AI assistant
Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2020
Nov 12, 2020
47727_rns_2020-11-12_0540106c-3e4e-4c81-9f3a-b560569cafd2.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
Open in viewerOpens in your device viewer
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 1P6
BLUE LAGOON RESOURCES INC. Suite 636 – 666 Burrard Street
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR
AS AT OCTOBER 26, 2020
This Management Information Circular (“Information Circular”) is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by management of Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. for use at the annual general and special meeting (the “Meeting”) of shareholders of Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. (the “Shareholders”) to be held on December 4, 2020 and any adjournment or postponement thereof, for the purposes set forth in the attached Notice of Annual General Meeting. Except where otherwise indicated, the information contained herein is stated as of October 26, 2020.
In this Information Circular, references to the “ Company ” and “ we ” refer to Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. “ Common Shares ” means common shares without par value in the capital of the Company. “ Registered Shareholders ” means Shareholders whose names appear on the records of the Company as the registered holders of Common Shares. “ Non-Registered Shareholders ” means Shareholders who do not hold Common Shares in their own name. “ Intermediaries ” refers to brokers, investment firms, clearing houses and similar entities that own securities on behalf of Non-Registered Shareholders.
INTRODUCTION
In order to comply with measures imposed by the federal and provincial governments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to mitigate risks to the health and safety of our communities, shareholders, and other stakeholders, unless we advise otherwise by way of news release, the Company will not be permitting in person voting at the Meeting, and shareholders must vote by proxy in advance of the Meeting in order to have their votes counted.
The Meeting will be deemed to be held at the offices of Morton Law LLP, Suite 1200 – 750 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; however, the Meeting will be held in virtual only format . You will not be able to attend the Meeting in person. Registered shareholders and validly appointed proxyholders may attend the Meeting by contacting Rana Vig at [email protected] to obtain a video conference invite.
GENERAL PROXY INFORMATION
Solicitation of Proxies
The solicitation of proxies will be primarily by mail, but proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone by directors, officers and regular employees of the Company. The Company will bear all costs of this solicitation. We have arranged to send meeting materials directly to Registered Shareholders, as well as Non-Registered Shareholders who have consented to their ownership information being disclosed by the Intermediary holding the Common Shares on their behalf (non-objecting beneficial owners). We have not arranged for Intermediaries to forward the meeting materials to Non-Registered Shareholders who have objected to their ownership information being disclosed by the Intermediary holding the Common Shares on their behalf (objecting beneficial owners). As a result, objecting beneficial owners will not receive the Information Circular and associated meeting materials unless their Intermediary assumes the costs of delivery.
Appointment and Revocation of Proxies
The individuals named in the accompanying form of proxy (the “ Proxy ”) are officers of the Company or solicitors for the Company. If you are a Registered Shareholder, you have the right to attend the meeting or vote by proxy and to appoint a person or company other than the person designated in the Proxy, who need not be a Shareholder, to attend and act for you and on your behalf at the Meeting. You may do so either by inserting the name of that other person in the blank space provided in the Proxy or by completing and delivering another suitable form of Proxy.
If you are a Registered Shareholder and wish to have your shares voted at the Meeting, you will be required to submit your vote by proxy. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and issues related to the verification of shareholder identity via teleconference, in person voting will not be permitted at the Meeting. Registered Shareholders electing to submit a proxy may do so by completing, dating and signing the enclosed Proxy and returning it to the Company’s transfer agent, Odyssey Trust Company (“ Odyssey ”), in accordance with the instructions on the Proxy. Alternatively, Registered Shareholders my vote their shares via the internet or by telephone as per the instructions provided on the Proxy.
In all cases you should ensure that the Proxy is received at least two business days before the Meeting or the adjournment or postponement thereof at which the Proxy is to be used .
Every Proxy may be revoked by an instrument in writing:
-
(i) executed by the Shareholder or by his/her attorney authorized in writing or, where the Shareholder is a company, by a duly authorized officer or attorney of the company; and
-
(ii) delivered either to the registered office of the Company at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, at which the Proxy is to be used, or to the chairman of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof,
or in any other manner provided by law.
Only Registered Shareholders have the right to revoke a Proxy. Non-Registered Shareholders who wish to change their vote must, at least seven days before the Meeting, arrange for their respective Intermediaries to revoke the Proxy on their behalf. If you are a Non-Registered Shareholder, see “Voting by Non-Registered Shareholders” below for further information on how to vote your Common Shares.
Exercise of Discretion by Proxyholder
If you vote by proxy, the persons named in the Proxy will vote or withhold from voting the Common Shares represented thereby in accordance with your instructions on any ballot that may be called for. If you specify a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, your Common Shares will be voted accordingly. The Proxy confers discretionary authority on the persons named therein with respect to:
-
(i) each matter or group of matters identified therein for which a choice is not specified;
-
(ii) any amendment to or variation of any matter identified therein;
-
(iii) any other matter that properly comes before the Meeting; and
-
(iv) exercise of discretion of the Proxyholder.
In respect of a matter for which a choice is not specified in the Proxy, the persons named in the Proxy will vote the Common Shares represented by the Proxy for the approval of such matter. Management is not currently aware of any other matters that could come before the Meeting.
Given the fact that voting will only be permitted by proxy due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Management does not intend to allow new matters not contemplated in the Notice of Meeting to be considered at the Meeting.
Voting by Non-Registered Shareholders
The following information is of significant importance to Shareholders who do not hold Common Shares in their own name. Non-Registered Shareholders should note that the only Proxies that can be recognized and acted upon at the Meeting are those deposited by Registered Shareholders.
If Common Shares are listed in an account statement provided to a Shareholder by an Intermediary, then in almost all cases those Common Shares will not be registered in the Shareholder’s name on the records of the Company. Such Common Shares will more likely be registered under the name of the Shareholder’s Intermediary or an agent of that Intermediary. In the United States, the vast majority of such Common 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).
-2-
If you have consented to disclosure of your ownership information, you will receive a request for voting instructions from the Company (through Odyssey). If you have declined to disclose your ownership information, you may receive a request for voting instructions from your Intermediary if they have assumed the cost of delivering the Information Circular and associated meeting materials. Every Intermediary has its own mailing procedures and provides its own return instructions to clients. However, most Intermediaries now delegate responsibility for obtaining voting instructions from clients to Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“ Broadridge ”) in the United States and in Canada.
If you are a Non-Registered Shareholder, you should carefully follow the instructions on the voting instruction form received from Odyssey or Broadridge in order to ensure that your Common Shares are voted at the Meeting. The voting instruction form supplied to you will be similar to the Proxy provided to the Registered Shareholders by the Company. However, its purpose is limited to instructing the Intermediary on how to vote on your behalf.
The voting instruction form sent by Odyssey or Broadridge will name the same persons as the Company’s proxy to represent you at the Meeting. Although as a Non-Registered Shareholder you may not be recognized directly at the Meeting for the purposes of voting Common Shares registered in the name of your Intermediary, you, or a person designated by you (who need not be a Shareholder), may attend at the Meeting as Proxyholder for your Intermediary and vote your Common Shares in that capacity. To exercise this right to attend the meeting or appoint a Proxyholder of your own choosing, you should insert your own name or the name of the desired representative in the blank space provided in the voting instruction form. Alternatively, you may provide other written instructions requesting that you or your desired representative attend the Meeting as Proxyholder for your Intermediary. The completed voting instruction form or other written instructions must then be returned in accordance with the instructions on the form.
If you receive a voting instruction form from Odyssey or Broadridge, you cannot use it to vote Common Shares directly at the Meeting. The voting instruction form must be completed as described above and returned in accordance with its instructions well in advance of the Meeting in order to have the Common Shares voted.
Voting by Proxy Generally
Proxyholders other than the individuals named in the accompanying Proxy will be required to identify themselves by notice in writing to the Company by 10:00 a.m. ( Vancouver time ) by Wednesday, December 2, 2020 so that the Company can confirm their identity prior to the Meeting and facilitate their voting of the Proxies that they hold at the Meeting. Notice may be provided by mail to the Company c/o Suite 1200 – 750 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2T8 or email to [email protected]. Proxies will not be accepted at the Meeting. All Proxies must be submitted to Odyssey by 10:00 a.m. ( Vancouver time ) by Wednesday, December 2, 2020 (the “ Proxy Deadline ”).
As there will be no in person attendance or voting at the Meeting, votes received by the Proxy Deadline for each matter set out in the Notice will be tabulated in advance of the Meeting by Odyssey and compiled in a Proxy report (the “ Proxy Report ”). The determination as to whether a particular matter has been approved, a particular individual has been appointed or a particular resolution has been passed will be made solely on the basis of the voting results set out in the Proxy Report. Since no in person voting will be permitted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and voting results respecting matters set out in the Notice will be determined solely on the basis of the voting results set out in the Proxy Report, no ballots will be permitted at the Meeting . All results will be determined by reference to the Proxy Report. Management will advise at the Meeting, the voting results for each matter set out in the Proxy Report and Shareholders will be entitled to request a copy of the Proxy Report from Management after the Meeting.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
No person has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in matters to be acted upon at the Meeting other than the election of directors. For the purpose of this paragraph, “person” shall include each person: (a) who has been a director, senior officer or insider of the Company at any time since the commencement of the Company’s last fiscal year; (b) who is a proposed nominee for election as a director of the Company; or (c) who is an associate or affiliate of a person as defined in (a) or (b).
-3-
RECORD DATE AND QUORUM
The board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) has fixed the record date for the Meeting as the close of business on October 26, 2020 (the “ Record Date ”). Shareholders of record as at the Record Date are entitled to receive notice of the Meeting and to vote their Common Shares at the Meeting, except to the extent that any such Shareholder transfers any Common Shares after the Record Date and the transferee of those Common Shares establishes that the transferee owns the Common Shares and demands, not less than ten (10) days before the Meeting, that the transferee’s name be included in the list of Shareholders entitled to vote at the Meeting, in which case, only such transferee shall be entitled to vote such Common Shares at the Meeting.
Under the Articles of the Company, the quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of Shareholders is one person who is a shareholder, or who is otherwise permitted to vote shares of the Company at a meeting of shareholders pursuant to the Company’s articles, present in person or by proxy.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES
On the Record Date there were 69,500,347 Common Shares issued and outstanding, with each share carrying the right to one vote. Only Shareholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to vote in person or by proxy at the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
To the knowledge of the directors and executive officers of the Company, as of the date of this Information Circular, no Shareholder beneficially owns, or exercises control or direction, directly or indirectly, Common Shares carrying 10% or more of the votes attached to the Common Shares.
PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
To the knowledge of the Company’s directors, the only matters to be placed before the Meeting are those set forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting and discussed below.
Presentation of Financial Statements
The audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the financial year ended March 31, 2020, together with the auditor’s report thereon, will be placed before the Meeting.
Election of Directors
The Company proposes to fix the number of directors of the Company at three and to nominate the persons listed below for election as directors. Each director will hold office until the next annual general meeting of the Company or until his successor is elected or appointed, unless his office is earlier vacated. Management does not contemplate that any of the nominees will be unable to serve as a director. If, prior to the Meeting, any vacancies occur in the slate of nominees herein listed, it is intended that discretionary authority shall be exercised by the person named in the Proxy as nominee to vote the Common Shares represented by Proxy for the election of any other person or persons as directors.
The following table sets out the names of the director nominees; their positions and offices in the Company; principal occupations; the period of time that they have been directors of the Company; and the number of Common Shares that each beneficially owns or over which control or direction is exercised.
-4-
| Name, Residence and Present Position within the Company |
Director Since | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned, Directly or Indirectly, or Over Which Control or Discretion is Exercised(1) |
Principal Occupation(1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rana Vig(2) British Columbia, Canada President, Chief Executive Officer, and Corporate Secretary |
March 17, 2017 | 2,264,268 | Mr. Vig is a businessman; currently a director and officer of Fireswirl Technologies Inc. |
| Norman Brewster(2) Ontario, Canada |
September 3, 2018 |
Nil | Mr. Brewster is a businessman; currently President, CEO and a director of Cadillac Ventures Inc., and director and Chairman of BWR Exploration Inc. |
| Gurdeep Bains(2) British Columbia, Canada |
September 3, 2018 |
Nil | Mr. Bains is a businessman; currently the President of Brains Bioceutical Corp. and a director of Fireswirl Technologies Inc. |
Notes:
-
(1) The information as to principal occupation, business or employment and Common Shares beneficially owned or controlled is not within the knowledge of management of the Company and has been furnished by the respective nominees. Unless otherwise stated above, any nominees named above have held the principal occupation or employment indicated for at least the five preceding years.
-
(2) Member of the audit committee of the Company.
To the knowledge of the Company, no proposed director of the Company is, or has been, within the 10 years prior to the date of this Information Circular, a director or executive officer of any company that:
-
(a) was subject to a cease trade or similar order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, for a period of more than 30 consecutive days, that was issued while that person was acting in that capacity;
-
(b) was subject to a cease trade or similar order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, for a period of more than 30 consecutive days, that was issued after the proposed director ceased to act in that capacity, and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in that capacity; or
-
(c) while that person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets.
No proposed director of the Company is, or has been, within the 10 years prior to the date of this Information Circular, become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or become subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of the proposed director.
No proposed director of the Company has been subject to 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 has been subject to 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.
Appointment of Auditor
Management is recommending that Shareholders vote to appoint Davidson & Company LLP (“ Davidson ”), of Suite 1200 - 609 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, as auditors of the Company until the next annual meeting of Shareholders and to authorize the directors to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditor. Davidson was first appointed as auditors for the Company on October 24, 2019.
-5-
Approval of Stock Option Plan
At the Meeting, Shareholders of the Company will be asked to approve the continuation of the Company’s stock option plan (the “ Plan ”). The purpose of the Plan is to provide an incentive to directors, employees and consultants to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company, to continue their participation in the affairs of the Company and to increase their efforts on behalf of the Company.
The following summary of the Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan. A full copy of the Plan will be available at the Meeting for review by Shareholders. Shareholders may also obtain copies of the Plan from the Company prior to the Meeting on written request.
Eligible Participants. Options may be granted under the Plan to directors and officers of the Company or its subsidiaries, (collectively, the “ Directors ”), employees of the Company or its subsidiaries (collectively, the “ Employees ”) or consultants of the Company or its subsidiaries (collectively, the “ Consultants ”). The Board, in its discretion, determines which of the Directors, Employees or Consultants will be awarded options under the Plan.
Number of Shares Reserved. The number of Common Shares which may be issued pursuant to options granted under the Plan may not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the date of granting of options (including all options granted by the Company prior to the adoption of the Plan and under the Plan). Options that are exercised, cancelled or expire prior to exercise continue to be issuable under the Plan.
Exercise Price. The exercise price of any stock options granted under the Option Plan shall be determined by the Board, but may not be less than the greater of the closing market price of the Common Shares on (a) the trading day prior to the date of grant of the stock options; and (b) the date of grant of the stock options, pursuant to the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange.
Termination. Any options granted pursuant to the Plan will terminate upon the earliest of:
-
(a) the end of the term of the option;
-
(b) on the date the holder ceases to be eligible to hold the option (the “ Cessation Date ”), if the Cessation Date is as a result of dismissal for cause or regulatory sanction;
-
(c) one year from the date of death or disability, if the Cessation Date is as a result of death or disability;
-
(d) on such other date as fixed by the Board, provided that the date is no more than 90 days from the Cessation Date, if the Cessation Date is as a result of a reason other than death, disability or cause.
Shareholders will be asked at the Meeting to approve, with or without variation, the following ordinary resolution:
-
“BE IT RESOLVED as an ordinary resolution THAT:
-
(a) the Company’s stock option plan be approved, and that in connection therewith a maximum of 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the time of each grant be approved for granting as options; and
-
(b) any director or officer of the Company be authorized and directed to do all acts and things and to execute and deliver all documents required, as in the opinion of such director or officer may be necessary or appropriate in order to give effect to this resolution.”
A copy of the Plan is available at the records office of the Company at Suite 1200 – 750 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada until the business day immediately preceding the date of the Meeting, and a copy will also be made available at the Meeting.
Adoption of New Articles
The Board proposes to replace the Company’s current articles (the “ Existing Articles ”) with new articles (the “ New Articles ”). The primary reason for replacing the Existing Articles with the New Articles is to provide the Company with greater flexibility in carrying out the business of the Company.
-6-
Comparison of Existing Articles to New Articles
The main differences between the Existing Articles and the New Articles are that the New Articles provide for each of the following provisions, whereas the Existing Articles do not: (i) certain matters may be approved by directors’ resolution or by ordinary resolution, at the election of the directors in their sole discretion, subject to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia); and (ii) an advance notice provision which will provide Shareholders, directors and management of the Company with direction on the procedure for Shareholder nomination of directors.
The New Articles of the Company provide that the following matters may be approved by either by directors’ resolution or by ordinary resolution, at the election of the directors in their sole discretion:
-
(1) create one or more classes or series of shares or, if none of the shares of a class are allotted or issued, eliminate that class of shares;
-
(2) increase, reduce or eliminate the maximum number of shares that the Company is authorized to issue out of any class or series of shares or establish a maximum number of shares that the Company is authorized to issue out of any class or series of shares for which no maximum is established;
-
(3) subdivide or consolidate all or any of its unissued, or fully paid issued, shares;
-
(4) if the Company is authorized to issue shares of a class of shares with par value:
-
(i) decrease the par value of those shares; or
-
(ii) if none of the shares of that class of shares are allotted or issued, increase the par value of those shares;
-
(5) change all or any of its unissued, or fully paid issued, shares with par value into shares without par value or any of its unissued shares without par value into shares with par value;
-
(6) alter the identifying name of any of its shares; and
-
(7) otherwise alter its shares or authorized share structure when required or permitted to do so by the Business Corporations Act .
The New Articles permit a director to appoint by notice in writing received by the Company any person (an “ appointee ”) who is qualified to act as a director to be his or her alternate to act in his or her place at meetings of the directors or committees of the directors at which the director is not present unless (in the case of an appointee who is not a director) the directors have reasonably disapproved the appointment of such person as an alternate director and have given notice to that effect to his or her appointor within a reasonable time after the notice of appointment is received by the Company. In order to deal with situations where a director knows that he or she will be unable to attend Board meetings for a certain period of time, it is possible under the New Articles for a director to appoint an alternate director to act on his or her behalf in his or her absence.
Advance Notice Provision
The New Articles include an advance notice provision (the “ Advance Notice Provision ”), which will provide Shareholders, directors and management of the Company with direction on the procedure for Shareholder nomination of directors. The Advance Notice Provision is the framework by which the Company seeks to fix a deadline by which holders of record of Common Shares of the Company must submit director nominations to the Company prior to any annual or special meeting of Shareholders, and sets forth the information that a Shareholder must include in the notice to the Company for the notice to be in proper written form.
The purpose of adopting the Advance Notice Provision is to: (i) facilitate orderly and efficient annual general or special meetings; (ii) ensure that all Shareholders receive adequate notice of the director nominations and sufficient information with respect to all nominees; and (iii) allow Shareholders to register an informed vote. The full text of the Advance Notice Provision is set out at Section 14.12 of the New Articles, a full copy of which will be available at the Meeting for review by Shareholders.
Summary of the Advance Notice Provision
Subject to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “ Act ”), only persons who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as directors of the Company. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at any annual meeting of Shareholders, or at any special meeting of Shareholders if one of the purposes for which the special meeting was called was the election of directors. This nomination may be made:
-7-
(i) by the Board, including pursuant to a notice of meeting;
(ii) by or at the direction or request of one or more Shareholders pursuant to a proposal or requisition made in accordance with the provisions of the Act; or
(iii) by any person who (A) at the close of business on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in the Advance Notice Provision and on the record date for notice of such meeting, is a registered or beneficial holder of one or more shares carrying the right to vote at such meeting; and (B) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in the Advance Notice Provision (a “ Nominating Shareholder ”).
In addition, for a nomination to be made by a Nominating Shareholder, the Nominating Shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the secretary of the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company. To be timely, a Nominating Shareholder’s notice to the Company must be made:
(i) in the case of an annual meeting of Shareholders, not less than 30 or more than 65 days prior to the date of the annual meeting, provided that if the annual meeting is to be held on a date that is less than 50 days after the date on which the first public announcement of the meeting was made (the “ Notice Date ”), notice by the Nominating Shareholder may be made not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the Notice Date; and
(ii) in the case of a special meeting of Shareholders (which is not also an annual meeting) called for the purpose of electing directors (whether or not called for other purposes), not later than the close of business on the 15th day following the Notice Date.
In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a meeting of Shareholders or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a Nominating Shareholder’s notice as described above.
To be in proper written form, a Nominating Shareholder’s notice must include:
(i) for each person whom the Nominating Shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director: (A) the name, age, business address and residential address of the person; (B) the principal occupation or employment of the person; (C) the class or series and number of shares in the capital of the Company which are controlled or which are owned beneficially or of record by the person as of the record date for the meeting of Shareholders and as of the date of such notice; and (D) any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed in a dissident’s proxy circular in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to the Act and applicable securities laws; and
(ii) for the Nominating Shareholder giving the notice, any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Nominating Shareholder has a right to vote any shares of the Company and any other information relating to such Nominating Shareholder that would be required to be made in a dissident’s proxy circular in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to the Act and applicable securities laws.
The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Company or that could be material to a reasonable Shareholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee.
No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Company unless nominated in accordance with the provisions of the Advance Notice Provision. However, nothing in the Advance Notice Provision shall be deemed to preclude discussion by a Shareholder at a meeting of Shareholders of any matter, other than the nomination of directors, in respect of which it would have been entitled to submit a proposal pursuant to the provisions of the Act. The chair of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in the foregoing provisions and, if any proposed nomination is not in compliance with such foregoing provisions, to declare that such defective nomination shall be disregarded.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may, in its sole discretion, waive any requirement in the Advance Notice Provision.
A copy of the New Articles will be available for review by shareholders at the Meeting and shareholders may request a copy of the New Articles prior to the Meeting by contacting the Company at its records office at Suite 1200 - 750 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 2T8.
-8-
Shareholders will be asked at the Meeting to approve, with or without variation, the following special resolution to adopt the New Articles for the Company in replacement of the Existing Articles:
“BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
-
(a) the Existing Articles of the Company are cancelled in their entirety and the New Articles as more particularly described in the Company’s Information Circular dated October 26, 2020, be adopted as the articles of the Company in substitution for, and to the exclusion of, the existing articles of the Company;
-
(b) the Board of Directors of the Company be authorized, in its absolute discretion, to determine whether or not to proceed with the foregoing resolution, without further approval, ratification or confirmation by the shareholders of the Company; and
-
(c) any director or officer of the Company be authorized and directed to do all acts and things and to execute and deliver all documents required which, in the opinion of such director or officer, may be necessary or appropriate in order to give effect to the foregoing resolutions.”
Proxies received in favour of management will be voted in favour of the New Articles of the Company, unless the Shareholder has specified in the Proxy that his or her Common Shares are to be voted against such resolution.
The Board has concluded that the adoption of the New Articles is in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that the shareholders approve the New Articles of the Company by voting FOR the resolution adopting the New Articles at the Meeting. The adoption of the New Articles requires approval of ⅔ of the votes cast on the resolution.
OTHER BUSINESS
As of the date of this Information Circular, management of the Company knows of no other matters to be acted upon at the Meeting. However, should any other matters properly come before the Meeting, the Common Shares represented by the Proxy solicited hereby will be voted on such matters in accordance with the best judgment of the persons voting the Common Shares represented by the Proxy.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
For the purposes set out below a “ Named Executive Officer ” or “ NEO ” means:
-
(a) the Company’s chief executive officer (“ CEO ”);
-
(b) the Company’s chief financial officer (“ CFO ”);
-
(c) in respect of the Company and its subsidiaries, the most highly compensated executive officer other than the CEO and the CFO, at the end of the most recently completed financial year whose total compensation was more than $150,000 for that financial year; and
-
(d) each individual who would be a named executive officer under subsection (c) above but for the fact that the individual was not an executive officer of the Company, and was not acting in a similar capacity, at the end of that financial year.
As at November 30, 2019, the end of the most recently completed financial year of the Company, the Company had two NEOs, whose names and positions held within the Company are set out in the summary compensation table below. On April 20, 2020, the Company changed its financial year-end from November 30 to March 31.
An NEO or director of the Company is not permitted to purchase financial instruments, including, for greater certainty, prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, or units of exchange funds, that are designed to hedge or offset a decrease in market value of equity securities granted as compensation or held, directly by the NEO or director.
Director and Named Executive Officer Compensation
The following table is a summary of compensation (excluding compensation securities) paid, payable, awarded, granted, given, or otherwise provided, directly or indirectly, by the Company, or a subsidiary of the Company to each NEO and director for each of the Company’s two most recently completed financial years.
-9-
Table of compensation excluding compensation securities
| Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and position |
Year Ended |
Salary, consulting fee, retainer or commission ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Committee or meeting fees ($) |
Value of perquisites ($) |
Value of all other compensation ($) |
Total compensation ($) |
|
| Rana Vig CEO, President. Corporate Secretary and Director |
2019 2018 |
132,000 Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
80,655 Nil |
212,665 Nil |
|
| Carmelo Marrelli CFO |
2019 2018 |
Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | |
| Norman Brewster Director |
2019 2018 |
Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | |
| Gurdeep Bains Director |
2019 2018 |
Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
Notes:
On April 20, 2020, the Company changed its financial year-end from November 30 to March 31. $37,800 of management and consulting fees and $15,793 of share-based compensation were paid between December 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020.
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities
The following table contains information on compensation securities granted or issued to each director or NEO of the Company by the Company or its subsidiaries in the most recently completed financial year for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
| Compensation Securities | Compensation Securities | Compensation Securities | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and position | Type of compens ation security |
Number of compensation securities, number of underlying securities and percentage of class |
Date of issue or grant |
Issue, conversion or exercise price (C$) |
Closing price of security or underlying security on date of grant (C$) |
Closing price of security or underlying security at year end (C$) |
Expiry Date |
| Rana Vig CEO, President. Corporate Secretary and Director |
Options | 1,000,000 | July 18, 2019 | $0.11 | $0.45 | $1.39 | July 18, 2021 |
| Carmelo Marrelli CFO |
Options | 50,000 | July 18, 2019 | $0.11 | $0.45 | $1.39 | July 18, 2021 |
| Norman Brewster Director |
Options | 80,000 | July 18, 2019 | $0.11 | $0.45 | $1.39 | July 18, 2021 |
| Gurdeep Bains Director |
Options | 80,000 | July 18, 2019 | $0.11 | $0.45 | $1.39 | July 18, 2021 |
Notes:
(1) On August 20, 2019, the Company completed a four-for-one (4:1) share split of the issued and outstanding common shares. All shares and per share amounts have been retrospectively restated to reflect the share split.
(2) As at November 30, 2019, Mr. Vig held 1,000,000 stock options. As at March 31, 2020, Mr. Vig held 1,000,000 stock options.
(3) As at November 30, 2019, Mr. Marrelli held 50,000 stock options. As at March 31, 2020, Mr. Marrelli held 50,000 stock options
(4) As at November 30, 2019, Mr. Brewster held 80,000 stock options. As at March 31, 2020, Mr. Brewster held 80,000 stock options.
-10-
(5) As at November 30, 2019, Mr. Bains held 80,000 stock options. As at March 31, 2020, Mr. Bains held 80,000 stock options.
No compensation securities were exercised by the directors or NEOs during the most recently completed financial year.
Stock option plans and other incentive plans
See “Approval of Stock Option Plan” above for the material terms of the Company’s Plan. The Plan was approved by the board of directors of the Company on December 5, 2019, and will be placed before the Meeting for shareholder approval.
Employment, consulting and management agreements
Other than as disclosed herein, the Company does not have any agreement or arrangement under which compensation was provided during the most recently completed financial year or is payable in respect of services provided to the Company or any of its subsidiaries that were performed by a director or NEO, or performed by any other party but are services typically provided by a director or a NEO.
The Company entered into a management agreement with Rana Vig dated September 1,2019, pursuant to which Mr. Vig agreed to provide management services to the Company in consideration for $12,000 per month for a period of two years.
Oversight and Description of Director and Named Executive Officer Compensation
The objective of the Company’s compensation program is to compensate the executive officers for their services to the Company at a level that is both in line with the Company’s fiscal resources and competitive with companies at a similar stage of development.
The Company compensates its executive officers based on their skill, qualifications, experience level, level of responsibility involved in their position, the existing stage of development of the Company, the Company’s resources, industry practice and regulatory guidelines regarding executive compensation levels.
The Board has implemented three levels of compensation to align the interests of the executive officers with those of the Shareholders. First, executive officers may be paid a monthly consulting fee or salary. Second, the Board may award executive officers long term incentives in the form of stock options. Finally, and only in special circumstances, the Board may award cash or share bonuses for exceptional performance that results in a significant increase in Shareholder value. The Company provides medical and dental benefits but it does not provide pension or other benefits to the executive officers.
The base compensation of the executive officers is reviewed and set annually by the Board. The CEO has substantial input in setting annual compensation levels. The CEO is directly responsible for the financial resources and operations of the Company. In addition, the CEO and Board from time to time determine the stock option grants to be made pursuant to the Company’s stock option plan. Previous grants of stock options are taken into account when considering new grants. The Board awards bonuses at its sole discretion. The Board does not have pre-existing performance criteria or objectives.
Compensation for the most recently completed financial year should not be considered an indicator of expected compensation levels in future periods. All compensation is subject to and dependent on the Company’s financial resources and prospects.
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
The following table sets out information as at the end of the Company’s most recently completed financial year with respect to compensation plans under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance.
-11-
| Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a) |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plan (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity compensation plans approved by Shareholders (Stock Option Plan) |
1,310,000 | $0.20 | 1,997,280 |
| Equity compensation plans not approved byShareholders |
N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total: | 1,310,000 | - | 1,997,280 |
Notes:
(1) On April 20, 2020, the Company changed its financial year-end from November 30 to March 31. As at March 31, 2020, the Company had 2,150,000 securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights, with a weighted-average exercise price of $0.65. As at March 31, 2020, the Company had 2,581,511 securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans.
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Since the beginning of the most recently completed financial year, none of the directors, executive officers, employees, proposed nominees for election as directors or their associates have been indebted to the Company.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
No informed person (a director, officer or holder of 10% or more of the Common Shares) or nominee for election as a director of the Company or any associate or affiliate of any informed person or proposed director had any interest 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 or any of its subsidiaries.
MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS
Management functions of the Company or any of its subsidiaries are not to any substantial degree performed by anyone other than the directors or executive officers of the Company or subsidiary.
STATEMENT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Corporate Governance
Corporate governance relates to the activities of the Board, the members of which are elected by and are accountable to the Shareholders, and takes into account the role of the individual members of management who are appointed by the Board and charged with the day to day management of the Company. The Canadian Securities Administrators (“ CSA ”) have adopted National Policy 58-201 Corporate Governance Guidelines, which provides non-prescriptive guidelines on corporate governance practices for reporting issuers such as the Company. In addition, the CSA has implemented National Instrument 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices (“ NI 58-101 ”), which prescribes certain disclosure by the Company of its corporate governance practices. This disclosure is presented below. Board of Directors
The Board currently consists of three members, Rana Vig, Norman Brewster, and Gurdeep Bains and it is proposed that all three be nominated at the Meeting.
The Board has concluded that two directors, Norman Brewster and Gurdeep Bains are “independent” for purposes of membership on the Board, as provided in NI 58-101. Rana Vig, President and CEO, is not “independent” for the purposes of membership on the Board, as provided in NI 58-101.
-12-
The independent directors do not hold regularly scheduled meetings at which non-independent directors and members of management are not in attendance. The Board facilitates open and candid discussion among its independent directors through collective communication among its directors and management.
Other Directorships
The following table sets forth the directors of the Company who are directors of other reporting issuers:
| Name | **Name of other reporting issuer ** |
|---|---|
| Rana Vig | Fireswirl Technologies Inc. |
| Norman Brewster | BWR Exploration Inc. Cadillac Ventures Inc. |
| GurdeepBains | Fireswirl Technologies Inc. |
Orientation and Continuing Education
New Board members receive an orientation package which includes reports on operations and results, and any public disclosure filings by the Company, as may be applicable. Board meetings are sometimes held at the Company's offices and, from time to time, are combined with presentations by the Company's management to give the directors additional insight into the Company's business. In addition, management of the Company makes itself available for discussion with all Board members.
Ethical Business Conduct
The Board has not adopted a formal code of business conduct and ethics. The Board is of the view that the fiduciary duties placed on individual directors by the Company’s governing legislation and common law together with corporate statutory restrictions on an individual director’s participation in Board decisions in which the director has an interest are sufficient to ensure that the Board operates independently of management and in the best interests of the Company.
Nomination of Directors
The Board considers its size each year when it considers the number of directors to recommend to the Shareholders for election at the annual general meeting. The Board takes in to account the number of directors required to carry out the Board’s duties effectively and to maintain diversity of views and experience.
The Board has not established a nominating committee and this function is currently performed by the Board as a whole. However, if there is a change in the number of directors required by the Company, this policy will be reviewed.
Compensation
The Board has not established a formal compensation committee. Rather, the independent Board members are responsible for reviewing and determining the adequacy and form of compensation paid to the Company’s executives and key employees. The independent Board members evaluate the performance of the CEO and other senior management measured against the Company’s business goals and industry compensation levels.
Other Board Committees
The Board has no committees other than the audit committee.
Assessments
The Board annually, and at such other times as it deems appropriate, reviews the performance and effectiveness of the Board, the directors and its committees to determine whether changes in size, personnel or responsibilities are warranted. To assist in its review, the Board conducts informal surveys of its directors and receives a report from the audit committee respecting its effectiveness. As part of the assessments, the Board or the audit committee may review their respective mandate or charter and conduct reviews of applicable corporate policies.
-13-
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Audit Committee Disclosure
Pursuant to Section 224(1) of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and National Instrument 52-110 of the Canadian Securities Administrators (“ NI 52-110 ”) the Company is required to have an audit committee (the “ Committee ”) comprising not less than three directors, a majority of whom are not officers, control persons or employees of the Company or an affiliate of the Company. NI 52-110 requires the Company as a venture issuer, to disclose annually in its Information Circular certain information concerning the constitution of its audit committee and its relationship with its independent auditor, as set forth below.
The primary function of the Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling its financial oversight responsibilities by: (i) reviewing the financial reports and other financial information provided by the Company to regulatory authorities and Shareholders; (ii) reviewing the systems for internal corporate controls which have been established by the Board and management; and (iii) overseeing the Company’s financial reporting processes generally. In meeting these responsibilities, the Committee monitors the financial reporting process and internal control system; reviews and appraises the work of external auditors and provides an avenue of communication between the external auditors, senior management and the Board. The Committee is also mandated to review and approve all material related party transactions.
The Audit Committee’s Charter
The Company has adopted a Charter of the Audit Committee of the Board a copy of which is annexed hereto as Schedule “A”.
Composition of the Audit Committee
The Committee comprises of the following members: Rana Vig, Norman Brewster, and Gurdeep Bains. Mr. Brewster and Mr. Bains are considered to be independent. In addition, each member of the Committee is considered to be financially literate as defined by NI 52-110 in that they have the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can presumably be expected to be raised by the Company’s financial statements.
The members of the Committee are elected by the Board at its first meeting following the annual shareholders’ meeting. Unless a chair is elected by the full Board, the members of the Committee designate a chair by a majority vote of the full Committee membership.
Relevant Education and Experience
Rana Vig – Mr. Vig has 30 years of business experience and has been involved in publicly traded companies since 2010. In this time Mr. Vig has served on the audit committee for several pubic companies, including Continental Precious Minerals Inc. and Fireswirl Technologies Inc. Mr. Vig is very familiar with managing junior listed companies, including financing and compliance with reporting requirements. Based on his experience, Mr. Vig has an understanding of financial reporting requirements respecting financial statements sufficient enough to enable him to discharge his duties as an audit committee member.
Norman Brewster – Mr. Brewster is a Professional Geologist with the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario. Currently, he is the CEO and a director of Cadillac Ventures Inc., a TSXV listed company and the Chairman of the board of directors of BWR Exploration Inc., a TSXV listed company. Through his experience with junior listed companies, Mr. Brewster has an understanding of financial reporting requirements respecting financial statements sufficient enough to enable him to discharge his duties as an audit committee member.
Gurdeep Bains – Mr. Bains is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) who in 2003 received his Chartered Accountant Designation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC and in 2004 graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. From 2000 to 2005, he was a Senior Auditor, Assurance Services at KPMG. Additionally, Mr. Bains was with Canaccord Genuity as Vice President, internal audit and financial analysis from 2005 to 2014, and from June 2014 to October 2017, he was the CFO at OK Tire Stores Inc. From October 2017 to March 2019, Mr. Bains was CFO at Zenabis Ltd., contributing in both finance and business development roles, and is currently the President of Brains Bioceutical Corp. since April 2019. As a result, Mr. Bains has an understanding of financial reporting requirements respecting financial statements sufficient enough to enable him to discharge his duties as an audit committee member.
-14-
Audit Committee Oversight
Since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, the Board has not failed to adopt a recommendation of the Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor.
Reliance on Certain Exemptions
Since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, the Company has not relied on, the following exemptions:
-
(a) the exemption in section 2.4 ( De Minimis Non-audit Services ), which provides an exemption from the requirement that the audit committee must pre-approve all non-audit services to be provided to the Company or its subsidiaries by the Company’s external auditor;
-
(b) the exemption in subsection 6.1.1(4) ( Circumstance Affecting the Business or Operations of the Venture Issuer ), which provides an exemption from the requirements for the composition of the audit committee if a circumstance arises that affects the business or operations of the venture issuer, and a reasonable person would conclude that the circumstance can be best addressed by a member of the audit committee becoming an executive officer or employee of the venture issuer;
-
(c) the exemption in subsection 6.1.1(5) ( Events Outside Control of Member ), which provides an exemption from the requirements for the composition of the audit committee for if an audit committee member becomes a control person of the venture issuer or of an affiliate of the venture issuer for reasons outside the member’s reasonable control;
-
(d) the exemption in subsection 6.1.1(6) ( Death, Incapacity or Resignation ), which provides an exemption from the requirements for the composition of the audit committee if a vacancy on the audit committee arises as a result of the death, incapacity or resignation of an audit committee member and the Board is required to fill the vacancy; or
-
(e) an exemption from NI 52-110, in whole or in part, granted under Part 8 ( Exemption ) of NI 52-110, which permits a company to apply to a securities regulatory authority for an exemption from the requirements of NI 52-110, in whole or in part.
Pre-approval Policies and Procedures
The Committee has not adopted specific policies and procedures for the engagement of non-audit services. Subject to the requirements of NI 52-110, the engagement of non-audit services is considered by the Board, and where applicable the Committee, on a case-by-case basis.
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 or 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 fees paid by the Company to its auditor in each of the last two fiscal years, by category, are as follows:
| Financial Year Ending | Audit Fees | Audit Related Fees | Tax Fees | All Other Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 25,000 | $13,650 | $2625 | Nil |
| 2018 | $5,500 | $500 | Nil | Nil |
Notes:
(1) On April 20, 2020, the Company changed its financial year-end from November 30 to March 31.
Exemption
The Company is relying on 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.
-15-
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information relating to the Company is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Financial information is provided in the Company’s comparative annual financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis for its most recently completed financial year, and available online at www.sedar.com. Shareholders may request additional copies by mail to Suite 636 – 666 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3P6.
DIRECTORS’ APPROVAL
The contents and the sending of the Notice of Meeting and this Information Circular have been approved by the Board.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
“Rana Vig ”
Rana Vig President and Chief Executive Officer
-16-
Schedule “A”
Charter of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. (the “Company”)
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
This Charter establishes the composition, the authority, roles and responsibilities and the general objectives of the Company’s audit committee, or its Board of Directors in lieu thereof (the “Audit Committee”). The roles and responsibilities described in this Charter must at all times be exercised in compliance with the legislation and regulations governing the Company and any subsidiaries.
Composition
-
Number of Members . The Audit Committee must be comprised of a minimum of three directors of the Company, a majority of whom will be independent. Independence of the board members will be as defined by applicable legislation.
-
The members of the Committee will be appointed by the board of directors of the Company (“Board”) annually at the first meeting of the Board following the annual meeting of the shareholders, to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are duly appointed.
-
Chair . If there is more than one member of the Audit Committee, members will appoint a chair of the Audit Committee (the “Chair”) to serve for a term of one (1) year on an annual basis. The Chair may serve as the chair of the Audit Committee for any number of consecutive terms.
-
Financially Literacy. All members of the audit committee will be financially literate as defined by applicable legislation. If upon appointment a member of the Audit Committee is not financially literate as required, the person will be provided with a period of three months to acquire the required level of financial literacy.
Meetings
-
Quorum . The quorum required to constitute a meeting of the Audit Committee is set at a majority of members.
-
Agenda . The Chair will set the agenda for each meeting, after consulting with management and the external auditor. Agenda materials such as draft financial statements must be circulated to all Audit Committee members for members to have a reasonable amount of time to review the materials prior to the meeting.
-
Notice to Auditors . The Company’s auditors (the “Auditors”) will be provided with notice as necessary of any Audit Committee meeting, will be invited to attend each such meeting and will receive an opportunity to be heard at those meetings on matters related to the Auditor’s duties.
-
Minutes . Minutes of the Audit Committee meetings will be accurately recorded, with such minutes recording the decisions reached by the committee.
Roles and Responsibilities
The roles and responsibilities of the Audit Committee include the following:
External Auditor
The Audit Committee will:
- A. Selection of the external auditor . Select, evaluate and recommend to the Board, for shareholder approval, the Auditor to examine the Company’s accounts, controls and financial statements.
-A1-
-
B. Scope of Work . Evaluate, prior to the annual audit by the Auditors, the scope and general extent of the Auditor’s review, including the Auditor’s engagement letter.
-
C. Compensation . Recommend to the Board the compensation to be paid to the external auditors.
-
D. Replacement of Auditor . If necessary, recommend the replacement of the Auditor to the Board of Directors.
-
E. Approve Non-Audit Related Services . Pre-approve all non-audit services to be provided by the Auditor to the Company or its subsidiaries.
-
F. Direct Responsibility for Overseeing Work of Auditors . Must directly oversee the work of the Auditor. The Auditor must report directly to the Audit Committee.
-
G. Resolution of Disputes . Assist with resolving any disputes between the Company’s management and the Auditors regarding financial reporting.
Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Information
The Audit Committee will:
-
H. Review Audited Financial Statements . Review the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company, discuss those statements with management and with the Auditor, and recommend their approval to the Board.
-
I. Review of Interim Financial Statements . Review and discuss with management the quarterly consolidated financial statements, and if appropriate, recommend their approval by the Board.
-
J. MD&A, Annual and Interim Earnings Press Releases, Audit Committee Reports . Review the Company’s management discussion and analysis, interim and annual press releases, and audit committee reports before the Company publicly discloses this information.
-
K. Auditor Reports and Recommendations . Review and consider any significant reports and recommendations issued by the Auditor, together with management’s response, and the extent to which recommendations made by the Auditor have been implemented.
Risk Management, Internal Controls and Information Systems
The Audit Committee will:
-
L. Internal Control . Review with the Auditors and with management, the general policies and procedures used by the Company with respect to internal accounting and financial controls. Remain informed, through communications with the Auditor, of any weaknesses in internal control that could cause errors or deficiencies in financial reporting or deviations from the accounting policies of the Company or from applicable laws or regulations.
-
M. Financial Management . Periodically review the team in place to carry out financial reporting functions, circumstances surrounding the departure of any officers in charge of financial reporting, and the appointment individuals in these functions.
-
N. Accounting Policies and Practices . Review management plans regarding any changes in accounting practices policies and the financial impact thereof.
-
O. Litigation . Review with the Auditors and legal counsel any litigation, claim or contingency, including tax assessments, that could have a material effect upon the financial position of the Company and the manner in which these matters are being disclosed in the consolidated financial statements.
-
P. Other. Discuss with management and the Auditors correspondence with regulators, employee complaints, or published reports that raise material issues regarding the Company’s financial statements or disclosure.
-A2-
Complaints
-
Q. Accounting, Auditing and Internal Control Complaints . The Audit Committee must establish a procedure for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal controls or auditing matters.
-
R. Employee Complaints . The Audit Committee must establish a procedure for the confidential transmittal on condition of anonymity by the Company’s employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
Authority
-
Auditor . The Auditor, and any internal auditors hired by the company, will report directly to the Audit Committee.
-
To Retain Independent Advisors . The Audit Committee may, at the Company’s expense and without the approval of management, retain the services of independent legal counsels and any other advisors it deems necessary to carry out its duties and set and pay the monetary compensation of these individuals.
Reporting
The Audit Committee will report to the Board on:
-
the Auditor’s independence;
-
the performance of the Auditor and any recommendations of the Audit Committee in relation thereto;
-
the reappointment and termination of the Auditor;
-
the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and disclosure controls;
-
the Audit Committee’s review of the annual and interim consolidated financial statements;
-
the Audit Committee’s review of the annual and interim management discussion and analysis;
-
the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory matters to the extent they affect the financial statements of the Company; and
-
all other material matters dealt with by the Audit Committee.
-A3-