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Argenta Silver Corp. — AGM Information 2024
Nov 19, 2024
44540_rns_2024-11-19_13996214-3ee6-45d6-b4f2-cb21d8bdce1a.pdf
AGM Information
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ARGENTA SILVER CORP.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING
AND
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR
TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 17, 2024
DATED NOVEMBER 12, 2024
ARGENTA SILVER CORP.
Suite 3123, 595 Burrard Street PO Box 49139, Three Bentall Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1J1 Phone: 604.609.6110
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICE is hereby given that the annual general and special meeting (the " Meeting ") of the shareholders of ARGENTA SILVER CORP. (the " Corporation "), will be held at Suite 3123 – 595 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1J1, on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 10:00 am (Pacific Standard Time) for the following purposes:
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To receive and consider the audited financial statements of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, together with auditor's reports thereon.
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To fix the number of directors for the ensuing year at four (4).
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To elect directors for the ensuing year.
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To re-appoint Davidson & Company LLP as the auditor of the Corporation for the ensuing year.
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To re-approve the Corporation’s 10% rolling stock option plan (the “ Stock Option Plan ”), and as more fully described in the Management Information Circular;
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To transact such other business as may properly be transacted at such meeting or at any adjournment thereof.
An information circular, containing details of matters to be considered at the Meeting, accompanies this notice.
A shareholder who is unable to attend the Meeting in person and who wishes to ensure that such shareholder’s shares will be voted at the Meeting is requested to complete, date and sign the enclosed form of proxy and deliver it in accordance with the instructions set out in the form of proxy and in the information circular. As set out in the notes, the enclosed proxy is solicited by management, but, you may amend it, if you so desire, by striking out the names listed therein and inserting in the space provided, the name of the person you wish to represent you at the Meeting.
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 12[th] day of November, 2024.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
"GEIR LILAND"
Geir Liland, Chief Executive Officer and a Director
ARGENTA SILVER CORP.
Suite 3123, 595 Burrard Street PO Box 49139, Three Bentall Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1J1 Phone: 604.609.6110 Fax: 604.609.6145
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
(containing information as at November 12[th] , 2024 unless indicated otherwise)
For the Annual General and Special Meeting to be held on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 10:00 am
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
This information circular is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the management of ARGENTA SILVER CORP. (the " Corporation ") for use at the annual general and special meeting (the " Meeting "), of the shareholders (the " Shareholders ") of the Corporation, to be held on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at the time and place and for the purposes set forth in the accompanying notice of meeting and at any adjournment thereof. The enclosed instrument of proxy is solicited by the management of the Corporation. The solicitation will be primarily by mail, however, proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone by the regular officers and employees of the Corporation. The cost of solicitation will be borne by the Corporation.
APPOINTMENT AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES
The persons named in the accompanying form of proxy (the " Proxy ") are directors and/or officers of the Corporation. A SHAREHOLDER HAS THE RIGHT TO APPOINT A PERSON (WHO NEED NOT BE A SHAREHOLDER) TO ATTEND AND ACT FOR HIM ON HIS BEHALF AT THE MEETING OTHER THAN THE PERSONS NAMED IN THE ENCLOSED INSTRUMENT OF PROXY. TO EXERCISE THIS RIGHT, A SHAREHOLDER SHALL INSERT THE NAME OF HIS NOMINEE IN THE BLANK SPACE PROVIDED IN THE INSTRUMENT OF PROXY, OR COMPLETE ANOTHER INSTRUMENT OF PROXY. A PROXY WILL NOT BE VALID UNLESS IT IS DEPOSITED WITH THE CORPORATION'S REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT, COMPUTERSHARE INVESTOR SERVICES INC., 100 UNIVERSITY AVENUE, 8TH FLOOR, TORONTO, ONTARIO, M5J 2Y1 NOT LESS THAN 48 HOURS (EXCLUDING SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS) BEFORE THE TIME OF THE MEETING OR ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.
The Proxy must be signed and dated by the Shareholder or by his attorney in writing, or, if the Shareholder is a corporation, it must either be under its common seal or signed by a duly authorized officer.
A Shareholder who has given a Proxy may revoke it at any time before it is exercised. In addition to revocation in any other manner permitted by law, a Proxy may be revoked by instrument in writing executed by the Shareholder or by his attorney authorized in writing, or, if the Shareholder is a corporation, it must either be under its common seal, or signed by a duly authorized officer and deposited with the Corporation’s registrar and transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc., 100 University Avenue, 8th floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1 , at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the Meeting, or any adjournment of it, at which the Proxy is to be used, or to the Chairman of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting or any adjournment of it. A revocation of a Proxy does not affect any matter on which a vote has been taken prior to the revocation.
VOTING OF SHARES AND EXERCISE OF DISCRETION OF PROXIES
On any poll, the persons named in the enclosed Proxy will vote the shares in respect of which they are appointed. Where directions are given by the Shareholder in respect of voting for or against any resolution, the proxyholder will do so in accordance with such direction.
IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY INSTRUCTION IN THE PROXY, IT IS INTENDED THAT SUCH SHARES WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOUR OF THE MOTIONS PROPOSED TO BE MADE AT THE MEETING AS STATED UNDER THE HEADINGS IN THIS INFORMATION CIRCULAR. The enclosed Proxy, when properly signed, confers discretionary authority with respect to amendments or variations to the matters which may properly be brought before the Meeting. At the time of printing this information circular, the management of the Corporation is not aware that any such amendments, variations or other matters are to be presented for action at the Meeting. However, if any other matters which are not now known to the management should properly come before the Meeting, the proxies hereby solicited will be voted on such matters in accordance with the best judgment of the nominee.
In order to approve a motion proposed at the Meeting, a majority greater than one-half of the votes cast will be required unless the motion requires a special resolution, in which case a majority of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast will be required. In the event a motion proposed at the Meeting requires disinterested shareholder approval, common shares held by shareholders of the Corporation who have an interest in the motion and common shares held by their "associates", as such term is defined under applicable securities laws, will be excluded from the count of votes cast on such motion.
Registered Shareholders
Regardless of whether or not a shareholder plans to attend the Meeting in person, the Corporation encourages that all Registered shareholders (a shareholder whose name appears on the records of the Corporation as the registered holder of common shares) vote by proxy.
Non- Registered Shareholders
If you are a non-registered shareholder of the Corporation and receive these materials through your broker or through another intermediary, please complete and return the materials in accordance with the instructions provided to you by your broker or such other intermediary. If you are a non-registered shareholder and do not complete and return the materials in accordance with such instructions, you may lose the right to vote.
VOTING SHARES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
General
The authorized capital of the Corporation consists of an unlimited number of common shares without par value. There were 169,214,377 common shares of the Corporation issued and outstanding as of the close of business on November 12, 2024 (the " Record Date "), each share carrying the right to one vote.
Only Shareholders of record as at the close of business on the Record Date who either personally attend the Meeting or who have completed and delivered a form of Proxy in the manner and subject to the provisions described under the heading "Appointment and Revocation of Proxies" shall be entitled to vote, or have their common shares voted, at the Meeting, or any adjournment thereof. On any poll, each Shareholder of record holding common shares of the Corporation on the Record Date is entitled to one vote for each common share registered in his or her name on the list of shareholders as at the Record Date.
Advice to Beneficial Holders of Common Shares
The information set forth in this section is of significant importance to many Shareholders as a substantial number of Shareholders do not hold common shares in their own name. Shareholders who do not hold their common shares in their own name (referred to in this information circular as " Beneficial Shareholders ") should note that only proxies deposited by Shareholders whose names appear on the records of the Corporation as the registered holders of common shares can be recognized and acted upon at the Meeting. If common shares are listed in an account statement provided to a Shareholder by a broker, then, in almost all cases, those common shares will not be registered in the Shareholder's name on the records of the Corporation. Such common shares will more likely be registered under the name of the Shareholder's broker or an agent of that broker. In Canada, the vast majority of such common shares are registered under the name CDS & Co. (the registration name for CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc., which acts as nominee for many Canadian brokerage firms). The common shares held by brokers or their agents or nominees can only be voted (for or against resolutions) upon the instructions of the Beneficial Shareholder. Without specific instructions, a broker and its agents are prohibited from voting shares for
the broker's clients. Therefore, Beneficial Shareholders should ensure that instructions respecting the voting of their common shares are communicated to the appropriate person.
Applicable regulatory rules require intermediaries/brokers to seek voting instructions from Beneficial Shareholders in advance of Shareholders' meetings. Every intermediary/broker has its own mailing procedures and provides its own return instructions to clients, which should be carefully followed by Beneficial Shareholders in order to ensure that their shares are voted at the Meeting. The purpose of the form of proxy or voting instruction form provided to a Beneficial Shareholder by its broker, agent or nominee is limited to instructing the registered holder of the common shares on how to vote such shares on behalf of the Beneficial Shareholder. The majority of brokers now delegate responsibility for obtaining instructions from clients to Broadridge Investor Communications (" Broadridge "). Broadridge typically supplies a voting instruction form, mails those forms to Beneficial Shareholders and asks those Beneficial Shareholders to return the forms to Broadridge or follow specific telephone or other voting procedures. Broadridge then tabulates the results of all instructions received by it and provides appropriate instructions respecting the voting of the shares to be represented at the Meeting. A Beneficial Shareholder receiving a voting instruction form from Broadridge cannot use that form to vote common shares directly at the Meeting. Instead, the voting instruction form must be returned to Broadridge or the alternate voting procedures must be completed well in advance of the Meeting in order to ensure such common shares are voted.
Although Beneficial Shareholders may not be recognized directly at the Meeting for the purpose of voting common shares registered in the name of their broker, agent or nominee, a Beneficial Shareholder may attend the Meeting as a proxyholder for a shareholder and vote common shares in that capacity. Beneficial Shareholders who wish to attend the Meeting and indirectly vote their common shares as proxyholder for the registered shareholder should contact their broker, agent or nominee well in advance of the Meeting to determine the steps necessary to permit them to indirectly vote their common shares as a proxyholder.
The Corporation will not pay for an intermediary to deliver proxy related materials and voting instruction forms to objecting beneficial owners (called OBOs for Objecting Beneficial Owners). OBOs have objected to their intermediary disclosing ownership information about themselves to the Corporation. Accordingly, OBOs will not receive the materials unless their intermediary assumes the costs of delivery.
The Corporation is not relying on the "notice-and-access" delivery procedures outlined in National Instrument 54101 to distribute copies of the proxy related materials in connection with the Meeting.
Principal Holders of Voting Shares
To the knowledge of the directors and senior officers of the Corporation, as of the Record Date, there are no persons or corporations that beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or exercise control or direction over, common shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding common shares of the Corporation, other than:
| Name of Shareholder | Number of Common Shares | Percentage of Issued and Outstanding Common Shares |
|---|---|---|
| Frank Giustra(1) | 23,040,000 | 13.62% |
Notes:
(1) Fiore Financial Corporation and The Great Ontario Food Company, Inc. (companies indirectly owned by Mr. Giustra) hold an aggregate of 12,040,000 common shares of the Corporation. Sestini and Co. Pension Trustees Ltd. and The Radcliffe Corporation (investment accounts controlled and directed by Mr. Giustra) hold an aggregate of 11,000,000 common shares of the Corporation.
PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited financial statements of the Corporation for the period ended December 31, 2023 (the " Financial Statements "), together with the Auditor's Reports thereon, will be presented to Shareholders at the Meeting. The Financial Statements, the Auditor's Reports thereon together with related Management's Discussion and Analysis for the financial years ended December 31, 2023 are available on SEDAR+ at (www.sedarplus.ca). The Notice of Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders, Information Circular, Request for Financial Statements and form of Proxy will be available from the Corporation's Registrar and Transfer Agent, Computershare Investor Services
Inc., 100 University Avenue, 8th floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1, or from the Corporation's head office located at Suite 3123, 595 Burrard Street, PO Box 49139, Bentall Three, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1J1.
Request For Financial Statements
National Instrument 51-102 "Continuous Disclosure Obligations" sets out the procedures for a shareholder to receive financial statements. If you wish to receive financial statements, you may use the enclosed form or provide instructions in any other written format. Registered shareholders must also provide written instructions in order to receive the Financial Statements.
FIXING THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
The number of directors of the Corporation to be elected at the Meeting for the ensuing year is proposed to be fixed at four (4).
Unless contrary instructions are indicated on the instrument of proxy or the voting information form, the Management Proxyholders intend to vote FOR fixing the number of directors of the Corporation to be elected at the Meeting at four (4).
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board presently consists of three (3) directors. The Board has fixed the number of directors for election at the Meeting at four (4) and the persons named in the table below will be presented for election at the Meeting as management’s nominees.
Advance Notice Provisions
The Corporation’s advance notice provisions (the “ Advance Notice Provisions ”), among other things, fix deadlines for submitting director nominations to the Corporation prior to any annual or special meeting of shareholders where directors are to be elected, and sets forth the information that a shareholder must include in their nomination in order for it to be valid. In the case of an annual shareholders’ meeting, the deadlines for notice of a shareholder’s director nominations are not less than 30 days prior to the meeting; provided, however, if the first public notice of an annual shareholders’ meeting is given less than 50 days prior to the meeting date, shareholders must provide notice of their nominations by close of business on the 10th day following the announcement of the meeting. In the case of a special meeting (which is not also an annual meeting) called for any purpose which includes electing directors, shareholders must provide notice of their nominations by close of business on the 15th day following first public announcement of the special shareholders’ meeting, provided, however, if Notice-and-Access is used for delivery of proxy-related materials in respect of the meeting, and the first public notice of the meeting is given not less than 50 days before the date of the meeting, shareholders must provide notice of their nominations by close of business on the 30th day following the announcement of the meeting. As of the date of this Circular, the Corporation has not received notice of a nomination in compliance with the Advance Notice Provisions. In accordance with the Advance Notice Provisions, the deadline for providing a valid notice of a director nomination in respect of the Meeting is 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on November 17, 2024, being the 30[th] day prior to the date of the Meeting.
Unless contrary instructions are indicated on the instrument of proxy or the voting information form, the Management Proxyholders intend to vote FOR the election of management’s nominees. Management does not contemplate that any of the nominees will be unable to serve as a director. Each director elected will hold office until the next annual general meeting of the Corporation or until his successor is elected or appointed, unless his office is earlier vacated in accordance with the Articles of the Corporation, or with the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “ Act ”).
Information Concerning Nominees Submitted By Management
The following table sets out the names of the persons proposed to be nominated by management for election as a director, the Province and Country in which each person is ordinarily resident, the positions and offices which each presently holds with the Corporation, the period of time for which each person has been a director of the Corporation, the respective principal occupations or employment during the past five years if such nominee is not presently an elected director and the number of common shares of the Corporation which each beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or over which control or direction is exercised as of the date of this Information Circular.
The nominees for the office of director and information concerning them as furnished by the individual nominees are as follows:
| Name, Province or State and Country of Residence, and Position with the Corporation(1) |
Present Principal Occupation, Business or Employment(1) |
Date Served as Director Since |
No. of Common Shares Beneficially Owned, or Controlled or Directed, Directly or Indirectly(1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geir Liland British Columbia, Canada Chief Executive Officer & Director |
Retired business man. | October 8, 2020 | 80,000 |
| D. Jeffrey Harder British Columbia, Canada Director |
Financial advisory professional and a retired Deloitte LLP partner |
October 8, 2020 | 145,000 |
| Travis Musgrave British Columbia, Canada Director |
Physician practicing in Vancouver | October 8, 2020 | 80,000 |
| Joaquin Marias British Columbia, Canada Director |
Vice President, Exploration, Argenta Silver Corp. |
Nominee | 525,000 |
Note:
(1) The information as to the Province and Country of residence, principal occupation and shares beneficially owned or over which a director exercises control or direction, not being within the knowledge of the Corporation, has been furnished by the respective directors individually as of the Record Date of this information circular.
The Corporation does not currently have an Executive Committee of its Board of Directors. Pursuant to National Instrument 52-110, the Corporation is required to have an Audit Committee of its Board of Directors. The current members of the Audit Committee are Geir Liland, Jeffrey Harder and Travis Musgrave. The Audit Committee is the only committee of its Board of Directors.
Except as disclosed below, none of the proposed nominees for director have been, within 10 years before the date of this Information Circular, a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any Corporation that:
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(a) while that person was acting in that capacity, was the subject of a cease trade order or similar order or an order that denied the relevant Corporation access to any exemption under securities legislation for a period of more than 30 consecutive days;
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(b) while that person was acting in that capacity, was subject to an event that resulted, after the director or executive officer ceased to be a director or executive officer, in the Corporation being the subject of a cease trade or similar order or an order that denied the relevant Corporation access to any exemption under securities legislation for a period of more than 30 consecutive days; or
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(c) while that person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or
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(d) has been subject to:
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(i) any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority since December 31, 2000 or before December 31, 2000 the disclosure of which would likely be important to a reasonable security holder in deciding whether to vote for a proposed director; or
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(ii) any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable security holder in deciding whether to vote for a proposed director.
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
Shareholders will be asked to approve the re-appointment of Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, of Vancouver, British Columbia, as the auditor of the Corporation to hold office until the next annual general meeting of the Shareholders.
RE-APPROVAL OF STOCK OPTION PLAN
At the Company's last annual general meeting held on December 5, 2023, the Shareholders approved the Company’s 10% “rolling” stock option plan (the “Stock Option Plan”). The following is a summary of certain provisions of the Stock Option Plan and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Stock Option Plan.
As of the Record Date, options to purchase 14,314,000 common shares were outstanding.
Under the policies of the Exchange, a rolling stock option plan, such as the Corporation’s, must be approved by Shareholders on a yearly basis. Accordingly, at the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to pass an Ordinary Resolution re-approving the Stock Option Plan. A summary of the material provisions of the Stock Option Plan are as follows:
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(a) the Stock Option Plan reserves, for issuance pursuant to the exercise of stock options, Common Shares of the Corporation equal to up to a maximum of 10% of the issued Common Shares of the Corporation at the time of any stock option grant;
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(b) under the New Policy, an optionee must either be an Eligible Charitable Organization or a Director, Officer, Employee, Consultant or Management Corporation Employee of the Corporation at the time the option is granted in order to be eligible for the grant of a stock option to the optionee;
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(c) the aggregate number of options granted to any one Person (and companies wholly owned by that Person) in a 12 month period under this Stock Option Plan and any other Security Based Compensation must not exceed 5% of the issued Common Shares of the Corporation calculated on the date an option is granted to the Person (unless the Corporation has obtained the requisite Disinterested Shareholder Approval);
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(d) the aggregate number of options granted to any one Consultant in a 12 month period under this Stock Option Plan and any other Security Based Compensation must not exceed 2% of the issued Common Shares of the Corporation, calculated at the date an option is granted to the Consultant;
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(e) the aggregate number of options granted to all Investor Relations Service Providers must not exceed 2% of the issued shares of the Corporation in any 12 month period, calculated at the date an option is granted to any such Person;
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(f) if the Common Shares are listed for trading on the Exchange, then, notwithstanding anything in the Stock Option Plan to the contrary, the aggregate number of Common Shares that may be issued to Insiders (as a group) pursuant to Options granted under the Stock Option Plan and under any other Security Based Compensation, must not exceed 10% of the outstanding Shares at any point in time, unless the Corporation has obtained the requisite Disinterested Shareholder Approval;
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(g) if the Common Shares are listed for trading on the Exchange then, notwithstanding anything in the Stock Option Plan to the contrary, the aggregate number of Common Shares that may be issued to Insiders (as a group) pursuant to Options granted under the plan and under any other Security Based Compensation in any 12 month period shall not exceed 10% of the outstanding Shares at the time of the grant, unless the Corporation has obtained the requisite Disinterested Shareholder Approval;
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(h) options issued to Investor Relations Service Providers must vest in stages over a period of not less than 12 months with no more than 1/4 of the options vesting in any 3 month period;
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(i) the minimum exercise price per Common Share of a stock option must not be less than the Market Price of the Common Shares of the Corporation;
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(j) options can be exercisable for a maximum of 10 years from the date of grant (subject to extension where the expiry date falls within a "blackout period" (see (o) below);
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(k) stock options (other than options held by Investor Relations Service Providers) will cease to be exercisable 90 days after the optionee ceases to be a Director (which term includes a senior officer), Employee, Consultant, Eligible Charitable Organization or Management Corporation Employee otherwise than by death, or for a "reasonable period" not exceeding 12 months after the optionee ceases to serve in such capacity, as determined by the Board. Stock options granted to Investor Relations Service Providers will cease to be exercisable 30 days after the optionee ceases to serve in such capacity otherwise than by death, or for a "reasonable period" after the optionee ceases to serve in such capacity, as determined by the Board;
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(l) all options are non-assignable and non-transferable;
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(m) Disinterested Shareholder Approval will be obtained for any reduction in the exercise price of a stock option, or the extension of the term of a stock option, if the optionee is an Insider of the Corporation at the time of the proposed amendment;
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(n) the Stock Option Plan contains provisions for adjustment in the number of Common Shares or other property issuable on exercise of a stock option, subject to prior acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange, in the event of an amalgamation, merger, arrangement, reorganization, spin-off, dividend or recapitalization, other than in connection with a share consolidation or split;
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(o) upon the occurrence of an Accelerated Vesting Event (as defined in the Stock Option Plan), the Board will have the power, at its sole discretion and subject to the prior acceptance of the Exchange, to make such changes to the terms of stock options as it considers fair and appropriate in the circumstances, including but not limited to: (a) accelerating the vesting of stock options, conditionally or unconditionally; (b) terminating every stock option if under the transaction giving rise to the Accelerated Vesting Event, options in replacement of the stock options are proposed to be granted to or exchanged with the holders of stock options, which replacement options treat the holders of stock options in a manner which the Board considers fair and appropriate in the circumstances having regard to the treatment of holders of Common Shares under such transaction; (c) otherwise modifying the terms of any stock option to assist the holder to tender into any take-over bid or other transaction constituting an Accelerated Vesting Event; or (d) following the successful completion of such Accelerated Vesting Event, terminating any stock option to the extent it has not been exercised prior to successful completion of the Accelerated Vesting Event. The determination of the Board in respect of any such Accelerated Vesting Event shall for the purposes of the Stock Option Plan be final, conclusive and binding;
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(p) in connection with the exercise of an option, as a condition to such exercise the Corporation shall require the optionee to pay to the Corporation an amount as necessary so as to ensure that the Corporation is in compliance with the applicable provisions of any federal, provincial or local laws relating to the withholding of tax or other required deductions relating to the exercise of such option; and
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(q) a stock option will be automatically extended past its expiry date if such expiry date falls within a blackout period during which the Corporation prohibits optionees from exercising their options, subject to the following requirements: (a) the blackout period must (i) be formally imposed by the Corporation pursuant to its internal trading policies; and (ii) must expire following the general disclosure of undisclosed Material Information; (b) the automatic extension of an optionee's stock option will not be permitted where the optionee or the Corporation is subject to a cease trade order (or similar order under Securities Laws) in respect of the Corporation's securities; and (d) the automatic extension is available to all Eligible Persons under the same terms and conditions.
"Consultant", "Director", "Disinterested Shareholder Approval", "Eligible Charitable Organization", "Employee", "Investor Relations Activities", “Investor Relations Service Provider”, "Management Corporation Employee", "Market Price", "Material Information", "Person", "Securities Laws" and “Security Based Compensation” all have the same definition as in the policies of the Exchange.
Pursuant to the Board's authority to govern the implementation and administration of the Stock Option Plan, all previously granted and outstanding stock options shall be governed by the provisions of the Stock Option Plan.
A copy of the Stock Option Plan is available on request from the Corporation and a copy will be available for viewing at the Meeting.
The text of the resolution to be passed is as follows. In order to be passed, a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting or in person or by proxy must be voted in favour of the resolution. Management recommends and, unless otherwise directed, the persons named in the enclosed Proxy intend to vote FOR such resolution :
"BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Corporation's Stock Option Plan be and is hereby ratified, confirmed and approved with such additional provisions and amendments, provided that such are not inconsistent with the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, as the directors of the Corporation may deem necessary or advisable.”
OTHER MATTERS
As of the date of this information circular, management knows of no other matters to be acted upon at this Meeting. However, should any other matters properly come before the Meeting, the shares represented by the Proxy solicited hereby will be voted on such matters in accordance with the best judgment of the persons voting the shares represented by the Proxy.
STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Definitions: for the purpose of this Information Circular:
" Chief Executive Officer " or " CEO " of the Corporation means an individual who served as chief executive officer of the Corporation or performed functions similar to a chief executive officer for any part of the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023.
" Chief Financial Officer " or " CFO " of the Corporation means an individual who served as chief financial officer of the Corporation or performed functions similar to a chief financial officer for any part of the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023.
" company " includes other types of business organizations such as partnerships, trusts and other unincorporated business entities.
" compensation securities " includes stock options, convertible securities, exchangeable securities and similar instruments including stock appreciation rights, deferred share units and restricted stock units granted or issued by the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.
" external management company " includes a subsidiary, affiliate or associate of the external management company.
" Named Executive Officers " or " NEOs " means each of the following individuals:
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(a) each CEO;
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(b) each CFO;
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(c) the most highly compensated executive officer, other than the CEO and CFO, at the end of the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023 whose total compensation was more than $150,000 for that fiscal period; and
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(d) each individual who would be a NEO under (c) above, but for the fact that the individual was not an executive officer of the Corporation, nor acting in a similar capacity, at the end of the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023.
" plan " includes any plan, contract, authorization, or arrangement, whether or not set out in any formal document, where cash, compensation securities or any other property may be received, whether for one or more persons.
" underlying securities " means any securities issuable on conversion, exchange or exercise of compensation securities.
DIRECTOR AND NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
The following information is presented in accordance with Form 51-102F6V: Statement of Executive Compensation – Venture Issuers, and provides details of all compensation for each of the directors and named executive officers of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
During the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023, the Corporation had three (2) Named Executive Officers, namely
Geir Liland (CEO) and Kia Russell (CFO and Corporate Secretary). There were three individuals who served as a director of the Corporation for all or part of the fiscal year, one of which was also a Named Executive Officer of the Corporation, Geir Liland.
Oversight and Description of Director and Executive Officer Compensation
Compensation Objectives and Principles
The compensation of the Corporation's NEOs and directors has been established with a view of attracting and retaining executives critical to the Corporation's short and long-term success and to continue providing executives with compensation that is in accordance with existing market standards. Compensation provided to the Corporation’s NEOs and directors is determined and reviewed by the Corporation’s board of directors (the " Board of Directors " or " Board ").
Compensation Elements
Compensation of the Corporation's NEOs and directors may be comprised of a base salary (or director fees) and the granting of options to purchase common shares under the Corporation's stock option plan (as more particularly described below under the heading Stock Option Plans and Other Incentive Plans .) Through its executive compensation practices, the Corporation seeks to provide value to its shareholders by employing a strong executive leadership team. Specifically, the Corporation's executive compensation structure seeks to attract and retain talented and experienced executives necessary to achieve the Corporation's strategic objectives, motivate and reward executives whose knowledge, skills and performance are critical to the Corporation's success, and align the interests of the Corporation's executives and shareholders by motivating executives to increase shareholder value.
a) Base Salary
The Corporation believes that a competitive base salary is a necessary element of any compensation program that is designed to attract and retain talented and experienced executives. The Corporation also believes that attractive base salaries can motivate and reward executives for their overall performance.
The Corporation did not pay any base salary or fees to its executives or directors in the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023. Going forward the Corporation may determine that payment of a base salary is appropriate for its executives and may enter into management or employment agreements providing for payment of a base salary or other compensation.
b) Stock Options
The Corporation grants stock options to NEOs and directors from time to time to help enable the Corporation to attract and retain experienced and qualified individuals in those positions by permitting such individuals to directly participate in an increase in per share value created for the Corporation’s Shareholders. In determining option grants, the Board together with management takes into consideration factors that include the amount and exercise price of previous option grants, the individual's experience, level of expertise and responsibilities, and the contributions of each individual towards the completion of corporate transactions in any given fiscal year.
The Corporation granted stock options to its executives and directors in the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023.
Director and Named Executive Officer Compensation – Excluding Compensation Securities
The following table sets out all compensation paid, payable, awarded, granted, given, or otherwise provided, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation to each NEO and director, in any capacity, for all or portion of the fiscal periods ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities
| Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and Position | Year Ended December 31 |
Salary, consulting fee, retainer or commission ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Committee or meeting fees ($) |
Value of perquisites ($) |
Value of all other compensation ($) |
Total compensatio n ($) |
| Geir Liland(1) CEO and a Director |
2023 2022 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
| Kia Russell(2) CFO and Corporate Secretary |
2023 2022 |
Nil (3) Nil (3) |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil (3) Nil (3) |
| D. Jeffrey Harder(4) Director |
2023 2022 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
| Travis Musgrave(5) Director |
2023 2022 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Notes:
-
(1) Geir Liland has served as Chief Executive Officer and director since October 8, 2020.
-
(2) Kia Russell served as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Corporation from May 24, 2022 until October 24, 2024.
-
(3) The Company paid to Fiore Management & Advisory Corp. (“FMAC”) a corporate administration consulting fee of $120,000 and $120,000 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 respectively. Kia Russell is an employee of FMAC.
-
(4) D. Jeffrey Harder has served as a director of the Corporation since October 8, 2020.
-
(5) Travis Musgrave has served as a director of the Corporation since October 8, 2020.
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities
The following table sets out all compensation securities granted or issued to each NEO and director by the Corporation during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Corporation.
| Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities The following table sets out all compensation securities granted or issued to each NEO and director by the Corporation during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Corporation. |
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities The following table sets out all compensation securities granted or issued to each NEO and director by the Corporation during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Corporation. |
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities The following table sets out all compensation securities granted or issued to each NEO and director by the Corporation during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Corporation. |
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities The following table sets out all compensation securities granted or issued to each NEO and director by the Corporation during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Corporation. |
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities The following table sets out all compensation securities granted or issued to each NEO and director by the Corporation during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Corporation. |
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities The following table sets out all compensation securities granted or issued to each NEO and director by the Corporation during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Corporation. |
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities The following table sets out all compensation securities granted or issued to each NEO and director by the Corporation during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Corporation. |
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities The following table sets out all compensation securities granted or issued to each NEO and director by the Corporation during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Corporation. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | ompensation Securities | ||||||
| Name and Position | Type of compensation security |
Number of compensation securities, number of underlying securities, and percentage of class(1) |
Date of issue or grant |
Issue, conversion or exercise price ($)(1) |
Closing price of security or underlying security on date of grant ($)(1) |
Closing price of security or underlying security at year end ($)(1) |
Expiry date |
| Geir Liland(2) CEO and a Director |
Stock Options | 100,000 | May 15, 2023 | $0.29 | $0.29 | $0.14 | May 15, 2033 |
| Kia Russell(3) CFO and Corporate Secretary |
Stock Options | 100,000 | May 15, 2023 | $0.29 | $0.29 | $0.14 | May 15, 2033 |
| D. Jeffrey Harder(4) Director |
Stock Options | 100,000 | May 15, 2023 | $0.29 | $0.29 | $0.14 | May 15, 2033 |
| Travis Musgrave(5) Director |
Stock Options | 100,000 | May 15, 2023 | $0.29 | $0.29 | $0.14 | May 15, 2033 |
Notes:
(1) On March 9, 2023, the Company consolidated its outstanding share capital on the basis of five (5) pre-consolidated shares for one (1) post-consolidation share. The stock options, exercise price and the closing prices in the table above are all calculated on a post-consolidation basis.
(2) As at December 31, 2023, Geir Liland held a total of 250,000 stock options to acquire 250,000 common shares. The stock options held by Mr. Liland represent 8.88% of the outstanding stock options of the Corporation. 100,000 stock options were granted in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, 50,000 stock options were granted in the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2022 and 100,000 stock options were granted in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.
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(3) As at December 31, 2023, Kia Russell held a total of 200,000 stock options to acquire 200,000 common shares. The stock options held by Ms. Russell represent 7.11% of the outstanding stock options of the Corporation.100,000 stock options were granted in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and 100,000 stock options were granted in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
-
(4) As at December 31, 2023, D. Jeffrey Harder held a total of 250,000 stock options to acquire 250,000 common shares. The stock options held by Mr. Harder represent 8.88% of the outstanding stock options of the Corporation. 100,000 stock options were granted in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, 50,000 stock options were granted in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and 100,000 stock options were granted in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.
-
(5) As at December 31, 2023, Travis Musgrave held a total of 250,000 stock options to acquire 250,000 common shares. The stock options held by Mr. Musgrave represent 8.88% of the outstanding stock options of the Corporation. 100,000 stock options were granted in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, 50,000 stock options were granted in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and 100,000 stock options were granted in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.
Exercise of Compensation Securities
No options were exercised by a NEO or director during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Stock Option Plans and Other Incentive Plans
The Corporation has in effect a stock option plan (the " Stock Option Plan ") in order to provide effective incentives to directors, officers, and senior management personnel and consultants of the Corporation and to enable the Corporation to attract and retain experienced and qualified individuals in those positions by permitting such individuals to directly participate in an increase in per share value created for the Corporation’s Shareholders.
A summary of the Corporation’s 10% Rolling Stock Option Plan which was approved at the Corporation’s annual general and special meeting held on December 5, 2023 is set out above under the heading “Re-Approval of Stock Option Plan”.
Employment, Consulting and Management Agreements
Management functions of the Corporation are performed by the directors and senior officers of the Corporation and were not to any substantial degree performed by any other person or corporation during the financial years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
During the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023, there are no contracts, agreements, plans or arrangements that provide for payments or salary to any NEO or director or which includes any termination (whether voluntary, involuntary or constructive), resignation, retirement, a change in control of the Corporation or a change in a NEO’s or director’s responsibilities.
Pension Plan Benefits
No pension, retirement or deferred compensation plans, including defined contribution plans, have been instituted by the Corporation and none are proposed at this time.
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
The following table sets out particulars of the compensation plans under which equity securities of the Corporation are authorized for issuance as of December 31, 2023.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
| Plan Category | A Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
B Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
C Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column A) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity compensation plans approved by securityholders |
2,814,000 options | $0.40 | 3,752,284(1) |
| Equity compensation plans not approved by securityholders |
Nil | Nil | Nil |
| TOTALS: | 2,814,000 | $0.40 | 3,752,284 |
- (1) On March 9, 2023, the Company consolidated its outstanding share capital on the basis of five (5) pre-consolidated shares for one (1) post-consolidation share. The stock options, exercise price and the closing prices in the table above are all calculated on a postconsolidation basis.
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Other than "routine indebtedness" as defined in applicable securities legislation, since January 1, 2023, being the beginning of the fiscal year of the Corporation ended December 31, 2023, none of:
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(d) the executive officers, directors, employees and former executive officers, directors and employees of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries;
-
(e) the proposed nominees for election as a director of the Corporation; or
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(f) any associates of the foregoing persons;
is or has been indebted to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or has been indebted to any other entity where that indebtedness was the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding provided by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, and which was not entirely repaid on or before the date of this information circular.
AUDIT COMMITTEE DISCLOSURE
The charter of the Corporation's audit committee and the other information required to be disclosed by Form 52-110F2 are attached as Schedule "A".
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required to be disclosed by National Instrument 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices is attached to this information circular as Schedule "B".
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS OR COMPANIES IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
No person who has been a director, senior officer or insider of the Corporation, no proposed nominee for director and no associate or affiliate of any of the foregoing persons has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matters to be acted upon at the Meeting other than the election of directors or the approval of the new control person.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
For purposes of the following discussion, " Informed Person " means (a) a director or executive officer of the Corporation; (b) a director or executive officer of a person or Corporation that is itself an Informed Person or a subsidiary of the Corporation; (c) any person or Corporation who beneficially owns, or controls or directs, directly or
indirectly, voting securities of the Corporation or a combination of both carrying more than 10 percent of the voting rights attached to all outstanding voting securities of the Corporation, other than the voting securities held by the person or Corporation as underwriter in the course of a distribution; and (d) the Corporation itself if it has purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any of its securities, for so long as it holds any of its securities.
Except as disclosed elsewhere in this Information Circular or in the Notes to the Corporation's financial statements for the financial years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, none of:
-
(a) the Informed Persons of the Corporation;
-
(b) the proposed nominees for election as a director of the Corporation; or
-
(c) any associate or affiliate of the foregoing persons,
has any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of the Corporation's financial year ended December 31, 2023 or in any proposed transaction which has materially affected or would materially affect the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information relating to the Corporation is on SEDAR+ at (www.sedarplus.ca). Financial information relating to the Corporation is provided in the Corporation’s comparative financial statements and related Management's Discussion and Analysis for the financial year ended December 31, 2023. Shareholders may contact the Corporation to request copies of financial statements and related Management's Discussion and Analysis at its head office, Suite 3123, 595 Burrard Street, PO Box 49139, Bentall Three, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1J1.
APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTORS
The directors of the Corporation have approved the content and the sending of this information circular.
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 12[th] day of November, 2024.
ARGENTA SILVER CORP.
"GEIR LILAND"
Geir Liland, Chief Executive Officer and Director
SCHEDULE "A" ARGENTA SILVER CORP. FORM 52-110F2 AUDIT COMMITTEE DISCLOSURE
ITEM 1: THE AUDIT COMMITTEE'S CHARTER (the "Charter")
PURPOSE
The overall purpose of the audit committee (the " Audit Committee ") of ARGENTA SILER CORP. (the " Corporation ") is to ensure that the Corporation's management has designed and implemented an effective system of internal financial controls, to review and report on the integrity of the financial statements and related financial disclosure of the Corporation, and to review the Corporation's compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements as they relate to financial statements, taxation matters and disclosure of financial information. It is the intention of the Corporation's board of directors (the " Board ") that through the involvement of the Audit Committee, the external audit will be conducted independently of the Corporation's management to ensure that the independent auditors serve the interests of shareholders rather than the interests of management of the Corporation. The Audit Committee will act as a liaison to provide better communication between the Board and the external auditors. The Audit Committee will monitor the independence and performance of the Corporation's independent auditors.
COMPOSITION, PROCEDURES AND ORGANIZATION
-
(1) The Audit Committee shall consist of at least three members of the Board.
-
(2) At least two (2) members of the Audit Committee shall be independent and the Audit Committee shall endeavour to appoint a majority of independent directors to the Audit Committee, who in the opinion of the Board, would be free from a relationship which would interfere with the exercise of the Audit Committee members' independent judgment. At least one (1) member of the Audit Committee shall have accounting or related financial management expertise. All members of the Audit Committee that are not financially literate will work towards becoming financially literate to obtain a working familiarity with basic finance and accounting practices applicable to the Corporation. For the purposes of this Charter, an individual is financially literate if he or she has the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Corporation's financial statements.
-
(3) The Board, at its organizational meeting held in conjunction with each annual general meeting of the shareholders, shall appoint the members of the Audit Committee for the ensuing year. The Board may at any time remove or replace any member of the Audit Committee and may fill any vacancy in the Audit Committee.
-
(4) Unless the Board shall have appointed a chair of the Audit Committee, the members of the Audit Committee shall elect a chair and a secretary from among their number.
-
(5) The quorum for meetings shall be a majority of the members of the Audit Committee, present in person or by telephone or other telecommunication device that permits all persons participating in the meeting to speak and to hear each other.
-
(6) The Audit Committee shall have access to such officers and employees of the Corporation and to the Corporation's external auditors, and to such information respecting the Corporation, as it considers to be necessary or advisable in order to perform its duties and responsibilities.
-
(7) Meetings of the Audit Committee shall be conducted as follows:
-
(a) the Audit Committee shall meet at least four times annually at such times and at such locations as may be requested by the chair of the Audit Committee. The external auditors or any member of the Audit Committee may request a meeting of the Audit Committee;
-
(b) the external auditors shall receive notice of and have the right to attend all meetings of the Audit Committee; and
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(c) management representatives may be invited to attend all meetings except private sessions with the external auditors.
-
(8) The internal auditors and the external auditors shall have a direct line of communication to the Audit Committee through its chair and may bypass management if deemed necessary. The Audit Committee, through its chair, may contact directly any employee in the Corporation as it deems necessary, and any employee may bring before the Audit Committee any matter involving questionable, illegal or improper financial practices or transactions.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
-
(1) The overall duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall be as follows:
-
(a) to assist the Board in the discharge of its responsibilities relating to the Corporation's accounting principles, reporting practices and internal controls and its approval of the Corporation's annual and quarterly consolidated financial statements and related financial disclosure;
-
(b) to establish and maintain a direct line of communication with the Corporation's internal and external auditors and assess their performance;
-
(c) to ensure that the management of the Corporation has designed, implemented and is maintaining an effective system of internal financial controls; and
-
(d) to report regularly to the Board on the fulfilment of its duties and responsibilities.
-
(2) The duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee as they relate to the external auditors shall be as follows:
-
(a) to recommend to the Board a firm of external auditors to be engaged by the Corporation, and to verify the independence of such external auditors;
-
(b) to review and approve the fee, scope and timing of the audit and other related services rendered by the external auditors;
-
(c) review the audit plan of the external auditors prior to the commencement of the audit;
-
(d) to review with the external auditors, upon completion of their audit:
-
A. contents of their report;
-
B. scope and quality of the audit work performed;
-
C. adequacy of the Corporation's financial and auditing personnel;
-
D. co-operation received from the Corporation's personnel during the audit;
-
E. internal resources used;
-
F. significant transactions outside of the normal business of the Corporation;
-
G. significant proposed adjustments and recommendations for improving internal accounting controls, accounting principles or management systems; and
-
H. the non-audit services provided by the external auditors;
-
-
(e) to discuss with the external auditors the quality and not just the acceptability of the Corporation's accounting principles; and
-
(f) to implement structures and procedures to ensure that the Audit Committee meets the external auditors on a regular basis in the absence of management.
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(3) The duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee as they relate to the internal control procedures of the Corporation are to:
-
(a) review the appropriateness and effectiveness of the Corporation's policies and business practices which impact on the financial integrity of the Corporation, including those relating to internal auditing, insurance, accounting, information services and systems and financial controls, management reporting and risk management;
-
(b) review compliance under the Corporation's business conduct and ethics policies and to periodically review these policies and recommend to the Board changes which the Audit Committee may deem appropriate;
-
(c) review any unresolved issues between management and the external auditors that could affect the financial reporting or internal controls of the Corporation; and
-
(d) periodically review the Corporation's financial and auditing procedures and the extent to which recommendations made by the internal audit staff or by the external auditors have been implemented.
-
(4) The Audit Committee is also charged with the responsibility to:
-
(a) review the Corporation's quarterly statements of earnings, including the impact of unusual items and changes in accounting principles and estimates and report to the Board with respect thereto;
-
(b) review and approve the financial sections of:
-
A. the annual report to shareholders;
-
B. the annual information form, if required;
-
C. annual and interim management's discussion and analysis;
-
D. prospectuses;
-
E. news releases discussing financial results of the Corporation; and
-
F. other public reports of a financial nature requiring approval by the Board,
-
and report to the Board with respect thereto;
-
-
(c) review regulatory filings and decisions as they relate to the Corporation's consolidated financial statements;
-
(d) review the appropriateness of the policies and procedures used in the preparation of the Corporation's consolidated financial statements and other required disclosure documents, and consider recommendations for any material change to such policies;
-
(e) review and report on the integrity of the Corporation's consolidated financial statements;
-
(f) review the minutes of any audit committee meeting of subsidiary companies;
-
(g) review with management, the external auditors and, if necessary, with legal counsel, any litigation, claim or other contingency, including tax assessments that could have a material effect upon the financial position or operating results of the Corporation and the manner in which such matters have been disclosed in the consolidated financial statements;
-
(h) review the Corporation's compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements as they relate to financial statements, tax matters and disclosure of financial information; and
-
(i) develop a calendar of activities to be undertaken by the Audit Committee for each ensuing year and to submit the calendar in the appropriate format to the Board following each annual general meeting of shareholders.
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(5) The Audit Committee shall have the authority:
-
(a) to engage independent counsel and other advisors as it determines necessary to carry out its duties,
-
(b) to set and pay the compensation for any advisors employed by the Audit Committee; and
-
(c) to communicate directly with the internal and external auditors.
ITEM 2: COMPOSITION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The current members of the Audit Committee are Geir Liland, D. Jeffrey Harder and Travis Musgrave. All of the members are financially literate and D. Jeffrey Harder and Travis Musgrave are each an independent member of the Audit Committee. D. Jeffrey Harder is the Chairman of the Audit Committee. Geir Liland is the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and is therefore not independent. "Independent" and "financially literate" have the meaning used in National Instrument 52-110 (" NI 52-110 ") of the Canadian Securities Administrators.
ITEM 3: RELEVANT EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
NI 52-110 provides that an individual is "financially literate" if he or she has the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Corporation’s financial statements.
All of the members of the Corporation’s Audit Committee are financially literate as that term is defined in NI 52110. All members have an understanding of the accounting principles used by the Corporation to prepare its financial statements and have an understanding of its internal controls and procedures for financial reporting. In addition to each member's general business experience, the education and experience of each Audit Committee member relevant to the performance of his or her responsibilities as an Audit Committee member is as follows:
Geir Liland has acted as a director, officer (including CFO) and audit committee member of several junior public companies for many years, which experience has given him the knowledge required to understand and assess the general application of the accounting principles used by the Corporation and to understand internal controls and procedures for financial reporting.
D. Jeffrey Harder is a financial advisory professional and company director. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia and the Yukon, a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators and holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. Mr. Harder is a retired Deloitte LLP partner. He has over 40 years experience in performing financial advisory services, including: business, asset and securities valuations, mergers and acquisitions, business modelling and strategic analysis. He has completed professional services assignments across a range of industries involving companies and assets located across the world. His professional assignments focused on the natural resources sectors including upstream and downstream assets and related infrastructure assets. During his professional services career Mr. Harder held several strategic governance and operational positions, including: Office Managing Partner, Canada business leader, Americas business leader, Global executive committee member and Board of Directors member.
Travis Musgrave is a physician practicing in Vancouver and has three years experience as an Audit Committee Member of the Corporation.
ITEM 4: AUDIT COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT
At no time since the commencement of the Corporation's financial year ended December 31, 2023 was a recommendation of the Audit Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor (currently, Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants) not adopted by the Board.
ITEM 5: RELIANCE ON CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS
Since the effective date of NI 52-110, the Corporation has not relied on the exemptions contained in Section 2.4 or Part 8 of NI 52-110, in whole or in part. Section 2.4 provides an exemption from the requirement that the audit committee must pre-approve all non-audit services to be provided by the auditor, where the total amount of fees
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related to the non-audit services are not expected to exceed 5% of the total fees payable to the auditor in the fiscal year in which the non-audit services were provided. Part 8 permits a company to apply to a securities regulatory authority for an exemption from the requirements of NI 52-110, in whole or in part.
ITEM 6: PRE-APPROVAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Formal policies and procedures for the engagement of non-audit services have yet to be formulated and adopted. Subject to the requirements of NI 52-110, the engagement of non-audit services is considered by the Board, and where applicable by the Audit Committee, on a case by case basis.
ITEM 7: EXTERNAL AUDITOR SERVICE FEES (BY CATEGORY)
The aggregate fees charged to the Corporation by the external auditors in each of the last two fiscal years are as follows:
| ws: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audit fees for the year ended December 31 Audit related fees Tax fees All other fees (non-tax) |
FYE 2023 $20,244 Nil Nil Nil |
FYE 2022 $19,232 Nil Nil Nil |
| Total Fees: | $20,244 | $19,232 |
ITEM 8: EXEMPTION
In respect of the financial years ended December 31, 2023, the Corporation is relying on the exemption set out in section 6.1 of NI 52-110.
SCHEDULE "B" ARGENTA SILVER CORP. FORM 58-101F2 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DISCLOSURE
Pursuant to National Instrument 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices , Argenta Silver Corp. (the " Corporation ") is required to and hereby discloses its corporate governance practices as follows.
ITEM 1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of the Corporation facilitates its exercise of independent supervision over the Corporation’s management through frequent meetings of the Board.
D. Jeffrey Harder and Travis Musgrave are "independent" in that they are free from any direct or indirect material relationship with the Corporation. A material relationship is a relationship which could, in the view of the Corporation's Board of Directors, be reasonably expected to interfere with the exercise of his independent judgment. Geir Liland is the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and is therefore not independent.
ITEM 2. DIRECTORSHIPS
The directors of the Corporation are currently directors of the following other reporting issuers:
| Name | Name of Reporting Issuer |
|---|---|
| Geir Liland | Oronova Energy Inc. |
| D. Jeffrey Harder | MCF Energy Ltd. Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. |
ITEM 3. ORIENTATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
The Board of Directors of the Corporation briefs all new directors with the policies of the Board of Directors, and other relevant corporate and business information.
ITEM 4. ETHICAL BUSINESS CONDUCT
The Board has found that the fiduciary duties placed on individual directors by the Corporation’s governing corporate legislation and the common law and the restrictions placed by applicable corporate legislation on an individual director’s participation in decisions of the Board in which the director has an interest have been sufficient to ensure that the Board operates independently of management and in the best interests of the Corporation.
Under the corporate legislation, a director is required to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Corporation and exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances, and disclose to the board the nature and extent of any interest of the director in any material contract or material transaction, whether made or proposed, if the director is a party to the contract or transaction, is a director or officer (or an individual acting in a similar capacity) of a party to the contract or transaction or has a material interest in a party to the contract or transaction. The director must then abstain from voting on the contract or transaction unless the contract or transaction (i) relates primarily to their remuneration as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or an affiliate of the Corporation, (ii) is for indemnity or insurance for the benefit of the director in connection with the Corporation, or (iii) is with an affiliate of the Corporation. If the director abstains from voting after disclosure of their interest, the directors approve the contract or transaction and the contract or transaction was reasonable and fair to the Corporation at the time it was entered into, the contract or transaction is not invalid and the director is not accountable to the Corporation for any profit realized from the contract or transaction. Otherwise, the director must have acted honestly and in good faith, the
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contract or transaction must have been reasonable and fair to the Corporation and the contract or transaction be approved by the shareholders by a special resolution after receiving full disclosure of its terms in order for the director to avoid such liability or the contract or transaction being invalid.
ITEM 5. NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to become new Board members and recommending to the Board new director nominees for the next annual meeting of the shareholders.
New nominees must have a track record in general business management, special expertise in an area of strategic interest to the Corporation, the ability to devote the time required, shown support for the Corporation’s mission and strategic objectives, and a willingness to serve.
ITEM 6. COMPENSATION
The Board of Directors conducts reviews with regard to directors’ compensation once a year. To make its recommendation on directors’ compensation, the Board of Directors takes into account the types of compensation and the amounts paid to directors of comparable publicly traded Canadian companies.
ITEM 7. OTHER BOARD COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors has no other committees other than the Audit Committee.
ITEM 8. ASSESSMENTS
The Board of Directors monitors the adequacy of information given to directors, communication between the Board and management and the strategic direction and processes of the Board a nd committees.