the former Chief Geophysicist and Manager of Geoscience Technology for WMC Resources. He was one of the founding members of Independence Group Limited and developed high powered three-component 3D time domain electromagnetic applications that led to the discovery of more than 75,000t nickel at the Victor Long Nickel Mine in Kambalda. Peter has extensive experience in successful exploration for different mineral systems around the world, in both Greenfields, Brownfields and In-mine exploration, including porphyry, orogenic and epithermal gold, skarns and IOCG deposits. He has been intimately involved in the development of new global exploration techniques and work flows. He was a co-founder of the International Resource Sector Intelligence company, Intierra, and was a co-founder of the first dedicated hard rock mineral seismic company in the world, HiSeis. He was involved in the target identification and acquisition of in excess of 10+ million ounces of gold in West Africa, including the multi million-ounce Wahignion and Batie Gold Deposit in Burkina Faso and Papillion’s Gold Deposit in Mali. Peter is an Adjunct Professor of the Centre for Exploration Targeting at the University of Western Australia and is on the Advisory Board of the Institute of Mineral and Energy Resources at the University of Adelaide. He is currently Non-Executive Director of ASX listed Alderan Resources Ltd and TSX-V listed Benz Mining Corp.
Mr Williams has acknowledged to the Company that he will have sufficient time to fulfil his responsibilities as a Director.
7. Resolution 4 – Approval of 10% Placement Facility
7.1
General
Broadly speaking, and subject to a number of exceptions, Listing Rule 7.1 limits the amount of Equity Securities that a listed entity 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.
Under Listing Rule 7.1A, however, an eligible entity can seek approval from its members by way of a special resolution passed at its annual general meeting, to issue Equity Securities up to 10% of its issued share capital through placements over a 12 month period after the annual general meeting ( 10% Placement Facility ). The 10% Placement Facility is in addition to the Company's 15% annual placement capacity under Listing Rule 7.1.
Resolution 4 seeks Shareholder approval by way of a special resolution to provide the Company the ability to issue Equity Securities under the 10% Placement Facility during the 10% Placement Period (refer to Section 7.2(f) below). The number of Equity Securities to be issued under the 10% Placement Facility will be determined in accordance with the formula prescribed in Listing Rule 7.1A.2 (refer to Section 7.2(c) below).
If Resolution 4 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 4 is not passed, the Company will not be able to access the additional 10% capacity to issue Equity Securities without Shareholder approval provided for in Listing Rule
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7.1A and will remain subject to the 15% limit on issuing Equity Securities without Shareholder approval set out in Listing Rule 7.1.
7.2
Listing Rule 7.1A
(a) Is the Company an eligible entity?
An eligible entity for the purposes of Listing Rule 7.1A is an entity that is not included in the S&P/ASX 300 Index and has a market capitalisation of $300 million or less.
The Company is an eligible entity as it is not included in the S&P/ASX 300 Index and has a market capitalisation of approximately $22.8 million, based on the closing price of Shares $0.245 on 30 June 2021.
(b) What Equity Securities can be issued?
Any Equity Securities issued under the 10% Placement Facility must be in the same class as an existing quoted class of Equity Securities of the eligible entity.
As at the date of the Notice, the Company has on issue one quoted class of Equity Securities; Shares.
(c) How many Equity Securities can be issued?
Listing Rule 7.1A.2 provides that under the approved 10% Placement Facility, the Company may issue or agree to issue a number of Equity Securities calculated in accordance with the following formula:
(A x D) – E
Where:
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A is the number of Shares on issue at the commencement of the relevant period:
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(A) plus the number of fully paid Shares issued in the relevant period under an exception in Listing Rule 7.2 other than exception 9, 16 or 17;
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(B) plus the number of fully paid Shares issued in the relevant period on the conversion of convertible securities within Listing Rule 7.2 exception 9 where:
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(1) the convertible securities were issued or agreed to be issued before the commencement of the relevant period; or
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(2) the issue of, or agreement to issue, the convertible securities was approved, or taken under these rules to have been approved, under Listing Rule 7.1 or Listing Rule 7.4;
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(C) plus the number of fully paid Shares issued in the relevant period under an agreement to issue securities within Listing Rule 7.2 exception 16 where:
- (1) the agreement was entered into before the commencement of the relevant period; or
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(2) the agreement or issue was approved, or taken under these rules to have been approved, under Listing Rule 7.1 or Listing Rule 7.4;
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(D) plus the number of partly paid Shares that became fully paid in the relevant period;
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(E) plus the number of fully paid Shares issued in the relevant period with approval under Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.4; and
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(F) less the number of fully paid Shares cancelled in the relevant period.
Note that 'A' has the same meaning in Listing Rule 7.1 when calculating the Company's 15% annual placement capacity.
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D is 10%.
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E is the number of Equity Securities issued or agreed to be issued under Listing Rule 7.1A.2 in the 12 months before the date of the issue or agreement to issue that are not issued with Shareholder approval under Listing Rule 7.1 or 7.4.
(d) What is the interaction with Listing Rule 7.1?
The Company's ability to issue Equity Securities under Listing Rule 7.1A will be in addition to its 15% annual placement capacity under Listing Rule 7.1.
- (e)
At what price can the Equity Securities be issued?
Any Equity Securities issued under Listing Rule 7.1A must be issued for a cash consideration per security which is not less than 75% of the VWAP of Equity Securities in the same 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 Company 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 paragraph (i) above, the date on which the Equity Securities are issued,
( Minimum Issue Price ).
(f) When can Equity Securities be issued?
Shareholder approval of the 10% Placement Facility under Listing Rule 7.1A will be valid from the date of Meeting and will expire on the earlier to occur of:
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(i) the date that is 12 months after the date of the Meeting;
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(ii) the time and date of the Company's next annual general meeting; or
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(iii) the time and date of Shareholder approval of a transaction under Listing Rules 11.1.2 (a significant change to the nature or scale of activities) or 11.2 (disposal of main undertaking),
( 10% Placement Period ).
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(g) What is the effect of Resolution 4?
The effect of Resolution 4 will be to allow the Directors of the Company to issue the Equity Securities under Listing Rule 7.1A during the 10% Placement Period without further Shareholder approval or using the Company's 15% annual placement capacity under Listing Rule 7.1.
If Resolution 4 is passed, the Company will be able to issue Equity Securities up to the combined 25% limit in the Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A during the 10% Placement Period without any further Shareholder approval.
If Resolution 4 is not passed, the Company will not be able to access the 10% Placement Facility to issue Equity Securities without Shareholder approval provided for in Listing Rule 7.1A. The Company will therefore remain subject to the 15% limit on issuing Equity Securities without Shareholder approval set out in Listing Rule 7.1.
7.3 Specific information required by Listing Rule 7.3A
Pursuant to and in accordance with Listing Rule 7.3A, the following information is provided in relation to the 10% Placement Facility:
- (a) Final date for issue
The Company will only issue the Equity Securities under the 10% Placement Facility during the 10% Placement Period (refer to Section 7.2(f) above).
(b) Minimum issue price
Where the Company issues Equity Securities under the 10% Placement Facility, it will only do so for cash consideration and the issue price will be not less than the Minimum Issue Price (refer to Section 7.2(e) above).
(c) Purposes of issues under 10% Placement Facility
The Company may seek to issue Equity Securities under the 10% Placement Facility for cash consideration in order to raise funds for continued investment in the Company's current assets, the acquisition of new assets or investments (including expenses associated with such an acquisition), and/or for general working capital.
(d) Risk of economic and voting dilution
Shareholders should note that there is a risk that:
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(i) the market price for the Company's Equity Securities may be significantly lower on the date of the issue of the Equity Securities than on the date of the Meeting; and
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(ii) the Equity Securities may be issued at a price that is at a discount to the market price for the Company's Equity Securities on the issue date,
which may have an effect on the amount of funds raised by the issue of the Equity Securities.
If Resolution 4 is approved by Shareholders and the Company issues Equity Securities under the 10% Placement Facility, the existing Shareholders' economic and
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voting power in the Company may be diluted as shown in the below table (in the case of Options, only if the Options are converted into Shares).
The below table shows the dilution of existing Shareholders based on the current market price of Shares and the current number of Shares for 'A' calculated in accordance with the formula in Listing Rule 7.1A.2 (see Section 7.2(c) above) as at the date of the Notice ( Variable A ), with:
-
(iii) two examples where Variable A has increased, by 50% and 100%; and
-
(iv) two examples of where the issue price of Shares has decreased by 50% and increased by 100% as against the current market price.
| Share on issue (Variable A in Listing Rule 7.1A.2) |
Dilution | Dilution | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issue price per Share |
$0.123 50% decrease in Current Market Price |
$0.245 Current Market Price |
$0.49 100% increase in Current Market Price |
|
| 91,407,844 Shares Variable A |
10% Voting Dilution |
9,140,784 Shares |
9,140,784 Shares |
9,140,784 Shares |
| Funds raised | $1,124,316 | $2,239,492 | $4,478,984 | |
| 137,111,766 Shares 50% increase in Variable A |
10% Voting Dilution |
13,711,177 Shares |
13,711,177 Shares |
13,711,177 Shares |
| Funds raised | $1,686,474 | $3,359,238 | $6,718,476 | |
| 182,815,688 Shares 100% increase in Variable A |
10% Voting Dilution |
18,281,569 Shares |
18,281,569 Shares |
18,281,569 Shares |
| Funds raised | $2,248,632 | $4,478,984 | $8,957,968 |
Notes:
-
The table has been prepared on the following assumptions:
-
(a) the issue price is the current market price $0.245, being the closing price of the Shares on ASX on 30 June 2021, being the latest practicable date before finalising this Notice;
-
(b) Variable A comprises of 91,407,844 existing Shares on issue as at the date of this Meeting, assuming the Company has not issued any Shares in the 12 months prior to the Meeting that were not issued under an exception in Listing Rule 7.2 or with Shareholder approval under Listing Rule 7.1 and 7.4;
-
(c) the Company issues the maximum number of Equity Securities available under the 10% Placement Facility;
-
(d) no convertible securities (including any issued under the 10% Placement Facility) are exercised or converted into Shares before the date of the issue of the Equity Securities; and
Page 16
-
(e) the issue of Equity Securities under the 10% Placement Facility consists only of Shares. 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.
-
The number of Shares on issue (ie Variable A) may increase as a result of issues of Shares that do not require Shareholder approval (for example, a pro rata entitlements issue, scrip issued under a takeover offer or upon exercise of convertible securities) or future specific placements under Listing Rule 7.1 that are approved at a future Shareholders' meeting.
-
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%.
-
The table does not show an example of dilution that may be caused to a particular Shareholder by reason of placements under the 10% Placement Facility, based on that Shareholder's holding at the date of the Meeting.
-
The table shows only the effect of issues of Equity Securities under Listing Rule 7.1A, not under the 15% placement capacity under Listing Rule 7.1.
(e)
Allocation policy
The Company's allocation policy is dependent on the prevailing market conditions at the time of any proposed issue pursuant to the 10% Placement Facility. The identity of the allottees of Equity Securities will be determined on a case-by-case basis having regard to the following factors including but not limited to:
-
(i) the methods of raising funds that are available to the Company, including but not limited to, rights issue or other issue in which existing security holders can participate;
-
(ii) the effect of the issue of the Equity Securities on the control of the Company;
-
(iii) financial situation and solvency of the Company; and
-
(iv) advice from corporate, financial and broking advisers (if applicable).
The allottees under the 10% Placement Facility have not been determined as at the date of the Notice but may include existing substantial Shareholders and/or new investors who are not related parties of or associates of a related party of the Company.
(f)
Issue of Equity Securities in the past 12 months
The Company obtained Shareholder approval under Listing Rule 7.1A at its previous annual general meeting, held on 31 July 2020.
In the 12 months preceding the date of the Meeting and as at the date of this Notice, the Company has not issued or agreed to issue Equity Securities under Listing Rule 7.1A.
(g)
Voting exclusion statement
At the date of the Notice, the Company is not proposing to make an issue of Equity Securities under Listing Rule 7.1A and has not approached any particular existing
Page 17
Shareholder or security holder or an identifiable class of existing security holder to participate in any such issue.
However, in the event that between the date of the Notice and the date of the Meeting, the Company proposes to make an issue of Equity Securities under Listing Rule 7.1A to one or more existing Shareholders, those Shareholders' votes will be excluded under the voting exclusion statement in the Notice.
7.4 Additional information
Resolution 4 is a special resolution and therefore requires approval of 75% of the votes cast by Shareholders present and eligible to vote (in person, by proxy, by attorney or, in the case of a corporate Shareholder, by a corporate representative).
The Board recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of Resolution 4.
8. Resolution 5 – Approval of Employee Securities Incentive Plan
8.1
General
The Company considers that it is desirable to adopt an employee incentive scheme pursuant to which the Company can issue Equity Securities to attract, motivate and retain key Directors, employees and consultants and provide them with the opportunity to participate in the future growth of the Company.
Resolution 5 seeks Shareholders' approval for the adoption of the employee incentive scheme titled African Gold Ltd Employee Securities Incentive Plan' ( Plan ) in accordance with Listing Rule 7.2 exception 13(b).
Under the Plan, the Board may offer to eligible persons the opportunity to subscribe for such number of Equity Securities in the Company as the Board may decide and on the terms set out in the rules of the Plan, a summary of the key terms and conditions of which is in Schedule 2. In addition, a copy of the Plan is available for review by Shareholders at the registered office of the Company until the date of the Meeting. A copy of the Plan 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.
8.2
Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.2, exception 13(b)
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 shares it had on issue at the start of that period.
Listing Rule 7.2, exception 13(b) provides an exception to Listing Rule 7.1 such that issues of Equity Securities under an employee incentive scheme are exempt for a period of three years from the date on which shareholders approve the issue of Equity Securities under the scheme as an exception to Listing Rule 7.1.
If Resolution 5 is passed, the Company will be able to issue Equity Securities under the Plan to eligible participants over a period of three years up to a nominated maximum amount without using the Company's 15% annual placement capacity under Listing Rule 7.1.
If Resolution 5 is not passed, the Company will not be able to issue Equity Securities under the Plan to eligible participants without using the Company's 15% limit under Listing Rule 7.1,
Page 18
effectively decreasing the number of Equity Securities the Company can issue or agree to issue without obtaining Shareholder approval over the 12 month period following any such issue.
However, any future issues of Equity Securities under the Plan to a related party or a person whose relation with the Company or the related party is, in ASX's opinion, such that approval should be obtained, will require additional Shareholder approval under Listing Rule 10.14 at the relevant time. For this reason, the Company is also seeking approval under Resolution 7 (a) to (c) (inclusive) for the issue of Options to certain Directors pursuant to the Plan.
8.3
Specific information required by Listing Rule 7.2, exception 13(b)
Under and for the purposes of Listing Rule 7.2, exception 13(b), the following information is provided in relation to the Plan:
-
(a) the material terms of the Plan are summarised in Schedule 2;
-
(b) the Plan is a new employee incentive scheme and has not previously been approved by Shareholders. No Equity Securities have previously been issued under the Plan;
-
(c) the maximum number of Equity Securities proposed to be issued under the Plan following approval of Resolution 5 shall not exceed 14,180,785, which is equal to approximately 10% of the Company's Equity Securities currently on issue, subject to adjustment in the event of a reorganisation of capital and further subject to applicable laws and the Listing Rules; and
-
(d) a voting exclusion statement is included in the Notice.
8.4 Board recommendation
Resolution 5 is an ordinary resolution.
The Board, excluding Messrs Bolster, O’Hara and Williams who decline to make a recommendation due to their material personal interest in the outcome of the Resolution, recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of Resolution 5.
9. Resolution 6 – Approval of potential termination benefits under the Plan
9.1
General
The Corporations Act contains certain limitations concerning the payment of 'termination benefits' to persons who hold a 'managerial or executive office'. The Listing Rules also provides certain limitations on the payment of "termination benefits" to officers of listed entities.
As is common with employee incentive schemes, the Plan provides the Board with the discretion to, amongst other things, determine that some or all of the Equity Securities granted to a participant under the Plan ( Plan Securities ) will not lapse in the event of that participant ceasing their engagement with the Company before such Plan Securities have vested. This 'accelerated vesting' of Plan Securities may constitute a 'termination benefit' prohibited under the Corporations Act, regardless of the value of such benefit, unless Shareholder approval is obtained. Accordingly, the Board has resolved to seek Shareholder approval for the granting of such termination benefits in accordance with Resolution 6.
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Resolution 6 is conditional on the passing of Resolution 5. If Resolution 5 is not approved at the Meeting, Resolution 6 will not be put to the Meeting.
9.2
Part 2D.2 of the Corporations Act
Under section 200B of the Corporations Act, a company may only give a person a benefit in connection with them ceasing to hold a 'managerial or executive office' (as defined in the Corporations Act) if an exemption applies or if the benefit is approved by shareholders in accordance with section 200E of the Corporations Act.
Subject to Shareholder approval of Resolution 5, Shareholder approval is sought for the purposes of Part 2D.2 of the Corporations Act to approve the giving of benefits under the Plan to a person by the Company in connection with that person ceasing to be an officer of, or ceasing to hold a managerial or executive office in, the Company (or subsidiary of the Company) on the terms and conditions in this Explanatory Memorandum.
As noted above, under the terms of the Plan and subject to the Listing Rules, the Board possesses the discretion to vary the terms or conditions of the Plan Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of the participant in the Plan, no amendment may be made to the terms of any granted Plan Security which reduces the rights of the participant in respect of that Plan Security, other than an amendment introduced primarily to comply with legislation, to correct any manifest error or mistake or to take into consideration possible adverse tax implications.
As a result of the above discretion, the Board has the power to determine that some or all of a participant's Plan Securities will not lapse in the event of the participant ceasing employment or office before the vesting of their Plan Securities. The Board's current intention is to only exercise this discretion where the person leaves employment or office without fault on their part.
The exercise of this discretion by the Board may constitute a 'benefit' for the purposes of section 200B of the Corporations Act. The Company is therefore seeking Shareholder approval for the exercise of the Board's discretion in respect of any current or future participant in the Plan who holds:
-
(a) a managerial or executive office in, or is an officer of, the Company (or subsidiary of the Company) at the time of their leaving or at any time in the three years prior to their leaving; and
-
(b) Plan Securities at the time of their leaving.
9.3 Value of the termination benefits
Provided Shareholder approval is given, the value of the termination benefits may be disregarded when applying section 200F(2)(b) or section 200G(1)(c) of the Corporations Act (i.e. the approved benefit will not count towards the statutory cap under the legislation).
The value of the termination benefits that the Board may give under the Plan cannot be determined in advance. This is because various matters will or are likely to affect that value. In particular, the value of a particular benefit will depend on factors such as the Company's
Page 20
Share price at the time of vesting and the number of Plan Securities that will vest or otherwise be affected. The following additional factors may also affect the benefit's value:
-
(a) the participant's length of service and the status of the vesting conditions attaching to the relevant Plan Securities at the time the participant's employment or office ceases; and
-
(b) the number of unvested Plan Securities that the participant holds at the time they cease employment or office.
In accordance with Listing Rule 10.19, the Company will ensure that no officer of the Company or any of its child entities will, or may be, entitled to termination benefits if the value of those benefits and the terminations benefits that are or may be payable to all officers together exceed 5% of the equity interests of the Company as set out in the latest accounts given to ASX under the Listing Rules.
9.4
Board recommendation
The Board recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of Resolution 6.
Resolution 6 is an ordinary resolution.
10. Resolution 7 – Approval of issue of Director Options
- 10.1 General
As announced on 24 February 2021, the Company is proposing, subject to obtaining Shareholder approval and the adoption of the Plan (refer to Resolution 5), to issue up to a total of 6,000,000 unquoted Options ( Director Options ) to Messrs Simon Bolster, Mathew O’Hara and Peter Williams ( Related Parties ), or their respective nominees, as follows:
| Related Party | Director Options |
|---|---|
| Mr Simon Bolster | 2,000,000 |
| Mr Mathew O’Hara | 2,000,000 |
| Mr Peter Williams | 2,000,000 |
| TOTAL | 6,000,000 |
The Company is in an important stage of development with significant opportunities and challenges in both the near and long-term, and the proposed issue seeks to align the efforts of the Directors in seeking to achieve growth of the Share price and in the creation of Shareholder value. In addition, the Board also believes that incentivising with Director Options is a prudent means of conserving the Company's available cash reserves. The Board believes it is important to offer these Director Options to continue to attract and maintain highly experienced and qualified Board members in a competitive market.
The Director Options are to be issued under the Company's Plan, the terms of which are summarised in Schedule 2.
Page 21
Subject to adoption of the Plan (refer to Resolution 5), Resolutions 7 (a) to (c) (inclusive) seek Shareholder approval for the issue of up to a total of 6,000,000 Director Options under the Plan to the Related Parties, or their respective nominees.
10.2
Section 208 of Corporations Act
In accordance with section 208 of the Corporations Act, to give a financial benefit to a related party, the Company must obtain shareholder approval unless the giving of the financial benefit falls within an exception in sections 210 to 216 of the Corporations Act.
Messrs Bolster, O’Hara and Williams, who are Non-Executive Directors of the Company, are related parties of the Company.
The Board has formed the view that shareholder approval under section 208 of the Corporations Act is not required for the proposed issue of the Options as the exception in section 211 of the Corporations Act applies. The Options are considered to be reasonable remuneration for the purposes of section 211 of the Corporations Act.
10.3
Listing Rule 10.14
Listing Rule 10.14 provides that a listed company must not permit any of the following persons to acquire Equity Securities under an employee incentive scheme:
-
(a) a director of the company (Listing Rule 10.14.1);
-
(b) an associate of a director the company (Listing Rule 10.14.2); or
-
(c) a person whose relation with the company or a person referred to in Listing Rule 10.14.1 or 10.14.2 is such that, in ASX's opinion, the acquisition should be approved by its shareholders (Listing Rule 10.14.3),
unless it obtains the approval of its shareholders.
The proposed issue of the Director Options falls within Listing Rule 10.14.1 (or Listing Rule 10.14.2 if a Related Party elects for the Director Options to be granted to their nominee) and therefore requires the approval of Shareholders under Listing Rule 10.14.
As Shareholder approval is sought under Listing Rule 10.14, approval under Listing Rule 7.1 or 10.11 is not required.
If Resolutions 7 (a) to (c) (inclusive) are passed, the Company will be able to proceed with the issue of the Director Options to the Related Parties and the Related Parties will be remunerated accordingly.
If Resolutions 7 (a) to (c) (inclusive) are not passed, the Company will not be able to proceed with the issue of the Director Options to the Related Parties and the Company may need to consider other forms of performance-based remuneration, including by the payment of cash.
10.4
Specific information required by Listing Rule 10.15
Under and for the purposes of Listing Rule 10.15, the following information is provided in relation to the proposed issue of the Director Options:
- (a) the Director Options will be issued under the Plan to Messrs Simon Bolster, Mathew O’Hara and Peter Williams (or their respective nominees);
Page 22
-
(b) each of the Related Parties is a related party of the Company by virtue of being a Director and falls into the category stipulated by Listing Rule 10.14.1. In the event the Director Options are issued to a nominee of a Related Party, that person will fall into the category stipulated by Listing Rule 10.14.2;
-
(c) the maximum number of Director Options to be issued to the Related Parties (or their respective nominees) under the Plan is 6,000,000, in the proportions set out in Section 10.1 above;
-
(d) the current total remuneration package for each of the Related Parties as at the date of this Notice are set out below:
| Director | Annual salary and fees inclusive of superannuation |
|---|---|
| Simon Bolster | $44,000 |
| Mathew O’Hara | $44,000 |
| Peter Williams | $44,000 |
-
(e) the Related Parties have not previously been issued Securities under the Plan;
-
(f) the Director Options will be exercisable at $0.30 each expiring 3 years from the date of issue and will otherwise be issued on the terms and conditions set out in Schedule 3. The Board considers that Director Options, rather than Shares, are an appropriate form of incentive on the basis that:
-
(i) the proposed issue of Director Options seeks to align the efforts of the Related Parties in seeking to achieve growth of the Share price and in the creation of Shareholder value;
-
(ii) incentivising the Related Parties with Director Options is a prudent means of conserving the Company's available cash reserves; and
-
(iii) the Board believes it is important to offer Director Options to continue to attract and maintain highly experienced and qualified Board members in a competitive market;
-
(g) the Company has obtained a valuation of the Director Options, using a Black Scholes valuation model, in Schedule 4, with a summary for each Related Party below:
| Related Party | Value of Director Options |
|---|---|
| Simon Bolster | $297,600 |
| Mathew O’Hara | $297,600 |
| Peter Williams | $297,600 |
- (h) the Director Options will be issued no later than three years after the date of the Meeting (or such later date as permitted by any ASX waiver or modification of the Listing Rules);
Page 23
-
(i) the Director Options will have an issue price of nil as they will be issued as part of each Related Party's remuneration package;
-
(j) a summary of the material terms of the Plan is set out in Schedule 2;
-
(k) no loan will be provided to the Related Parties in relation to the issue of the Director Options;
-
(l) details of any Securities issued under the Plan will be published in the annual report of the Company relating to a period in which they were issued, along with a statement that approval for the issue was obtained under Listing Rule 10.14. Any additional persons covered by Listing Rule 10.14 who become entitled to participate in the Plan after any or all of Resolutions 7 (a) to (c) (inclusive) are approved and who were not named in the Notice will not participate until approval is obtained under that rule; and
-
(m) a voting exclusion statement is included in the Notice.
10.5 Board recommendation
Resolution 7 (a) to (c) (inclusive) are ordinary resolutions.
The Board, excluding Messrs Bolster, O’Hara and Williams who decline to make a recommendation due to their material personal interest in the outcome of the Resolution, recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of Resolutions 7 (a) to (c).
Page 24
Schedule 1 Definitions
In the Notice, words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa.
10% Placement Facility has the meaning given in Section 7.1. 10% Placement Period has the meaning given in Section 7.2(f). $ or A$ means Australian Dollars. Annual Report means the Directors' Report, the Financial Report, and Auditor's Report, in respect to the year ended 31 December 2020. Article means an article of the Constitution. ASX means the ASX Limited (ABN 98 008 624 691) and, where the context permits, the Australian Securities Exchange operated by ASX Limited. Auditor's Report means the auditor's report on the Financial Report. Board means the board of Directors. Chair means the person appointed to chair the Meeting of the Company convened by the Notice. Closely Related Party means: (a) a spouse or child of the member; or (b) has the meaning given in section 9 of the Corporations Act. Company means African Gold Limited ACN 624 164 852. Constitution means the constitution of the Company as at the date of the Meeting. Corporations Act means the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Director means a director of the Company. Director Options has the meaning given in Section 10.1 Directors’ Report means the annual directors’ report prepared under Chapter 2M of the Corporations Act for the Company and its controlled entities. Equity Security has the same meaning as in the Listing Rules. Explanatory means the explanatory memorandum which forms part of the Notice. Memorandum Financial Report means the annual financial report prepared under Chapter 2M of the Corporations Act for the Company and its controlled entities. Key Management has the same meaning as in the accounting standards issued by the Personnel Australian Accounting Standards Board and means those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling
Page 25
| 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. |
| Meeting | has the meaning given in the introductory paragraph of the Notice. |
| Notice | means this notice of annual general meeting. |
| Plan | means the African Gold Ltd Employee Securities Incentive Plan. |
| Plan Securities | has the meaning give in Section 9.1. |
| Proxy Form | means the proxy form attached to the Notice. |
| Related Parties | has the meaning given in Section 10.1. |
| Remuneration Report | means the remuneration report of the Company contained in the |
| Directors' Report. | |
| Resolution | means a resolution referred to in the Notice. |
| Schedule | means a schedule to the Notice. |
| Section | means a section of the Explanatory Memorandum. |
| Securities | means any Equity Securities of the Company (including Shares). |
| Share | means a fully paid ordinary share in the capital of the Company. |
| Shareholder | means the holder of a Share. |
| Strike | means a 'no' vote of 25% or more on the resolution approving the |
| Remuneration Report. | |
| Trading Day | has the meaning given in the Listing Rules. |
| VWAP | means volume weighted average market price. |
| WST | means Western Standard Time being the time in Perth, Western |
| Australia. |
Page 26
Schedule 2 Summary of Employee Securities Incentive Plan
A summary of the key terms of the Plan is set out below:
-
( Eligible Participant ): Eligible Participant means a person that:
-
(a) is an 'eligible participant' (as that term is defined in ASIC Class Order [ CO 14/1000 ]) in relation to the Company or an Associated Body Corporate (as that term is defined in ASIC Class Order [14/1000]); and
-
(b) has been determined by the Board to be eligible to participate in the Plan from time to time.
-
( Purpose ): The purpose of the Plan is to:
-
(a) assist in the reward, retention and motivation of Eligible Participants;
-
(b) link the reward of Eligible Participants to Shareholder value creation; and
-
(c) align the interests of Eligible Participants with shareholders of the Group (being the Company and each of its Associated Bodies Corporate), by providing an opportunity to Eligible Participants to receive an equity interest in the Company in the form of Securities.
-
( Plan administration ): The Plan will be administered by the Board. The Board may exercise any power or discretion conferred on it by the Plan rules in its sole and absolute discretion. The Board may delegate its powers and discretion.
-
( Eligibility, invitation and application ): The Board may from time to time determine that an Eligible Participant may participate in the Plan and make an invitation to that Eligible Participant to apply for Securities on such terms and conditions as the Board decides. On receipt of an Invitation, an Eligible Participant may apply for the Securities the subject of the invitation by sending a completed application form to the Company. The Board may accept an application from an Eligible Participant in whole or in part. If an Eligible Participant is permitted in the invitation, the Eligible Participant may, by notice in writing to the Board, nominate a party in whose favour the Eligible Participant wishes to renounce the invitation.
-
( Grant of Securities ): The Company will, to the extent that it has accepted a duly completed application, grant the Participant the relevant number of Securities, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the invitation, the Plan rules and any ancillary documentation required.
-
( Terms of Convertible Securities ): Each 'Convertible Security' represents a right to acquire one or more Shares (for example, under an option or performance right), subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. Prior to a Convertible Security being exercised a Participant does not have any interest (legal, equitable or otherwise) in any Share the subject of the Convertible Security by virtue of holding the Convertible Security. A Participant may not sell, assign, transfer, grant a security interest over or otherwise deal with a Convertible Security that has been granted to them. A Participant must not enter into any arrangement for the purpose of hedging their economic exposure to a Convertible Security that has been granted to them.
-
( Vesting of Convertible Securities ): Any vesting conditions applicable to the grant of Convertible Securities will be described in the invitation. If all the vesting conditions are satisfied and/or otherwise waived by the Board, a vesting notice will be sent to the Participant by the Company informing them that the relevant Convertible Securities have vested. Unless
Page 27
and until the vesting notice is issued by the Company, the Convertible Securities will not be considered to have vested. For the avoidance of doubt, if the vesting conditions relevant to a Convertible Security are not satisfied and/or otherwise waived by the Board, that Convertible Security will lapse.
- ( Exercise of Convertible Securities and cashless exercise ): To exercise a Convertible Security, the Participant must deliver a signed notice of exercise and, subject to a cashless exercise of Convertible Securities (see below), pay the exercise price (if any) to or as directed by the Company, at any time prior to the earlier of any date specified in the vesting notice and the expiry date as set out in the invitation. An invitation may specify that at the time of exercise of the Convertible Securities, At the time of exercise of the Convertible Securities, subject to Board approval at that time, the Participant may elect not to be required to provide payment of the exercise price for the number of Convertible Securities specified in a notice of exercise, but that on exercise of those Convertible Securities the Company will transfer or issue to the Participant that number of Shares equal in value to the positive difference between the Market Value of the Shares at the time of exercise and the exercise price that would otherwise be payable to exercise those Convertible Securities.
'Market Value' means, at any given date, the volume weighted average price per Share traded on the ASX over the five trading days immediately preceding that given date, unless otherwise specified in an invitation.
A Convertible Security may not be exercised unless and until that Convertible Security has vested in accordance with the Plan rules, or such earlier date as set out in the Plan rules.
-
( Delivery of Shares on exercise of Convertible Securities ): As soon as practicable after the valid exercise of a Convertible Security by a Participant, the Company will issue or cause to be transferred to that Participant the number of Shares to which the Participant is entitled under the Plan rules and issue a substitute certificate for any remaining unexercised Convertible Securities held by that Participant.
-
( Forfeiture of Convertible Securities ): Where a Participant who holds Convertible Securities ceases to be an Eligible Participant or becomes insolvent, all unvested Convertible Securities will automatically be forfeited by the Participant, unless the Board otherwise determines in its discretion to permit some or all of the Convertible Securities to vest. Where the Board determines that a Participant has acted fraudulently or dishonestly, or wilfully breached his or her duties to the Group, the Board may in its discretion deem all unvested Convertible Securities held by that Participant to have been forfeited.
Unless the Board otherwise determines, or as otherwise set out in the Plan rules:
-
(a) any Convertible Securities which have not yet vested will be forfeited immediately on the date that the Board determines (acting reasonably and in good faith) that any applicable vesting conditions have not been met or cannot be met by the relevant date; and
-
(b) any Convertible Securities which have not yet vested will be automatically forfeited on the expiry date specified in the invitation.
-
( Change of control ): If a change of control event occurs in relation to the Company, or the Board determines that such an event is likely to occur, the Board may in its discretion determine the manner in which any or all of the Participant's Convertible Securities will be dealt with, including, without limitation, in a manner that allows the Participant to participate in and/or benefit from any transaction arising from or in connection with the change of control event.
Page 28
-
( Rights attaching to Plan Shares ): All Shares issued under the Plan, or issued or transferred to a Participant upon the valid exercise of a Convertible Security, ( Plan Shares ) will rank pari passu in all respects with the Shares of the same class. A Participant will be entitled to any dividends declared and distributed by the Company on the Plan Shares and may participate in any dividend reinvestment plan operated by the Company in respect of Plan Shares. A Participant may exercise any voting rights attaching to Plan Shares.
-
( Disposal restrictions on Plan Shares ): If the invitation provides that any Plan Shares are subject to any restrictions as to the disposal or other dealing by a Participant for a period, the Board may implement any procedure it deems appropriate to ensure the compliance by the Participant with this restriction.
For so long as a Plan Share is subject to any disposal restrictions under the Plan, the Participant will not:
-
(a) transfer, encumber or otherwise dispose of, or have a security interest granted over that Plan Share; or
-
(b) take any action or permit another person to take any action to remove or circumvent the disposal restrictions without the express written consent of the Company.
-
( Adjustment of Convertible Securities ): If there is a reorganisation of the issued share capital of the Company (including any subdivision, consolidation, reduction, return or cancellation of such issued capital of the Company), the rights of each Participant holding Convertible Securities will be changed to the extent necessary to comply with the Listing Rules applicable to a reorganisation of capital at the time of the reorganisation. If Shares are issued by the Company by way of bonus issue (other than an issue in lieu of dividends or by way of dividend reinvestment), the holder of Convertible Securities is entitled, upon exercise of the Convertible Securities, to receive an allotment of as many additional Shares as would have been issued to the holder if the holder held Shares equal in number to the Shares in respect of which the Convertible Securities are exercised. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, a holder of Convertible Securities does not have the right to participate in a pro rata issue of Shares made by the Company or sell renounceable rights.
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( Participation in new issues ): There are no participation rights or entitlements inherent in the Convertible Securities and holders are not entitled to participate in any new issue of Shares of the Company during the currency of the Convertible Securities without exercising the Convertible Securities.
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( Amendment of Plan ): Subject to the following paragraph, the Board may at any time amend any provisions of the Plan rules, including (without limitation) the terms and conditions upon which any Securities have been granted under the Plan and determine that any amendments to the Plan rules be given retrospective effect, immediate effect or future effect.
No amendment to any provision of the Plan rules may be made if the amendment materially reduces the rights of any Participant as they existed before the date of the amendment, other than an amendment introduced primarily for the purpose of complying with legislation or to correct manifest error or mistake, amongst other things, or is agreed to in writing by all Participants.
- ( Plan duration ): The Plan continues in operation until the Board decides to end it. The Board may from time to time suspend the operation of the Plan for a fixed period or indefinitely, and may end any suspension. If the Plan is terminated or suspended for any reason, that termination or suspension must not prejudice the accrued rights of the Participants.
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If a Participant and the Company (acting by the Board) agree in writing that some or all of the Securities granted to that Participant are to be cancelled on a specified date or on the occurrence of a particular event, then those Securities may be cancelled in the manner agreed between the Company and the Participant.
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Schedule 3 Terms and conditions of Director Options
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1 ( Entitlement ): Subject to the terms and conditions set out below, each Option entitles the holder, on exercise, to the issue of one fully paid ordinary share in the Company ( Share ).
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2 ( Plan ): The Options are granted under the Company's Employee Securities Incentive Plan ( Plan ) for nil cash consideration. In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and these terms and conditions, these terms and conditions will apply to the extent of the inconsistency.
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3 ( Exercise Price ): Subject to the terms and conditions set out below, the amount payable upon exercise of each Option will be $0.30 ( Exercise Price ).
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4 ( Expiry Date ): Each Option will expire on the earlier to occur of:
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(a) 5:00pm AWST on the date that is three years from the date of issue; and
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(b) the Option lapsing and being forfeited under the Plan or these terms and conditions, ( Expiry Date ). For the avoidance of doubt any unexercised Option will automatically lapse on the Expiry Date.
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5 ( Exercise ): The holder may exercise their Options in whole or in part (and if exercised in part, in multiples of 1,000 on each occasion) by lodging with the Company, on or prior to the Expiry Date:
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(a) a written notice of exercise of Options in the form provided by the Company specifying the number of Options being exercised ( Notice of Exercise ); and
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(b) a cheque or electronic funds transfer, or other means of payment acceptable to the Company, including cashless exercise as described in paragraph 6, for the Exercise Price for the number of Options being exercised. Cheques shall be in Australian currency made payable to the Company and crossed "Not Negotiable".
A Notice of Exercise is only effective when the Company has received the full amount of the Exercise Price in cleared funds.
6 ( Cashless exercise of Options ): A holder of Options may elect not to be required to provide payment of the Exercise Price for the number of Options specified in a Notice of Exercise but that on exercise of those Options the Company will transfer or allot to the holder that number of Shares equal in value to the positive difference between the then Market Value of the Shares at the time of exercise and the Exercise Price that would otherwise be payable to exercise those Options (with the number of Shares rounded down to the nearest whole Share).
Where Market Value means, at any given date, the volume weighted average price of Shares traded on the ASX over the five (5) trading days immediately preceding that given date.
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7 ( Timing of issue of Shares and quotation of Shares on exercise ): Within five business days after the valid exercise of an Option, the Company will:
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(a) issue, allocate or cause to be transferred to the Participant the number of Shares to which the Participant is entitled under the Plan;
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(b) issue a substitute Certificate for any remaining unexercised Options held by the Participant;
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(c) if required and subject to paragraph 8, give ASX a notice that complies with section 708A(5)(e) of the Corporations Act; and
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(d) do all such acts, matters and things to obtain the grant of quotation of the Shares by ASX in accordance with the Listing Rules and subject to the expiry of any restriction period that applies to the Shares under the Corporations Act or the Listing Rules.
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8 ( Restrictions on transfer of Shares ): If the Company is unable to give ASX a notice that complies with section 708A(5)(e) of the Corporations Act, Shares issued on exercise of the Options may not be traded until 12 months after their issue unless the Company, at its sole discretion, elects to issue a prospectus pursuant to section 708A(11) of the Corporations Act. The Company may place a holding lock on those Shares until the end of the 12 month period.
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9 ( Shares issued on exercise ): All Shares issued upon the exercise of Options will upon issue rank pari passu in all respects with the then Shares of the Company.
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10 ( Transfer ): The Options are not transferable except in accordance with the Plan and subject to compliance with the Corporations Act and the Listing Rules.
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11 ( Quotation ): No application for quotation of the Options will be made by the Company.
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12 ( Dividend and voting rights ): The Options do not confer on the holder an entitlement to vote at general meetings of the Company or to receive dividends.
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13 ( Participation in new issues ): Subject always to the rights under items 15 and 16, there are no participation rights or entitlements inherent in the Options and holders of Options will not be entitled to participate in new issues of capital offered to holders of Shares, such as bonus issues and entitlement issues.
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14 ( Change in exercise price ): Subject always to the rights under items 15 and 16, there will be no change to the exercise price of the Options or the number of Shares over which the Options are exercisable in the event of the Company making a pro-rata issue of Shares or other securities to the holders of Shares in the Company.
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15 ( Adjustment for bonus issue ): If securities are issued pro-rata to shareholders generally by way of bonus issue (other than an issue in lieu of dividends by way of dividend reinvestment), the number of Options to which the holder is entitled will be increased by that number of securities which the holder would have been entitled if the Options held by the holder were exercised immediately prior to the record date of the bonus issue, and in any event in a manner consistent with the Listing Rules at the time of the bonus issue.
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16 ( Reorganisation of capital ): In the event that the issued capital of the Company is reconstructed (including consolidation, subdivision, reduction or return), all the holder's rights as a holder of Options will be changed to the extent necessary to comply with the Listing Rules at the time of reorganisation provided that, subject to compliance with the Listing Rules, following such reorganisation the holder's economic and other rights are not diminished or terminated.
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17 ( Leavers ): The Options will not lapse where the holder of the Options (or in the case of Options held by a Nominated Party, the person in respect of the provision of whose services the Options were granted) is no longer employed, or their engagement or office is discontinued with the Company, unless the Board determines otherwise in its discretion in accordance with the Plan.
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18 ( Change in control ): If a Change of Control Event occurs, or the Board determines that such an event is likely to occur, the Board may in its discretion determine the manner in which any or all of the Options will be dealt with, including, without limitation, in a manner that allows the holder of the Options to participate in and/or benefit from any transaction arising from or in connection with the Change of Control Event.
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Schedule 4 Valuation of Director Options
The Director Options to be issued to the Related Parties pursuant to resolutions which form part of Resolution 7 have been valued according to the Black Scholes valuation model on the following assumptions:
| Related Party | Simon Bolster | Mathew O’Hara | Peter Williams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director Options | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
| Assumed Share price at grant date |
$0.245 | $0.245 | $0.245 |
| Exerciseprice | $0.30 | $0.30 | $0.30 |
| Market value on ASX of underlying Shares at time of setting exercise price |
$0.20 | $0.20 | $0.20 |
| Exercise price premium to market value |
$0.055 | $0.055 | $0.055 |
| Expiry period | 3 years from date of issue |
3 years from date of issue |
3 years from date of issue |
| Expected volatility | 106.29% | 106.29% | 106.29% |
| Risk free interest rate | 0.22% | 0.22% | 0.22% |
| Annualised dividend yield |
Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Value of each Director Options |
$0.1488 | $0.1488 | $0.1488 |
| Aggregate value of Director Options |
$297,600 | $297,600 | $297,600 |
Notes:
The valuations took into account the following matters:
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The valuation of Director Options assumes that the exercise of a right does not affect the value of the underlying asset.
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Given that the Director Options are to be issued for no cash consideration, the value of the Director Options is reflected in the underlying Share price at the valuation date. The Share price used is based on the closing price on 28 June 2021.
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