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Astron Connect — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2025
Dec 4, 2025
47465_rns_2025-12-03_8d1cf453-9dc0-451a-aeb9-028a1c513ffc.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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ASTRON CONNECT INC.
550 Burrard Street, Suite 2501
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2B5
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 30, 2025
AND
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
November 28, 2025
This document requires immediate attention. If you are in doubt as to how to deal with the documents or matters referred to in this notice and information circular, you should immediately contact your advisor.
ASTRON CONNECT INC.
550 Burrard Street, Suite 2501
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2B5
Telephone: (604) 620-2092
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual general and special meeting (the "Meeting") of shareholders of Astron Connect Inc. (the "Company") will be held at the offices of Cozen O'Connor LLP, Bentall 5, 550 Burrard Street, Suite 2501, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2B5, on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at the hour of 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) for the following purposes:
- to receive the audited financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, and the accompanying report of the auditors;
- to set the number of directors of the Company at four (4);
- to elect S. Randall Smallbone, (Iris) Hong Duan, Wei Kang and Herrick Lau as directors of the Company;
- to appoint Mao & Ying LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 and to authorize the directors of the Company to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025;
- to consider and, if thought fit, to approve the Company's 2025 Equity Incentive Plan, including approval of a 10% rolling plan for stock options and a fixed plan with the number of common shares for performance-based awards of restricted share units, performance share units and deferred share units be equal to: (i) approximately 15,502,123 common shares, being 10% of the issued and outstanding of the Company after completion of its reverse takeover transaction (the "RTO") with Innolink Network Ltd. ("Innolink"), subject to completion of the RTO with Innolink; or (ii) 3,027,124 common shares, being 10% of the issued and outstanding of the Company if the RTO with Innolink is not completed, all as described in the accompanying management information circular (the "Information Circular"); and
- to transact such further or other business as may properly come before the Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.
The accompanying Information Circular provides additional information relating to the matters to be dealt with at the Meeting and is supplemental to, and expressly made a part of, this notice of Meeting (the "Notice of Meeting").
The Company's board of directors has fixed November 21, 2025 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. Each registered shareholder at the close of business on that date is entitled to such notice and to vote at the Meeting in the circumstances set out in the accompanying Information Circular.
As always, the Company encourages shareholders to vote prior to the Meeting. Shareholders are encouraged to vote on the matters before the Meeting by proxy.
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If you are a registered shareholder of the Company and unable to attend the Meeting in person, please vote by proxy by following the instructions provided in the form of proxy at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays recognized in the Province of British Columbia) before the time and date of the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
If you are a non-registered shareholder of the Company and received this Notice of Meeting and accompanying materials through a broker, a financial institution, a participant, or a trustee or administrator of a retirement savings plan, retirement income fund, education savings plan or other similar savings or investment plan registered under the Income Tax Act (Canada), or a nominee of any of the foregoing, that holds your securities on your behalf (each, an "Intermediary"), please complete and return the materials in accordance with the instructions provided to you by your Intermediary.
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 28th day of November, 2025.
By Order of the Board of Directors of
ASTRON CONNECT INC.
"S. Randall Smallbone"
S. Randall Smallbone
Chairman, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Director
ASTRON CONNECT INC.
550 Burrard Street, Suite 2501
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2B5
Telephone: (604) 620-2092
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
November 28, 2025
INTRODUCTION
This information circular (the "Information Circular") accompanies the notice of annual general and special meeting of shareholders (the "Notice") of Astron Connect Inc. (the "Company") and is furnished to shareholders (each, a "Shareholder") holding common shares (each, a "Share") in the capital of the Company in connection with the solicitation by the management of the Company of proxies to be voted at the annual general and special meeting (the "Meeting") of the Shareholders to be held at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at the offices of Cozen O'Connor LLP, Bentall 5, 550 Burrard Street, Suite 2501, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2B5, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Date and Currency
The date of this Information Circular is November 28, 2025. Unless otherwise stated, all amounts herein are in Canadian dollars.
PROXIES AND VOTING RIGHTS
Management Solicitation
The solicitation of proxies by management of the Company will be conducted by mail and may be supplemented by telephone or other personal contact to be made without special compensation to any of the directors, officers and employees of the Company. The Company does not reimburse Shareholders, nominees or agents for costs incurred in obtaining from their principals authorization to execute forms of proxy, except that the Company has requested brokers and nominees who hold stock in their respective names to furnish this proxy material to their customers who are NOBOs (as defined below), and the Company will reimburse such brokers and nominees for their related out of pocket expenses. No solicitation will be made by specifically engaged employees or soliciting agents. The cost of solicitation will be borne by the Company.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than as contained in this Information Circular in connection with the solicitation of proxies. If given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company. The delivery of this Information Circular shall not create, under any circumstances, any implication that there has been no change in the information set forth herein since the date of this Information Circular. This Information Circular does not constitute the solicitation of a proxy by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such solicitation is not authorized, or in which the person making such solicitation is not qualified to do so, or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer of solicitation.
Appointment of Proxy
Registered Shareholders are entitled to vote at the Meeting. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each Share held on the record date of November 21, 2025 on the resolutions to be voted upon at the Meeting, and any other matter to come before the Meeting.
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The persons named as proxyholders in the enclosed form of proxy (the “Designated Persons”) are directors and/or officers of the Company.
A SHAREHOLDER HAS THE RIGHT TO APPOINT A PERSON OR COMPANY (WHO NEED NOT BE A SHAREHOLDER) OTHER THAN THE DESIGNATED PERSONS NAMED IN THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY TO ATTEND AND ACT FOR OR ON BEHALF OF THAT SHAREHOLDER AT THE MEETING.
A SHAREHOLDER MAY EXERCISE THIS RIGHT BY INSERTING THE NAME OF SUCH OTHER PERSON IN THE BLANK SPACE PROVIDED ON THE FORM OF PROXY. SUCH SHAREHOLDER SHOULD NOTIFY THE NOMINEE OF THE APPOINTMENT, OBTAIN THE NOMINEE'S CONSENT TO ACT AS PROXY AND SHOULD PROVIDE INSTRUCTION TO THE NOMINEE ON HOW THE SHAREHOLDER'S SHARES SHOULD BE VOTED. THE NOMINEE SHOULD BRING PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TO THE MEETING.
The Shareholder may vote by mail, by telephone or via the Internet by following instructions provided in the form of proxy at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays recognized in the Province of British Columbia) prior to the scheduled time of the Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof. The Chairman of the Meeting, in his sole discretion, may accept completed forms of proxy on the day of the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
A proxy may not be valid unless it is dated and signed by the Shareholder who is giving it or by that Shareholder’s attorney-in-fact duly authorized by that Shareholder in writing or, in the case of a corporation, dated and executed by a duly authorized officer or attorney-in-fact for the corporation. If a form of proxy is executed by an attorney-in-fact for an individual Shareholder or joint Shareholders, or by an officer or attorney-in-fact for a corporate Shareholder, the instrument so empowering the officer or attorney-in-fact, as the case may be, or a notarially certified copy thereof, must accompany the form of proxy.
Revocation of Proxies
A Shareholder who has given a proxy may revoke it at anytime before it is exercised by an instrument in writing: (a) executed by that Shareholder or by that Shareholder’s attorney-in-fact, authorized in writing, or, where the Shareholder is a corporation, by a duly authorized officer of, or attorney-in-fact for, the corporation; and (b) delivered either: (i) to the Company at the address set forth above, at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting or, if adjourned or postponed, any reconvening thereof, or (ii) to the Chairman of the Meeting prior to the vote on matters covered by the proxy on the day of the Meeting or, if adjourned or postponed, any reconvening thereof, or (iii) in any other manner provided by law.
Also, a proxy will automatically be revoked by either: (i) attendance at the Meeting and participation in a poll (ballot) by a Shareholder, or (ii) submission of a subsequent proxy in accordance with the foregoing procedures. A revocation of a proxy does not affect any matter on which a vote has been taken prior to any such revocation.
Voting of Shares and Proxies and Exercise of Discretion by Designated Persons
A Shareholder may indicate the manner in which the Designated Persons are to vote with respect to a matter to be voted upon at the Meeting by marking the appropriate space on the proxy. The Shares represented by a proxy will be voted or withheld from voting in accordance with the instructions of the Shareholder on any ballot that may be called for and if the Shareholder specifies a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the Shares will be voted accordingly.
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IF NO CHOICE IS SPECIFIED IN THE PROXY WITH RESPECT TO A MATTER TO BE ACTED UPON, THE PROXY CONFERS DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY WITH RESPECT TO THAT MATTER UPON THE DESIGNATED PERSONS NAMED IN THE FORM OF PROXY. IT IS INTENDED THAT THE DESIGNATED PERSONS WILL VOTE THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THE PROXY IN FAVOUR OF EACH MATTER IDENTIFIED IN THE PROXY.
The enclosed form of proxy confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein with respect to other matters which may properly come before the Meeting, including any amendments or variations to any matters identified in the Notice, and with respect to other matters which may properly come before the Meeting. At the date of this Information Circular, management of the Company is not aware of any such amendments, variations, or other matters to come before the Meeting.
In the case of abstentions from, or withholding of, the voting of the Shares of a Shareholder on any matter, the Shares that are the subject of the abstention or withholding will be counted for determination of a quorum, but will not be counted as affirmative or negative on the matter to be voted upon.
ADVICE TO BENEFICIAL SHAREHOLDERS
The information set out in this section is of significant importance to those Shareholders who do not hold Shares in their own name. Shareholders who do not hold their 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 Company as the registered holders of Shares can be recognized and acted upon at the Meeting. If Shares are listed in an account statement provided by a broker, then in almost all cases those Shares will not be registered in the Beneficial Shareholder's name on the records of the Company. Such Shares will more likely be registered under the names of the Beneficial Shareholder's broker or an agent of that broker. In the United States, the vast majority of such Shares are registered under the name of Cede & Co. as nominee for The Depository Trust Company (which acts as depositary for many U.S. brokerage firms and custodian banks), and in Canada, under the name of CDS & Co. (the registration name for The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited, which acts as nominee for many Canadian brokerage firms). Beneficial Shareholders should ensure that instructions respecting the voting of their Shares are communicated to the appropriate person well in advance of the Meeting.
The Company does not have access to the names of all Beneficial Shareholders. Applicable regulatory policy requires 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 form of proxy supplied to a Beneficial Shareholder by his, her or its broker (or the agent of the broker) is similar to the form of proxy provided to registered Shareholders by the Company. However, its purpose is limited to instructing the registered Shareholder (the broker or agent of the broker) how to vote on behalf of the Beneficial Shareholder. The majority of brokers now delegate responsibility for obtaining instructions from clients to Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. ("Broadridge") in the United States and in Canada. Broadridge typically prepares a special voting instruction form, mails this form to the Beneficial Shareholders and asks for appropriate instructions regarding the voting of Shares to be voted at the Meeting. If Beneficial Shareholders receive the voting instruction forms from Broadridge, they are requested to complete and return the voting instruction forms to Broadridge by mail or facsimile. Alternatively, Beneficial Shareholders can call a toll-free number and access Broadridge's dedicated voting website (each as noted on the voting instruction form) to deliver their voting instructions and to vote the Shares held by them. Broadridge then tabulates the results of all instructions received and provides appropriate instructions respecting the voting of Shares to be represented at the Meeting. A Beneficial Shareholder receiving a Broadridge voting instruction form cannot use that form as a proxy to vote Shares directly at the
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Meeting - the voting instruction form must be returned to Broadridge well in advance of the Meeting in order to have the applicable Shares voted at the Meeting.
Although a Beneficial Shareholder may not be recognized directly at the Meeting for the purposes of voting Shares registered in the name of his, her or its broker (or agent of the broker), a Beneficial Shareholder may attend at the Meeting as proxyholder for the registered Shareholder and vote the Shares in that capacity. Beneficial Shareholders who wish to attend at the Meeting and indirectly vote their Shares as proxyholder for the registered Shareholder should enter their own names in the blank space on the instrument of proxy provided to them and return the same to their broker (or the broker's agent) in accordance with the instructions provided by such broker (or agent), well in advance of the Meeting.
Alternatively, a Beneficial Shareholder may request in writing that his, her or its broker send to the Beneficial Shareholder a legal proxy which would enable the Beneficial Shareholder to attend at the Meeting and vote his, her or its Shares.
Beneficial Shareholders consist of non-objecting beneficial owners (each, a "NOBO") and objecting beneficial owners (each, an "OBO"). A NOBO is a beneficial owner of securities that has provided instructions to an intermediary holding the securities in an account on behalf of the beneficial owner that the beneficial owner does not object, for that account, to the intermediary disclosing ownership information about the beneficial owner under National Instrument 54-101 Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer ("NI 54-101") of the Canadian Securities Administrators. An OBO means a beneficial owner of securities that has provided instructions to an intermediary holding the securities in an account on behalf of the beneficial owner that the beneficial owner objects, for that account, to the intermediary disclosing ownership information about the beneficial owner under NI 54-101.
The Company is sending proxy-related materials directly to NOBOs of the Shares. The Company will not pay for the delivery of proxy-related materials to OBOs of the Shares under NI 54-101 and Form 54-101F7 - Request for Voting Instructions Made by Intermediary. The OBOs of the Shares will not receive the materials unless their intermediary assumes the costs of delivery.
All references to Shareholders in this Information Circular are to registered Shareholders, unless specifically stated otherwise.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES
The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Shares without par value. As of the record date, determined by the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") to be the close of business on November 21, 2025 (the "Record Date"), a total of 30,271,240 Shares were issued and outstanding. Each Share carries the right to one vote at the Meeting.
Only registered Shareholders as of the Record Date are entitled to receive notice of, and to attend and vote at, the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Meeting.
To the knowledge of the directors and executive officers of the Company, no person or company beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or exercises control or direction over, Shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to the outstanding Shares.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended September 30, 2024 together with the auditor's report thereon, will be presented to the Shareholders at the Meeting. The Company's financial statements and management discussion and analysis are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to pass an ordinary resolution to set the number of directors of the Company at four (4). An ordinary resolution needs to be passed by a simple majority of the votes cast by the Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting.
Management of the Company recommends the approval of setting the number of directors of the Company at four (4).
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At present, the directors of the Company are elected at each annual general meeting and hold office until the next annual general meeting, or until their successors are duly elected or appointed in accordance with the Company's Articles or until such director's earlier death, resignation or removal. In the absence of instructions to the contrary, the enclosed form of proxy will be voted for the nominees listed in the form of proxy, all of whom are presently members of the Board.
Management of the Company proposes to nominate the persons named in the table below for election by the Shareholders as directors of the Company. Information concerning such persons, as furnished by the individual nominees, is as follows:
| Name, Province, Country of Residence and Position(s) with the Company | Principal Occupation, Business or Employment for Last Five Years | Periods during which Nominee has Served as a Director | Number of Shares Owned(1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| S. Randall Smallbone(2)(3)(4) Ontario, Canada | |||
| Chairman, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Director | Director of several NFPs (not for profits) and Marvel Bioscience Inc. and Peak Discovery Capital Ltd., reporting issuers listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, and advisor to various private companies. | August 28, 2018 to present | 100,000 |
| (Iris) Hong Duan(3) British Columbia, Canada | |||
| Interim CFO, Corporate Secretary and Director | Senior Consultant with MNP LLP. Former partner with MNP LLP. | February 20, 2017 to present | 275,000 |
| Herrick Lau(2)(4) British Columbia, Canada | |||
| Director | Former Managing Director of Baron Global Financial Canada Ltd. | October 15, 2022 to present | 75,000 |
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| Name, Province, Country of Residence and Position(s) with the Company | Principal Occupation, Business or Employment for Last Five Years | Periods during which Nominee has Served as a Director | Number of Shares Owned(1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wei Kang(2)(3) | |||
| British Columbia, Canada |
Director | Wei Kang, CPA | February 20, 2017 to present | 275,000 |
(1) Shares beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, or over which control or direction is exercised, as at November 21, 2025, based upon information furnished to the Company by the individual directors.
(2) Member of the Audit Committee of the Company.
(3) Member of the Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee of the Company.
(4) Member of the Disclosure Committee.
Management of the Company recommends the election of each of the nominees listed above as a director of the Company for the ensuing year.
Orders
No proposed director of the Company is, or within the ten (10) years before the date of this Information Circular has been, to the best of management's knowledge, a director, chief executive officer ("CEO") or chief financial officer ("CFO") of any company that:
(a) was subject to a cease trade order, an order similar to a cease trade order, or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days that was issued while the proposed director was acting in the capacity as director, CEO or CFO; or
(b) was subject to a cease trade order, an order similar to a cease trade order, or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days that was issued after the proposed director ceased to be a director, CEO or CFO and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, CEO or CFO.
Bankruptcies
No proposed director of the Company is, or within ten (10) years before the date of this Information Circular, has been, a director or an executive officer of any company that, while the person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in the 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 made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcies or insolvency.
Penalties and Sanctions
To the best of management's knowledge, no proposed director of the Company has been subject to: (a) 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; or
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(b) any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable securityholder in deciding whether to vote for a proposed director.
STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
General
For the purpose of this Statement of Executive Compensation:
“compensation securities” includes stock options (each, an “Option”), convertible securities, exchangeable securities and similar instruments including stock appreciation rights, deferred share units and restricted stock units granted or issued by the Company or one of its subsidiaries (if any) for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly to the Company or any of its subsidiaries (if any);
“NEO” or “named executive officer” means:
(a) each individual who served as CEO of the Company, or who performed functions similar to a CEO, during any part of the most recently completed financial year,
(b) each individual who served as CFO of the Company, or who performed functions similar to a CFO, during any part of the most recently completed financial year,
(c) the most highly compensated executive officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (if any) other than individuals identified in paragraphs (a) and (b) at the end of the most recently completed financial year whose total compensation was more than $150,000, as determined in accordance with subsection 1.3(5) of Form 51-102F6V, for that financial year, and
(d) each individual who would be a NEO under paragraph (c) but for the fact that the individual was neither an executive officer of the Company or its subsidiaries (if any), nor acting in a similar capacity, at the end of that financial year;
“plan” includes any plan, contract, authorization or arrangement, whether or not set out in any formal document, where cash, compensation securities or any other property may be received, whether for one or more persons; and
“underlying securities” means any securities issuable on conversion, exchange or exercise of compensation securities.
Director and Named Executive Officer Compensation, excluding Compensation Securities
The following table sets forth all direct and indirect compensation paid, payable, awarded, granted, given or otherwise provided, directly or indirectly, by the Company thereof to each NEO and each director of the Company, in any capacity, including, for greater certainty, all plan and non-plan compensation, direct and indirect pay, remuneration, economic or financial award, reward, benefit, gift or perquisite paid, payable, awarded, granted, given or otherwise provided to the NEO or director for services provided and for services to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Company:
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| Name and Position | Fiscal Year Ended September 30 | Salary, Consulting Fee, Retainer or Commission ($) | Bonus ($) | Committee or Meeting Fees ($) | Value of Perquisites(1) ($) | Value of all other Compensation ($) | Total Compensation ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S. Randall Smallbone(2) | |||||||
| Chairman, interim CEO and Director | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | 21,000(3) | ||||||
| 24,750(3) | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | 21,000 | ||||||
| 24,750 | |||||||
| Ian Mallman(4) | |||||||
| Former CFO and Corporate Secretary | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | N/A | ||||||
| 5,000 | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| 5,000 | |||||||
| (Iris) Hong Duan(5) | |||||||
| Interim CFO, Corporate Secretary and Director | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | 21,000(6) | ||||||
| 41,250(6) | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | 21,000 | ||||||
| 41,250 | |||||||
| Wei Kang(7) | |||||||
| Director and former VP Finance | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | 21,000(3) | ||||||
| 41,250(3) | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | 21,000 | ||||||
| 41,250 | |||||||
| Herrick Lau(8) | |||||||
| Director | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | 6,000(9) | ||||||
| 11,500(9) | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | 6,000 | ||||||
| 11,500 | |||||||
| Shixin Huang(10) | |||||||
| Former CEO and former Director | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | N/A | ||||||
| 30,250(11) | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | Nil | ||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| 30,250 | |||||||
| Fei Chu(12) | |||||||
| Former Director | 2024 | ||||||
| 2023 | N/A | ||||||
| 5,000 | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| Nil | N/A | ||||||
| 5,000 |
(1) "Perquisites" include perquisites provided to a NEO or director that are not generally available to all employees and that, in aggregate, are: (a) $15,000, if the NEO or director's total salary for the financial year is $150,000 or less, (b) 10% of the NEO or director's salary for the financial year if the NEO or director's total salary for the financial year is greater than $150,000 but less than $500,000, or (c) $50,000 if the NEO or director's total salary for the financial year is $500,000 or greater.
(2) Mr. Smallbone has been a director of the Company since October 28, 2018, the Chairman of the Company since October 15, 2022 and the interim CEO since June 30, 2023. He was the CEO from August 28, 2018 to October 15, 2022.
(3) Includes a $12,000 annual fee paid to directors.
(4) Mr. Mallman was the CFO and corporate secretary of the Company from August 28, 2018 to October 15, 2025.
(5) Ms. Duan has been the CFO and corporate secretary of the Company since October 15, 2022 and a director of the Company since February 20, 2017. Ms. Duan was the Chairperson from August 28, 2018 to October 15, 2022.
(6) Includes a $12,000 annual fee paid to directors and a $12,000 fee paid to the chair of the Board in 2023 and a $6,000 annual fee paid to directors in 2024.
(7) Mr. Kang has been a director of the Company since February 20, 2017. Mr. Kang was the VP, Finance from October 15, 2022 to October 11, 2023.
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(8) Mr. Lau has been a director of the Company since October 15, 2022.
(9) Director’s fee of $11,500.
(10) Mr. Huang was a director of the Company from May 24, 2022 to June 20, 2023 and the CEO and from October 15, 2022 to June 30, 2023.
(11) Includes a director’s fee of $4,000.
(12) Mr. Chu was a director of the Company from October 31, 2018 to December 20, 2022.
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities
No stock options or other compensation securities were granted to any director or NEO during the most recently completed financial year.
As at September 30, 2024 no director or NEO owned any compensation securities.
Exercise of Compensation Securities by Directors and NEOs
During the year ended September 30, 2024, no compensation securities were exercised by directors and NEOs.
Stock Option Plans and Other Incentive Plans
The Board adopted the Company’s current Stock Option Plan (the “Option Plan”) which was approved by the Shareholders at the annual general and special meeting of the Shareholders on November 28, 2023. As of the date of this Information Circular, there are no stock options (each, an “Option”) outstanding under the Option Plan.
The Option Plan is a “fixed 10%” stock option plan under which a maximum of 1,693,790 may be reserved for issuance pursuant to the exercise of Options. The underlying purpose of the Option Plan is to attract and motivate the directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company and to advance the interests of the Company by affording such persons with the opportunity to acquire an equity interest in the Company through rights granted under the Option Plan.
The material terms of Option Plan are as follows:
- The term of any Options granted under the Option Plan will be fixed by the Board or applicable committee at the time such Options are granted, provided that the Options will not be permitted to exceed a term of ten years.
- The exercise price of any Options granted under the Option Plan will be determined by the Board or applicable committee, in its sole discretion, but shall not be less than the closing trading price of the Shares preceding the grant of such Options, less any discount permitted by the regulatory authorities.
- Except as described in item 8 below or otherwise imposed by the Board or applicable committee, no vesting requirements will apply to the Options granted under the Option Plan. A four month hold period, commencing from the date of grant of an Option, will apply to all Shares: (a) if the exercise price of the Options is based on less than market price; and (b) if the Options were granted to directors and officer of the Company.
- All Options will be non-assignable and non-transferable except in the event of the death of the holder of the Option.
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The aggregate number of Options which may be granted to any one Option holder under the Option Plan within any 12-month period must not exceed 5% of the number of issued and outstanding Shares as at the date of grant (unless the Company has obtained disinterested Shareholder approval).
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If required by regulatory rules, disinterested Shareholder approval is required to the grant to insiders (as a group), within a 12-month period, of an aggregate number of Options which, when added to the number of outstanding Options granted to insiders within the previous 12 months (calculated at the date an option is granted to an insider), exceed 10% of the number of issued and outstanding Shares.
-
The aggregate number of Options which may be granted to any one consultant within any 12-month period must not exceed 2% of the number of issued and outstanding Shares of the Company, calculated at the date an option is granted to a consultant.
-
The aggregate number of options which may be granted within any 12-month period to employees or consultants engaged in investor relations activities must not exceed 2% of the number of issued and outstanding Shares, calculated at the date an Option is granted to any such employee or consultant, and such Options must vest in stages over a period of not less than 12 months with no more than 25% of the Options vesting no sooner than three months after the Options were granted, no more than another 25% of the Options vesting no sooner than six months after the Options were granted, no more than another 25% of the Options vesting no sooner than nine months after the Options were granted, and no more than another 25% of the Options vesting no sooner than twelve months after the Options were granted.
-
Generally, an option will expire on the 30th day following the date on which an Option holder ceases to be a director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company (other than by reason of death or disability) or such later date (up to one year) as may be determined by the Board or applicable committee. The Company has no other form of compensation plan under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance to employees or non-employees in exchange for consideration in the form of goods and services.
A copy of the Option Plan is available for review on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at the Company's head office located at Suite 2501, 550 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 2B5 during normal business hours.
Employment, Consulting and Management Agreements
Other than as set forth below, the Company is not party to any formal, written employment, consulting or management agreements with any NEO or director.
The services of S. Randall Smallbone, the CEO and a director of the Company, are provided pursuant to an amended and restated consulting services agreement dated July 1, 2019 (the "Smallbone Agreement"). Pursuant to the Smallbone Agreement, Mr. Smallbone is paid a fee of $2,500 per month. Mr. Smallbone may terminate the Smallbone Agreement by giving the Company not less than 60 days' written notice and the Company may terminate the Smallbone Agreement without any advance notice provided that the Company makes immediate payout to Mr. Smallbone of the balance of his monthly fee, except in the case of an Event of Default (as defined in the Smallbone Agreement).
The services of Ian Mallmann, the former CFO and the Company's corporate secretary, were provided pursuant to an amended and restated consulting services agreement dated July 1, 2019 (the "Mallmann Agreement") between the Company and Chagford Square Capital Inc. (the "Consultant"), a private
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company of which Mr. Mallmann is a principal. Pursuant to the Mallmann Agreement, the Consultant was paid a fee of $2,500 per month. Mr. Mallmann resigned as CFO and corporate secretary on October 15, 2022.
The services of Iris Duan, interim CFO and director since October 15, 2023, were provided pursuant to a consulting agreement dated October 15, 2023 (the "Duan Agreement") between the Company and 0909921 B.C. Ltd. (the "Consultant"), a private company of which Ms. Duan is a principal. Pursuant to the Duan Agreement, the Consultant was paid a fee of $2500 per month in 2023.
The services of Wei Kang, the former VP Finance and a director of the Company, are provided pursuant to an amended and restated consulting services agreement dated July 1, 2019, (the "Kang Agreement"). Pursuant to the Kang Agreement, Mr. Kang is paid a fee of $3,117 per month. Mr. Kang may terminate the Kang Agreement by giving the Company not less than 60 days' written notice and the Company may terminate the Kang Agreement without any advance notice provided that the Company makes immediate payout to Mr. Kang of the balance of his monthly fee, except in the case of an Event of Default (as defined in the Kang Agreement). Mr. Kang resigned as the VP Finance on October 11, 2023, but remains a director of the Company.
Oversight and Description of Director and NEO Compensation
Compensation Review Process
The Company's corporate governance and compensation committee (the "Governance and Compensation Committee") is responsible for the compensation policies and guidelines for the Company and for implementing and overseeing compensation policies.
The Governance and Compensation Committee is comprised of three directors of the Company, consisting of S. Randall Smallbone, (Iris) Hong Duan and Wei Kang, and it reports to the Board. The Governance and Compensation Committee reviews on an annual basis the cash compensation, performance, and overall compensation package of the directors and each executive officer, including the NEOs. The Governance and Compensation Committee makes decisions with respect to basic salary and participation in stock option compensation arrangements for each director and executive officer. The Company does not have a formal compensation program with set benchmarks; however, the Company does have an informal compensation program which seeks to reward an executive officer's current and future expected performance, taking into account each NEO's achievement of corporate milestones and objectives. In considering executive officers other than the CEO, the Governance and Compensation Committee takes into account the recommendation of the CEO.
The Company pays an annual fee of $12,000 to each of the directors for acting in such capacity, and an additional annual fee of $12,000 to the chair of the Board. Directors are also eligible to receive stock option grants.
Elements of Executive Compensation Program
The Company's compensation program consists of the following elements:
(a) base salary or consulting fees;
(b) bonus payments; and
(c) equity participation through the Option Plan.
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Base Salary or Consulting Fees
In determining the base salary of a NEO, the Governance and Compensation Committee considers the following factors:
(a) the particular responsibilities related to the position;
(b) salaries paid by other companies which are of a size and at a stage of development similar to that of the Company;
(c) the experience level of the NEO;
(d) the amount of time and commitment which the NEO devotes to the Company; and
(e) the NEO's overall performance and performance in relation to the achievement of corporate milestones and objectives.
Bonus Payments
The NEOs, as well as all other employees, are eligible for an annual bonus, payable in cash or through option-based compensation. The amount paid is based on the Governance and Compensation Committee's assessment of the Company's performance for the year. Factors considered in determining bonus amounts include individual performance, financial criteria (such as cash management and share price performance) and operational criteria (such as significant mineral property acquisitions, resource growth and the attainment of corporate milestones).
No bonus payments were made during the year ended September 30, 2024.
Equity Participation
The Company offers equity participation in the Company through its Option Plan. The purpose of granting Options is to assist the Company in compensating, attracting, retaining and motivating its named executive officers and to closely align the personal interests of such persons to that of the shareholders. In determining the number of Options to be granted to the NEOs, the Governance and Compensation Committee takes into account the number of Options, if any, previously granted to each NEO and the exercise price of any outstanding Options to ensure that such grants are in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV").
Pension Plan Benefits
The Company does not have any pension, defined benefit, defined contribution or deferred compensation plans in place.
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
The following table sets forth details of the Option Plan, being the Company's only equity compensation plan, as of September 30, 2024:
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| Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights(1) (a) | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | Nil | N/A | Nil(1) |
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | Nil | N/A | Nil |
| Total | Nil | N/A | Nil(1) |
(1) This figure is based on the total number of shares authorized for issuance under the Option Plan, less the number of Options issued under such plan which were outstanding as at September 30, 2024. As at September 30, 2024, the Company was authorized to issue Options for the purchase of a total of Nil Shares of the Company.
Effective as of November 28, 2025, the Board adopted the 2025 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2025 Plan"). If the 2025 Plan is adopted at the Meeting, no further stock options will be granted under the Option Plan.
The 2025 Plan is subject to the approval of the Shareholders and the Exchange. At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to approve the 2025 Plan. See "Particulars of Matters to be Acted Upon - Approval of Equity Incentive Plan", below for a summary of the 2025 Plan. If the Exchange finds the disclosure to Shareholders to be inadequate, then Shareholder approval may not be accepted by the Exchange.
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to pass an ordinary resolution to appoint Mao & Ying LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, of 1488 - 1188 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 4A2 as auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, and to authorize the Board to fix the remuneration to be to be paid to the auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. An ordinary resolution needs to be passed by a simple majority of the votes cast by the Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting. Mao & Ying LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, was first appointed to the position of auditor of the Company on December 6, 2023.
Management of the Company recommends that Shareholders vote for the appointment of Mao & Ying LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the Company's auditors for the Company's fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 and to authorize the Board to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025.
AUDIT COMMITTEE DISCLOSURE
Under National Instrument 52-110 Audit Committees ("NI 52-110"), a reporting issuer is required to provide disclosure annually with respect to its audit committee, including the text of its audit committee charter, information regarding the composition of the audit committee, and information regarding fees paid to its external auditor. The Company provides the following disclosure with respect to its audit committee (the "Audit Committee").
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Audit Committee Charter
The full text of the Audit Committee charter (the "Charter") is attached as Schedule "A" to this Information Circular.
Composition of the Audit Committee
The Company's Audit Committee is currently comprised of three directors, consisting of S. Randall Smallbone, Herrick Lau and Wei Kang. As defined in NI 52-110, Mr. Smallbone, the Company's CEO, is not "independent", as he is an officer of the Company. Messrs. Lau and Kang are "independent" as defined in NI 52-110.
All of the Audit Committee members are "financially literate", as defined in NI 52-110, as all have the industry experience necessary to understand and analyze financial statements of the Company, as well as an understanding of internal controls and procedures necessary for financial reporting.
The Audit Committee is responsible for review of both interim and annual financial statements for the Company. For the purposes of performing their duties, the members of the Audit Committee have the right at all times, to inspect all the books and financial records of the Company and any subsidiaries, and to discuss with management and the external auditors of the Company any accounts, records and matters relating to the financial statements of the Company. The Audit Committee members meet periodically with management and annually with the external auditors.
Relevant Education and Experience
All of the members of the Audit Committee are able to understand and interpret information related to financial statement analysis. Each of the members of the Audit Committee has a general understanding of the accounting principles used by the Company to prepare its financial statements and will seek clarification from the Company's auditors, where required. Each of the members of the Audit Committee also has direct experience in understanding accounting principles for private and reporting companies. The relevant experience of the current members of the Audit Committee is as follows:
S. Randall Smabone
Mr. Smallbone is a financial executive with more than 30 years' operational experience in global manufacturing of consumer goods, contract manufacturing, automotive and aerospace parts. Mr. Smallbone has significant experience in financial management, capital markets, acquisitions, and investor relations and holds a CPA/CGA designation. He is the chair of the audit committee of Peak Discovery Capital Ltd. (TSXV: PEC.H).
Herrick Lau
Mr. Lau was previously the managing director of Baron Global Financial Canada Ltd. ("Baron Canada"), a merchant banking firm based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Baron Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hatcher Group, a member firm of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Mr. Lau is an experienced investment banking professional who has conducted transactions in initial public offerings, reverse takeovers, financings, mergers & acquisitions, divestitures, and various advisory services. Mr. Lau also has experience as a senior financial executive in public companies. Mr. Lau has acted as CFO and/or director for various public companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, TSXV and Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). He is currently a member of the Local Advisory Committee of the TSXV. Mr. Lau is a charter holder of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
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Wei Kang
Mr. Kang was a principal of Wei Kang & Company retired in 2023. Prior to starting a public practice accounting firm, Mr. Kang was, from 2007 to 2013, VP Finance at Centerpoint Resources Inc., a company focusing on the ownership of natural resource properties, mine exploration and development, and investment in select public and private companies in the same sector. Mr. Kang obtained his CPA designation from the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia in 2003.
Audit Committee Oversight
At no time since the commencement of the Company's most recently completed financial year was a recommendation of the Audit Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor not adopted by the Board.
Reliance on Certain Exemptions
Since the commencement of the Company's most recently completed financial year, the Company has not relied on the exemptions in Sections 2.4, 6.1.1(4), 6.1.1(5), 6.1.1(6) or Part 8 of NI 52-110. Section 2.4 (De Minimis Non-Audit Services) 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 related to the non-audit services are not expected to exceed 5% of the total fees payable to the auditor in the financial year in which the non-audit services were provided. Sections 6.1.1(4) (Circumstance Affecting the Business or Operations of the Venture Issuer), 6.1.1(5) (Events Outside Control of Member) and 6.1.1(6) (Death, Incapacity or Resignation) provide exemptions from the requirement that a majority of the members of the Company's Audit Committee must not be executive officers, employees or control persons of the Company or of an affiliate of the Company. Part 8 (Exemptions) permits a company to apply to a securities regulatory authority or regulator for an exemption from the requirements of NI 52-110 in whole or in part.
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 the Audit Committee, on a case-by-case basis as applicable.
External Auditor Service Fees
In the following table, "audit fees" are fees billed by the Company's external auditor for services provided in auditing the Company's annual financial statements for the subject year. "Audit-related fees" are fees not included in audit fees that are billed by the auditor for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit review of the Company's financial statements. "Tax fees" are fees billed by the auditor for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. "All other fees" are fees billed by the auditor for products and services not included in the foregoing categories.
The aggregate fees billed by the Company's auditors, Mao & Ying LLP, Chartered, Professional Accountants for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, by category, are as follows:
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| Financial Year Ended September 30 | Audit Fees | Audit Related Fees | Tax Fees | All Other Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $13,000 | $359 | $Nil | $Nil |
| 2023 | $22,500 | $338 | $Nil | $Nil |
Exemption
The Company is relying on the exemption provided by Section 6.1 of NI 52-110, which provides that the Company, as a venture issuer, is not required to comply with Part 3 (Composition of the Audit Committee) and Part 5 (Reporting Obligations) of NI 52-110.
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
No current or former director, executive officer, proposed nominee for election to the Board, or associate of such persons is, or at any time since the beginning of the Company's most recently completed financial year has been, indebted to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
No indebtedness of current or former director, executive officer, proposed nominee for election to the Board, or associate of such person is, or at any time since the beginning of the most recently completed financial year has been, the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding provided by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
No: (a) director, proposed director or executive officer of the Company; (b) person or company who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, Shares or who exercises control or direction of Shares, or a combination of both carrying more than ten percent of the voting rights attached to the Shares outstanding (each, an "Insider"); (c) director or executive officer of an Insider; or (d) associate or affiliate of any of the directors, executive officers or Insiders, has had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of the Company's most recently completed financial year or in any proposed transaction which has materially affected or would materially affect the Company, except with an interest arising from the ownership of Shares, where such person or company will receive no extra or special benefit or advantage not shared on a pro rata basis by all holders of the same class of Shares.
MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS
There were no management functions of the Company, which were, to any substantial degree, performed by persons other than the directors or executive officers of the Company.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
General
National Instrument 58-101 - Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices, as adopted by the Canadian Securities Administrators, prescribes certain disclosure by the Company of its corporate governance practices. This disclosure is presented below.
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Board of Directors
The Board facilitates its exercise of independent supervision over the Company's management through meetings of the Board.
Mr. Smallbone, the CEO and (Iris) Hong Duan, the interim CFO and corporate Secretary, are not considered to be independent as each of them is an officer of the Company. Messrs. Lau and Kang are considered to be independent in that they are independent and free from any interest and any business or other relationship which could or could reasonably be perceived to materially interfere with the respective director's ability to act with the best interests of the Company, other than the interests and relationships arising from being Shareholders.
Directorships
The following table sets out information regarding other directorships presently held by directors of the Company with other reporting issuers (or the equivalent) in Canada or any foreign jurisdiction:
| Name of Director | Names of Other Reporting Issuers | Securities Exchange |
|---|---|---|
| S. Randall Smallbone | Marvel Bioscience Inc. | Exchange |
| Peak Discovery Capital Ltd. | Exchange | |
| (Iris) Hong Duan | Golden Star Capital Ventures Inc. | Exchange |
| Herrick Lau | Penbar Capital Ltd. | Exchange |
| Pardus Ventures Inc. | Exchange | |
| Wei Kang | Nil |
Orientation and Continuing Education
At present, the Company does not provide a formal orientation and education program for new directors. Prior to joining the Board, potential members are encouraged to meet with management and inform themselves regarding management and the Company's affairs. After joining the Board, management and the Board chair provide orientation both at the outset and on an ongoing basis. The Company currently has no specific policy regarding continuing education for directors, and requests for education are encouraged, and dealt with on an ad hoc basis.
Ethical Business Conduct
The Board views good corporate governance as an integral component to the success of the Company and has a corporate governance policies and procedures manual and a whistleblower policy to encourage employees to raise concerns about business conduct.
Nomination of Directors
Once a decision has been made to add or replace a director, the task of identifying new candidates will fall on the Governance and Compensation Committee. If a candidate looks promising, the Board and management will conduct due diligence on the candidate and interview the candidate and if the results are satisfactory to the Board, the candidate is invited to join the Board.
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Compensation
Details regarding the compensation of Named Executive Officers and directors are discussed under "Statement of Executive Compensation – Oversight and Description of Director and NEO Compensation"
Other Board Committees
The Board has three committees, the Audit Committee, the Governance and Compensation Committee, and a disclosure committee (the "Disclosure Committee").
The Governance and Compensation Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to compensation of the Company's executive officers and directors. The Governance and Compensation Committee is also responsible for assessing the composition and effectiveness of the Board. The members of the Governance and Compensation Committee are Wei Kang and Herrick Lau.
The Disclosure Committee assists in compliance with the requirements of the TSXV and under securities law relating to the timely disclosure of material facts and material changes. The members of the Disclosure Committee are S. Randall Smallbone and Herrick Lau.
Assessments
The Board regularly monitors the adequacy and effectiveness of information given to directors, communications between the Board and management, and the strategic direction and processes of the Board and its committees.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS OR COMPANIES IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Except as disclosed elsewhere in this Information Circular, no director or executive officer of the Company who was a director or executive officer since the beginning of the Company's last financial year, no proposed nominee for election as a director of the Company, or any associate or affiliate of any such directors, officers or nominees, has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of Shares or other securities in the Company or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Meeting other than the election of directors.
PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Approval of 2025 Equity Incentive Plan
The Option Plan is a "rolling" stock option plan, whereby the maximum number of Shares that may be reserved for issuance pursuant to the exercise of options is 10% of the issued Shares of the Company and, as such, will increase with the issue of additional Shares of the Company. See "Statement of Executive Compensation – Stock Option Plans and Other Incentive Plans" above for further details of the Option Plan.
At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to consider and, if thought advisable, pass an ordinary resolution ratifying, approving and confirming the 2025 Plan in the form set out as Schedule "A" hereto.
The following information is intended as a brief description of the 2025 Plan and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the 2025 Plan.
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Purpose
The purpose of the 2025 Plan is to promote the long-term success of the Company and the creation of shareholder value by: (i) encouraging the attraction and retention of eligible persons; (ii) encouraging such eligible persons to focus on critical long-term objectives; and (iii) promoting greater alignment of the interests of such eligible persons with the interests of the Company.
The 2025 Plan provides flexibility to the Company to grant equity-based incentive awards in the form of Options and Performance-Based Awards to eligible persons.
Shares Subject to the 2025 Plan
The 2025 Plan is a rolling plan for Options and a fixed plan for Performance-Based Awards such that the aggregate number of Shares that: (i) may be issued upon the exercise or settlement of Options granted under the 2025 Plan (and all of the Company's other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements), shall not exceed 10% of the Company's issued and outstanding Shares from time to time, such number being 30,271,240 as at November 21, 2025 and (ii) may be issued in respect of Performance-Based Awards granted under the 2025 Plan (and all of the Company's other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements) shall not exceed approximately 15,502,123 common shares, such number being based on the issued and outstanding of the Company after completion of its reverse takeover transaction (the "RTO") with Innolink Network Ltd. ("Innolink"), subject to completion of the RTO with Innolink, for performance-based awards of restricted share units, performance share units and deferred share units. If the RTO with Innolink is not completed, the number of Shares that may be issued in respect of Performance-Based Awards granted under the 2025 Plan (and all of the Company's other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements) shall not exceed 3,027,124, for performance-based awards of restricted share units, performance share units and deferred share units. Options which have been exercised, cancelled, terminated, surrendered, forfeited or expired without being exercised shall be available for subsequent grants under the 2025 Plan and the number of awards available to grant increases as the number of issued and outstanding Shares increases. Performance-Based Awards which have been settled in cash, cancelled, terminated, surrendered, forfeited or expired without being settled shall be available for subsequent grants, but Performance-Based Awards which are settled in securities will reduce the number of Shares reserved for issuance under the fixed 10% portion of the 2025 Plan.
Participation Limits
The 2025 Plan provides that:
(a) unless the Company has obtained disinterested shareholder approval, the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable to insiders under the 2025 Plan, within any 12 month period, together with Shares reserved for issuance to insiders under all of the Company's other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements (as defined in the 2025 Plan), shall not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Shares (calculated as at the date of any grant and in accordance with the policies of the Exchange (the "Exchange Policies"));
(b) unless the Company has obtained disinterested shareholder approval, the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable to insiders under the 2025 Plan, at any point in time, together with Shares reserved for issuance to insiders under all of the Company's other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, shall not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Shares;
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(c) unless the Company has obtained disinterested shareholder approval, the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable to any participant (as defined in the 2025 Plan) under the 2025 Plan, within any 12 month period, together with Shares reserved for issuance to such participant (and to Companies wholly-owned by that participant) under all of the Company's other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, shall not exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding Shares (calculated as at the date of any grant);
(d) the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable to any one consultant (as defined in the 2025 Plan) under the 2025 Plan, within any 12 month period, together with Shares issuable to such consultant under all of the Company's other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, shall not exceed 2% of the issued and outstanding Shares (calculated as at the date of any grant); and
(e) the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable pursuant to grants of Options to all investor relation service providers performing investor relations activities under the 2025 Plan, within any 12 month period, shall not in aggregate exceed 2% of the issued and outstanding Shares (calculated as at the date of any grant). For the avoidance of doubt, persons performing investor relations activities are only eligible to receive Options under the 2025 Plan; they are not eligible to receive any Performance-Based Award or other type of securities based compensation under the 2025 Plan.
Administration of the 2025 Plan
The 2025 Plan shall be administered by the Board and the Board has full authority to administer the 2025 Plan, including the authority to interpret and construe any provision of the 2025 Plan and to adopt, amend and rescind such rules and regulations for administering the 2025 Plan as the Board may deem necessary in order to comply with the requirements of the 2025 Plan.
Eligible Persons under the 2025 Plan
When used in connection with the grant of Options, all officers, directors, employees, management company employees and consultants of the Company are eligible to participate in the 2025 Plan. When used in connection with the grant of Performance-Based Awards, all officers, directors, employees, management company employees and consultants of the Company that do not perform investor relations activities are eligible to participate in the 2025 Plan. The extent to which any such individual is entitled to receive a grant of an award pursuant to the 2025 Plan will be determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the Board. Each person who receives a grant under the 2025 Plan is referred to as a "Participant".
Types of Awards
Awards of Options, RSUs, PSUs and DSUs may be made under the 2025 Plan. All of the awards described below are subject to the conditions, limitations, restrictions, exercise price, vesting, settlement and forfeiture provisions determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, subject to such limitations provided in the 2025 Plan, and will generally be evidenced by an award agreement.
Options
An Option entitles a holder thereof to purchase a prescribed number of Shares at an exercise price determined by the Board at the time of the grant of the Option, provided that the exercise price of an Option granted under the 2025 Plan shall not be less than the Discounted Market Price (as defined in the Exchange Policies), provided that if an Option is proposed to be granted by the Company after the
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Company has just been recalled for trading following a suspension or halt, the Company must wait at least ten trading days since the day on which trading in the Company's securities resumes before setting the exercise price for and granting the Option. Each Option shall, unless sooner terminated, expire on a date to be determined by the Board which will not exceed ten (10) years from the date of grant of the Option. The Board may, in its absolute discretion, upon granting Options under the 2025 Plan, specify different time periods following the dates of granting the Options during which the Participant may exercise their Options to purchase Shares and may designate different exercise prices and numbers of Shares in respect of which each Participant may exercise Options during each respective time period. Subject to the discretion of the Board, the Options granted to a Participant under the 2025 Plan shall vest as determined by the Board on the date of grant of such Options. If the Board does not specify a vesting schedule at the date of grant, then Options granted to persons, other than those conducting investor relations activities, shall vest fully on the date of grant, and in any event in accordance with the policies of the Exchange. Options issued to persons conducting investor relations activities must vest (and shall not otherwise be exercisable) in stages over a minimum of 12 months such that:
(f) no more than 1/4 of the Options vest no sooner than three months after the date of grant (the "Grant Date");
(g) no more than another 1/4 of the Options vest no sooner than six months after the Grant Date;
(h) no more than another 1/4 of the Options vest no sooner than nine months after the Grant Date; and
(i) the remainder of the Options vest no sooner than 12 months after the Grant Date.
If the award agreement for the grant of Options so provides, in the event of a change of control (as defined in the 2025 Plan), all Options granted to a Participant that ceases to be an Eligible Person shall become fully vested and shall become exercisable by the Participant in accordance with the terms of such award agreement and the 2025 Plan. No acceleration of the vesting of any Options shall be permitted without prior Exchange review and acceptance for Options issued to persons conducting investor relations activities.
Other than as may be set forth in the award agreement for the grant of Options, upon the death of a Participant, any Options granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant's death, have not vested, will immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect; and the Participant or his or her estate, as the case may be, shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever. Any Options granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant's death, had vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement will accrue to the Participant's estate in accordance with 2025 Plan and may be exercised by the Participant's estate within one year of the death of the Participant.
Where a Participant's relationship with the Company is terminated by the Company or a subsidiary for cause, all Options granted to the Participant under the 2025 Plan will immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date.
Where a Participant's relationship with the Company terminates by reason of termination by the Company or a subsidiary without cause, by voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or due to retirement by the Participant, such that the Participant no longer qualifies as an eligible person, all Options granted to the Participant under the 2025 Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable award agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date;
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provided, however, that any Options granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant's termination without cause, voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or Retirement, had vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreement will accrue to the Participant in accordance with the 2025 Plan and shall be exercisable by such Participant for a period of 90 days following the date the Participant ceased to be an eligible person, or such longer period as may be provided for in the award agreement or as may be determined by the Board provided such period does not exceed 12 months after the termination date.
Where a Participant becomes afflicted by a disability, all Options granted to the Participant under the 2025 Plan will continue to vest in accordance with the terms of such Options; provided, however, that no Options may be redeemed during a leave of absence. Where a Participant's relationship is terminated due to disability such that the Participant ceases to be an eligible person, all Options granted to the Participant under this Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable award agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date; provided, however, that any Options granted to such Participant which, prior to the termination of the Participant's relationship with the Company due to disability, had vested pursuant to terms of the applicable award agreement, will accrue to the Participant in accordance with the 2025 Plan and shall be exercisable by such Participant for a period of 90 days following the date the termination date, or such longer period as may be provided for in the award agreement or as may be determined by the Board.
Restricted Share Units
A RSU is a right awarded to a Participant, as compensation for employment or consulting services or services as a director or officer, to receive for no additional cash consideration, securities of the Company upon specified vesting criteria being satisfied, and subject to the terms and conditions of the 2025 Plan and the applicable award agreement, and which may be paid in cash and/or Shares. The number of RSUs to be credited to each participant shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion in accordance with the 2025 Plan. All RSUs will vest and become payable by the issuance of Shares at the end of the restriction period if all applicable restrictions have lapsed, as such restrictions may be specified in the award agreement.
RSUs shall be subject to such restrictions as the Board, in its sole discretion, may establish in the applicable award agreement, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times and on such terms, conditions and satisfaction of objectives as the Board may, in its discretion, determine at the time a RSU is granted. The Board shall determine any vesting terms applicable to the grant of RSUs, however, no RSUs may vest before the date that is one (1) year following the date of the award.
If the award agreement so provides, in the event of a change of control (as defined in the 2025 Plan) and the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person, all restrictions upon any RSUs held by such Participant shall lapse immediately and all such RSUs shall become fully vested in such Participant in accordance with the 2025 Plan.
Other than as may be set forth in the applicable award agreement, upon the death of a Participant, any RSUs granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant's death, have not vested, will be immediately and automatically forfeited and cancelled without further action and without any cost or payment, and the Participant or his or her estate, as the case may be, shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever. Any RSUs granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant's death, had vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreement will accrue to the Participant's estate in accordance with the 2025 Plan.
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Where a Participant's relationship with the Company is terminated by the Company or a subsidiary for cause, all RSUs granted to the Participant under this Plan will immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date.
Where a Participant's relationship with the Company terminates by reason of termination by the Company or a subsidiary without cause, by voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or due to retirement by the Participant, all RSUs granted to the Participant under the 2025 Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable award agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date and the Participant shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however, that any RSUs granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant's termination without cause, voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or retirement, had vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreement will accrue to the Participant in accordance with the 2025 Plan.
Where a Participant becomes afflicted by a disability, all RSUs granted to the Participant under the 2025 Plan will continue to vest in accordance with the terms of such RSUs; provided, however, that no RSUs may be redeemed during a leave of absence. Where a Participant's relationship is terminated due to disability such that the Participant ceases to be an eligible person, all RSUs granted to the Participant under the 2025 Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable award agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date and the Participant shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however, that any RSUs granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant's termination due to disability, had vested pursuant to terms of the applicable award agreement will accrue to the Participant in accordance with the 2025 Plan.
As soon as practicable after each vesting date of a RSU, the Company shall, at the sole discretion of the Board, either: (a) issue to the Participant from treasury the number of Shares equal to the number of RSUs that have vested; or (b) make a cash payment in an amount equal to the Market Unit Price (as defined in the 2025 Plan) on the next trading day after the vesting date of the RSUs, net of applicable withholdings.
Performance Share Units
A PSU is a right awarded to a Participant, as compensation for employment or consulting services or services as a director or officer, to receive, for no additional cash consideration, securities of the Company upon specified performance and vesting criteria being satisfied, subject to the terms and conditions of the 2025 Plan and the applicable award agreement, and which may be paid in cash and/or Shares. No PSUs may vest before the date that is one year following the date of the Award.
Subject to the provisions of the 2025 Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, the Board may, from time to time, grant awards of PSUs to eligible persons that do not perform investor relations activities. The number of PSUs to be awarded to any Participant shall be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, in accordance with the 2025 Plan. Each PSU shall, contingent upon the attainment of the performance criteria within the performance cycle, represent one Share.
The Board will select, settle and determine the performance criteria (including without limitation the attainment thereof), for purposes of the vesting of the PSUs, in its sole discretion. An award agreement may provide the Board with the right to revise the performance criteria and the award amounts if unforeseen events (including, without limitation, changes in capitalization, an equity restructuring, an acquisition or a divestiture) occur which have a substantial effect on the financial results and which in the sole judgment of the Board make the application of the performance criteria unfair unless a revision is made.
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All PSUs will vest and become payable to the extent that the performance criteria set forth in the award agreement are satisfied in the performance cycle, the determination of which satisfaction shall be made by the Board on the determination date. No PSU may vest before the date that is one year following the date of the award.
If the award agreement so provides, in the event of a change of control (as defined in the 2025 Plan) and the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person, all PSUs granted to such Participant shall become fully vested in such Participant (without regard to the attainment of any performance criteria) and shall become payable to the Participant in accordance with the 2025 Plan.
Other than as may be set forth in the applicable award agreement and below, upon the death of a Participant, all PSUs granted to the Participant which, prior to the Participant's death, have not vested, will immediately and automatically be forfeited and cancelled without further action and without any cost or payment, and the Participant or his or her estate, as the case may be, shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however, the Board may determine, in its sole discretion, the number of the Participant's PSUs that will vest based on the extent to which the applicable performance criteria have been satisfied in that portion of the performance cycle that has lapsed.
Where a Participant's relationship with the Company is terminated by the Company or a subsidiary for cause, all PSUs granted to the Participant under the 2025 Plan will immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date.
Where a Participant's relationship with the Company terminates by reason of termination by the Company or a subsidiary without cause, by voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or due to retirement by the Participant, all PSUs granted to the Participant which have not vested will, unless the award agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date, and the Participant shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however, the Board may determine, in its sole discretion, the number of the Participant's PSUs that will vest based on the extent to which the applicable performance have been satisfied in that portion of the performance cycle that has lapsed.
Where a Participant becomes afflicted by a disability, all PSUs granted to the Participant under the 2025 Plan will continue to vest in accordance with the terms of such PSUs; provided, however, that no PSUs may be redeemed during a leave of absence. Where a Participant's relationship is terminated due to disability such that the Participant ceases to be an eligible person, all PSUs granted to the Participant under the 2025 Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable award agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the termination date, and the Participant shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however, that the Board may determine, in its sole discretion, the number of the Participant's PSUs that will vest based on the extent to which the applicable performance criteria have been satisfied in that portion of the performance cycle that has lapsed.
Payment to Participants in respect of vested PSUs shall be made after the determination date for the applicable award and in any case within ninety-five (95) days after the last day of the performance cycle to which such award relates. The Company shall, at the sole discretion of the Board, either: (a) issue to the Participant the number of Shares equal to the number of PSUs that have vested on the Determination Date; or (b) make a cash payment in an amount equal to the Market Unit Price (as defined in the 2025 Plan) on the next trading day after the determination date of the PSUs that have vested, net of applicable withholdings.
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Deferred Share Units
A DSU is a right granted to a Participant, as compensation for employment or consulting services or services as a director or officer, to receive, for no additional cash consideration, securities of the Company on a deferred basis upon specified vesting criteria being satisfied, subject to the terms and conditions of the 2025 Plan and the applicable award agreement, and which may be paid in cash and/or Shares. DSUs may not be granted to any Participant performing investor relation activities.
Subject to the provisions of the 2025 Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, the Board may, from time to time, grant awards of DSUs to directors in lieu of fees (including annual Board retainers, chair fees, meeting attendance fees or any other fees payable to a director) or to other eligible persons as compensation for employment or consulting services. The number of DSUs to be credited to each Participant shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion in accordance with the 2025 Plan. The number of DSUs shall be specified in the applicable award agreement. Each director may elect to receive any or all of his or her fees in DSUs under this Plan.
The number of DSUs shall be calculated by dividing the amount of Fees selected by a director by the Market Unit Price (as defined in the 2025 Plan) on the grant date (or such other price as required under the Exchange Policies) which shall be the 10th business day following each financial quarter end. Any fractional DSU shall be rounded down and no payment or other adjustment will be made with respect to the fractional DSU.
No Deferred Share Units may vest before the date that is one year following the date of the award of the DSU.
Each participant shall be entitled to receive, after the effective date that the Participant ceases to be an eligible person for any reason, on a day designated by the Participant and communicated to the Company by the Participant in writing at least fifteen (15) days prior to the designated day (or such earlier date after the participant ceases to be an eligible person as the participant and the Company may agree, which date shall be no later than one year after the date upon which the participant ceases to be an eligible person) and if no such notice is given, then on the first anniversary of the effective date that the Participant ceases to be an eligible person, at the sole discretion of the Board, either: (a) that number of Shares equal to the number of vested DSUs credited to the participant's account, such Shares to be issued from treasury of the Company; or (b) a cash payment in an amount equal to the Market Unit Price on the next trading day after the Participant ceases to be an eligible person of the vested DSUs, net of applicable withholdings.
In the event that the value of a DSU would be determined with reference to a period commencing at a fiscal quarter-end of the Company and ending prior to the public disclosure of interim financial statements for the quarter (or annual financial statements in the case of the fourth quarter), the cash payment of the value of the DSUs will be made to the Participant with reference to the five (5) trading days immediately following the public disclosure of the interim financial statements for that quarter (or annual financial statements in the case of the fourth quarter).
Upon death of a Participant holding DSUs that have vested, the Participant's estate shall be entitled to receive, within 120 days after the Participant's death and at the sole discretion of the Board, a cash payment or Shares that would have otherwise been payable in accordance with the 2025 Plan to the Participant upon such Participant ceasing to be an eligible person.
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General Provisions of the 2025 Plan
Non-Transferability
No Option or Performance-Based Award and no right under any such Option or Performance-Based Award shall be assignable, alienable, saleable, or transferable by a participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and only then if permitted by the Exchange Policies. No Option or Performance-Based Award and no right under any such Option or Performance-Based Award, may be pledged, alienated, attached, or otherwise encumbered, and any purported pledge, alienation, attachment, or encumbrance thereof shall be void and unenforceable against the Company.
Black-out Periods
In the event that the date provided for expiration, redemption or settlement of an award falls within a blackout period imposed by the Company pursuant to a trading policy as the result of the bona fide existence of undisclosed material information, the expiry date, redemption date or settlement date, as applicable, of the award shall automatically be extended to the date that is ten (10) business days following the date of expiry of the blackout period which shall occur promptly following general disclosure of the undisclosed material information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there will be no extension of any award if the Company (or the Participant) is subject to a cease trade order (or similar order under applicable law.
Deductions
Whenever cash is to be paid in respect of DSUs, RSUs or PSUs, the Company shall have the right to deduct from all cash payments made to a Participant any taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments. The Company is authorized to withhold any payment due under any Award or under the 2025 Plan until the Participant has paid or made arrangements for the payment of the amount of any withholding taxes due in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment under such Award or under this Plan. At the sole discretion of the Board, a Participant may be permitted to satisfy the foregoing requirement by, all in accordance with the Exchange Policies by delivering an irrevocable direction to a securities broker approved by the Company to sell all or a portion of the Shares and deliver to the Company from the sales proceeds an amount sufficient to pay the required withholding taxes.
Amendments to the 2025 Plan
The Board may at any time or from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the approval of Shareholders, amend, suspend, terminate or discontinue the 2025 Plan and may amend the terms and conditions of any Options or Performance-Based Awards granted hereunder, subject to:
(i) any required disinterested shareholder approval to (A) reduce the exercise price of an Award issued to an insider or (B) extend the term of an Option granted to an insider, in either event in accordance with the policies of the Exchange;
(ii) any required approval of any applicable regulatory authority or the Exchange; and
(iii) any approval of Shareholders as required by the Exchange Policies or applicable law, provided that Shareholder approval shall not be required for the following amendments and the Board may make any changes which may include but are not limited to (except that the Exchange may require approval of the Shareholders for amendments pursuant to Sections C to G below):
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A. amendments of a "housekeeping nature";
B. amendments for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, error or omission in the 2025 Plan or to correct or supplement any provision of the 2025 Plan that is inconsistent with any other provision of the 2025 Plan;
C. amendments which are necessary to comply with applicable law or the requirements of the Exchange;
D. amendments respecting administration and eligibility for participation under the 2025 Plan;
E. amendments to the terms and conditions on which Option or Performance-Based Awards may be or have been granted pursuant to 2025 Plan including amendments to the vesting provisions and terms of any Options or Performance-Based Awards;
F. with the exception of Options granted to persons performing investor relations activities, amendments which alter, extend or accelerate the terms of vesting applicable to any Options or Performance-Based Awards; and
G. changes to the termination provisions of an Option, Performance-Based Award or the 2025 Plan which do not entail an extension beyond the original fixed term.
Term
The 2025 Plan shall terminate automatically 10 years after the Effective Date and may be terminated on any earlier date as provided in the 2025 Plan.
Obtaining a copy of the Plan
A copy of the 2025 Plan is attached as Schedule "A" to the Information Circular and is available for review at Cozen O'Connor LLP, the registered offices of the Company, at Bentall 5, 550 Burrard Street, Suite 2501, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2B5 during normal business hours up to and including the date of the Meeting.
Approval of the Plan
On November 28, 2025, the Company received conditional approval to the 2025 Plan from the Exchange. The 2025 Plan is subject to the final approval of the Exchange.
Accordingly, at the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to consider and if thought fit, approve an ordinary resolution approving and adopting the 2025 Plan (the "2025 Plan Resolution"). In order to be effective, an ordinary resolution requires approval by a majority of the votes cast by Shareholders for such resolution. The text of the proposed resolution is set forth below. Unless otherwise directed, the persons named in the enclosed proxy intend to vote IN FAVOUR of this resolution.
"BE IT RESOLVED, AS AN ORDINARY RESOLUTION, THAT:
- the Company's 2025 Equity Incentive Plan, adopted by the board of directors of the Company effective as of November 28, 2025 (the "2025 Plan"), in the form attached as Schedule "A" to the management information circular of the Company dated November
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28, 2025, including approval of a 10% rolling plan for stock options and a fixed plan of common shares for performance-based awards of restricted share units, performance share units and deferred share units, be and is hereby confirmed and adopted, and the Company has the ability to grant awards under the 2025 Plan, with the number of common shares of common shares for performance-based awards of restricted share units, performance share units and deferred share units be equal to:
(a) approximately 15,502,123 common shares, being 10% of the issued and outstanding of the Company after completion of its reverse takeover transaction (the "RTO") with Innolink Network Ltd. ("Innolink"), subject to completion of the RTO with Innolink; or
(b) 3,027,124 common shares, being 10% of the issued and outstanding of the Company if the RTO with Innolink is not completed;
-
the board of directors (the "Board") of the Company is hereby authorized to make such amendments to the 2025 Plan from time to time, as may be required by the applicable regulatory authorities, or as may be considered appropriate by the Board, in its sole discretion, provided always that such amendments be subject to the approval of the regulatory authorities, if applicable, and in certain cases, in accordance with the terms of the 2025 Plan, the approval of the Shareholders; and
-
any one director or officer of the Company is hereby authorized and directed, acting for, in the name of and on behalf of the Company, to execute or cause to be executed, under the seal of the Company or otherwise and to deliver or to cause to be delivered, all such other deeds, documents, instruments and assurances and to do or cause to be done all such other acts as, in the opinion of such director or officer of the Company, may be necessary or desirable to carry out the terms of the foregoing resolutions."
Management recommends that Shareholders vote for the approval of the 2025 Plan. It is the intention of the Designated Persons named in the enclosed form of proxy, if not expressly directed otherwise in such form of proxy, to vote such proxy FOR the 2025 Plan Resolution.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information relating to the Company is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Shareholders may contact the Company at its office at Bentall 5, 550 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 2B5, to request copies of the Company's financial statements and related Management's Discussion and Analysis (the "MD&A"). Financial information is provided in the Company's comparative annual financial statements and MD&A for its most recently completed financial year and in the financial statements and MD&A for subsequent financial periods, which are available at SEDAR+ www.sedarplus.ca.
OTHER MATTERS
Other than the above, management of the Company knows of no other matters to come before the Meeting other than those referred to in the Notice of Meeting. However, if any other matters that are not known to management should properly come before the Meeting, the accompanying form of proxy confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein to vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
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APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The contents of this Information Circular have been approved, and the delivery of it to each Shareholder entitled thereto and to the appropriate regulatory agencies has been authorized, by the Board.
Dated at Vancouver, British Columbia as of this 28th day of November, 2025.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
ASTRON CONNECT INC.
"S. Randall Smallbone"
S. Randall Smallbone
Chairman, Interim Chief Executive
Officer and Director
SCHEDULE "A"
CHARTER FOR THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- Mandate
1.1 The mandate of the Audit Committee established pursuant to this charter is to oversee the Company's accounting and financial processes and audits of the Company's financial statements, and reports thereon to the Board of Directors. Within this mandate, the Audit Committee's role is to:
a) support the Board of Directors in meeting its responsibilities to shareholders;
b) enhance the independence of the external auditor;
c) facilitate effective communications between management and the external auditor and provide a link between the external auditor and the Board of Directors; and
d) increase the credibility and objectivity of the Company's financial reports and public disclosure.
1.2 In addition, the Audit Committee will undertake those specific duties and responsibilities listed below and such other duties as the Board of Directors from time to time prescribe.
- Membership
2.1 Each member of the Audit Committee must be a director of the Company.
2.2 The Audit Committee will consist of at least three members. The composition of the Audit Committee will comply with the regulatory requirements to which the Company is subject from time to time.
2.3 The members of the Audit Committee and its chairperson will be appointed from time to time by and will serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
- Authority
3.1 In addition to all authority required to carry out the duties and responsibilities included in this charter, the Audit Committee has specific authority to:
a) engage, and set and pay the compensation for, independent counsel and other advisors as it determines necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities;
b) communicate directly with management and any internal auditor and with the external auditor; and
c) approve interim financial statements and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis on behalf of the Board of Directors.
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4. Duties and Responsibilities
4.1 The duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee include:
a) recommending to the Board of Directors the external auditor to be nominated by the Board of Directors;
b) recommending to the Board of Directors the compensation of the external auditor;
c) reviewing the external auditor’s audit plan, fee schedule and any related services proposals;
d) overseeing the work of the external auditor;
e) reviewing the external auditor’s report, audit results and financial statements prior to approval by the Board of Directors;
f) reporting on and recommending to the Board of Directors the annual financial statements and the external auditor’s report on those financial statements, prior to Board approval and dissemination of financial statements to shareholders and the public;
g) reviewing financial statements, Management’s Discussion and Analysis and annual and interim earnings press releases prior to public disclosure of this information;
h) ensuring adequate procedures are in place for review of all public disclosure of financial information by the Company, prior to its dissemination to the public;
i) overseeing the adequacy of the Company’s system of internal accounting controls and obtaining from the external auditor summaries and recommendations for improvement of such internal accounting controls;
j) overseeing the effectiveness of the internal audit function;
k) resolving disputes between management and the external auditor regarding financial reporting;
l) establishing procedures to deal with complaints and concerns, from employees and others, regarding questionable accounting or auditing practices;
m) reviewing and approving the Company’s hiring policies with respect to partners or employees (or former partners or employees) of either a former or present external auditor;
n) pre-approving all non-audit services to be provided to the Company or any subsidiaries by the Company’s external auditor; and
o) overseeing compliance with regulatory authority requirements for disclosure of external auditor services and Audit Committee activities. 4.2 In addition to the above responsibilities, the Audit Committee will undertake such other duties as the Board of Directors delegates to it.
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4.3 The Audit Committee will report, at least annually, to the Board regarding the Committee's examinations and recommendations.
- Meetings
5.1 The quorum for a meeting of the Audit Committee is a majority of the members of the Committee. Questions arising shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members of the Audit Committee present, and in the case of an equality of votes, the chairperson shall not have a second or casting vote.
5.2 The members of the Audit Committee may determine their own procedures.
5.3 The Audit Committee will meet at least once each year. The Audit Committee may establish its own meeting schedule.
5.4 The Audit Committee will meet with the President and with the Chief Financial Officer of the Company at least annually to review the financial affairs of the Company. The Audit Committee shall have unrestricted and unfettered access to all Company personnel and documents and shall be provided with the resources necessary to carry out its responsibilities.
5.5 The Audit Committee will meet with the external auditor of the Company at least once each year to review the external auditor's examination and report.
5.6 The chair of the Audit Committee must convene a meeting of the Audit Committee at the request of the external auditor, to consider any matter that the auditor believes should be brought to the attention of the Board of Directors or the shareholders.
- Reports
6.1 The Audit Committee will record its recommendations to the Board in written form.
- Minutes
7.1 The Audit Committee will maintain written minutes of its meetings, which minutes will be filed with the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors.
7.2 A resolution approved in writing by all of the members of the Audit Committee shall be valid and effective as if it had been passed at a duly called meeting.
SCHEDULE "B"
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
ASTRON CONNECT INC.
(the "Company")
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION 1
ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF THIS PLAN
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this equity incentive plan (the "Plan") is to promote the long-term success of the Company and the creation of shareholder value by: (i) encouraging the attraction and retention of Eligible Persons; (ii) encouraging such Eligible Persons to focus on critical long-term objectives; and (iii) promoting greater alignment of the interests of such Eligible Persons with the interests of the Company.
SECTION 2
DEFINITIONS
2.1 Definitions
As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
(a) "Award" means any award of Options, RSUs, PSUs or DSUs granted under this Plan;
(b) "Award Agreement" means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document, including an electronic communication, as may from time to time be designated by the Company as evidencing any Award granted under this Plan;
(c) "Blackout Period" means a period of time during which the Company prohibits Participants from exercising, redeeming or settling an Award due to the existence of undisclosed material information and pursuant to a formal notice provided by the Company under a trading policy, which Blackout Period must expire promptly following general disclosure of the undisclosed material information;
(d) "Board" means the board of directors of the Company or, if the context permits, any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable;
(e) "Change of Control" means the acquisition by any person or by any person and a joint actor, whether directly or indirectly, of voting securities (as such terms are interpreted in the Securities Act) of the Company, which, when added to all other voting securities of the Company at the time held by such person or by such person and a person "acting jointly or in concert" with another person, as that phrase is interpreted in National Instrument 62-103, totals for the first time not less than fifty (50%) percent of the outstanding voting securities of the Company or the votes attached to those securities are sufficient, if exercised, to elect a majority of the Board;
(f) "Company" means Astron Connect Inc., a company incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), and any of its successors or assigns;
(g) "Consultant" means a Person (other than a Director, Officer or Employee) that:
(i) is engaged to provide, on an ongoing bona fide basis, consulting, technical, management or other services to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, other than services provided in relation to a distribution (as defined in the Securities Act);
(ii) provides the services under a written contract between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and the Person, as the case may be; and
(iii) in the reasonable opinion of the Company, spends or will spend a significant amount of time on the affairs and business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
and includes:
(iv) for a Person that is an individual, a corporation of which such individual is the sole shareholder;
(h) "Deferred Share Unit" or "DSU" means a right granted to a Participant, as compensation for employment or consulting services or services as a Director or Officer, to receive, for no additional cash consideration, securities of the Company on a deferred basis upon specified vesting criteria being satisfied, all as provided in Section 5.4 hereof and subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, and which may be paid in cash and/or Shares;
(i) "Determination Date" means a date determined by the Board in its sole discretion but not later than 90 days after the expiry of a Performance Cycle;
(j) "Director" means a member of the Company's Board or the Board of any of its Subsidiaries;
(k) "Discounted Market Price" means the Market Price less the discount set forth below, subject to a minimum price of $0.10:
| Closing Price | Discount |
|---|---|
| up to $0.50 | 25% |
| $0.51 to $2.00 | 20% |
| above $2.00 | 15% |
(l) "Disability" means any medical condition which qualifies a Participant for benefits under a long-term disability plan of the Company or Subsidiary;
(m) "Effective Date" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 8;
(n) "Election Form" means the form to be completed by a Director specifying the amount of Fees he or she wishes to receive in DSUs under this Plan;
(o) "Eligible Person", when used in connection with Options, means Officers, Directors, Employees, Management Company Employees and Consultants of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries but, when used in connection with PSUs, RSUs or DSUs, means only Officers, Directors, Employees, Management Company Employees and Consultants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that do not perform Investor Relations Activities;
(p) "Employee" means:
(i) an individual who is considered an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under the Income Tax Act (Canada) and for whom income tax, employment insurance and Canada Pension Plan deductions must be made at source;
(ii) an individual who works full-time for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries providing services normally provided by an employee and who is subject to the same control and direction by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries over the details and methods of work as an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, but for whom income tax deductions are not made at source; or
(iii) an individual who works for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on a continuing and regular basis for a minimum amount of time per week acceptable to the Exchange, who provides services normally provided by an employee and is subject to the same control and direction by the Company or its Subsidiary over the details and methods of work as an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, but for whom income tax deductions are not made at source;
(q) "Exchange" means the TSX Venture Exchange, or such other exchange upon which the Shares of the Company may become listed for trading;
(r) "Fees" means the annual Board retainer, chair fees, meeting attendance fees or any other fees payable to a Director;
(s) "Grant Date" means, for any Award, the date specified by the Board as the grant date at the time it grants the Award or, if no such date is specified, the date upon which the Award was actually granted;
(t) "Insider" has the meaning attributed to it in the Securities Act;
(u) "Investor Relations Activities" means any activities, by or on behalf of the Company or a shareholder of the Company, that promote or reasonably could be expected to promote the purchase or sale of securities of the Company, but does not include:
(i) the dissemination of information provided, or records prepared, in the ordinary course of business of the Company:
(A) to promote the sale of products or services of the Company; or
(B) to raise public awareness of the Company, that cannot reasonably be considered to promote the purchase or sale of securities of the Company;
(ii) activities or communications necessary to comply with the requirements of:
(A) applicable securities laws; or
(B) Exchange requirements or the by-laws, rules or other regulatory instruments of any other self-regulatory body or exchange having jurisdiction over the Company;
(iii) communications by a publisher of, or writer for, a newspaper, magazine or business or financial publication, that is of general and regular paid circulation, distributed only to subscribers to it for value or to purchasers of it, if:
(A) the communication is only through the newspaper, magazine or publication; and
(B) the publisher or writer receives no commission or other consideration other than for acting in the capacity of publisher or writer; or
(iv) activities or communications that may be otherwise specified by the Exchange;
(v) "Investor Relations Service Provider" includes any Consultant that performs Investor Relations Activities and any Director, Officer, Employee or Management Company Employee whose role and duties primarily consist of Investor Relations Activities
(w) "Management Company Employee" means an individual employed by a company providing management services to the Company, which services are required for the ongoing successful operation of the Company's business enterprise;
(x) "Market Price" means, subject to the exceptions prescribed by the Exchange from time to time, the last closing price of the Company's shares before the issuance of the required news release disclosing the grant of Awards (but, if the policies of the Exchange provide an exception to such news release, then the last closing price of the Company's shares before the Grant Date);
(y) "Market Unit Price" means the value of a Share determined by reference to the five-day volume-weighted average closing price of a Share for the five Trading Day period immediately preceding the relevant date;
(z) "Officer" means an officer (as defined in the Securities Act or, where the Securities Act does not apply, by other applicable securities laws) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(aa) "Option" means incentive share purchase options entitling the holder thereof to purchase Shares at a specified price for a specified period of time;
(bb) "Participant" means any Eligible Person to whom Awards under this Plan are granted;
| (cc) | “Participant’s Account” means a notional account maintained for each Participant’s participation in this Plan which will show any RSUs, PSUs and/or DSUs credited to a Participant from time to time; |
|---|---|
| (dd) | “Performance-Based Award” means, collectively or as applicable, Performance Share Units, Restricted Share Units and Deferred Share Units; |
| (ee) | “Performance Criteria” means criteria established by the Board which, without limitation, may include criteria based on the Participant’s personal performance and/or financial performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and that are to be used to determine the vesting of Performance Share Units; |
| (ff) | “Performance Cycle” means the applicable performance cycle of the Performance Share Units as may be specified by the Board in the applicable Award Agreement; |
| (gg) | “Performance Share Unit” or “PSU” means a right awarded to a Participant, as compensation for employment or consulting services or services as a Director or Officer, to receive, for no additional cash consideration, securities of the Company upon specified vesting criteria being satisfied, all as provided in Section 5.3 hereof and subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, and which may be paid in cash and/or Shares; |
| (hh) | “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, or governmental authority or body; |
| (ii) | “Restriction Period” means the time period between the Grant Date and the Vesting Date of an Award of Restricted Share Units specified by the Board in the applicable Award Agreement, which period shall be no less than 12 months; |
| (jj) | “Restricted Share Unit” or “RSU” means a right awarded to a Participant, as compensation for employment or consulting services or services as a Director or Officer, to receive for no additional cash consideration, securities of the Company upon specified vesting criteria being satisfied, all as provided in Section 5.2 hereof and subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, and which may be paid in cash and/or Shares; |
| (kk) | “Retirement” means retirement from active employment with the Company or a Subsidiary with the consent of an officer of the Company or the Subsidiary; |
| (ll) | “Securities Act” means theSecurities Act(British Columbia), as amended, from time to time; |
| (mm) | “Security-Based Compensation Arrangement” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the rules and policies of the Exchange, or in the event that such term is not defined in the rules and policies of the Exchange, shall mean a stock option plan, including the Option Plan, employee stock purchase plan, long-term incentive plan or any other compensation or incentive mechanism involving the issuance or potential issuance of Shares to one or more full-time employees, officers, Insiders, service providers or Consultants of the Company or a Subsidiary, including a share purchase from treasury by a full-time employee, officer, Insider, service provider or |
Consultant which is financially assisted by the Company or a Subsidiary by way of loan, guarantee or otherwise;
(nn) "Shares" means the common shares of the Company;
(oo) "Subsidiary" means a corporation, company or partnership that is controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company;
(pp) "Termination Date" means, as applicable:
(i) in the event of a Participant's Retirement, voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or termination of employment as a result of a Disability, the date on which such Participant ceases to be an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary; and
(ii) in the event of termination of the Participant's employment by the Company or a Subsidiary, the date on which such Participant is advised by the Company or a Subsidiary, in writing or verbally, that his or her services are no longer required;
(qq) "Trading Day" means any day on which the Exchange is open for trading; and
(rr) "Vesting Date" means in respect of any Award, the date when the Award is fully vested in accordance with the provisions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.
SECTION 3
ADMINISTRATION
3.1 Board to Administer Plan
Except as otherwise provided herein, this Plan shall be administered by the Board of the Company (and, for clarity, not by the Board of any subsidiary of the Company) and the Board of the Company shall have full authority to administer this Plan, including the authority to interpret and construe any provision of this Plan and to adopt, amend and rescind such rules and regulations for administering this Plan as the Board of the Company may deem necessary in order to comply with the requirements of this Plan.
3.2 Delegation to Committee
All of the powers exercisable hereunder by the Board may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and as determined by resolution of the Board, be delegated to and exercised by such committee as the Board may determine.
3.3 Interpretation
All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made or approved by the Board in good faith shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding on the Participants and the Company.
3.4 No Liability
No Director shall be personally liable for any action taken or determination or interpretation made or approved in good faith in connection with this Plan and the Directors shall, in addition to their rights as Directors, be fully protected, indemnified and held harmless by the Company with respect to any such action taken or determination or interpretation made. The appropriate officers of the Company are hereby authorized and empowered to do all things and execute and deliver all instruments, undertakings and applications and writings as they, in their absolute discretion, consider necessary for the implementation of this Plan and of the rules and regulations established for administering this Plan. All costs incurred in connection with this Plan shall be for the account of the Company.
SECTION 4
SHARES AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS
4.1 Limitations on Shares Available for Issuance
(a) The aggregate number of Shares issuable under this Plan (and all of the Company's other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements) in respect of Options shall not exceed 10% of the Company's then total issued and outstanding Shares calculated as at the date of any grant and in accordance with the Policies of the Exchange.
(b) The aggregate number of Shares issuable under this Plan (and all of the Company's other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements) in respect of Performance-Based Awards shall be equal to:
(i) approximately 15,502,123 Shares, being 10% of the issued and outstanding of the Company after completion of its reverse takeover transaction (the "RTO") with Innolink Network Ltd. ("Innolink"), subject to completion of the RTO with Innolink; or
(ii) 3,027,124 Shares, being 10% of the issued and outstanding of the Company if the RTO with Innolink is not completed.
(c) So long as it may be required by the rules and policies of the Exchange:
(i) unless the Company has obtained disinterested shareholder approval, the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable to any Participant under this Plan, within any 12 month period, together with Shares reserved for issuance to such Participant (and to Companies wholly-owned by that Participant) under all of the Company's other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, shall not exceed five (5%) percent of the issued and outstanding Shares (calculated as at the date of any grant);
(ii) unless the Company has obtained disinterested shareholder approval, the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable to Insiders under this Plan, within any 12 month period, together with Shares reserved for issuance to Insiders under all of the Company's other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, shall not exceed ten (10%) percent of the issued and outstanding Shares (calculated as at the date of any grant);
(iii) unless the Company has obtained disinterested shareholder approval, the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable to Insiders under this Plan, at any point in time, together with Shares reserved for issuance to Insiders under all of the Company's other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, shall not exceed ten (10%) percent of the issued and outstanding Shares; and
(iv) the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable to any one Consultant, within any 12 month period, together with Shares issuable to such Consultant under all of the Company's other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, shall not exceed two (2%) percent of the issued and outstanding Shares (calculated as at the date of any grant); and
(v) the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable pursuant to grants of Options to all Investor Relation Service Providers performing Investor Relations Activities, within any 12 month period, shall not in aggregate exceed two (2%) percent of the issued and outstanding Shares (calculated as at the date of any grant). For the avoidance of doubt, Persons performing Investor Relations Activities are only eligible to receive Options under this Plan; they are not eligible to receive any Performance-Based Award or other type of securities based compensation under this Plan.
4.2 Accounting for Awards
For purposes of this Section 4:
(a) if an Award is denominated in Shares, the number of Shares covered by such Award, or to which such Award relates, shall be counted on the Grant Date of such Award against the aggregate number of Shares available for granting Awards under this Plan; and
(b) notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Shares related to Awards which terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation, or otherwise without the issuance of such Shares, or are exchanged with the Board's permission, prior to the issuance of Shares, for Awards not involving Shares, shall be available again for granting Awards under this Plan.
4.3 Anti-Dilution
If the number of outstanding Shares is increased or decreased as a result of a stock split, consolidation or recapitalization and not as a result of the issuance of Shares for additional consideration or by way of stock dividend, the Board may, subject to the prior acceptance of the Exchange in the case of a recapitalization, make appropriate adjustments to the number and price (or other basis upon which an Award is measured) of Options, RSUs, PSUs or DSUs credited to a Participant. Any determinations by the Board as to the required adjustments shall be made in its sole discretion and all such adjustments shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes under this Plan.
SECTION 5
AWARDS
5.1 Options
(a) Eligibility and Participation - Subject to the provisions of this Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, the Board may, from time to time, grant Awards of Options to Eligible Persons. Options granted to an Eligible Person shall be credited, as of the Grant Date, to the Participant's Account. The number of Options to be credited to each Participant shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion in accordance with this Plan. Each Option shall, contingent upon the lapse of any restrictions, represent one (1) Share. The number of Options granted pursuant to an Award shall be specified in the applicable Award Agreement.
(b) Exercise Price - The exercise price of an Option granted under this Plan shall not be less than the Discounted Market Price, provided that if an Option is proposed to be granted by the Company which has just been recalled for trading following a suspension or halt, the Company must wait at least ten Trading Days since the day on which trading in the Company's securities resumes before setting the exercise price for and granting the Option.
(c) Expiry Date - Each Option shall, unless sooner terminated, expire on a date to be determined by the Board which will not exceed 10 years from the Grant Date.
(d) Different Exercise Periods, Prices and Number - The Board may, in its absolute discretion, upon granting Options under this Plan, specify different time periods following the dates of granting the Options during which the Participant may exercise their Options to purchase Shares and may designate different exercise prices and numbers of Shares in respect of which each Participant may exercise his option during each respective time period.
(e) Vesting - Subject to the discretion of the Board, the Options granted to a Participant under this Plan shall vest as determined by the Board on the Grant Date of such Options. If the Board does not specify a vesting schedule at the Grant Date, then Options granted to persons other than those conducting Investor Relations Activities shall vest fully on the Grant Date, and in any event in accordance with the policies of the Exchange. Options issued to Persons conducting Investor Relations Activities must vest (and shall not otherwise be exercisable) in stages over a minimum of 12 months such that:
(i) no more than 1/4 of the Options vest no sooner than three months after the Grant Date;
(ii) no more than another 1/4 of the Options vest no sooner than six months after the Grant Date;
(iii) no more than another 1/4 of the Options vest no sooner than nine months after the Grant Date; and
(iv) the remainder of the Options vest no sooner than 12 months after the Grant Date.
(f) Change of Control – If the Award Agreement so provides, in the event of a Change of Control, all Options granted to a Participant who ceases to be an Eligible Person shall become fully vested in such Participant and shall become exercisable by the Participant in accordance with the terms of the Award Agreement and Section 5.1(l) hereof. If the Participant provides Investor Relations Activities, no acceleration of the vesting of any Options shall be permitted without prior Exchange review and acceptance.
(g) Death – Other than as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, upon the death of a Participant, any Options granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s death, have not vested, will immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect; and the Participant or his or her estate, as the case may be, shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever. Any Options granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s death, had vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement will accrue to the Participant’s estate in accordance with Section 5.1(l) hereof.
(h) Termination of Participant’s Relationship with the Company
(i) Where a Participant’s relationship with the Company is terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary for cause, all Options granted to the Participant under this Plan will immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date.
(ii) Where a Participant’s relationship with the Company terminates by reason of termination by the Company or a Subsidiary without cause, by voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or due to Retirement by the Participant, such that the Participant no longer qualifies as an Eligible Person, all Options granted to the Participant under this Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date; provided, however, that any Options granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant’s termination without cause, voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or Retirement, had vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement will accrue to the Participant in accordance with Section 5.1(l) hereof and shall be exercisable by such Participant for a period of 90 days following the date the Participant ceased to be an Eligible Person, or such longer period as may be provided for in the Award Agreement or as may be determined by the Board provided such period does not exceed 12 months after the Termination Date.
(iii) Upon termination of a Participant’s relationship with the Company or a Subsidiary such that the Participant no longer qualifies as an Eligible Person, the Participant’s eligibility to receive further grants of Awards of Options under this Plan shall cease as of the Termination Date.
(i) Disability – Where a Participant becomes afflicted by a Disability, all Options granted to the Participant under this Plan will continue to vest in accordance with the terms of such Options; provided, however, that no Options may be redeemed during a leave
of absence. Where a Participant's relationship is terminated due to Disability such that the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person, all Options granted to the Participant under this Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date; provided, however, that any Options granted to such Participant which, prior to the termination of the Participant's relationship with the Company due to Disability, had vested pursuant to terms of the applicable Award Agreement, will accrue to the Participant in accordance with Section 5.1(l) hereof and shall be exercisable by such Participant for a period of 90 days following the date the Termination Date, or such longer period as may be provided for in the Award Agreement or as may be determined by the Board.
(j) Hold Period - In addition to any resale restrictions under applicable legislation or regulation, all Options granted hereunder and all Shares issued on the exercise of such Options will, if applicable under the policies of the Exchange, be subject to a four month TSX Venture Exchange hold period from the date the options are granted, and the stock option agreements and the certificates representing such Shares will bear the following legend:
"Without prior written approval of the Exchange and compliance with all applicable securities legislation, the securities represented by this certificate may not be sold, transferred, hypothecated or otherwise traded on or through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange or otherwise in Canada or to or for the benefit of a Canadian resident until [insert date]."
(k) Notice - Options shall be exercised only in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Award Agreements under which they are respectively granted and shall be exercisable only by notice in writing to the Company at its principal place of business.
(l) Payment of Award - Subject to any vesting or other limitations described in each individual Award Agreement, Options may be exercised in whole or in part at any time prior to their lapse or termination, by the Participant, or if Section 5.1(g) applies, by the Participant's estate within one year of the death of the Participant, into such number of Shares equal to the number of Options credited to the Participant's Account that become exercisable on the Vesting Date. The exercise price of all Options must be paid in cash. Shares purchased by a Participant on exercise of an Option shall be paid for in full at the time of their purchase (i.e. concurrently with the giving of the requisite notice).
5.2 Restricted Share Units
(a) Eligibility and Participation - Subject to the provisions of this Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, the Board may, from time to time, grant Awards of Restricted Share Units to Eligible Persons that do not perform Investor Relations Activities. Restricted Share Units granted to a Participant shall be credited, as of the Grant Date, to the Participant's Account. The number of Restricted Share Units to be credited to each Participant shall be determined by the Board in its
sole discretion in accordance with this Plan. Each Restricted Share Unit shall, contingent upon the lapse of any restrictions, represent one (1) Share. The number of Restricted Share Units granted pursuant to an Award and the Restriction Period in respect of such Restricted Share Units shall be specified in the applicable Award Agreement.
(b) Restrictions - Restricted Share Units shall be subject to such restrictions as the Board, in its sole discretion, may establish in the applicable Award Agreement, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times and on such terms, conditions and satisfaction of objectives as the Board may, in its discretion, determine at the time an Award is granted.
(c) Vesting - All Restricted Share Units will vest and become payable by the issuance of Shares at the end of the Restriction Period if all applicable restrictions have lapsed, as such restrictions may be specified in the Award Agreement. No Restricted Share Units may vest before the date that is one year following the date of the Award.
(d) Change of Control - If the Award Agreement so provides, in the event of a Change of Control and the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person, all restrictions upon any Restricted Share Units shall lapse immediately and all such Restricted Share Units shall become fully vested in the Participant and will accrue to the Participant in accordance with Section 5.2(h) thereof.
(e) Death - Other than as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, upon the death of a Participant, any Restricted Share Units granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant's death, have not vested, will be immediately and automatically forfeited and cancelled without further action and without any cost or payment, and the Participant or his or her estate, as the case may be, shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever. Any Restricted Share Units granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant's death, had vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement will accrue to the Participant's estate in accordance with Section 5.2(h) thereof.
(f) Termination of a Participant's Relationship with the Company
(i) Where a Participant's relationship with the Company is terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary for cause, all Restricted Share Units granted to the Participant under this Plan will immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date.
(ii) Where a Participant's relationship with the Company terminates by reason of termination by the Company or a Subsidiary without cause, by voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or due to Retirement by the Participant, all Restricted Share Units granted to the Participant under this Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date and the Participant shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however, that any Restricted Share Units granted
to such Participant which, prior to the Participant's termination without cause, voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or Retirement, had vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement will accrue to the Participant in accordance with Section 5.2(h) thereof.
(iii) Upon termination of a Participant's relationship with the Company or a Subsidiary such that the Participant no longer qualifies as an Eligible Person, the Participant's eligibility to receive further grants of Awards of Restricted Share Units under this Plan shall cease as of the Termination Date.
(g) Disability - Where a Participant becomes afflicted by a Disability, all Restricted Share Units granted to the Participant under this Plan will continue to vest in accordance with the terms of such Restricted Share Units; provided, however, that no Restricted Share Units may be redeemed during a leave of absence. Where a Participant's relationship is terminated due to Disability such that the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person, all Restricted Share Units granted to the Participant under this Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date and the Participant shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however, that any Restricted Share Units granted to such Participant which, prior to the Participant's termination due to Disability, had vested pursuant to terms of the applicable Award Agreement will accrue to the Participant in accordance with Section 5.2(h) thereof.
(h) Payment of Award - As soon as practicable after each Vesting Date of an Award of Restricted Share Units, the Company shall, at the sole discretion of the Board, either:
(i) issue to the Participant, or if Section 5.2(e) applies, to the Participant's estate, from treasury the number of Shares equal to the number of Restricted Share Units credited to the Participant's Account that have vested and become payable on the Vesting Date; or
(ii) make a cash payment in an amount equal to the Market Unit Price on the next Trading Day after the Vesting Date of the Restricted Share Units credited to a Participant's Account that have vested and become payable, net of applicable withholdings.
As of the Vesting Date, the Restricted Share Units in respect of which such Shares are issued or cash payment made shall be cancelled and no further payments shall be made to the Participant under this Plan in relation to such Restricted Share Units.
5.3 Performance Share Units
(a) Eligibility and Participation - Subject to the provisions of this Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, the Board may, from time to time, grant Awards of Performance Share Units to Eligible Persons that do not perform Investor Relations Activities. Performance Share Units granted to a Participant shall be credited, as of the Grant Date, to the Participant's Account. The number of Performance Share Units to be credited to each Participant shall be determined by the
Board, in its sole discretion, in accordance with this Plan. Each Performance Share Unit shall, contingent upon the attainment of the Performance Criteria within the Performance Cycle, represent one (1) Share. The number of Performance Share Units granted pursuant to an Award, the Performance Criteria which must be satisfied in order for the Performance Share Units to vest and the Performance Cycle in respect of such Performance Share Units shall be specified in the applicable Award Agreement. No Performance Share Units may vest before the date that is one year following the date of the Award.
(b) Performance Criteria - The Board will select, settle and determine the Performance Criteria (including without limitation the attainment thereof), for purposes of the vesting of the Performance Share Units, in its sole discretion. An Award Agreement may provide the Board with the right, during a Performance Cycle or after it has ended, to revise the Performance Criteria and the Award amounts if unforeseen events (including, without limitation, changes in capitalization, an equity restructuring, an acquisition or a divestiture) occur which have a substantial effect on the financial results and which in the sole judgment of the Board make the application of the Performance Criteria unfair unless a revision is made. Notices will be provided by the Company to applicable regulatory authorities or stock exchanges as may be required with respect to the foregoing.
(c) Vesting - All Performance Share Units will vest and become payable to the extent that the Performance Criteria set forth in the Award Agreement are satisfied in the Performance Cycle, the determination of which satisfaction shall be made by the Board on the Determination Date. No Performance Share Units may vest before the date that is one year following the date of the Award.
(d) Change of Control - If the Award Agreement so provides, in the event of a Change of Control and the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person, all Performance Share Units granted to a Participant shall become fully vested in such Participant (without regard to the attainment of any Performance Criteria) and shall become payable to the Participant in accordance with Section 5.3(h) thereof.
(e) Death - Other than as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement and below, upon the death of a Participant, all Performance Share Units granted to the Participant which, prior to the Participant’s death, have not vested, will immediately and automatically be forfeited and cancelled without further action and without any cost or payment, and the Participant or his or her estate, as the case may be, shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however, the Board may determine, in its sole discretion, the number of the Participant’s Performance Share Units that will vest based on the extent to which the applicable Performance Criteria set forth in the Award Agreement have been satisfied in that portion of the Performance Cycle that has lapsed. The Performance Share Units that the Board determines to have vested shall become payable in accordance with Section 5.3(h) thereof.
(f) Termination of a Participant’s Relationship with the Company
(i) Where a Participant’s relationship with the Company is terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary for cause, all Performance Share Units granted to
the Participant under this Plan will immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date.
(ii) Where a Participant's relationship with the Company terminates by reason of termination by the Company or a Subsidiary without cause, by voluntary termination, voluntary resignation or due to Retirement by the Participant, all Performance Share Units granted to the Participant which have not vested will, unless the Award Agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date, and the Participant shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however, the Board may determine, in its sole discretion, the number of the Participant's Performance Share Units that will vest based on the extent to which the applicable Performance Criteria set forth in the Award Agreement have been satisfied in that portion of the Performance Cycle that has lapsed. The Performance Share Units that the Board determines to have vested shall become payable in accordance with Section 5.3(h) thereof.
(iii) Upon termination of a Participant's relationship with the Company or a Subsidiary such that the Participant no longer qualifies as an Eligible Person, the Participant's eligibility to receive further grants of Awards of Performance Share Units under this Plan shall cease as of the Termination Date.
(g) Disability - Where a Participant becomes afflicted by a Disability, all Performance Share Units granted to the Participant under this Plan will continue to vest in accordance with the terms of such Performance Share Units; provided, however, that no Performance Share Units may be redeemed during a leave of absence. Where a Participant's relationship is terminated due to Disability such that the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person, all Performance Share Units granted to the Participant under this Plan that have not vested will, unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise and subject to the provisions below, immediately terminate without payment, be forfeited and cancelled and shall be of no further force or effect as of the Termination Date, and the Participant shall have no right, title or interest therein whatsoever; provided, however, that the Board may determine, in its sole discretion, the number of the Participant's Performance Share Units that will vest based on the extent to which the applicable Performance Criteria set forth in the Award Agreement have been satisfied in that portion of the Performance Cycle that has lapsed. The Performance Share Units that the Board determines to have vested shall become payable in accordance with Section 5.3(h) thereof.
(h) Payment of Award - Payment to Participants in respect of vested Performance Share Units shall be made after the Determination Date for the applicable Award and in any case within ninety-five (95) days after the last day of the Performance Cycle to which such Award relates. The Company shall, at the sole discretion of the Board, either:
(i) issue to the Participant or if Section 5.3(e) applies, to the Participant's estate, the number of Shares equal to the number of Performance Share Units
credited to the Participant's Account that have vested on the Determination Date; or
(ii) make a cash payment in an amount equal to the Market Unit Price on the next Trading Day after the Determination Date of the Performance Share Units credited to a Participant's Account that have vested, net of applicable withholdings.
As of the Vesting Date, the Performance Share Units in respect of which such Shares are issued or cash payment made shall be cancelled and no further payments shall be made to the Participant under this Plan in relation to such Performance Share Units.
5.4 Deferred Share Units
(a) Eligibility and Participation - Subject to the provisions of this Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, the Board may, from time to time, grant Awards of Deferred Share Units to Directors that do not perform Investor Relations Activities in lieu of Fees or to other Eligible Persons that do not perform Investor Relations Activities as compensation for employment or consulting services. Deferred Share Units granted to a Participant in accordance with Section 5.4 hereof shall be credited, as of the Grant Date, to the Participant's Account. The number of Deferred Share Units to be credited to each Participant shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion in accordance with this Plan. The number of Deferred Share Units shall be specified in the applicable Award Agreement.
(b) Election - Each Director may elect to receive any or all of his or her Fees in Deferred Share Units under this Plan. Elections by Directors regarding the amount of their Fees that they wish to receive in Deferred Share Units shall be made no later than 90 days after this Plan is adopted by the Board, and thereafter no later than December 31 of any given year with respect to Fees for the following year. Any Director who becomes a Director during a calendar year and wishes to receive an amount of his or her Fees for the remainder of that year in Deferred Share Units must make his or her election within 60 days of becoming a Director.
(c) Calculation of Deferred Share Units Granted in Lieu of Fees - The number of Deferred Share Units to be credited to a Participant's Account where the Participant is a Director who has elected to receive Deferred Share Units in lieu of Fees shall be calculated by dividing the amount of Fees selected by a Director in the applicable Election Form by the Market Unit Price on the Grant Date (or such other price as required under Exchange policies) which shall be the 10th business day following each financial quarter end. If, as a result of the foregoing calculation, a Participant that is a Director shall become entitled to a fractional Deferred Share Unit, the Participant shall only be credited with a full number of Deferred Share Units (rounded down) and no payment or other adjustment will be made with respect to the fractional Deferred Share Unit.
(d) Vesting - No Deferred Share Units may vest before the date that is one year following the date of the Award.
(e) Payment of Award - Each Participant shall be entitled to receive, after the effective date that the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person for any reason, on a day designated by the Participant and communicated to the Company by the Participant in writing at least 15 days prior to the designated day (or such earlier date after the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person as the Participant and the Company may agree, which date shall be no later than one year after the date upon which the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person) and if no such notice is given, then on the first anniversary of the effective date that the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person, at the sole discretion of the Board, either:
(i) that number of Shares equal to the number of vested Deferred Share Units credited to the Participant's Account, such Shares to be issued from treasury of the Company (provided that such issuance will not result in the number specified in Section 4.1(b) being exceeded); or
(ii) a cash payment in an amount equal to the Market Unit Price on the next Trading Day after the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person of the vested Deferred Share Units credited to a Participant's Account, net of applicable withholdings.
(f) Exception - In the event that the value of a Deferred Share Unit would be determined with reference to a period commencing at a fiscal quarter-end of the Company and ending prior to the public disclosure of interim financial statements for the quarter (or annual financial statements in the case of the fourth quarter), the cash payment of the value of the Deferred Share Units will be made to the Participant with reference to the five (5) Trading Days immediately following the public disclosure of the interim financial statements for that quarter (or annual financial statements in the case of the fourth quarter).
(g) Death - Upon death of a Participant holding Deferred Share Units that have vested, the Participant's estate shall be entitled to receive, within 120 days after the Participant's death and at the sole discretion of the Board, a cash payment or Shares that would have otherwise been payable in accordance with Section 5.4(e) hereof to the Participant upon such Participant ceasing to be an Eligible Person.
5.5 General Terms Applicable to Awards
(a) Forfeiture Events - The Board will specify in an Award Agreement at the time of the Award that the Participant's rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events shall include, but shall not be limited to, termination of a relationship for cause, violation of material Company policies, fraud, breach of non-competition, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company.
(b) Awards May be Granted Separately or Together - Awards may, in the discretion of the Board, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for any other Award or any award granted under any other Security-Based
Compensation Arrangement of the Company. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards, or in addition to or in tandem with awards granted under any other Security-Based Compensation Arrangement of the Company, may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.
(c) Non-Transferability of Awards - No Award and no right under any such Award shall be assignable, alienable, saleable, or transferable by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and only then if permitted by the Policies of the Exchange. No Award and no right under any such Award, may be pledged, alienated, attached, or otherwise encumbered, and any purported pledge, alienation, attachment, or encumbrance thereof shall be void and unenforceable against the Company.
(d) Conditions and Restrictions Upon Securities Subject to Awards - The Board may provide that the Shares issued under an Award shall be subject to such further agreements, restrictions, conditions or limitations as the Board in its sole discretion may specify, including without limitation, conditions on vesting or transferability and forfeiture or repurchase provisions or provisions on payment of taxes arising in connection with an Award. Without limiting the foregoing, such restrictions may address the timing and manner of any resales by the Participant or other subsequent transfers by the Participant of any Shares issued under an Award, including without limitation:
(i) restrictions under an insider trading policy or pursuant to applicable law;
(ii) restrictions designed to delay and/or coordinate the timing and manner of sales by Participant and holders of other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements; and
(iii) restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such resales or other transfers.
(e) Blackout Periods - In the event that the date provided for expiration, redemption or settlement of an Award falls within a Blackout Period imposed by the Company pursuant to a trading policy as the result of the bona fide existence of undisclosed Material Information, the expiry date, redemption date or settlement date, as applicable, of the Award shall automatically be extended to the date that is ten (10) business days following the date of expiry of the Blackout Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there will be no extension of any Award if the Company (or the Participant) is subject to a cease trade order (or similar order under applicable law).
(f) Share Certificates - All Shares delivered under this Plan pursuant to any Award shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Board may deem advisable under this Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of any securities commission, the Exchange, and any applicable securities legislation, regulations, rules, policies or orders, and the Board may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
(g) Conformity to Plan - In the event that an Award is granted which does not conform in all particulars with the provisions of this Plan, or purports to grant an Award on terms different from those set out in this Plan, the Award shall not be in any way void or invalidated, but the Award shall be adjusted to become, in all respects, in conformity with this Plan.
(h) Deductions - Whenever cash is to be paid in respect of Deferred Share Units, Restricted Share Units or Performance Share Units, the Company shall have the right to deduct from all cash payments made to a Participant any taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments. Whenever Shares are to be delivered in respect of Deferred Share Units, Restricted Share Units or Performance Share Units, the Company shall have the right to deduct from any other amounts payable to the Participant any taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such delivery of Shares, or if any payment due to the Participant is not sufficient to satisfy the withholding obligation, to require the Participant to remit to the Company in cash an amount sufficient to satisfy any taxes required by law to be withheld. At the sole discretion of the Board, a Participant may be permitted to satisfy the foregoing requirement by, all in accordance with the Policies of the Exchange, delivering (on a form prescribed by the Company) an irrevocable direction to a securities broker approved by the Company to sell all or a portion of the Shares and deliver to the Company from the sales proceeds an amount sufficient to pay the required withholding taxes.
(i) Evergreen Plan - Shares that were the subject of any Award made under this Plan that has been settled in cash, or that has been cancelled, terminated, surrendered, forfeited or has expired without being exercised, and pursuant to which no securities have been issued, may continue to be issuable under this Plan.
5.6 General Terms Applicable to Performance-Based Awards
(a) Performance Evaluation; Adjustment of Goals - At the time that a Performance-Based Award is first issued, the Board, in the Award Agreement or in another written document, shall specify whether performance will be evaluated including or excluding the effect of any of the following events that occur during the Performance Cycle or Restriction Period, as the case may be:
(i) judgments entered or settlements reached in litigation;
(ii) the write-down of assets;
(iii) the impact of any reorganization or restructuring;
(iv) the impact of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, regulatory actions or other laws affecting reported results;
(v) extraordinary non-recurring items as may be described in the Company's management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the applicable financial year;
(vi) the impact of any mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs or other divestitures; and
(vii) foreign exchange gains and losses.
(b) Adjustment of Performance-Based Awards - The Board shall have the sole discretion to adjust the determinations of the degree of attainment of the pre-established Performance Criteria or restrictions, as the case may be, as may be set out in the applicable Award Agreement governing the relevant Performance-Based Award. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Board may not make any adjustment or take any other action with respect to any Performance-Based Award that will increase the amount payable under any such Award. The Board shall retain the sole discretion to adjust Performance-Based Awards downward or to otherwise reduce the amount payable with respect to any Performance-Based Award.
SECTION 6 AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
6.1 Amendments and Termination of this Plan
The Board may at any time or from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the approval of shareholders of the Company, amend, suspend, terminate or discontinue this Plan and may amend the terms and conditions of any Awards granted hereunder, subject to:
(a) any required disinterested shareholder approval to (i) reduce the exercise price of an Award issued to an Insider or (ii) to extend the term of an Option granted to an Insider, in either event in accordance with the policies of the Exchange while the Shares are listed on the Exchange;
(b) any required approval of any applicable regulatory authority or the Exchange; and
(c) any approval of shareholders of the Company as required by the rules of the Exchange or applicable law, provided that shareholder approval shall not be required for the following amendments and the Board may make any changes which may include but are not limited to (except that the Exchange may require approval of the shareholders of the Company for amendments pursuant to Sections 6.1(c)(iii) to (vii)):
(i) amendments of a "housekeeping nature";
(ii) amendments for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, error or omission in this Plan or to correct or supplement any provision of this Plan that is inconsistent with any other provision of this Plan;
(iii) amendments which are necessary to comply with applicable law or the requirements of the Exchange;
(iv) amendments respecting administration and eligibility for participation under this Plan;
(v) amendments to the terms and conditions on which Awards may be or have been granted pursuant to this Plan including amendments to the vesting provisions and terms of any Awards;
(vi) with the exception of Options granted to Persons performing Investor Relations Activities, amendments which alter, extend or accelerate the terms of vesting applicable to any Awards; and
(vii) changes to the termination provisions of an Award or this Plan which do not entail an extension beyond the original fixed term.
If this Plan is terminated, prior Awards shall remain outstanding and in effect in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions.
6.2 Amendments to Awards
The Board may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate, any Awards thereto granted, prospectively or retroactively. No such amendment or alteration shall be made which would impair the rights of any Participant, without such Participant’s consent, under any Award thereto granted, provided that no such consent shall be required with respect to any amendment or alteration if the Board determines in its sole discretion that such amendment or alteration either:
(a) is required or advisable in order for the Company, this Plan or the Award to satisfy or conform to any law or regulation or to meet the requirements of Policy of the Exchange or any accounting standard; or
(b) is not reasonably likely to significantly diminish the benefits provided under such Award.
SECTION 7
GENERAL PROVISIONS
7.1 No Rights to Awards
No Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under this Plan, or, having been selected to receive an Award under this Plan, to be selected to receive a future Award. There is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Eligible Persons or Participants or beneficiaries of Awards under this Plan. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant. The Company and each Eligible Person qualifying for an Award are and shall be responsible for ensuring and confirming that each recipient of an Award is a bona fide Eligible Person that qualifies to receive the applicable Award.
7.2 Withholding
The Company shall be authorized to withhold any payment due under any Award or under this Plan until the Participant has paid or made arrangements for the payment of the amount of any withholding taxes due in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment under such Award or under this Plan.
7.3 No Limit on Other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements
Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Company or a Subsidiary from adopting or continuing in effect other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
7.4 No Right to Employment
The grant of an Award shall neither constitute an employment contract nor be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company, or to any other relationship with the Company. Further, the Company may at any time dismiss a Participant, free from any liability, or any claim under this Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in this Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement.
7.5 No Right as Shareholder
Neither the Participant nor any representatives of a Participant's estate shall have any rights whatsoever as shareholders in respect of any Shares covered by such Participant's Options, RSUs, PSUs and/or DSUs until the date of issuance of a share certificate to such Participant or representatives of a Participant's estate for such Shares.
7.6 Governing Law
This Plan and all of the rights and obligations arising hereunder shall be interpreted and applied in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein.
7.7 Severability
If any provision of this Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify this Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Board, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Board, materially altering the intent of this Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award, and the remainder of this Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
7.8 No Trust or Fund Created
Neither this Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured creditor of the Company.
7.9 No Fractional Shares
No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan or any Award, and the Board shall determine whether cash, or other securities shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares, or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be cancelled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.
7.10 Headings
Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of this Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Plan or any provision thereof.
7.11 No Representation or Warranty
The Company makes no representation or warranty as to the value of any Award granted pursuant to this Plan or as to the future value of any Shares issued pursuant to any Award.
7.12 No Representations or Covenant with Respect to Tax Qualification
Although the Company may, in its discretion, endeavor to (i) qualify an Award for favourable Canadian tax treatment or (ii) avoid adverse tax treatment, the Company makes no representation to that effect and expressly disavows any covenant to maintain favorable or avoid unfavorable tax treatment. The Company shall be unconstrained in its corporate activities without regard to the potential negative tax impact on holders of Awards under this Plan.
7.13 Conflict with Award Agreement
In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between the Policies of the Exchange, this Plan and an Award Agreement, the Policies of the Exchange shall govern for all purposes. In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between the provisions of this Plan and an Award Agreement, the provisions of this Plan shall govern for all purposes.
7.14 Compliance with Laws
The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under this Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, as well as the Policies of the Exchange as in effect from time-to-time, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or stock exchanges on which the Company is listed as may be required. The Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver evidence of title for Shares issued under this Plan prior to:
(a) obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable; and
(b) completion of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any applicable national or foreign law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable or at a time when any such registration or qualification is not current, has been suspended or otherwise has ceased to be effective.
The inability or impracticability of the Company to obtain or maintain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.
SECTION 8
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PLAN
8.1 Effective Date
This Plan shall become effective upon the date (the "Effective Date") of approval by the Board.
SECTION 9
TERM OF THIS PLAN
9.1 Term
This Plan shall terminate automatically 10 years after the Effective Date and may be terminated on any earlier date as provided in Section 6 hereof.