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Cupani Metals — AGM Information 2020
Oct 28, 2020
46512_rns_2020-10-28_54e8cecd-0517-45c2-90e3-56354df236e2.pdf
AGM Information
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IC CAPITALIGHT CORP.
NOTICE OF THE 2020 ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
I am pleased to give you notice that the 2020 annual general and special meeting (the “ Meeting ”) of holders (the “ Shareholders ”) of common shares (the “ Shares ”) of IC Capitalight Corp. (the “ Company ” or “ Capitalight ”) will be held at 130 King Street West, Exchange Tower Suite 1940, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5X 2A2 on November 19, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time) for the following purposes:
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To receive the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and the Auditors’ Report thereon.
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To elect five (5) directors of the Company, each to hold their offices until the next annual meeting of the Shareholders or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified or until the earlier of their resignation, removal or death.
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To approve the re-appointment of MNP LLP, Chartered Accountants, as the Company’s auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 and to authorize the Board of Directors to fix their remuneration.
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To ratify, confirm and approve the Company’s new omnibus long-term incentive plan and unallocated awards issuable thereunder.
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To transact other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
Particulars of the foregoing matters are set forth in the accompanying management information circular of the Company dated October 15, 2020 (the “ Circular ”).
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on October 13, 2020 as the record date for the Meeting. Only registered Shareholders at such time are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting.
The Company will mail the Circular, the audited financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and other related materials of the Meeting (the “ Meeting Materials ”) to Shareholders. The audited financial statements can be viewed on the Company’s website at www.capitalight.co and on the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
DUE TO COVID PHYSICAL DISTANCING RESTRICTIONS, ALL SHAREHOLDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VOTE IN ADVANCE USING THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY SINCE SHAREHOLDERS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO PHYSICALLY ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON.
Any shareholder that would like to attend the Meeting can join ELECTRONICALLY through Zoom using https://zoom.us/j/3988986319 or by dialing (647) 374-4685 and using meeting code 398 898 6319. All attendees MUST obtain the meeting PASSCODE prior to login, by advising the Company of your intention to attend the Meeting at least three (3) business days prior to the Meeting date by sending an email that includes your full name and contact information to [email protected]. Shareholders that attend electronically and that have not already voted by proxy will be permitted to vote their Shares during the Meeting by requesting a ballot from the scrutineer at the start of the Meeting.
If you hold your Shares directly (that is, as a registered Shareholder) please complete, date, sign and return the accompanying form of proxy in the enclosed envelope to to the TSX Trust Company, 100 Adelaide Street West, Suite 301, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5H 4H1, Attention: Proxy Department, by November 17, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time).
If you hold your Shares in "street name", please complete, date and sign the voting instruction form that has been provided by your broker, bank or other nominee and return it in the enclosed envelope in accordance with the instructions provided by your broker, bank or other nominee.
You can also submit your proxy votes online through voteproxyonline.com and using the control number that will be provided on the Proxy/VIF.
The Meeting for which this notice is given may be adjourned without further notice other than announcement at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Any business for which notice is hereby given may be transacted at any such adjourned Meeting.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(signed) “Brian Bosse” Brian Bosse, Chief Executive Officer and Director
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IC CAPITALIGHT CORP. MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR FOR THE 2020 ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
INTRODUCTION
Unless otherwise stated, the information contained in this Circular is as of October 15, 2020.
No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained in this Circular and, if given or made, such information or representation should not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company. The delivery of this Circular shall not, under any circumstances, create an implication that there has not been any change in the information set forth herein since the date hereof.
All references to shareholders in this Circular and the accompanying Form of Proxy and Notice of Meeting are to be shareholders of record unless specifically stated otherwise.
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
This Circular is being sent to holders (the “ Shareholders ”) of Shares (the “ Shares ”) of IC Capitalight Corp. (the “ Company ”) in connection with the solicitation by or on behalf of management of the Company by its Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) in connection with the 2020 annual general and special meeting of Shareholders (the “ Meeting ”) to be held at 130 King Street West, Exchange Tower Suite 1940, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5X 2A2 on November 19, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time), or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Proxies will be solicited primarily by mail but may also be solicited personally, by telephone or electronically by the regular employees of the Company at nominal costs. Employees of the Company may solicit proxies personally or by telephone at nominal cost. The proxy cut-off date for Shares to be voted in advance of the Meeting will be on November 17, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time).
Record Date
Registered Shareholders at the close of business on October 13, 2020, the record date for the Meeting, are entitled to receive this Circular and to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. Shareholders have one vote per Share on each matter to be acted upon. A list of the registered Shareholders entitled to vote will be available at the Meeting.
COVID Restrictions
DUE TO COVID PHYSICAL DISTANCING RESTRICTIONS, ALL SHAREHOLDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VOTE IN ADVANCE USING THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY SINCE SHAREHOLDERS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO PHYSICALLY ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON.
Any shareholder that would like to attend the Meeting can join ELECTRONICALLY through Zoom using https://zoom.us/j/3988986319 or by dialing (647) 374-4685 and using meeting code 398 898 6319. All attendees MUST obtain the Meeting PASSCODE prior to login, which can be obtained by advising the Company of your intention to attend the Meeting at least three (3) business days prior to the Meeting date by sending an email that includes your full name and contact information to [email protected]. Shareholders that attend electronically and that have not already voted by proxy will be permitted to vote their Shares during the Meeting by requesting a ballot from the scrutineer at the start of the Meeting.
Registered Shareholders
If your Shares are registered directly in your name with the Company’s transfer agent, TSX Trust Company, you are considered, with respect to those Shares, a registered Shareholder. The Meeting Materials have been sent directly to you on the Company’s behalf at the address on file with TSX Trust Company. The Company has engaged the TSX Trust Company, to handle the setup, mailing and tabulation of proxies in relation to the Meeting.
Non-Registered Shareholders
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If your Shares are held in “street name” through a broker, bank or other nominee (such as CDS & Co.), you are considered a nonregistered Shareholder. In accordance with National Instrument 54-101 – Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer (“ NI 54-101 ”), arrangements have been made to forward proxy solicitation materials to the non-registered Shareholders. The Meeting Materials have been forwarded, if requested, to you by your broker, bank or other holder of record who is considered, with respect to those Shares, the registered Shareholder. As a non-registered Shareholder, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other holder of record on how to vote your Shares by using the voting instruction form included in the Meeting Materials or as otherwise provided to you by your broker, bank, or other nominee.
Appointment and Submission of Proxies
The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy 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 of the Company), other than the persons designated in the accompanying form of proxy or voting instruction form, to represent the Shareholder at the Meeting. Such right may be exercised by inserting the name of such person or company in the blank space provided in the proxy or by completing another proper form of proxy or voting instruction form. In all cases, the completed proxy is to be delivered to the TSX Trust Company, 100 Adelaide Street West, Suite 301, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5H 4H1, Attention: Proxy Department, by November 17, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time). You can also submit your proxy votes online through voteproxyonline.com and using the control number that will be provided on the Proxy/VIF.
Manner of Voting and Exercise of Discretion by Proxies
Your Shares will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the instructions contained in the form of proxy or voting instruction form. Your Shares will be voted for, against or withheld from voting in accordance with your instructions on any ballot that may be called for and, if you specify a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, your Shares will be voted accordingly.
IF YOU RETURN A SIGNED FORM OF PROXY OR VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM WITHOUT INDICATING YOUR VOTE, YOUR SHARES WILL BE VOTED “FOR” EACH OF THE MATTERS PUT FORTH AT THE MEETING.
The enclosed Form of Proxy confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein with respect to any amendments or variations to matters identified in the Notice of Meeting and with respect to other matters which may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. As of the date of this Circular, management of the Company knows of no such amendments, variations or other matters to come before the Meeting other than the matters referred to in the Notice of Meeting.
The grant of a proxy on the enclosed form of proxy or voting instruction form does not preclude a Shareholder from voting in person. Shareholders that attend electronically and that have not already voted by proxy will be permitted to vote their Shares during the Meeting by requesting a ballot from the scrutineer at the start of the Meeting.
Revocability of Proxies
A Shareholder may revoke a proxy at any time prior to your proxy being voted: (i) by delivering to the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, prior to the Meeting, a written notice of revocation bearing a later date or time than the proxy; (ii) by timely delivery of a valid, later dated proxy; or (iii) by electronically attending the Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Meeting will not by itself constitute revocation of a proxy. If an adjournment occurs, it will have no effect on the ability of registered Shareholders as of the record date to exercise their voting rights or to revoke any previously delivered proxies. We do not expect to adjourn the Meeting for a period of time long enough to require the setting of a new record date.
Quorum and Approval
The presence in person or by proxy of two persons holding at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Shares of the Company constitutes a quorum for the Meeting. There are no cumulative voting rights. The scrutineer who will be appointed for the Meeting will tabulate votes cast by proxy or in person and will determine whether or not a quorum is present.
Unless otherwise noted, approval of matters to be placed before the Meeting are by “ordinary resolution”, which is a resolution passed by a simple majority (50% plus 1) of the votes cast by shareholders of the Company entitled to vote and present in person or represented by proxy.
Soliciation Costs
The Company will pay the cost of solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board. In addition to mail, proxy solicitation may be made through other means, including by telephone, electronically, and personal interview by our officers, directors and employees. The Company does not intend to pay for an intermediary to deliver to Objecting Beneficial Owners, or “OBOs” (within the meaning of such term under NI 54-101, the proxy-related materials and Form 54-101F7), and therefore OBOs will not receive the materials unless their intermediary assumes the costs of delivery. The Company is sending proxy related material to Non-objecting Beneficial Owners.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSON IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
No director or officer of the Company, nor any person who has held such a position since the beginning of the last completed financial year-end of the Company, nor any proposed nominee for election as a director of the Company, nor any associate or affiliate of any of the foregoing persons, has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter of business to be acted upon at the Meeting, other than the election of directors of the Company, the Omnibus Plan Resolution, and as may otherwise be set out herein.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
The Company is authorized to issued an unlimited number of Shares.
As of the date hereof, the Company had 85,580,770 Shares issued and outstanding, all of which are Shares, each of which carries the right to one vote on all matters that may come before the Meeting.
To the knowledge of the directors and executive officers of the Company, no person or Company beneficially owns, or controls or directs, directly or indirectly, Shares carrying in excess of 10% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding Shares of the Company other than as set forth below:
| Number of | Percentage of Outstanding | |
|---|---|---|
| Name of Shareholder | Shares Owned | Shares |
| Brian Bosse(1) | 32,706,667 | 35.8% |
(1) Includes shares owned through Bluespring Investment Strategies Inc.
PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON AT THE MEETING
1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2019, 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 on available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
2. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company’s practice is to hold annual elections for directors and at meetings of Shareholders called for this purpose. Each director is elected individually.
The number of directors has been set at five (5).
Directors of the Company will hold their offices until the next annual meeting of Shareholders or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified or until the earlier of resignation, removal of office or death. Executive officers of the Company are appointed by the Board to serve until their successors are elected and qualified.
The following table sets forth the name, province and country of residence, age, Company position and principal occupation of the five nominated directors of the Company as well as the shareholdings of each director. There are no family relationships between any director or executive officer of the Company.
| Name | Age | Company **Position ** |
Principal Occupation (3) |
Director Since |
# of Voting Securities Beneficially Owned, or Controlled or Directed, Directly or Indirectly (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Bosse(1)Toronto, ON |
47 | CEO and Director | CEO and director of Capitalight |
January 2017 |
32,706,667 |
| Marc Johnson(1) Toronto, ON |
44 | CFO and Director | CFO and director of Capitalight, CFO of NextSource Materials Inc. |
November 2018 |
416,667 |
| Bryan Loree(2)Burnaby, BC |
44 | Director | CFO and director of Cannabix Technologies Inc., CFO of KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp., and CFO of TGS Esports Inc. |
June 2008 |
2,541,350 |
| Douglas R. MacQuarrie(2) Whistler, BC |
67 | Director | CEO and director of Asante Gold Corporation, and President of MIA Investments Ltd. |
April 2016 | 4,417,500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veronika Hirsch(2), Calgary, AB |
66 | Director | Investor | May 2019 |
Nil |
(1) Brian Bosse and Marc Johnson are non-independent directors as they are executive officers of the Company.
(2) Bryan Loree, Douglas R. MacQuarrie and Veronika Hirsch are independent directors of the Company.
(3) The information as to principal occupation and voting securities (defined as securities that, by their terms, provide the securityholders with a presently exercisable right to vote for the election of directors) beneficially owned or controlled or directed, directly or not directly, not being within the knowledge of the Company, has been furnished by the respective nominees.
Biographies of the Nominated Directors of the Company
Brian Bosse – CEO and Director
Brian Bosse has served as CEO of the Company since March 15, 2018. Mr. Bosse is an investment professional with two decades of experience in commodities, as well as both private and public equity. Mr. Bosse has served as a business turnaround specialist for a number of Canadian investment firms. Commencing with Byron Securities and concluding with Société Générale, he spent a decade restructuring equity sales and trading departments, as well as proprietary investment divisions. Mr. Bosse has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics (Honours) from Wilfrid Laurier University’s School of Business and Economics. He became a CFA charter holder in 2001.
Marc Johnson – CFO and Director
Mr. Johnson is a senior executive with over 22 years of experience in accounting, corporate finance and investment banking across the natural resource and technology sectors. Mr. Johnson was appointed as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Company in April 2019. He is also the CFO of NextSource Materials Inc., and CFO of Andean Drilling Services Inc. He was previously the CFO of Red Pine Exploration Inc. and of Honey Badger Exploration Inc. Prior to this, he was VP Corporate Development at Orbite Technologies Inc., Equity Research Mining Analyst at M Partners, Investment Banking at Toll Cross Securities Inc., Accounting Manager at Teleglobe Inc., Risk Management Financial Analyst at Bell Canada and started his career in Network Cost Control at Fonorola Inc. Mr. Johnson holds the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. He also holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University in Montreal.
Douglas R. MacQuarrie - Director
Douglas R. MacQuarrie is a consulting geologist/geophysicist specializing in gold exploration. Mr. MacQuarrie has worked continuously in mineral exploration for 45 years, the last 27 years exploring for new gold deposits in West Africa. Most notably, Mr. MacQuarrie is responsible for acquisition and or discovery of significant gold deposits in Canada and in Ghana including, as former CEO of PMI Gold Corporation. Mr. MacQuarrie is also President and CEO of Asante Gold Corporation and Managing Director of Goknet Mining Company Ltd. Mr. MacQuarrie received a combined Honours degree in Geology and Geophysics from the University of British Columbia in 1975.
Bryan Loree - Director
Bryan Loree was previously the CFO of the Company from June 2008 to April 2019. Mr. Loree is the CFO of TGS Esports Inc., an Esports company listed on the TSXV., CFO of KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp., an industrial company listed on the CSE, and as CFO and director of Cannabix Technologies Inc., a technology company listed on the CSE. Mr. Loree also served as CFO and director of Isodiol International Inc., a company listed on the CSE, and served as CFO of Canadian Mining Corp., listed on the TSXV. Mr. Loree has held various senior accounting roles for public and private companies in various industries including, renewable energy, exploration, and construction. Mr. Loree holds a Chartered Professional Accountant, CMA designation, a Financial Management Diploma from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University.
Veronika Hirsch - Director
Veronika Hirsch was previously a Portfolio Manager with Arrow Capital Management Inc., and was a co-founder of Integrated Asset Management Corp., and served as a Vice President and Portfolio Manager at AGF Management Limited and Fidelity Investments Inc. Ms. Hirsch is a highly regarded Canadian equity manager with over 25 years’ experience. Ms. Hirsch holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University and is a fellow of the Life Management Institute.
Cease Trade Orders, Bankruptcies and Sanctions
To the best of the Company’s knowledge:
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No proposed director of the Company is, or within 10 years before the date hereof, has been: (a) a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company that, (i) 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 or executive officer was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer, or (ii) 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, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer.
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No proposed director: (a) is at the date hereof, or has been with 10 years before the date hereof, a director or executive officer of any company (including the Company) that, while that person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or (b) has, or within 10 years before the date hereof, 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.
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No proposed director of the Company has been subject to any: (a) penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to Canadian securities legislation or by a Canadian securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a Canadian securities regulatory authority; or (b) other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would be likely to be considered important to a reasonable Shareholder in deciding whether to vote for a proposed director.
Conflicts of Interest
To the best of our knowledge, and other than as disclosed in this Circular, there are no known existing or potential conflicts of interest between the Company and any of the directors or officers.
Recommendation
The Board recommends that Shareholders vote “FOR” the election of each of the nominated directors.
3. APPROVAL OF RE-APPOINTMENT OF MNP LLP AS AUDITORS
At the Meeting, the Shareholders will vote to ratify the re-appointment of MNP LLP, as the Company’s auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 and to authorize the Board to fix their remuneration. MNP LLP served as auditor for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. We do not expect a representative of MNP LLP to be present at the Meeting.
The Board has selected MNP LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. If Shareholders fail to ratify the selection, it will be considered as a direction to the Board to consider the selection of a different firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Board in its discretion may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and Shareholders.
Recommendation
The Board recommends that Shareholders vote “FOR” the ratification of the re-appointment of MNP LLP, as the Company’s auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 and to authorize the Board to fix their remuneration.
4. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL OF OMNIBUS PLAN
At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to ratify, confirm and approve the following resolution to approve the Omnibus Plan and the unallocated Awards issuable thereunder (the “ Omnibus Plan Resolution ”):
“ WHEREAS the Board of Directors of the Company approved on October 14, 2020 the adoption of an omnibus long-term incentive plan (the “ Omnibus Plan ”) of the Company, as set out in the management information circular of the Company dated
October 15, 2020 (the “ Circular ”), for the benefit of directors, officers, senior executives and other employees of the Company or a subsidiary, consultants and service providers providing ongoing services to the Company and its affiliates;
AND WHEREAS under the Omnibus Plan, the total number of Shares reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to Awards (as defined under the Omnibus Plan) under the Omnibus Plan, shall not exceed a number of Shares equal to ten percent (10%) of the total issued and outstanding Shares of the Company at the time of granting of Awards (on a non-diluted basis);
NOW THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT:
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the Omnibus Plan as set out in the Circular be and is hereby approved;
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the Company be and is hereby authorized to grant Awards to acquire up to 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Omnibus Plan; and
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any one director or officer of the Company be and is hereby authorized, for and on behalf of the Company, to execute and deliver all documents and do all things as such person may determine to be necessary or advisable to give effect to this resolution, the execution of any such document or the doing of any such other act or thing being conclusive evidence of such determination.”
Recommendation
The Board recommends that Shareholders vote “FOR” the Omnibus Plan Resolution.
General Information About the Omnibus Plan
On October 14, 2020, the Board adopted a new omnibus long-term incentive plan for the Company (the “ Omnibus Plan ”). Prior to the adoption of the Omnibus Plan by the Board, the sole security-based compensation plan which the Company had available in order to attract, retain and motivate directors, officers, senior executives and other employees of the Company and consultants and service providers providing ongoing services to the Company, was its existing stock option plan (the “ Existing Option Plan ”), pursuant to which the Board was able to grant stock options to such individuals. With the growth of the Company’s business subsequent to adoption of the Existing Option Plan, the Board determined it was in the best interests of the Company to adopt a new security-based compensation plan which would provide the Board with the ability and flexibility to make broader and different forms of equity rewards as part of its need to retain a competitive compensation structure for its directors, officers, executives, employees, consultants and service providers.
Consequently, the Board adopted the Omnibus Plan as a means to grant options (“ Options ”), restricted share units (“ RSUs ”), deferred share units (“ DSUs ”), share appreciation rights (“ SARs ”) and retention awards (“ Retention Awards ”, and together with the Options, the RSUs, the DSUs and the SARs, the “ Awards ”) to directors, officers, senior executives and other employees of the Company or a subsidiary, consultants and service providers providing ongoing services to the Company and its affiliates (“ Eligible Participants ”, and when such Eligible Participants are granted Awards (as defined below), the “ Participants ”) in order to attract, retain and motivate such persons as individuals whose skills, performance and loyalty to the objectives and interests of the Company are necessary to the Company’s success, to incentivize them to continue their services for the Company, and to align their interests with those of the Company.
A complete copy of the Omnibus Plan is set out in Appendix “B” of this Circular, and a summary of the material provisions of the Omnibus Plan is set out below.
The adoption of the Omnibus Plan by the Board was subject to approval of the Omnibus Plan by the Shareholders. Accordingly, at the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to approve the Omnibus Plan and the unallocated Awards issuable pursuant to the Omnibus Plan, as set out below.
Shares held directly or indirectly by insiders, totaling 32,456,668 Shares, shall be excluded from voting when obtaining Shareholder approval.
Summary of the Omnibus Plan
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the Omnibus Plan:
| Administration | The Omnibus Plan is administered and interpreted by the Board. The Board may decide by resolution to appoint a committee of at least three members to administer and interpret the Omnibus Plan. The Board and the committee may also delegate to one or more officers of the Company, or to a committee of such officers, the authority, subject to such terms and limitations as the Board or the committee may determine, to grant, cancel, modify, waive rights with respect to, alter, discontinue, suspend or terminate Awards. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | The persons eligible to receive Awards are the Eligible Participants. |
| Reserve Maximum | Subject to adjustment, the total number of Shares reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to Awards under the Omnibus Plan shall not exceed a number of Shares equal to ten percent (10%) of the total issued and outstanding Shares of the Company at the time of granting of Awards (on a non-diluted basis) or such other number as may be approved by the Shareholders of the Company from time to time. Subject to adjustment, the total number of Shares reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to Awards under the Omnibus Plan to persons providing Investor Relations Activities shall not exceed a number of Shares equal to one percent (1%) of the total issued and outstanding Shares of the Company in any 12-month period. The Omnibus Plan is a “rolling plan” and “evergreen plan”. This means any increase in the issued and outstanding Shares (whether as a result of exercise of Awards or otherwise) will result in an increase in the number of Shares that may be issued on Awards outstanding at any time and any increase in the number of Awards granted will, upon exercise, make new grants available under the Omnibus Plan. |
|---|---|
| Current Reserve | As of the date of this Circular, the Company had 85,580,770 Shares issued and outstanding. Consequently, 8,558,077 Shares are available to be reserved for issuance under the Omnibus Plan. This represents 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. The Company does not currently have any other security-based compensation plan other than the Existing Option Plan, under which Options to acquire 2,700,000 Shares have been issued as of the date of this Circular. No additional Options will be issued under the Existing Option Plan. The Options issued under the Existing Option Plan are in addition to any Awards which may be made under the Omnibus Plan. Accordingly, the Company has a combined total of 11,258,770 Shares available for issuance under the Omnibus Plan and the Existing Option Plan. This represents 13.2% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. |
| Participation Limits | The Omnibus Plan does not include insider participation limits. |
| Market Value as of Grant |
Options The option price for Shares that are the subject of any Option shall be determined by the Board at the time the Option is granted, but may not be less than Market at the time of grant. The terms of the Omnibus Plan allow for the exercise of an Option on a cashless basis. The number of Shares received on the cashless exercise of an Option is determined by taking (i) the difference between (A) the Market Value and (B) the exercise price of such Option, (ii) multiplying that difference by the number of Shares to which such Option relates, and then (iii) dividing that product by the Market Value. DSUs Each Eligible Participant may elect, once each calendar year, to be paid a percentage of his or her annual retainer in the form of DSUs. The number of DSUs an Eligible Participant is entitled to receive is calculated by taking (i) the percentage elected by the Eligible Participant, (ii) multiplying that percentage by the Eligible Participant’s annual retainer, and then (iii) dividing that product by the Market Value. RSUs The purchase price of an RSU is determined by the Board and may be zero. SARs The exercise price of a SAR shall be fixed by the Board, but may not be less than the Market Value at the time of grant. Upon exercise, the holder is entitled to receive the number of Shares equal to the excess of the Market Value on the effective date of such exercise over the exercise price of the SAR. Retention Awards A retention award entitles an Eligible Participant to receive the number of Shares that is equal to the retention payment divided by the Market Value on the vesting date of the retention award, disregarding fractions and less anyamounts withheld for taxes. |
| “Market Value” means at any date when the Market Value of Shares of the Company is to be determined, and (i) if the Shares of the Company are listed on the CSE or any other stock exchange, the greater of the closing market price of the Shares on: (a) the trading day prior to the date of grant of the Award, and (b) the date of grant of the Award; or (ii) if the Shares of the Company are not listed on any stock exchange, the value as is determined solely by the Board, acting reasonably and in good faith; |
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|---|---|
| Market Appreciation/ Dividend Payment |
The Omnibus Plan contemplates the award of SARs. In addition, a holder of DSUs and RSUs is entitled to receive additional DSUs or RSUs (or fractions thereof) when dividends are declared and paid on Shares. The additional DSUs and RSUs are based on (i) the actual amount of dividends that would have been paid if the Participant had held Shares under the Omnibus Plan on the applicable record date divided by (ii) the Market Value on the date on which the dividends on Shares are payable. |
| Vesting | Options The Board shall, from time to time by resolution, determine the vesting provisions of the Options. DSUs The Board may, at the time of grant, make DSUs subject to restrictions and conditions (i.e. continuing employment or achievement of pre-established performance goals). DSUs are exercisable immediately following the date a Participant resigns or is terminated. RSUs The relevant conditions and vesting provisions of a RSU are determined by the Board (including the performance period and criteria, if any). In making its determination regarding the vesting requirements applicable to any RSUs, the Board shall ensure that such requirements are not considered a “salary deferral arrangement” for purposes of applicable legislation. The Board also sets a date upon which it is determined whether the vesting conditions with respect to RSUs have been met (the “RSU Vesting Determination Date”). This then establishes the number of RSUs that become vested. The RSU Vesting Determination Date cannot fall outside the period (the “Restricted Period”) that ends on December 31 of the year that is three (3) years after the calendar year in which the grant of RSUs was made. Any RSU that remains unvested on the RSU Vesting Determination or at the end of the Restricted Period, whichever is earlier, is cancelled. SARs The relevant conditions and vesting provisions of a SAR are determined by the Board (including the performance period and criteria, if any). Retention Awards The relevant conditions and vesting provisions of a Retention Award are determined by the Board (includingtheperformanceperiod and criteria, if any). |
Term Options The Board shall determine the period in which an Option is exercisable. An Option cannot expire later than ten (10) years from the date it is granted.
DSUs A Participant may redeem his or her DSUs up to the 120th day after the date of his or her termination. RSUs The Board shall determine the Restricted Period, provided such Restricted Period cannot expire later than December 31 of the year that is three (3) years after the calendar year in which the grant of RSUs was made. SARs
| Term | Options The Board shall determine the period in which an Option is exercisable. An Option cannot expire later than ten (10) years from the date it is granted. DSUs A Participant may redeem his or her DSUs up to the 120th day after the date of his or her termination. RSUs The Board shall determine the Restricted Period, provided such Restricted Period cannot expire later than December 31 of the year that is three (3) years after the calendar year in which the grant of RSUs was made. SARs |
|---|---|
| The Board shall determine the period during which a SAR is exercisable, provided such period cannot expire more than ten (10) years from the date the SAR was granted. Retention Awards The relevant conditions and vesting provisions of a Retention Award are determined by the Board (includingtheperformanceperiod and criteria, if any). |
|
| Cessation | Options, SARs and Retention Awards Termination for Cause. Any Option, SAR or Retention Award, or any unexercised or unvested portion thereof, shall terminate when a Participant ceases to be an Eligible Participant for “cause”. “Cause” shall include, among other things, gross misconduct, theft, fraud, breach of confidentiality or breach of the any code of conduct of the Company (or equivalent policy) and any reason determined by the Company to be cause for termination. Death. Any vested Option, SAR or Retention Award or the unexercised portion thereof (“Vested Award”), may be exercised by the estate of a Participant if such Participant dies while he or she is an Eligible Participant. However, a Vested Award must be exercised (i) within one (1) year of the Participant’s death or (ii) prior to the expiration of the original term of such Vested Award, whichever is earlier. Disability. Any Option, SAR or Retention Award, or any unexercised portion thereof, may be exercised by the Participant or his/her representative as the rights to exercise accrue. However, the Award must be exercised (i) within three (3) years of the disability, (ii) until the Participant becomes eligible for long- term disability benefits, or (iii) prior to the expiration of the original term of the Award, whichever is earlier. Other. If a Participant ceases to be an Eligible Participant for any reason other than for “cause”, death, or disability, the right to exercise an Option, SAR or Retention Award shall be limited to and expire on the earlier of (i) one (1) year after the date the Participant ceases to be an Eligible Participant or (ii) the expiry date of the Award set forth in the agreement pursuant to which the Award was granted. RSUs Termination for Cause. Any unvested RSUs credit to a Participant’s account shall be forfeited and cancelled immediately upon such Participant ceasing to be an Eligible Participant for “cause” or by resignation. Cessation of Employment. When a Participant retires, becomes eligible to receive long-term disability benefits, or has his or her employment terminated for reasons other than “cause” or byreason of injuryor disability, such |
Participant’s participation in the Omnibus Plan shall be terminated immediately. Unvested RSUs shall remain in effect until the applicable RSU Vesting Determination Date.
Retirement.
If a Participant retires and becomes involved in another business or activity in the mining industry prior to the applicable RSU Determination Date, then (i) if the Board determines the vesting conditions have not been met on the RSU Vesting Determination Date, the unvested RSUs of such Participant shall be forfeited and cancelled, or (ii) if the Board determines the vesting conditions have been met on the RSU Vesting Determination Date, such Participant is entitled to receive the number of Shares he or she is entitled to in respect of such RSUs adjusted for the length of service provided by the Participant to the Company.
Death.
If a Participant dies, his or her participation in the Omnibus Plan terminates immediately. All unvested RSUs remain in effect until the RSU Vesting Determination Date. If the Board determines the vesting conditions have not been met on the RSU Vesting Determination Date, the unvested RSUs of such deceased Participant shall be forfeited and cancelled. If the Board determines the vesting conditions have been met on the RSU Vesting Determination Date, such deceased Participant is entitled to receive the number of Shares he or she is entitled to in respect of such RSUs adjusted for the length of service provided by the Participant to the Company.
Leave of Absence.
If a Participant voluntarily takes a leave of absence, his or her participation in the Omnibus Plan terminates immediately. All unvested RSUs remain in effect until the RSU Vesting Determination Date. If the Board determines the vesting conditions have not been met on the RSU Vesting Determination Date, the unvested RSUs of such Participant shall be forfeited and cancelled. If the Board determines the vesting conditions have been met on the RSU Vesting Determination Date, such Participant is entitled to receive the number of Shares he or she is entitled to in respect of such RSUs adjusted for the length of service provided by the Participant to the Company.
| Assignability | Awards granted under the Omnibus Plan are transferrable or assignable only to a “permitted assign”. |
|---|---|
| A permitted assign means the spouse of a Participant or a trustee, holding entity, or RRSP/RRIF of the | |
| Participant or his or her spouse. | |
| Amendments | The Board may amend the Omnibus Plan or any Award without consent of the Participants provided |
| that the amendment shall: | |
| • not adversely alter or impair any Award previously granted; | |
| • be subject to any regulatory approvals; | |
| • be subject to Shareholder approval, where required, provided that Shareholder approval is not | |
| required for following amendments and the Board may make any changes which may include but | |
| are not limited to: (i) amendments of a “housekeeping” nature; (ii) a change to the vesting | |
| provisions of any Award; (iii) the introduction or amendment of a cashless exercise feature | |
| payable in securities, whether or not such feature provides for a full deduction of the number of | |
| underlying securities from the Omnibus Plan reserve; and (iv) the addition of or amendment to | |
| any form of financial assistance. | |
| The Board needs Shareholder approval to make the following amendments: | |
| • any change to the maximum number of Shares issuable under the Omnibus Plan, except any | |
| increase due to an adjustment or due to the evergreen nature of the plan; | |
| • any amendment that reduces the exercise price of an Award; | |
| • any amendment that extends the expiry date of an Award; |
| • any amendment that changes the Eligible Participants; • any amendment that would permit an Award to be transferable or assignable other than as currently permitted; and • any amendment to the amendment provisions of the Omnibus Plan. Shares held directly or indirectly by insiders that may benefit from certain amendments shall be excluded from voting when obtaining Shareholder approval. |
|
|---|---|
| Financial Assistance |
The Omnibus Plan does not contain any form of financial assistance. |
| Ratification | There are no Awards subject to ratification. |
| Black-out Period |
If the expiration date of an Option or SAR falls within a black-out period or within the ten (10) business days following the end of the black-out period, then the expiration of the Option or SAR is extended to the tenth (10th) business day following the end of the black-out period. |
| Change of Control |
In the event of a “Change in Control”, a reorganization of the Company, an amalgamation of the Company, an arrangement involving the Company, a take-over bid (as that term is defined in the Securities Act (Ontario)) for all of the Shares or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company, the Board may make such provision for the protection of the rights of the Participants as the Board in its discretion considers appropriate in the circumstances. “Change in Control” means an event whereby (i) any person becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of either the issued and outstanding Shares or the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally; (ii) any person acquires, directly or indirectly, securities of the Company to which is attached the right to elect the majority of the directors of the Company; (iii) the Company undergoes a liquidation or dissolution or sells all or substantially all of its assets; or (iv) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that a Change in Control as defined herein has occurred or is imminent. |
| Adjustments | The Omnibus Plan may be adjusted if certain changes are made to the Company’s capitalization (e.g. subdivision, consolidation or reclassification of or a distribution of assets on (other than an ordinary course dividend) the Shares) in order to preclude a dilution or enlargement of the benefits due to Participants under the Omnibus Plan. |
OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY COME BEFORE THE MEETING
Management knows of no matters to come before the Meeting other than the matters referred to in the notice of Meeting. Receipt at the Meeting of reports to the directors and auditors and the Company’s financial statements for its last completed financial year and the auditors’ report thereon will not constitute approval or disapproval of any matters referred to therein. If any matters which are not now known should properly come before the Meeting, the accompanying form of proxy will be voted on such matters in accordance with the best judgment of the person voting it.
STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Under National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations (“ NI 51-102 ”) and in accordance with Form 51-102F6 – Statement of Executive Compensation , requires the disclosure of certain financial and other information relating to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer (“ CEO ”), Chief Financial Officer (“ CFO ”) and the three most highly compensated
executive officer, other than the CEO and CFO, who was serving as an executive officer at the end of financial year ended December 31, 2019 and whose total compensation exceeded CAD$150,000, for that financial year (collectively, “ NEO ” or the “ Named Executive Officers ”) and of the directors of the Company.
As of the year-ended December 31, 2019 the Company had two individuals that qualified as NEOs: Brian Bosse, President and CEO, and Marc Johnson, CFO. The independent directors of the Company are Douglas R. MacQuarrie, Bryan Loree and Veronika Hirsch.
Compensation of Named Executive Officers
The Company does not have a Compensation or Nominating Committee at the present time. All tasks related to developing and monitoring the Company’s approach to the compensation of officers of the Company and to developing and monitoring the Company’s approach to the nomination of directors to the Board are performed by the members of the Board. The compensation of the NEOs and the Company’s employees is reviewed, recommended and approved by the independent directors of the Company.
The objectives of the compensation program is to balance the need to offer competitive compensation compared to industry standards in order to attract and retain high-calibre executives against the need to provide compensation programs that are fair and reasonable from the perspective of shareholders.
The basic elements of the compensation progam are base compensation, annual incentive bonuses and long-term Option incentives. If the Omnibus Plan Resolution is approved by Shareholders at the Meeting, the compensation program will also include other long-term security-based Awards.
Base Salary, Consulting Fees, Retainer or Commission
On an individual basis, base salaries, consulting fees, retainers and commissions are reviewed for each executive officer, including the CEO and CFO, and where it is deemed necessary, changes are made. In order to ensure that base compensation are competitive relative to other similar positions within the investment industry in Canada, surveys of such compensation may be examined. Other considerations taken into account when examining base compensation include years of experience, the potential contribution which the individual can make to the success of the Company and the level of responsibility and authority inherent in the job and the importance of maintaining internal equity within the organization.
Annual Incentives
The Board may recommend bonuses be paid to executive officers of the Company when their performance warrants additional consideration. There is currently no annual bonus plan and no compensation is directly tied to performance criteria.
Security-Based Incentives
Options to purchase the Shares of the Company encourage executive officers to own and hold the Company’s Shares and are a method of linking the performance of the Company and the appreciation of share value to the compensation of the executive officer. When determining the number of Options granted to an executive officer, items such as the relative position of the individual officer, the contribution made by that officer during the review period and the number of Options granted previously would be taken into consideration. Options are presently awarded pursuant to the Existing Option Plan. If the Omnibus Plan Resolution is approved by Shareholders at the Meeting, the compensation program will also include other long-term security-based Awards.
Perquisites
Perquisites such as health benefits and other usual perquisites may be provided for executives in accordance with local practices in order.
Employment, Consulting and Management Agreements
The following are the material terms of each 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, NEO or was performed by any other party but are services typically provided by a director or NEO.
-
Brian Bosse: The Company signed an multi-year consulting agreement with Brian Bosse on October 2, 2019 through his consulting company, BlueSpring Investment Strategies Inc., and was entitled to receive in 2019 a base annual cash consulting fee of $100,000 plus additional equity compensation of $250,000. As of January 1, 2020, his base annual cash consulting fee increased to $150,000 and the additional equity compensation decreased to $150,000.
-
Marc Johnson: The Company has not signed a long-term consulting or employment agreement with Marc Johnson. His consulting company, MDJ Capital Inc., is entitled to receive a base consulting fee of $5,000 per month plus certain overages.
Termination And Change Of Control Benefits
The following are the material termination and change of control benefits payable in respect of services provided to the Company or any of its subsidiaries that were performed by a director, NEO or was performed by any other party but are services typically provided by a director or NEO.
- The Company has an consulting agreement with Brian Bosse, who receives a base cash compensation of $12,500 per month plus additional equity compensation of $12,500. His contract has a 12-month pay in lieu of termination notice, which increases by 1 month for each year of service retroactive to March 2018. The termination notice period is tripled if the termination notice occurs during or following a change of control the Company.
The following table provides details regarding the estimated incremental payments from the Company to each of the NEOs upon termination in connection with a change of control in accordance with the above provisions, or upon termination without cause, assuming a triggering event occurs on December 31, 2019.
| Name and | Severance Period | Termination Pay | ||
| Principal | Without / With | Base Salary | Termination Pay Without | with |
| Position | Change of Control | per Month | Change of Control | Change of Control |
(# of months) |
($) |
($) |
($) |
|
| Brian Bosse, CEO, President and Director |
13 months (39 months) |
25,000 | 325,000 | 975,000 |
Compensation of Directors
The directors of the Company currently do not receive cash payments for their services. However, such individuals are eligible to receive security-based compensation pursuant to the Existing Option Plan, and if approved by Shareholders at the Meeting, the Omnibus Plan.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table is a summary of the compensation paid, directly or indirectly, to the Named Executive Officers and directors of the Company for the two most recently completed financial years
| COMPENSATION EXCLUDING COMPENSATION SECURITIES | COMPENSATION EXCLUDING COMPENSATION SECURITIES | COMPENSATION EXCLUDING COMPENSATION SECURITIES | COMPENSATION EXCLUDING COMPENSATION SECURITIES | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and Position |
Fiscal Year |
Salary, Consulting Fees, Retainer or Commision ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Director Committee or Meeting Fees ($) |
Value of Perquisites ($) |
Value of All Other Compensation ($) |
Total Compensation ($) |
| Brian Bosse, CEO, President and Director(A) |
2019 2018 |
80,000 Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
80,000 Nil |
| Marc Johnson, CFO and Director(B) |
2019 2018 |
55,000 Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
55,000 Nil |
| Bryan Loree, Director(C) |
2019 2018 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
| Douglas R. MacQuarrie, Director(D) |
2019 2018 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
| Veronika Hirsch, Director(E) |
2019 2018 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
(A) Brian Bosse became the Chief Executive Officer on Marh 15, 2018 and a Director on January 5, 2017.
(B) Marc Johnson became the Chief Financial Officer on April 5, 2019 and a Director on November 13, 2018.
(C) Bryan Lorree became a Director on June 12, 2008 and was the CFO from June 15, 2008 until April 5, 2019.
(D) Douglas R. MacQuarrie became a Director on April 13, 2016.
(E) Veronika Hirsch became a Director on May 15, 2019.
Options and Other Compensation Securities
During the financial year ended December 31, 2019, the following compensation securities were granted or issued to the directors and Named Executive Officers by the Company:
COMPENSATION SECURITIES
| Name and Position |
Type of Compnes ation Security |
Number of Compensation Securities, Number of Underlying Securities and percentage of class (#) |
Date of Issue or Grant |
Issue, Conversion or Exercise Price ($) |
Closing Price of Security or Underlying Security on Date of Grant ($) |
Closing Price of Security or Underlying Security at year end ($) |
Expiriy Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Bosse, CEO, President and Director(A) |
Stock Option |
Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Marc Johnson, CFO and Director(B) |
Stock Option |
Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Bryan Loree, Director(C) |
Stock Option |
Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Douglas R. MacQuarrie, Director(D) |
Stock Option |
Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Veronika Hirsch, Director(E) |
Stock Option |
Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
Exercise of Options and Other Compensation Securities
During the financial year ended December 31, 2019, the following compensation securities were exercised by the directors and Named Executive Officers of the Company:
| EXERCISE OF COMPENSATION SECURITIES | EXERCISE OF COMPENSATION SECURITIES | EXERCISE OF COMPENSATION SECURITIES | EXERCISE OF COMPENSATION SECURITIES | EXERCISE OF COMPENSATION SECURITIES | EXERCISE OF COMPENSATION SECURITIES | EXERCISE OF COMPENSATION SECURITIES | EXERCISE OF COMPENSATION SECURITIES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and Position |
Type of Compnes ation Security |
Number of Underlying Securities Exercised (#) |
Exercise Price per Security ($) |
Date of Exercise | Closing Price of Security on Date of Exercise ($) |
Difference Between Exercise Price and Closing Price on Date of Exercise ($) |
Total Value on Date of Exercise ($) |
| Brian Bosse, CEO, President and Director |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Marc Johnson, CFO and Director |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Bryan Loree, Director |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Douglas R. MacQuarrie, Director |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Veronika Hirsch, Director |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Pension Plan Benefits
For the most recently completed financial year, the Company did not have any pension or retirement benefit plans and none are proposed at this time.
Existing Option Plan
Currently, the Company has a “rolling” stock option plan, being the Existing Option Plan. The purpose of the Existing Option Plan is to advance the interests of the Company, by providing an additional incentive to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified and competent persons who are key to the Company and upon whose efforts and judgment the success of the Company and its subsidiaries is largely dependent.
Pursuant to the Existing Option Plan, the Board may from time to time, in its discretion, and in accordance with CSE requirements, grant to directors, officers, consultants and employees of the Company and its affiliates, non-transferable options to purchase Common Shares exercisable for a period of up to five years from the date of the grant, provided that the number of Common Shares reserved for issuance thereunder may not exceed 10% of the total issued and outstanding Common Shares at the date of the grant.
The following restrictions on the granting of Options are applicable under the Existing Option Plan:
(a) The aggregate number of Optioned Shares that may be reserved for issuance pursuant to Options granted to any one individual must not exceed 5% of the issued Common Shares of the Company (determined as at the Grant Date) in a 12-month period, unless the Company has obtained Disinterested Shareholder Approval.
(b) The aggregate number of Options granted to Eligible Persons engaged to provide Investor Relations Activities in a 12-month period must not exceed 2% of the issued Common Shares of the Company (determined as at the Grant Date) without the prior consent of CSE.
(c) The aggregate number of Options granted to any one Consultant in a 12-month period must not exceed 2% of the issued Common Shares of the Company (determined as at the Grant Date) without the prior consent of CSE.
In the event an Option granted under the Existing Option Plan expires unexercised, is terminated or is otherwise lawfully cancelled prior to exercise of the Option, the Optioned Shares that were issuable thereunder will be returned to the Existing Option Plan and will be available again for an Option grant under this Existing Option Plan.
If there is a Change of Control, then all outstanding Options, whether fully vested and exercisable or remaining subject to vesting provisions or other limitations on exercise, shall be exercisable in full to enable the Optioned Shares subject to such Options to be issued and tendered to such bid.
The Board will be responsible for the general administration of the Existing Option Plan and the proper execution of its provisions, the interpretation of the Existing Option Plan and the determination of all questions arising hereunder.
If required by the CSE Policies, the Company must obtain Disinterested Shareholder Approval of Options if the Options, together with any other Share Compensation Arrangement, could result at any time in:
(a) the number of shares reserved for issuance under stock options granted to Insiders exceeding 10% of the issued Common Shares of the Company;
(b) the grant to Insiders, within a 12-month period, of stock options exceeding 10% of the issued Common Shares of the Company; or
(c) the issuance to any one Optionee, within a 12-month period, of a number of shares exceeding 5% of the issued Common Shares of the Company.
If the Omnibus Plan Resolution is approved by Shareholders at the Meeting, no further awards shall be granted under the Existing Option Plan and it shall terminate in accordance with its terms.
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
The following table is a summary of securities issued and issuable under all security-based compensation plans of the Company, being the Existing Option Plan, as at December 31, 2019.
| Equity Compensation Plan | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding Options, Warrants and rights (#) |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding Options, Warrants and rights ($) |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding security reflected in column (a)) (#) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Shareholders (ExistingOption Plan) |
2,700,000(1) | $0.05 | 5,858,077(2) |
| Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Shareholders |
N/A | N/A | N/A |
(1) Representing approximately 3.15% of the 85,580,770 shares issued and outstanding as at December 31, 2019. (2) Representing approximately 6.85% of the 85,580,770 shares issued and outstanding as at December 31, 2019.
STATEMENT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES
National Policy 58-201 – Corporate Governance Guidelines (“ NP 58-201 ”) and National Instrument 58-101 – Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices (“ NI 58-101 ”) set out a series of guidelines for effective corporate governance. The guidelines address matters such as the constitution and independence of corporate boards, the function to be performed by boards and their committees and the effectiveness and education of board members. NI 58-101 requires the disclosure by each reporting issuer of its approach to corporate governance with reference to the guidelines as it is recognized that the unique characteristics of individual corporations will result in varying degrees of conformity. The following disclosure is provided in accordance with the corporate governance disclosure prescribed by Form 58-101F2 of NI 58-101.
Corporate Governance
The Board and management consider good corporate governance to be central to the effective and efficient operation of the Company. The Board is committed to sound corporate governance practices, which are both in the interest of its Shareholders and contribute to effective and efficient decision making.
The role of the Board is to oversee the conduct of the Company's business, to set corporate policy and to supervise management, which is responsible to the Board for the day-to-day conduct of business. Material transactions are addressed at the Board level. The Board discharges five specific responsibilities as part of its stewardship responsibility. These are:
-
(1) Strategic Planning Process: given the Company's size, the strategic plan is carried out directly by management, with input from and assistance of the Board;
-
(2) Managing Risk: the Board directly oversees most aspects of the business of the Company and thus, does not require elaborate systems or numerous committees to effectively monitor and manage the principal risks of all aspects of the business of the Company;
-
(3) Appointing, Training, and Monitoring Senior Management: no elaborate system of selection, training and assessment of Management has been established, given the operations and size of the Company; however, the Board closely monitors Management's performance, which is measured against the overall strategic plan, through reports by and regular meetings with management;
-
(4) Communication Policy: the Company has a Disclosure Committee and formal disclosure policy allowing it to communicate effectively and accurately with its Shareholders, other stakeholders, and the public generally through statutory filings and news releases; the Shareholders are also given an opportunity to make comments or suggestions at Shareholder meetings; these comments and suggestions are then factored into the Board's decisions; and
-
(5) Ensuring the integrity of the Company's Internal Control and Management Information System: given the involvement of the Board in operations, the reports from and the meetings with management, the Board can effectively track and monitor the implementation of approved strategies.
The President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer are members of the Board, as is usual given the Company’s size. The Board feels that this is not an impediment to the proper discharge of its responsibilities. Interaction between members of management and the Board, inside and outside Board meetings, ensures that the Board is informed and the Board members' experience utilized by management. The Board remains cognizant to corporate governance issues and seeks to set up structures to ensure the effective discharge of its responsibilities without creating additional costs. The Board is committed to ensuring the Company’s long-term viability, and the well-being of its employees and of the communities in which it operates. The Board has also adopted a policy of permitting individual directors, under appropriate circumstances, to engage legal, financial or other advisors at the Company’s expense. The majority of the Board, when elected, was comprised of independent directors. See “ Election of Directors ”.
The Board is of the view that the Company’s approach to corporate governance is appropriate for its current size and resources, but will monitor its approach as it progresses in its business plans. The Company will periodically monitor and refine such practices as the size and scope of its operations increase. The Board regularly reviews, evaluates and modifies its governance program to ensure it is of the highest standard. The Board is satisfied that the Company’s governance plan is consistent with legal and stock exchange requirements.
The Company does not have a policy requiring members of the Board to attend annual meetings of Shareholders, although the Company typically encourages the Board to attend.
Board of Directors
At the last annual meeting of Shareholders, the following individuals were elected as the Company’s directors: Brian Bosse, Marc Johnson, Bryan E. Loree, Douglas MacQuarrie and Veronika Hirsch.
NI 58-101 defines an “independent director” as a director who has no direct or indirect material relationship with the Company. A “material relationship” is defined as a relationship, which could, in the view of the Board, be reasonably expected to interfere with such member’s independent judgment. Bryan E. Loree, Douglas MacQuarrie and Veronika Hirsch are considered “independent directors”. Brian Bosse and Marc Johnson are non-independent directors as they are executive officers of the Company.
Independent directors do not hold regularly scheduled meetings at which non-independent directors and members of management are not in attendance. Independent directors are encouraged to hold unscheduled and informal meetings to discuss issues ahead of regularly scheduled meetings of the Board.
Since the last annual meeting of Shareholders, the Board has met five (5) times. No member of the Board attended fewer than 75% of the total number of board and committee meetings.
The Company does not presently have a Nominating Committee. All tasks related to developing and monitoring the Company’s approach to the nomination of directors to the Board have been performed by the members of the Board collectively. Nominations tend to be the result of recruitment efforts by management and directors, which are then presented to the Board for consideration. The Board has no specified policy regarding consideration of any director candidates recommended by securityholders, as it believes the most effective recruitment efforts are those led by management and directors.
Board Mandate
The Board of Directors has not developed a written Board of Directors Mandate description.
Position Descriptions
The Board of Directors has not developed written position descriptions for the Chair of the Board and the Chair of the Audit Committee. The Board of Directors has established that the Chairs are required to set the agenda for respective meetings, assigning meeting secretaries, calling the meetings to proper order and ensuring the meeting agendas are respected and that matters are duly discussed.
The Board has not developed a written position description for the Chief Executive Officer.
Director Orientation and Continuing Education
The Company does not provide a formal orientation and education program for its directors. New directors are given an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Company by visiting the Company's corporate offices, meeting with other directors, reviewing the rules and regulations of the stock exchanges where the Shares are listed, and reviewing the Company's by-laws and related documents. Directors are invited to speak with the Company's solicitors, auditors and other service providers to become familiar with their legal responsibilities.
Ethical Business Conduct
The Company has instituted certain policies and procedures but has not adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to its directors, officers, and employees. The Board has found that the fiduciary duties placed on individual directors by the Company’s governing corporate legislation and the common law and the restrictions placed by applicable corporate legislation on an individual director’s participation in decisions of the Board in which the director has an interest have been sufficient to ensure that the Board operates independently of management and in the best interests of the Company.
Board of Director Committees
The Company’s Board has created an Audit Committee, which is described in the section Audit Committee Information And Oversight .
Directorships
The following directors of the Company are presently directors of the following other issuers that are reporting issuers, or the equivalent, in a Canadian or foreign jurisdiction :
| Director | Name of Reporting Issuer | Exchange | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Bosse | ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd | TSXV | Director |
| Douglas R. MacQuarrie | Asante Gold Corporation | CSE | Director |
| Bryan Loree | Cannabix Technologies Inc. | CSE | Director |
Note: “TSX-V” = TSX Venture Exchange, and “CSE” = Canadian Securities Exchange
Director Assessments
The Board uses peer reviews to assess, on an annual basis, the effectiveness of the Board as a whole and of each of the individual Directors in order to determine whether the Board is functioning effectively.
Director Term Limits
The Company has not instituted director term limits. The Company believes that in taking into account the nature and size of the Board and the Company, it is more important to have relevant experience than to impose set time limits on a director’s tenure, which may create vacancies at a time when a suitable candidate cannot be identified and as such would not be in the best interests of the Company. In lieu of imposing term limits, the Company regularly monitors director performance through annual assessments and regularly encourages sharing and new perspectives through regularly scheduled Board meetings, meetings with only independent directors in attendance, as well as through continuing education initiatives. On a regular basis, the Company analyzes
the skills and experience necessary for the Board and evaluates the need for director changes to ensure that the Company has highly knowledgeable and motivated Board members, while ensuring that new perspectives are available to the Board.
Female Representation in Management and on the Board
The Company currently has five Board members and two executive officers, one of whom is female.
The Company has not implemented a diversity policy; however, the Company believes that it currently promotes the benefits of, and need for, extending opportunities to all candidates, without distinction as to gender, race, colour, religion, sexual orientation, family or marital status, political belief, age, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, disability, or any other basis and will strive for diversity of experience, perspective and education.
The Company has not adopted a written policy relating to the identification and nomination of women directors and executive officers. The Company has not considered the level of representation of women in its executive officer positions or on its Board in previous nominations or appointments (including a targeted number or percentage).
The Company will continue to monitor developments in the area of diversity.
Board’s Relations with Management
The interaction between Management and Board members, both inside and outside of meetings of the Board, ensures that the Board is properly informed and that the Board members’ experience is brought to bear when needed by management.
The Board remains sensitive to corporate governance issues and seeks to set up the necessary structures to ensure the effective discharge of its responsibilities without creating additional overhead costs or reducing the return on shareholders’ equity. The Board is committed to ensuring the long-term viability of the Company. The Board has also adopted a policy of permitting individual Directors under appropriate circumstances to engage legal, financial or other expert advisors at the Company’s expense.
AUDIT COMMITTEE INFORMATION AND OVERSIGHT
National Instrument 52-110 – Audit Committees (“ NI 52-110 ”) requires that certain information regarding the Audit Committee be included in the management Circular sent to shareholders in connection with the issuer’s annual meeting.
The Audit Committee is responsible for the oversight and for recommending the appointment, compensation, retention, termination of an independent external auditor engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company. The Company has not yet adopted any specific policies or procedures regarding the engagement of non-audit services, but does review such matters as they arise in light of factors such as the Company’s current needs and the availability of services.
The Audit Committee consists of Bryan Loree (Chair), Douglas R. Macquarrie and Veronika Hirsch. All members are independent and “financially literate” as per the standards of National Instrument 52-110. During the year ending December 2019, the Audit Committee met four (4) times in person or by telephone. All Audit Committee members attended all four meetings.
The Audit Committee has a charter, the full text of which is attached to this Circular as Appendix A” and is also available on the Company’s website at www.capitalight.co.
Relevant Education and Experience
Bryan Loree - Chair
Bryan Loree was previously the CFO of the Company from June 2008 to April 2019. Mr. Loree is the CFO of TGS Esports Inc, an Esports company listed on the TSXV, CFO of KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp., an industrial company listed on the CSE, and as CFO and director of Cannabix Technologies Inc., a technology company listed on the CSE. Mr. Loree also served as CFO and director of Isodiol International Inc., a company listed on the CSE, and served as CFO of Canadian Mining Corp., listed on the TSXV. Mr. Loree has held various senior accounting roles for public and private companies in various industries including, renewable energy, exploration, and construction. Mr. Loree holds a Chartered Professional Accountant, CMA designation, a Financial Management Diploma from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University.
Douglas R. MacQuarrie
Douglas R. MacQuarrie is a consulting geologist/geophysicist specializing in gold exploration. Mr. MacQuarrie has worked continuously in mineral exploration for 45 years, the last 27 years exploring for new gold deposits in West Africa. Most notably, Mr. MacQuarrie is responsible for acquisition and or discovery of significant gold deposits in Canada and in Ghana including, as former CEO of PMI Gold Corporation. Mr. MacQuarrie is also President and CEO of Asante Gold Corporation and Managing
Director of Goknet Mining Company Ltd. Mr. MacQuarrie received a combined Honours degree in Geology and Geophysics from the University of British Columbia in 1975.
Veronika Hirsch
Veronika Hirsch was previously a Portfolio Manager with Arrow Capital Management Inc., and was a co-founder of Integrated Asset Management Corp., and served as a Vice President and Portfolio Manager at AGF Management Limited and Fidelity Investments Inc. Ms. Hirsch is a highly regarded Canadian equity manager with over 25 years’ experience. Ms. Hirsch holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University and is a fellow of the Life Management Institute.
Audit Committee Oversight
Since the commencement of the most recently completed financial year, the Board adopted all the recommendations of the Audit Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has not adopted any specific policies and procedures regarding the engagement of non-audit services, but does review such matters as they arise in light of factors such as the Company’s current needs, the availability of services from other sources and the other services provided by the Company’s auditor.
External Auditor Services Fees
MNP LLP was appointed as the Company’s auditors on May 16, 2019. The Board considers that the work done in the year ended December 31, 2019 by the Company’s external auditors, MNP LLP is compatible with maintaining MNP LLP. All of the work expended by MNP LLP on our December 31, 2019 audit was attributed to work performed by MNP LLP’s full-time, permanent employees. The Audit Committee reviews and must approve all engagement agreements with external auditors.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Audit Committee pre-approved all of the fees invoiced by MNP LLP.
Audit Fees:
The aggregate fees, including expenses, billed by the Company’s auditor in connection with the audit of our financial statements for the most recent fiscal year and for the review of our financial information included in our Annual Report and our quarterly reports during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 was $42,800 (2018: $Nil). The prior year audit was completed by the Company’s former auditors, Devisser Gray LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, whom were paid aggregate fees of $8,600. The prior year audit of the Company’s subsidiary, prior to its acquisition, was completed by MNP LLP, which was paid aggregate fees of $13,910.
Non-Audit Assurance Fees:
The aggregate fees, including expenses, billed by the Company’s auditor for assurance services unrelated to the audit for the year ended December 31, 2019 were $Nil (2018: $Nil).
Non-Audit Taxation Fees:
The aggregate fees, including expenses, billed by the Company’s auditor for tax compliance services during the year ended December 31, 2019 were $Nil (2018: $Nil). The prior year tax filing was completed by Devisser Gray LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, which was paid aggregate fees, including expenses, of $1,200.
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
No person who is now, or was at any time since the beginning of the most recently completed financial year of the Company has been, a director, executive officer or senior officer of the Company, or associate thereof, been indebted to the Company, or had indebtedness during that period which was the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding provided by the Company.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
None of the directors or senior officers of the Company, nor any proposed director of the Company, nor any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding shares of the Company, nor any associate or affiliate of the foregoing persons has any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of the Company’s last completed fiscal year or in any proposed transaction which, in either case, has or will materially affect the Company.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information related to the Company, audited financial statements and management discussion and analysis (MD&A) for the most recently completed financial year, are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on the Company website at www.capitalight.co.
Shareholders may request copies of the financial statements and MD&A by mailing a request to: IC Capitalight Corp., 2200 HSBC Building, 885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 3E8.
APPENDIX “A”
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
The primary function of the audit committee (the “Committee”) is to assist the Company’s Board of Directors in fulfilling its financial oversight responsibilities by reviewing the financial reports and other financial information provided by the Company to regulatory authorities and shareholders, the Company’s systems of internal controls regarding finance and accounting and the Company’s auditing, accounting and financial reporting processes. Consistent with this function, the Committee will encourage continuous improvement of, and should foster adherence to, the Company’s policies, procedures and practices at all levels. The Committee’s primary duties and responsibilities are to:
-
serve as an independent and objective party to monitor the Company’s financial reporting and internal control system and review the Company’s financial statements;
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review and appraise the performance of the Company’s external auditors; and
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provide an open avenue of communication among the Company’s auditors, financial and senior management and the Board of Directors.
Composition
The Committee shall be comprised of a minimum of three directors as determined by the Board of Directors. If the Company ceases to be a “venture issuer” (as that term is defined in NI 52-110), then all of the members of the Committee shall be free from any relationship that, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, would interfere with the exercise of his or her independent judgment as a member of the Committee.
If the Company ceases to be a “venture issuer” (as that term is defined in NI 52-110), then all members of the Committee shall have accounting or related financial management expertise. All members of the Committee that are not financially literate will work towards becoming financially literate to obtain a working familiarity with basic finance and accounting practices. For the purposes of the Company’s Audit Committee Charter, the definition of “financially literate” is 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 shall be elected by the Board of Directors at its first meeting following the annual shareholders’ meeting. Unless a Chair is elected by the full Board of Directors, the members of the Committee may designate a Chair by a majority vote of the full Committee membership.
Meetings
The Committee shall meet at least twice annually, or more frequently as circumstances dictate. As part of its job to foster open communication, the Committee will meet at least annually with the Chief Financial Officer and the external auditors in separate sessions.
Responsibilities and Duties
To fulfill its responsibilities and duties, the Committee shall:
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Documents/Reports Review
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a. review and update this Audit Committee Charter annually; and
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b. review the Company’s financial statements, MD&A and any annual and interim earnings press releases before the Company publicly discloses this information and any reports or other financial information (including quarterly financial statements), which are submitted to any governmental body, or to the public, including any certification, report, opinion, or review rendered by the external auditors.
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External Auditors
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a. review annually, the performance of the external auditors who shall be ultimately accountable to the Company’s Board of Directors and the Committee as representatives of the shareholders of the Company;
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b. obtain annually, a formal written statement of external auditors setting forth all relationships between the external auditors and the Company, consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard 1;
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c. review and discuss with the external auditors any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the external auditors;
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d. take, or recommend that the Company’s full Board of Directors take appropriate action to oversee the independence of the external auditors, including the resolution of disagreements between management and the external auditor regarding financial reporting;
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e. recommend to the Company’s Board of Directors the selection and, where applicable, the replacement of the external auditors nominated annually for shareholder approval;
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f. recommend to the Company’s Board of Directors the compensation to be paid to the external auditors;
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g. at each meeting, consult with the external auditors, without the presence of management, about the quality of the Company’s accounting principles, internal controls and the completeness and accuracy of the Company’s financial statements;
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h. review and approve the Company’s hiring policies regarding partners, employees and former partners and employees of the present and former external auditors of the Company;
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i. review with management and the external auditors the audit plan for the year- end financial statements and intended template for such statements; and
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j. review and pre-approve all audit and audit-related services and the fees and other compensation related thereto, and any non-audit services, provided by the Company’s external auditors. The pre-approval requirement is waived with respect to the provision of non-audit services if:
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i. the aggregate amount of all such non-audit services provided to the Company constitutes not more than five percent of the total amount of revenues paid by the Company to its external auditors during the fiscal year in which the non-audit services are provided,
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ii. such services were not recognized by the Company at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services, and
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iii. such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee by the Company and approved prior to the completion of the audit by the Committee or by one or more members of the Committee who are members of the Board of Directors to whom authority to grant such approvals has been delegated by the Committee.
Provided the pre-approval of the non-audit services is presented to the Committee’s first scheduled meeting following such approval such authority may be delegated by the Committee to one or more independent members of the Committee.
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Financial Reporting Processes
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a. in consultation with the external auditors, review with management the integrity of the Company’s financial reporting process, both internal and external;
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b. consider the external auditors’ judgments about the quality and appropriateness of the Company’s accounting principles as applied in its financial reporting;
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c. consider and approve, if appropriate, changes to the Company’s auditing and accounting principles and practices as suggested by the external auditors and management;
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d. review significant judgments made by management in the preparation of the financial statements and the view of the external auditors as to appropriateness of such judgments;
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e. following completion of the annual audit, review separately with management and the external auditors any significant difficulties encountered during the course of the audit, including any restrictions on the scope of work or access to required information;
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f. review any significant disagreement among management and the external auditors in connection with the preparation of the financial statements;
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g. review with the external auditors and management the extent to which changes and improvements in financial or accounting practices have been implemented;
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h. review any complaints or concerns about any questionable accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters;
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i. review the certification process;
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j. establish a procedure for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters; and
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k. establish a procedure for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
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Other
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a. review any related-party transactions;
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b. engage independent counsel and other advisors as it determines necessary to carry out its duties; and
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c. to set and pay compensation for any independent counsel and other advisors employed by the Committee.
APPENDIX “B”
OMNIBUS LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
IC CAPITALIGHT CORP. OMNIBUS LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
October 14, 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| TABLE OF CONTENTS | TABLE OF CONTENTS | |
|---|---|---|
| Article | 1 − DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................................................................. 1 | |
| Section 1.1 | Definitions. .......................................................................................................................................... 1 | |
| Article | 2 − PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN; GRANTING OF AWARDS .......................................... 3 | |
| Section 2.1 | Purpose of the Plan. ............................................................................................................................. 3 | |
| Section 2.2 | Implementation and Administration of the Plan. .................................................................................. 4 | |
| Section 2.3 | Eligible Participants. ............................................................................................................................ 4 | |
| Section 2.4 | Shares Subject to the Plan. ................................................................................................................... 4 | |
| Section 2.5 | Granting of Awards. ............................................................................................................................. 5 | |
| Article | 3 − OPTIONS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 | |
| Section 3.1 | Nature of Options. ................................................................................................................................ 5 | |
| Section 3.2 | Option Awards. .................................................................................................................................... 5 | |
| Section 3.3 | Option Price. ........................................................................................................................................ 5 | |
| Section 3.4 | Option Term. ........................................................................................................................................ 5 | |
| Section 3.5 | Exercise of Options. ............................................................................................................................. 5 | |
| Section 3.6 | Method of Exercise and Payment of Purchase Price. ........................................................................... 6 | |
| Section 3.7 | Option Agreements. ............................................................................................................................. 6 | |
| Article | 4 − DEFERRED | SHARE UNITS ...................................................................................................................................... 6 |
| Section 4.1 | Nature of DSUs. ................................................................................................................................... 6 | |
| Section 4.2 | Election to Participate. ......................................................................................................................... 6 | |
| Section 4.3 | DSU Awards. ....................................................................................................................................... 7 | |
| Section 4.4 | Redemption of DSUs. .......................................................................................................................... 7 | |
| Section 4.5 | Award of Dividend Equivalents. .......................................................................................................... 7 | |
| Section 4.6 | Unfunded Plan. .................................................................................................................................... 7 | |
| Section 4.7 | DSU Agreements. ................................................................................................................................ 7 | |
| Article | 5 − RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS .................................................................................................................................. 8 | |
| Section 5.1 | Nature of RSUs. ................................................................................................................................... 8 | |
| Section 5.2 | RSU Awards. ....................................................................................................................................... 8 | |
| Section 5.3 | Restriction Period. ................................................................................................................................ 8 | |
| Section 5.4 | Performance Criteria and Performance Period. .................................................................................... 8 | |
| Section 5.5 | RSU Vesting Determination Date. ....................................................................................................... 8 | |
| Section 5.6 | Settlement of RSUs. ............................................................................................................................. 8 | |
| Section 5.7 | Determination of Amounts. .................................................................................................................. 9 | |
| Section 5.8 | RSU Agreements. ................................................................................................................................ 9 | |
| Section 5.9 | Award of Dividend Equivalents. .......................................................................................................... 9 | |
| Article | 6 − SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS ........................................................................................................................ 10 | |
| Section 6.1 | Nature of SARs. ................................................................................................................................. 10 | |
| Section 6.2 | SAR Awards. ..................................................................................................................................... 10 | |
| Section 6.3 | SAR Price. ......................................................................................................................................... 10 | |
| Section 6.4 | SAR Term. ......................................................................................................................................... 10 | |
| Section 6.5 | Exercise of SARs. .............................................................................................................................. 10 | |
| Section 6.6 | Method of Exercise and Payment of Purchase Price. ......................................................................... 10 | |
| Section 6.7 | SAR Agreements. .............................................................................................................................. 11 | |
| Article | 7 − RETENTION AWARDS ........................................................................................................................................... 11 | |
| Section 7.1 | Nature of Retention Awards. .............................................................................................................. 11 | |
| Section 7.2 | Retention Awards. .............................................................................................................................. 11 | |
| Section 7.3 | Payment to Participant. ...................................................................................................................... 11 | |
| Section 7.4 | Retention Award Agreements. ........................................................................................................... 11 | |
| Article | 8 − GENERAL CONDITIONS ....................................................................................................................................... 11 | |
| Section 8.1 | General Conditions applicable to Awards. ......................................................................................... 11 | |
| Section 8.2 | General Conditions applicable to Options, SARs and Retention Awards. ......................................... 12 | |
| Section 8.3 | General Conditions applicable to RSUs. ............................................................................................ 13 | |
| Article | 9 − ADJUSTMENTS AND AMENDMENTS ................................................................................................................ 14 | |
| Section 9.1 | Adjustment to Shares Subject to Outstanding Awards. ...................................................................... 14 | |
| Section 9.2 | Amendment or Discontinuance of the Plan. ....................................................................................... 15 | |
| Article | 10 − MISCELLANEOUS ................................................................................................................................................ 16 |
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| Section | 10.1 | Use of an Administrative Agent and Trustee. .................................................................................. 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Section | 10.2 | Tax Withholding. ............................................................................................................................ 16 |
| Section | 10.3 | Reorganization of the Company. ..................................................................................................... 16 |
| Section | 10.4 | Personal Information ....................................................................................................................... 16 |
| Section | 10.5 | Governing Laws. ............................................................................................................................. 17 |
| Section | 10.6 | Severability. .................................................................................................................................... 17 |
| Section | 10.7 | Effective Date of the Plan................................................................................................................ 17 |
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IC CAPITALIGHT CORP. OMNIBUS LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
IC Capitalight Corp. (the “ Company ”) hereby establishes this Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan for Eligible Participants and for the purposes set out herein.
ARTICLE 1 − DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions.
Where used herein or in any amendments hereto or in any communication required or permitted to be given hereunder, the following terms shall have the following meanings, respectively, unless the context otherwise requires:
“ Account ” means an account maintained for each Participant on the books of the Company which will be credited with Awards, including any Dividend Equivalents, in accordance with the terms of this Plan;
“ Affiliate ” has the meaning given to this term in the Securities Act (British Columbia), as such legislation may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time;
“ Associate ”, where used to indicate a relationship with a Participant, means (i) any partner of that Participant and (ii) the spouse of that Participant and that Participant’s children, as well as that Participant’s relatives and that Participant’s spouse’s relatives, if they share that Participant’s residence;
“ Awards ” means an Option, a SAR, a RSU, a DSU or a Retention Award granted to a Participant pursuant to the terms of the Plan;
“ Black-Out Period ” means a period of time when pursuant to any policies of the Company, any securities of the Company may not be traded by certain persons designated by the Company;
“ Board ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1(1) hereof;
“ Business Day ” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or statutory holiday, when banks are generally open for business in Vancouver, British Columbia, for the transaction of banking business;
“ Cash Equivalent ” means the amount of money equal to the Market Value multiplied by the number of vested RSUs in the Participant’s Account, net of any applicable taxes in accordance with Section 10.2, on the RSU Settlement Date;
“ Cause ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 8.2(1) hereof;
“ Change in Control ” means an event whereby (i) any Person becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of either the issued and outstanding Shares or the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally; (ii) any Person acquires, directly or indirectly, securities of the Company to which is attached the right to elect the majority of the directors of the Company; (iii) the Company undergoes a liquidation or dissolution or sells all or substantially all of its assets; or (iv) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that a Change in Control as defined herein has occurred or is imminent.
“ Committee ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1(1) hereof;
“ Consultant ” means a person, other than an officer, director, senior executive, or employee of the Company or a Subsidiary, that provides ongoing services to the Company, and includes for an individual Consultant, a corporation of which the individual Consultant is an employee or shareholder, or a partnership of which the individual Consultant is an employee or partner;
“ Consulting Agreement ” means, with respect to any Participant, any written consulting agreement between the Company or an affiliate and such Participant;
“ CSE ” means the Canadian Securities Exchange;
“ Dividend Equivalent ” means a bookkeeping entry equivalent in value to a dividend paid on a Share credited to a Participant’s Account in accordance with Section 4.5 hereof;
“ DSU ” means a deferred share unit, which is a bookkeeping entry equivalent in value to a Share credited by the Company to a Participant’s Account in accordance with Article 4 hereof, subject to the provisions of this Plan;
“ DSU Agreement ” means a written letter agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the grant of DSUs and the terms and conditions thereof;
“ Eligibility Date ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 8.2(3) hereof;
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“ Eligible Participants ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.3(1) hereof;
“ Employment Agreement ” means, with respect to any Participant, any written employment agreement between the Company or an affiliate and such Participant;
“ Exercise Notice ” means a notice in writing signed by a Participant and stating the Participant’s intention to exercise a particular Award, if applicable;
“ Grant Agreement ” means an agreement evidencing the grant to a Participant of an Award, including an Option Agreement, a SAR Agreement, a DSU Agreement, a RSU Agreement, a Retention Award Agreement, an Employment Agreement, or a Consulting Agreement;
“ Insider ” has the meaning given to the term in the Securities Act (British Columbia), as same may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time;
“ Investor Relations Activities ” shall have the meaning given to such term in Policy 1 of the CSE;
“ Market Value ” means at any date when the Market Value of Shares of the Company is to be determined, and (i) if the Shares of the Company are listed on the CSE or any other stock exchange, the greater of the closing market price of the Shares on: (a) the trading day prior to the date of grant of the Award, and (b) the date of grant of the Award; or (ii) if the Shares of the Company are not listed on any stock exchange, the value as is determined solely by the Board, acting reasonably and in good faith;
“ Notice of Redemption ” means the written notice by a Participant, or the administrator or liquidator of the estate of the Participant, to the Company of the Participant’s wish to redeem his or her DSUs for cash or Shares;
“ Option ” means an option granted by the Company to a Participant entitling such Participant to acquire a designated number of Shares from treasury at the Option Price, subject to the provisions of this Plan;
“ Option Agreement ” means a written letter agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the grant of Options and the terms and conditions thereof;
“ Option Price ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.2 hereof;
“ Option Term ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.4(1) hereof;
“ Participants ” means Eligible Participants that are granted Awards under the Plan;
“ Participant’s Account ” means an account maintained for each Participant’s participation in DSUs and/or RSUs under the Plan;
“ Performance Criteria ” means criteria established by the Board which, without limitation, may include criteria based on the Participant’s personal performance and/or the financial performance of the Company and/or of its Affiliates, and that may be used to determine the vesting of the Awards, when applicable;
“ Performance Period ” means the period determined by the Board pursuant to Section 5.3 hereof;
“ Person ” means an individual, corporation, company, cooperative, partnership, trust, unincorporated association, entity with juridical personality or governmental authority or body, and pronouns which refer to a Person shall have a similarly extended meaning;
“ Plan ” means this Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated from time to time;
“ Restriction Period ” means the period determined by the Board pursuant to Section 5.4(1) hereof;
“ Retention Award ” means any payment to a Participant that is not payable periodically for services provided by the Participant, as determined by the Board from time to time, as provided in Article 7 hereof.
“ Retention Award Agreement ” means a written letter agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the grant of Retention Awards and the terms and conditions thereof;
“ Retention Payment ” means the retention payment specified in the Retention Agreement, Employment Agreement, or Consulting Agreement;
“ RSU ” means a right awarded by the Company to a Participant to receive a payment in the form of Shares as provided in Article 5 hereof, subject to the provisions of this Plan;
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“ RSU Agreement ” means a written letter agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the grant of RSUs and the terms and conditions thereof;
“ RSU Settlement Date ” has the meaning determined in Section 5.6(1)(a);
“ RSU Settlement Notice ” means a notice by a Participant to the Company electing the desired form of settlement of vested RSUs.
“ RSU Vesting Determination Date ” has the meaning described thereto in Section 5.5 hereof;
“ SAR ” means a right granted to a Participant as provided in Article 6 hereof to receive, upon exercise by the Participant, the excess of (i) the Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over (ii) the grant price of the right on the date of grant, or if granted in connection with an outstanding Option on the date of grant of the related Option, as specified by the Board in its sole discretion, which, except in the case of Substitute Awards, shall not be less than the Market Value of one Share on such date of grant of the right or the related Option, as the case may be, subject to the provisions of this Plan;
“ SAR Agreement ” means a written letter agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the grant of SARs and the terms and conditions thereof;
“ SAR Price ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 6.2 hereof;
“ SAR Term ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 6.4(1) hereof;
“ Share Compensation Arrangement ” means a stock option, stock option plan, employee stock purchase plan, longterm incentive plan or any other compensation or incentive mechanism involving the issuance or potential issuance of Shares to one or more full-time employees, directors, officers, insiders, service providers or Consultants of the Company or a Subsidiary including a share purchase from treasury by a full-time employee, director, officer, insider, service provider or Consultant which is financially assisted by the Company or a Subsidiary by way of a loan, guarantee or otherwise;
“ Shares ” means the common shares in the share capital of the Company;
“ Subsidiary ” means a corporation, company or partnership that is controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company;
“ Successor Company ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 9.1(3) hereof;
“ Tax Act ” means the Income Tax Act (Canada) and its regulations thereunder, as amended from time to time.
“ Termination Date ” means (i) in the event of a Participant’s resignation, the date on which such Participant ceases to be an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary and (ii) in the event of the termination of the Participant’s employment by the Company or a Subsidiary, the effective date of the termination as specified in the notice of termination provided to the Participant by the Company or the Subsidiary, as the case may be; and
“ Vested Awards ” has the meaning described thereto in Section 8.2(2) hereof.
ARTICLE 2 − PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN; GRANTING OF AWARDS
Section 2.1 Purpose of the Plan.
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(1) The purpose of the Plan is to permit the Company to grant Awards to Eligible Participants, subject to certain conditions as hereinafter set forth, for the following purposes:
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(a) to increase the interest in the Company’s welfare of those Eligible Participants, who share responsibility for the management, growth and protection of the business of the Company or a Subsidiary;
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(b) to provide an incentive to such Eligible Participants to continue their services for the Company or a Subsidiary and to encourage such Eligible Participants whose skills, performance and loyalty to the objectives and interests of the Company or a Subsidiary are necessary or essential to its success, image, reputation or activities;
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(c) to reward the Participants for their performance of services while working for the Company or a Subsidiary; and
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(d) to provide a means through which the Company or a Subsidiary may attract and retain able Persons to enter its employment.
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Section 2.2 Implementation and Administration of the Plan.
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(1) The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) or, if the Board by resolution so decides, by a committee appointed by the Board (the “ Committee ”) and consisting of not less than three (3) members of the Board. If a Committee is appointed for this purpose, all references to the term “Board” will be deemed to be references to the Committee.
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(2) The Board or, for greater certainty, the Committee, may, from time to time, as it may deem expedient, adopt, amend and rescind rules, regulations and policies for carrying out the provisions and purposes of the Plan, subject to any applicable rules of the CSE. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board or, for greater certainty, the Committee, is authorized, in its sole discretion, to make such determinations under, and such interpretations of, and take such steps and actions in connection with, the proper administration of the Plan as it may deem necessary or advisable. The interpretation, construction and application of the Plan and any provisions hereof made by the Board or, for greater certainty, the Committee, shall be final and binding on all Eligible Participants.
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(3) No member of the Board or, for greater certainty, the Committee, shall be liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith in the administration, interpretation, construction or application of the Plan or any Award granted hereunder.
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(4) Any determination approved by a majority of the Board or, for greater certainty, the Committee, shall be deemed to be a determination of that matter by the Board or, for greater certainty, the Committee.
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(5) Subject to the terms of this Plan and applicable law, the Board or, for greater certainty, the Committee, may delegate to one or more officers of the Company, or to a committee of such officers, the authority, subject to such terms and limitations as the Board or the Committee may determine, to grant, cancel, modify, waive rights with respect to, alter, discontinue, suspend or terminate Awards.
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(6) The Plan shall not in any way fetter, limit, obligate, restrict or constrain the Board with regard to the allotment or issuance of any Shares or any other securities in the capital of the Company. For greater clarity, the Company shall not by virtue of this Plan be in any way restricted from declaring and paying stock dividends, repurchasing Shares or varying or amending its share capital or corporate structure.
Section 2.3 Eligible Participants.
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(1) The Persons who shall be eligible to receive Awards (“ Eligible Participants ”) shall be the directors, officers, senior executives and other employees of the Company or a Subsidiary, Consultants and service providers providing ongoing services to the Company and its Affiliates. In determining Awards to be granted under the Plan, the Board shall give due consideration to the value of each Eligible Participant’s present and potential future contribution to the Company’s success. For greater certainty, a Person whose employment with the Company or a Subsidiary has ceased for any reason, or who has given notice or been given notice of such cessation, whether such cessation was initiated by such employee, the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall cease to be eligible to receive Awards hereunder as of the date on which such Person provides notice to the Company or the Subsidiary, as the case may be, in writing or verbally, of such cessation, or on the Termination Date for any cessation of a Participant’s employment initiated by the Company.
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(2) Participation in the Plan shall be entirely voluntary and any decision not to participate shall not affect an Eligible Participant’s relationship or employment with the Company.
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(3) Notwithstanding any express or implied term of this Plan to the contrary, the granting of an Award pursuant to the Plan shall in no way be construed as a guarantee of employment by the Company to the Participant.
Section 2.4 Shares Subject to the Plan.
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(1) Subject to adjustment pursuant to provisions of Article 9 hereof, the total number of Shares reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall not exceed a number of Shares equal to ten percent (10%) of the total issued and outstanding Shares of the Company at the time of granting of Awards (on a non-diluted basis) or such other number as may be approved by the shareholders of the Company from time to time. Any increase in the issued and outstanding Shares (whether as a result of exercise of Awards or otherwise) will result in an increase in the number of Shares that may be issued on Awards outstanding at any time and any increase in the number of Awards granted will, upon exercise, make new grants available under the Plan.
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(2) Shares in respect of which an Award is granted under the Plan, but not exercised prior to the termination of such Award or not vested or delivered prior to the termination of such Award due to the expiration, termination or lapse of such Award, shall be available for Awards to be granted thereafter pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. All Shares issued pursuant to the exercise or the vesting of the Awards granted under the Plan shall be so issued as fully paid and nonassessable Shares.
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(3) Subject to adjustment pursuant to provisions of Article 9 hereof, the total number of Shares reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to Awards under the Plan to persons providing Investor Relations Activities shall not exceed a number of Shares equal to one percent (1%) of the total issued and outstanding Shares of the Company in any 12-month period.
Section 2.5 Granting of Awards.
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(1) Any Award granted under the Plan shall be subject to the requirement that if at any time counsel to the Company shall determine that the listing, registration or qualification of the Shares subject to such Award, if applicable, upon any securities exchange or under any law or regulation of any jurisdiction, or the consent or approval of any securities exchange or any governmental or regulatory body, is necessary as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant or exercise of such Award or the issuance or purchase of Shares thereunder, if applicable, such Award may not be accepted or exercised in whole or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained on conditions acceptable to the Board. Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Company to apply for or to obtain such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval.
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(2) Any Award granted under the Plan shall be subject to the requirement that the Company has the right to place any restriction or legend on any securities issued pursuant to this Plan including, but in no way limited to placing a legend to the effect that the securities have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States unless registration or an exemption from registration is available.
ARTICLE 3 − OPTIONS
Section 3.1 Nature of Options.
An Option is an option granted by the Company to a Participant entitling such Participant to acquire a designated number of Shares from treasury at the Option Price, subject to the provisions of this Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, no Dividend Equivalents shall be granted in connection with an Option.
Section 3.2 Option Awards.
Subject to the provisions set forth in this Plan and any shareholder or regulatory approval which may be required, the Board shall, from time to time by resolution, in its sole discretion, (i) designate the Eligible Participants who may receive Options under the Plan, (ii) fix the number of Options, if any, to be granted to each Eligible Participant and the date or dates on which such Options shall be granted, (iii) determine the price per Share to be payable upon the exercise of each such Option (the “ Option Price ”) and the relevant vesting provisions (including Performance Criteria, if applicable) and Option Term, the whole subject to the terms and conditions prescribed in this Plan, in any Option Agreement and any applicable rules of the CSE.
Section 3.3 Option Price.
The Option Price for Shares that are the subject of any Option shall be fixed by the Board when such Option is granted, but shall not be less than the Market Value of such Shares at the time of the grant.
Section 3.4 Option Term.
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(1) The Board shall determine, at the time of granting the particular Option, the period during which the Option is exercisable, commencing on the date such Option is granted to the Participant and ending as specified in this Plan, or in the Option Agreement, but in no event shall an Option expire on a date which is later than ten (10) years from the date the Option is granted (“ Option Term ”). Unless otherwise determined by the Board, all unexercised Options shall be cancelled at the expiry of such Options.
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(2) Should the expiration date for an Option fall within a Black-Out Period or within ten (10) Business Days following the expiration of a Black-Out Period, such expiration date shall be automatically extended without any further act or formality to that date which is the tenth Business Day after the end of the Black-Out Period, such tenth Business Day to be considered the expiration date for such Option for all purposes under the Plan. Notwithstanding Section 9.2 hereof, the ten (10) Business Day-period referred to in this Section 3.4 may not be extended by the Board.
Section 3.5 Exercise of Options.
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(1) Subject to the provisions of this Plan, a Participant shall be entitled to exercise an Option granted to such Participant at any time prior to the expiry of the Option Term, subject to vesting limitations which may be imposed by the Board at the time such Option is granted.
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(2) Prior to its expiration or earlier termination in accordance with the Plan, each Option shall be exercisable as to all or such part or parts of the optioned Shares and at such time or times and/or pursuant to the achievement of such Performance Criteria and/or other vesting conditions as the Board at the time of granting the particular Option, may determine in its sole discretion. For greater certainty, no Option shall be exercised by a Participant during a Black-Out Period.
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Section 3.6 Method of Exercise and Payment of Purchase Price.
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(1) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, an Option granted under the Plan shall be exercisable (from time to time as provided in Section 3.5 hereof) by the Participant (or by the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant) by delivering a fully completed Exercise Notice to the Company at its registered office to the attention of the Corporate Secretary of the Company (or the individual that the Corporate Secretary of the Company may from time to time designate) or give notice in such other manner as the Company may from time to time designate, which notice shall specify the number of Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised and shall be accompanied by full payment, by cash, cheque or bank draft of the purchase price for the number of Shares specified therein. Unless otherwise determined by the Board the Company shall not offer financial assistance in regards to the exercise of an Option.
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(2) Upon the exercise of an Option, the Company shall, as soon as practicable after such exercise but no later than ten (10) Business Days following such exercise, forthwith cause the transfer agent and registrar of the Shares to either:
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(a) deliver to the Participant (or to the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant) a certificate in the name of the Participant representing in the aggregate such number of Shares as the Participant (or to the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant) shall have then paid for and as are specified in such Exercise Notice; or
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(b) in the case of Shares issued in uncertificated form, cause the issuance of the aggregate number of Shares as the Participant (or the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant) shall have then paid for and as are specified in such Exercise Notice to be evidenced by a book position on the register of the shareholders of the Company to be maintained by the transfer agent and registrar of the Shares.
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(3) With the consent of the Board, a Participant may, rather than exercise the Option which the Participant is entitled to exercise under this Plan as provided above, elect to surrender such Option, in whole or in part and, in lieu of receiving the Shares to which the exercised Option relates, receive, as consideration for the surrender of such Option, the number of Shares, disregarding fractions, which, when multiplied by the Market Value of the Shares to which the exercised Option relates, have a value equal to the product of the number of Shares to which the exercised Option relates multiplied by the difference between the Market Value of such Shares and the Option Price of such Option, less any amount withheld on account of taxes in accordance with Section 11.2. The Company makes no representation to any Participant (or to the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant) that it will waive or renounce its right to claim a deduction in respect of such payment.
Section 3.7 Option Agreements.
Options shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement or included in an Employment Agreement or Consulting Agreement, in such form not inconsistent with the Plan as the Board may from time to time determine, provided that the substance of Article 3 and Article 8 hereof be included therein. The Option Agreement shall contain such terms that may be considered necessary in order that the Option will comply with any provisions respecting options in the income tax or other laws in force in any country or jurisdiction of which the Participant may from time to time be a resident or citizen or the rules of any regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company.
ARTICLE 4 − DEFERRED SHARE UNITS
Section 4.1 Nature of DSUs.
A DSU is an Award of phantom share units to an Eligible Participant, subject to restrictions and conditions as the Board may determine at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other service relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives.
Section 4.2 Election to Participate.
Each Eligible Participant may elect, once each calendar year, to be paid a percentage of his or her annual retainer in the form of DSUs, with the balance being paid in cash. In the case of an existing Eligible Participant, the election must be completed, signed and delivered to the Company by the end of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year to which such election is to apply. In the case of a new Eligible Participant, the election must be completed, signed and delivered to the Company as soon as possible, and, in any event, no later than thirty (30) days, after the Eligible Participant’s appointment, with such election to be effective on the first day of the fiscal quarter of the Company next following the date of the Company’s receipt of the election until the final day of the fiscal year of appointment. For the first year of the Plan, Eligible Participants must make such election as soon as possible, and, in any event, no later than thirty (30) days, after adoption of the Plan and the election shall be effective on the first day of the fiscal quarter of the Company next following the date of the Company’s receipt of the election until the final day of such fiscal year. If no election is made in respect of a particular fiscal year, the new or existing Eligible Participant will receive the annual retainer in cash.
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Section 4.3 DSU Awards.
The number of DSUs that an Eligible Participant is entitled to receive in a fiscal year is based upon the percentage that the Eligible Participant has elected to receive in DSUs multiplied by the Participant’s annual retainer divided by the Market Value. At the discretion of the Board, fractional DSUs will not be issued and any fractional entitlements will be rounded down to the nearest whole number.
Section 4.4 Redemption of DSUs.
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(1) Each Participant shall be entitled to redeem his or her DSUs during the period commencing on the business day immediately following the Termination Date and ending on the 90th day following the Termination Date by providing a written Notice of Redemption to the Company. In the event of death of a Participant, the Notice of Redemption shall be filed by the administrator or liquidator of the estate of the Participant. The Notice of Redemption must specify an election to receive:
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(a) a cash payment equal to the number of DSUs credited to the Participant’s Account as of the Termination Date multiplied by the Market Value on the Termination Date, net of any applicable withholding taxes; or
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(b) in the case of settlement of DSUs for Shares, delivery of a share certificate to the Participant or the entry of the Participant’s name on the share register for the Shares (or in the case of Shares issued in uncertificated form, cause the issuance of the aggregate number of Shares as the Participant shall then be entitled to receive to be evidenced by a book position on the register of the shareholders of the Company maintained by the transfer agent and registrar of the Shares); or
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(c) a percentage of the DSUs paid out in cash and the remaining percentage of the DSUs paid out as Shares.
In the event a Notice of Redemption is not provided by a Participant, such Participant will be deemed to have elected to receive Shares as provided for in Section 4.4(1)(b). Notwithstanding an election by a Participant to receive a cash payment in accordance with Section 4.4(1)(a) or (c), the Company may, in its sole discretion, elect to settle amounts owing to a Participant pursuant to DSUs by the issuance of Shares only.
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(2) Where Shares are to be issued to a Participant, the Company will be required to (within ten (10) business days) issue the Shares. The number of Shares will be computed by taking the number of DSUs that the Participant elected to receive in Shares, net of the number of DSUs that would equal to any applicable withholding taxes.
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(3) The Company will make all of the payments described in this Article 4 (referred to hereinafter as the “Final Payment”) to the Participant, within 120 days of the Termination Date. Upon making such payment to the Participant, the DSUs upon which such payment was based shall be cancelled and no further payments shall be made from the Plan in relation to such DSUs.
Section 4.5 Award of Dividend Equivalents.
Dividend Equivalents may, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, be awarded in respect of DSUs in a Participant’s Account on the same basis as dividends declared and paid on Shares as if the Participant was a shareholder of record of Shares on the relevant record date. These Dividend Equivalents will, if awarded, be credited to the Participant’s Account as additional DSUs (or fractions thereof), with the number of additional DSUs based on (a) the actual amount of dividends that would have been paid if the Participant had held Shares under the Plan on the applicable record date divided by (b) the Market Value per Share on the date on which the dividends on Shares are payable. For greater certainty, no DSUs representing Dividend Equivalents will be credited to a Participant’s Account in relation to DSUs that have been previously cancelled or paid out of the Plan and all additional DSUs credited as a result of a Dividend Equivalent will be credited at the same time as any applicable Final Payment.
Section 4.6 Unfunded Plan.
Unless otherwise determined by the Board, this Plan shall be unfunded. To the extent any Participant or his or her estate holds any rights by virtue of a grant of DSUs under this Plan, such rights (unless otherwise determined by the Board) shall be no greater than the rights of an unsecured creditor of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any determinations made shall be such that the Plan continuously meets the requirements of paragraph 6801(d) of the Income Tax Regulations, adopted under the Tax Act or any successor provision thereto.
Section 4.7 DSU Agreements.
DSUs shall be evidenced by a DSU Agreement or included in an Employment Agreement or Consulting Agreement, in such form not inconsistent with the Plan as the Board may from time to time determine, provided that the substance of Article 4 and Article 8 hereof be included therein. The DSU Agreement shall contain such terms that may be considered necessary in order that the DSU will comply with any provisions respecting deferred share units in the income tax or other laws in force in any country or jurisdiction of which the Participant may from time to time be a resident or citizen or the rules of any regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company.
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ARTICLE 5 − RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS
Section 5.1 Nature of RSUs.
A RSU is an Award entitling the recipient to acquire Shares, at such purchase price (which may be zero) as determined by the Board, or receive or receive a Cash Equivalent, subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Board may determine at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other service relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives.
Section 5.2 RSU Awards.
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(1) Subject to the provisions herein set forth and any shareholder or regulatory approval which may be required, the Board shall, from time to time by resolution, in its sole discretion, (i) designate the Eligible Participants who may receive RSUs under the Plan, (ii) fix the number of RSUs, if any, to be granted to each Eligible Participant and the date or dates on which such RSUs shall be granted, and (iii) determine the relevant conditions and vesting provisions (including the applicable Performance Period and Performance Criteria, if any) and Restriction Period of such RSUs, the whole subject to the terms and conditions prescribed in this Plan and in any RSU Agreement.
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(2) The RSUs are structured so as to be considered to be a plan described in section 7 of the Tax Act or any successor provision thereto.
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(3) Subject to the vesting and other conditions and provisions herein set forth and in the RSU Agreement, each RSU awarded to a Participant shall entitle the Participant, at his or her election, to receive one Share issued from treasury or the Cash Equivalent at any time beginning on the first Business Day following their RSU Vesting Determination Date but no later than the RSU Settlement Date.
Section 5.3 Restriction Period.
The applicable restriction period in respect of a particular RSU award shall be determined by the Board but in all cases shall end no later than December 31 of the calendar year which is three (3) years after the calendar year in which the Award is granted (“ Restriction Period ”). For example, the Restriction Period for a grant made in June 2020 shall end no later than December 31, 2023. Subject to the Board’s determination, any vested RSUs with respect to a Restriction Period will be paid to Participants in accordance with Article 5, no later than the end of the Restriction Period. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, all unvested RSUs shall be cancelled on the RSU Vesting Determination Date (as such term is defined in Section 5.5) and, in any event, no later than the last day of the Restriction Period.
Section 5.4 Performance Criteria and Performance Period.
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(1) For each award of RSUs, the Board shall establish the period in which any Performance Criteria and other vesting conditions must be met in order for a Participant to be entitled to receive Shares in exchange for all or a portion of the RSUs held by such Participant (the “ Performance Period ”), provided that such Performance Period may not expire after the end of the Restriction Period, being no longer than three (3) years after the financial year in which the Award was granted. For example, a Performance Period determined by the Board to be for a period of three (3) financial years will start on the first day of the financial year in which the award is granted and will end on the last day of the second financial year after the year in which the grant was made. In such a case, for a grant made on August 5, 2020, the Performance Period will start on August 1, 2020 and will end on December 31, 2022.
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(2) For each award of RSUs, the Board shall establish any Performance Criteria and other vesting conditions which must be met during the Performance Period in order for a Participant to be entitled to receive Shares in exchange for his or her RSUs.
Section 5.5 RSU Vesting Determination Date.
The vesting determination date means the date on which the Board determines if the Performance Criteria and/or other vesting conditions with respect to a RSU have been met (the “ RSU Vesting Determination Date ”), and as a result, establishes the number of RSUs that become vested, if any. For greater certainty, the RSU Vesting Determination Date must fall after the end of the Performance Period, if any, but no later than the last day of the Restriction Period.
Section 5.6 Settlement of RSUs.
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(1) Except as otherwise provided in the RSU Agreement, in the event that the vesting conditions, the Performance Criteria and Performance Period, if applicable, of an RSU are satisfied:
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(a) all of the vested RSUs covered by a particular grant may, subject to Section 5.6(4), be settled at any time beginning on the first Business Day following their RSU Vesting Determination Date but no later than the date that is ten (10) years from their RSU Vesting Determination Date (the “ RSU Settlement Date ”);
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(b) a Participant is entitled to deliver to the Company, on or before the RSU Settlement Date, an RSU Settlement Notice in respect of any or all vested RSUs held by such Participant; and
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(c) in the RSU Settlement Notice, the Participant will elect, in such Participant’s sole discretion, including with respect to any fractional RSUs, to settle vested RSUs for their Cash Equivalent, Shares issued from treasury, or a combination thereof.
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(2) Subject to Section 5.6(4), settlement of RSUs shall take place promptly following the RSU Settlement Date and take the form set out in the RSU Settlement Notice through:
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(a) in the case of settlement of RSUs for their Cash Equivalent, delivery of a cheque to the Participant representing the Cash Equivalent;
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(b) in the case of settlement of RSUs for Shares, delivery of a share certificate to the Participant or the entry of the Participant’s name on the share register for the Shares (or in the case of Shares issued in uncertificated form, cause the issuance of the aggregate number of Shares as the Participant shall then be entitled to receive to be evidenced by a book position on the register of the shareholders of the Company maintained by the transfer agent and registrar of the Shares); or
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(c) in the case of settlement of the RSUs for a combination of Shares and the Cash Equivalent, a combination of (a) and (b) above.
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(3) If an RSU Settlement Notice is not received by the Company on or before the RSU Settlement Date, settlement shall take the form of Shares issued from treasury as set out in Section 5.7(2). Notwithstanding an election by a Participant to receive a cash payment in accordance with Section 5.4(1)(a) or (c), the Company may, in its sole discretion, elect to settle amounts owing to a Participant pursuant to RSUs by the issuance of Shares only.
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(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, in the event that an RSU Settlement Date falls during a Black-Out Period or other trading restriction imposed by the Company and the Participant has not delivered an RSU Settlement Notice, then such RSU Settlement Date shall be automatically extended to the tenth (10th) Business Day following the date that such Black-Out Period or other trading restriction is lifted, terminated or removed.
Section 5.7 Determination of Amounts.
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(1) Cash Equivalent of RSUs. For purposes of determining the Cash Equivalent of RSUs to be made pursuant to Section 5.6, such calculation will be made on the RSU Settlement Date and shall equal the Market Value on the RSU Settlement Date multiplied by the number of vested RSUs in the Participant’s Account which the Participant desires to settle in cash pursuant to the RSU Settlement Notice.
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(2) Payment in Shares; Issuance of Shares from Treasury. For the purposes of determining the number of Shares from treasury to be issued and delivered to a Participant upon settlement of RSUs pursuant to Section 5.6, such calculation will be made on the RSU Settlement Date and be the whole number of Shares equal to the whole number of vested RSUs then recorded in the Participant’s Account which the Participant desires to settle pursuant to the RSU Settlement Notice. Shares issued from treasury will be issued in consideration for the past services of the Participant to the Company and the entitlement of the Participant under this Plan shall be satisfied in full by such issuance of Shares.
Section 5.8 RSU Agreements.
RSUs shall be evidenced by a RSU Agreement or included in an Employment Agreement or Consulting Agreement, in such form not inconsistent with the Plan as the Board may from time to time determine, provided that the substance of Article 5 and Article 8 hereof be included therein. The RSU Agreement shall contain such terms that may be considered necessary in order that the RSU will comply with any provisions respecting restricted share units in the income tax or other laws in force in any country or jurisdiction of which the Participant may from time to time be a resident or citizen or the rules of any regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company.
Section 5.9 Award of Dividend Equivalents.
Dividend Equivalents may, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, be awarded in respect of RSUs in a Participant’s Account on the same basis as dividends declared and paid on Shares as if the Participant was a shareholder of record of Shares on the relevant record date. These Dividend Equivalents will, if awarded, be credited to the Participant’s Account as additional RSUs (or fractions thereof), with the number of additional RSUs based on (a) the actual amount of dividends that would have been paid if the Participant had held Shares under the Plan on the applicable record date divided by (b) the Market Value per Share on the date on which the dividends on Shares are payable. For greater certainty, no RSUs representing Dividend Equivalents will be credited to a Participant’s Account in relation to RSUs that have been previously cancelled or paid out of the Plan and all additional RSUs credited as a result of a Dividend Equivalent will be credited at the same time as any applicable Final Payment. In the event that the Participant’s applicable RSUs do not vest, all Dividend Equivalents, if any, associated with such RSUs will be forfeited by the Participant and returned to the Company’s account.
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ARTICLE 6 − SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS
Section 6.1 Nature of SARs.
A SAR is an Award entitling the recipient to receive Shares having a value equal to the excess of the Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over the grant price of the right on the date of grant, multiplied by the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR shall have been exercised. The grant price of shall not be less than the Market Value of one Share on such date of grant of the right.
Section 6.2 SAR Awards.
Subject to the provisions herein set forth and any shareholder or regulatory approval which may be required, the Board shall, from time to time by resolution, in its sole discretion, (i) designate the Eligible Participants who may receive SAR Awards under the Plan, (ii) fix the number of SAR Awards to be granted to each Eligible Participant and the date or dates on which such SAR Awards shall be granted, and (iii) determine the price per Share to be payable upon the vesting of each such SAR (the “ SAR Price ”) and the relevant conditions and vesting provisions (including the applicable Performance Period and Performance Criteria, if any) and the SAR Term, the whole subject to the terms and conditions prescribed in this Plan and in any SAR Agreement.
Section 6.3 SAR Price.
The SAR Price for the Shares that are the subject of any SAR shall be fixed by the Board when such SAR is granted, but shall not be less than the Market Value of such Shares at the time of the grant.
Section 6.4 SAR Term.
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(1) The Board shall determine, at the time of granting the particular SAR, the period during which the SAR is exercisable, which shall not be more than ten (10) years from the date the SAR is granted (“ SAR Term ”) and the vesting schedule of such SAR, which will be detailed in the respective SAR Agreement. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, all unexercised SARs shall be cancelled at the expiry of such SAR.
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(2) Should the expiration date for a SAR fall within a Black-Out Period or within ten (10) Business Days following the expiration of a Black-Out Period, such expiration date shall be automatically extended without any further act or formality to that date which is the tenth (10th) Business Day after the end of the Black-Out Period, such tenth (10th) Business Day to be considered the expiration date for such SAR for all purposes under the Plan. Notwithstanding Section 9.2 hereof, the ten (10) Business Day-period referred to in this Section 6.4 may not be extended by the Board.
Section 6.5 Exercise of SARs.
Prior to its expiration or earlier termination in accordance with the Plan, each SAR shall be exercisable as to all or such part or parts of the granted Shares and at such time or times and/or pursuant to the achievement of such Performance Criteria and/or other vesting conditions as the Board at the time of granting the particular SAR, may determine in its sole discretion. For greater certainty, no SAR shall be exercised by a Participant during a Black-Out Period.
Section 6.6 Method of Exercise and Payment of Purchase Price.
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(1) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, a SAR granted under the Plan shall be exercisable (from time to time as provided in Section 6.5 hereof) by the Participant (or by the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant) by delivering a fully completed Exercise Notice to the Company at its registered office to the attention of the Corporate Secretary of the Company (or to the individual that the Corporate Secretary of the Company may from time to time designate) or give notice in such other manner as the Company may from time to time designate, no less than three (3) business days in advance of the effective date of the proposed exercise, which notice shall specify the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is being exercised and the effective date of the proposed exercise.
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(2) The exercise of a SAR with respect to any number of Shares shall entitle the Participant to Shares equal to the excess of the Market Value of a Share on the effective date of such exercise over the per share SAR Price.
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(3) Upon the exercise, the Company shall, as soon as practicable after such exercise but no later than ten (10) Business Days following such exercise, forthwith cause the transfer agent and registrar of the Shares to either:
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(4) deliver to the Participant (or to the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant) a certificate in the name of the Participant representing in the aggregate such number of Shares as the Participant (or to the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant) shall be entitled to receive (unless the Participant intends to simultaneously dispose of any such Shares); or
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(5) in the case of Shares issued in uncertificated form, cause the issuance of the aggregate number of Shares as the Participant (or the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant) shall be entitled to receive
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to be evidenced by a book position on the register of the shareholders of the Company to be maintained by the transfer agent and registrar of the Shares.
Section 6.7 SAR Agreements.
SARs shall be evidenced by a SAR Agreement or included in an Employment Agreement or Consulting Agreement, in such form not inconsistent with the Plan as the Board may from time to time determine, provided that the substance of Article 6 and Article 8 hereof be included therein. The SAR Agreement shall contain such terms that may be considered necessary in order that the SAR will comply with any provisions respecting stock appreciation rights in the income tax or other laws in force in any country or jurisdiction of which the Participant may from time to time be a resident or citizen or the rules of any regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company.
ARTICLE 7 − RETENTION AWARDS
Section 7.1 Nature of Retention Awards.
Retention Awards are any payment to an Eligible Participant that is not payable periodically for services provided by the Eligible Participant, as determined by the Board from time to time.
Section 7.2 Retention Awards.
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(1) Subject to the provisions herein set forth, the Board shall, from time to time by resolution, in its sole discretion, (i) designate the Eligible Participants who may receive Retention Awards under the Plan, (ii) fix the number of Retention Awards, if any, to be granted to each Eligible Participant and the date or dates on which such Retention Awards shall be granted, and (iii) determine the relevant conditions and vesting provisions (including the applicable Performance Period and Performance Criteria, if any) of such Retention Awards, the whole subject to the terms and conditions prescribed in this Plan and in any Retention Award Agreement, Employment Agreement or Consulting Agreement.
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(2) Subject to the vesting and other conditions and provisions herein set forth and in the Retention Award Agreement, Employment Agreement or Consulting Agreement, each Retention Award awarded to a Participant shall entitle the Participant to receive, on the vesting date of the Retention Award, such number of Shares, disregarding fractions, which, when multiplied by the Market Value of the Shares on the vesting date of the Retention Award, to which the Retention Awards relate, have a value equal to the Retention Payment, less any amount withheld on account of income taxes, which withheld income taxes will be remitted by the Company.
Section 7.3 Payment to Participant.
In the event that the vesting conditions of a Retention Award are satisfied, the Company shall, as soon as possible after the date of vesting of the Retention Awards cause the transfer agent and registrar of the Shares to either:
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(1) deliver to the Participant (or to the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant) a certificate in the name of the Participant representing in the aggregate such number of Shares as the Participant (or to the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant) shall be entitled to receive (unless the Participant intends to simultaneously dispose of any such Shares); or
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(2) in the case of Shares issued in uncertificated form, cause the issuance of the aggregate number of Shares as the Participant (or the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant) shall be entitled to receive to be evidenced by a book position on the register of the shareholders of the Company to be maintained by the transfer agent and registrar of the Shares.
Section 7.4 Retention Award Agreements.
Retention Awards shall be evidenced by a Retention Award Agreement or included in an Employment Agreement or Consulting Agreement, in such form not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Board may from time to time determine, provided that the substance of Article 7 and Article 8 hereof be included therein. The Retention Award Agreement shall contain such terms that may be considered necessary in order that the Retention Award will comply with any provisions respecting such awards in the income tax or other laws in force in any country or jurisdiction of which the Participant may from time to time be a resident or citizen or the rules of any regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company.
ARTICLE 8 − GENERAL CONDITIONS
Section 8.1 General Conditions applicable to Awards.
Each Award, as applicable, shall be subject to the following conditions:
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(1) Employment - The granting of an Award to a Participant shall not impose upon the Company or a Subsidiary any obligation to retain the Participant in its employ in any capacity. For greater certainty, the granting of Awards to a
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Participant shall not impose any obligation on the Company to grant any awards in the future nor shall it entitle the Participant to receive future grants.
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(2) Rights as a Shareholder - Neither the Participant nor such Participant’s personal representatives or legatees shall have any rights whatsoever as shareholder in respect of any Shares covered by such Participant’s Awards until the date of issuance of a share certificate to such Participant (or to the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant). Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing, no adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such share certificate is issued.
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(3) Conformity to Plan – In the event that an Award is granted or a Grant Agreement is executed which does not conform in all particulars with the provisions of the Plan, or purports to grant Awards on terms different from those set out in the Plan, the Award or the grant of such Award shall not be in any way void or invalidated, but the Award so granted will be adjusted to become, in all respects, in conformity with the Plan.
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(4) Transferrable Awards – Awards granted under this Plan shall be transferrable or assignable only to a “permitted assign” and shall be exercisable only by the Participant or his or her permitted assign. For the purposes hereof, “permitted assign” means for such Participant:
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(a) a trustee, custodian or administrator acting on behalf, or for the benefit, of the Participant;
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(b) a holding entity of the Participant;
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(c) a registered retirement savings plan (“ RRSP ”) or registered retirement income fund (“ RRIF ”) of the Participant, as such terms are defined in the Tax Act;
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(d) a spouse of the Participant (the “ Spouse ”);
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(e) a trustee, custodian or administrator acting on behalf, or for the benefit, of the Spouse;
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(f) a holding entity of the Spouse; or
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(g) an RRSP or RRIF of the Spouse.
Section 8.2 General Conditions applicable to Options, SARs and Retention Awards.
Each Option, SAR or Retention Award, as applicable, shall be subject to the following conditions:
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(1) Termination for Cause . Upon a Participant ceasing to be an Eligible Participant for “Cause”, any Option, SAR or Retention Award or the unexercised or unvested portion thereof, as applicable, when granted to such Participant shall terminate on the effective date of the termination as specified in the notice of termination. For the purposes of the Plan, the determination by the Company that the Participant was discharged for cause shall be binding on the Participant. “Cause” shall include, among other things, gross misconduct, theft, fraud, breach of confidentiality or breach of the any code of conduct of the Company (or equivalent policy) and any reason determined by the Company to be cause for termination.
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(2) Death . If a Participant dies while in his or her capacity as an Eligible Participant, any vested Option, SAR or Retention Award or the unexercised portion thereof, granted to such Participant may be exercised by the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant for that number of Shares only which such Participant was entitled to acquire under the respective Options, SARs or Retention Awards (the “Vested Awards”) hereof on the date of such Participant’s death. Such Vested Award shall only be exercisable within one (1) year after the Participant’s death or prior to the expiration of the original term of the Options, SARs or Retention Awards, as applicable, whichever occurs earlier. All Options, SARs or Retention Awards or the unexercised or unvested portion thereof, as applicable, other than such Vested Awards on the date of such Participant’s death, will be cancelled on the date of such Participant’s death.
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(3) Disability . Upon a Participant ceasing to be an Eligible Participant by reason of injury or disability or upon a Participant becoming eligible to receive long-term disability benefits, any Option, SAR or Retention Award or the unexercised portion thereof, granted to such Participant may be exercised by such Participant or his/her representative as the rights to exercise accrue. Such Option, SAR or Retention Award shall only be exercisable (i) within three (3) years after such cessation or (ii) the effective date on which the Participant becomes eligible to receive long-term disability benefits (provided that, for greater certainty, such effective date shall be confirmed in writing to the Company by the insurance company providing such long-term disability benefits) (the “Eligibility Date”)) or (iii) prior to the expiration of the original term of the Option, SAR or Retention Award, whichever occurs earlier. All Options, SARs or Retention Awards or the unexercised or unvested portion thereof, as applicable, on the date that is three (3) years after such cessation, will be cancelled on such date.
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(4) Termination or Cessation . In the case of a Participant ceasing to be an Eligible Participant for any reason (other than for “cause”, death or disability) the right to exercise an Option, SAR or Retention Award shall be limited to and shall expire on the earlier of one year after the Termination Date, or the expiry date of the Award set forth in the Grant Agreement, to the extent such Award was exercisable by the Participant on the Termination Date.
Section 8.3 General Conditions applicable to RSUs.
Each RSU shall be subject to the following conditions:
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(1) Termination for Cause . Upon a Participant ceasing to be an Eligible Participant for “Cause” or the Participant’s resignation from employment with the Company or a Subsidiary, the Participant’s participation in the Plan shall be terminated immediately, all RSUs credited to such Participant’s Account that have not vested shall be forfeited and cancelled, and the Participant’s rights to Shares that relate to such Participant’s unvested RSUs shall be forfeited and cancelled on the Termination Date.
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(2) Cessation of Employment . Except as otherwise determined by the Board from time to time, at its sole discretion, upon a Participant’s (i) retirement, (ii) employment with the Company or a Subsidiary being terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary for reasons other than for “cause”, (iii) employment with the Company or a Subsidiary being terminated by reason of injury or disability or (iv) becoming eligible to receive long-term disability benefits, the Participant’s participation in the Plan shall be terminated immediately (provided that, for the Participant becoming eligible to receive long-term disability benefits, such termination shall occur on the Eligibility Date), provided that all unvested RSUs in the Participant’s Account as of such date relating to a Restriction Period in progress shall remain in effect until the applicable RSU Vesting Determination Date.
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(3) Retirement . In the case of a Participant’s retirement, this Section 8.3(3) shall not apply to a Participant in the event such Participant, directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever, alone, through or in connection with any person, carries on or becomes employed by, engaged in or otherwise commercially involved in, any activity or business in the investment industry prior to the applicable RSU Vesting Determination Date. In such event, Section 8.3(2) shall apply to such Participant.
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(a) If, on the RSU Vesting Determination Date, the Board determines that the vesting conditions were not met for such RSUs, then all unvested RSUs credited to such Participant’s Account shall be forfeited and cancelled and the Participant’s rights to Shares that relate to such unvested RSUs shall be forfeited and cancelled.
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(b) If, on the RSU Vesting Determination Date, the Board determines that the vesting conditions were met for such RSUs, the Participant shall be entitled to receive that number of Shares equal to the number of RSUs outstanding in the Participant’s Account in respect of such Restriction Period multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of completed months of service of the Participant with the Company or a Subsidiary during the applicable Performance Period, if any, as of the date of the Participant’s retirement, termination or Eligibility Date and the denominator of which shall be equal to the total number of months included in the applicable Performance Period, if any (which calculation shall be made on the applicable RSU Vesting Determination Date) and the Company shall distribute such number of Shares to the Participant as soon as practicable thereafter, but no later than the end of the Restriction Period, the Company shall debit the corresponding number of RSUs from such Participant’s Account, and the Participant’s rights to all other Shares that relate to such Participant’s RSUs shall be forfeited and cancelled.
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(4) Death . Except as otherwise determined by the Board from time to time, at their sole discretion, upon the death of a Participant, the Participant’s participation in the Plan shall be terminated immediately, provided that all unvested RSUs in the Participant’s Account as of such date relating to a Restriction Period in progress shall remain in effect until the applicable RSU Vesting Determination Date or any earlier date as may be determined by the Board.
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(a) If, on the applicable RSU Vesting Determination Date or any earlier date as may be determined by the Board, the Board determines that the vesting conditions were not met for such RSUs, then all unvested RSUs credited to such Participant’s Account shall be forfeited and cancelled and the Participant’s rights to Shares (or cash or a combination of Shares and cash as permitted under this Plan) that relate to such unvested RSUs shall be forfeited and cancelled.
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(b) If, on the applicable RSU Vesting Determination Date or any earlier date as may be determined by the Board, the Board determines that the vesting conditions were met, the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant shall be entitled to receive that number of Shares equal to the number of RSUs outstanding in the Participant’s Account in respect of such Restriction Period multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of completed months of service of the Participant with the Company or a Subsidiary during the applicable Performance Period, if any, as of the date of death of the Participant and the denominator of which shall be equal to the total number of months included in the applicable Performance Period, if any (which calculation shall be made on the applicable RSU Vesting Determination Date or any earlier date as may be determined by the Board) and the Company shall distribute such number of Shares to
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the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant as soon as practicable thereafter but no later than the end of the Restriction Period, the Company shall debit the corresponding number of RSUs from such deceased Participant’s Account, and the Participant’s right to all other Shares that relate to such deceased Participant’s RSUs shall be forfeited and cancelled.
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(5) Leave of Absence . Except as otherwise determined by the Board from time to time, at their sole discretion, upon a Participant electing a voluntary leave of absence, the Participant’s participation in the Plan shall be terminated immediately, provided that all unvested RSUs in the Participant’s Account as of such date relating to a Restriction Period in progress shall remain in effect until the applicable RSU Vesting Determination Date.
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(a) If, on the applicable RSU Vesting Determination Date, the Board determines that the vesting conditions were not met for such RSUs, then all unvested RSUs credited to such Participant’s Account shall be forfeited and cancelled and the Participant’s rights to Shares (or cash or a combination of Shares and cash as permitted under this Plan) that relate to such unvested RSUs shall be forfeited and cancelled.
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(b) If, on the applicable RSU Vesting Determination Date, the Board determines that the vesting conditions were met, the Participant shall be entitled to receive that number of Shares equal to the number of RSUs outstanding in the Participant’s Account in respect of such Restriction Period multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of completed months of service of the Participant with the Company or a Subsidiary during the relevant Performance Period, if any, as of the date the Participant elects for a voluntary leave of absence and the denominator of which shall be equal to the total number of months included in the relevant Performance Period, if any (which calculation shall be made on the applicable RSU Vesting Determination Date) and the Company shall distribute such number of Shares (or cash or a combination of Shares and cash as permitted under this Plan) to the Participant as soon as practicable thereafter but no later than the end of the applicable Restriction Period, the Company shall debit the corresponding number of RSUs from such Participant’s Account, and the Participant’s right to all other Shares that relate to such Participant’s RSUs shall be forfeited and cancelled.
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(c) Subject to applicable laws, the Board may decide, at their sole discretion that Section 8.3(5) should not apply to voluntary leaves granted to a Participant by the Company for a period of twelve (12) months or less. In such event, all unvested RSUs in such Participant’s Account as of such date relating to a Restriction Period in progress shall remain in effect until the applicable RSU Vesting Determination Date.
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(6) General . For greater certainty, where (i) a Participant’s employment with the Company or a Subsidiary is terminated pursuant to Section 8.3(1), Section 8.3(2) or Section 8.3(4) hereof or (ii) a Participant elects for a voluntary leave of absence pursuant to Section 8.3(5) hereof following the satisfaction of all vesting conditions in respect of particular RSUs but before receipt of the corresponding distribution or payment in respect of such RSUs, the Participant shall remain entitled to such distribution or payment.
ARTICLE 9 − ADJUSTMENTS AND AMENDMENTS
Section 9.1 Adjustment to Shares Subject to Outstanding Awards.
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(1) In the event of any subdivision of the Shares into a greater number of Shares at any time after the grant of an Award to a Participant and prior to the expiration of the term of such Award, the Company shall deliver to such Participant, at the time of any subsequent exercise or vesting of such Award in accordance with the terms hereof, in lieu of the number of Shares to which such Participant was theretofore entitled upon such exercise or vesting of such Award, but for the same aggregate consideration payable therefor, such number of Shares as such Participant would have held as a result of such subdivision if on the record date thereof the Participant had been the registered holder of the number of Shares to which such Participant was theretofore entitled upon such exercise or vesting of such Award.
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(2) In the event of any consolidation of Shares into a lesser number of Shares at any time after the grant of an Award to any Participant and prior to the expiration of the term of such Award, the Company shall deliver to such Participant at the time of any subsequent exercise or vesting of such Award in accordance with the terms hereof in lieu of the number of Shares to which such Participant was theretofore entitled upon such exercise or vesting of such Award, but for the same aggregate consideration payable therefor, such number of Shares as such Participant would have held as a result of such consideration if on the record date thereof the Participant had been the registered holder of the number of Shares to which such Participant was theretofore entitled upon such exercise or vesting of such Award.
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(3) If at any time after the grant of an Award to any Participant and prior to the expiration of the term of such Award, the Shares shall be reclassified, reorganized or otherwise changed, otherwise than as specified in Section 9.1(1) or Section 9.1(2) hereof or, subject to the provisions of Section 9.2(3) hereof, the Company shall consolidate, merge or amalgamate with or into another corporation (the corporation resulting or continuing from such consolidation, merger or amalgamation being herein called the “ Successor Company ”), the Participant shall be entitled to receive upon the subsequent exercise or vesting of Award, in accordance with the terms hereof and shall accept in lieu of the number of Shares then subscribed for but for the same aggregate consideration payable therefor, the aggregate number of shares of
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the appropriate class or other securities of the Company or the Successor Company (as the case may be) or other consideration from the Company or the Successor Company (as the case may be) that such Participant would have been entitled to receive as a result of such reclassification, reorganization or other change of shares or, subject to the provisions of Section 9.2(3) hereof, as a result of such consolidation, merger or amalgamation, if on the record date of such reclassification, reorganization or other change of shares or the effective date of such consolidation, merger or amalgamation, as the case may be, such Participant had been the registered holder of the number of Shares to which such Participant was immediately theretofore entitled upon such exercise or vesting of such Award.
- (4) If, at any time after the grant of an Award to any Participant and prior to the expiration of the term of such Award, the Company shall make a distribution to all holders of Shares or other securities in the capital of the Company, or cash, evidences of indebtedness or other assets of the Company (excluding an ordinary course dividend in cash or shares, but including for greater certainty shares or equity interests in a Subsidiary or business unit of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or cash proceeds of the disposition of such a Subsidiary or business unit), or should the Company effect any transaction or change having a similar effect, then the price or the number of Shares to which the Participant is entitled upon exercise or vesting of Award shall be adjusted to take into account such distribution, transaction or change. The Board shall determine the appropriate adjustments to be made in such circumstances in order to maintain the Participants’ economic rights in respect of their Awards in connection with such distribution, transaction or change.
Section 9.2 Amendment or Discontinuance of the Plan.
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(1) The Board may amend the Plan or any Award at any time without the consent of the Participants provided that such amendment shall:
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(a) not adversely alter or impair any Award previously granted except as permitted by the provisions of Article 9 hereof;
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(b) be subject to any regulatory approvals including, where required, the approval of the CSE; and
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(c) be subject to shareholder approval, where required by law or the requirements of the CSE, 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:
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(d) amendments of a “housekeeping” nature;
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(e) a change to the vesting provisions of any Award;
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(f) the introduction or amendment of a cashless exercise feature payable in securities, whether or not such feature provides for a full deduction of the number of underlying securities from the Plan reserve; and
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(g) the addition of a form of financial assistance and any amendment to a financial assistance provision which is adopted.
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(2) Notwithstanding Section 9.2(1)(c), the Board shall be required to obtain shareholder approval to make the following amendments:
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(a) any change to the maximum number of Shares issuable from treasury under the Plan, except such increase by operation of Section 2.4 and in the event of an adjustment pursuant to Article 9;
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(b) any amendment which reduces the exercise price of any Award, as applicable, after such Awards have been granted or any cancellation of an Award and the substitution of that Award by a new Award with a reduced price, except in the case of an adjustment pursuant to Article 9;
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(c) any amendment which extends the expiry date of any Award, or the Restriction Period of any RSU beyond the original expiry date, except in case of an extension due to a Black- Out Period;
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(d) any amendment which would permit a change to the Eligible Participants;
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(e) any amendment which would permit any Award granted under the Plan to be transferable or assignable by any Participant other than as allowed by Section 8.1(4);
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(f) any amendment to the amendment provisions of the Plan,
provided that Shares held directly or indirectly by Insiders benefiting from the amendments in Sections (b) and (c) shall be excluded when obtaining such shareholder approval.
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(3) Notwithstanding anything contained to the contrary in the Plan, in a Grant Agreement contemplated herein, but subject to any specific provisions contained in any Employment Agreements or Consulting Agreements, in the event of a Change
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in Control, a reorganization of the Company, an amalgamation of the Company, an arrangement involving the Company, a take-over bid (as that term is defined in the Securities Act (British Columbia)) for all of the Shares or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company, the Board may make such provision for the protection of the rights of the Participants as the Board in its discretion considers appropriate in the circumstances, including, without limitation, changing the Performance Criteria and/or other vesting conditions for the Awards and/or the date on which any Award expires or the Restriction Period, the Performance Period, the Performance Criteria and/or other vesting conditions for the Awards.
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(4) The Board may, by resolution, advance the date on which any Award may be exercised or payable or, subject to applicable regulatory provisions, including the rules of the CSE, and shareholder approval, extend the expiration date of any Award, in the manner to be set forth in such resolution provided that the period during which an Option or a SAR is exercisable or RSU is outstanding does not exceed ten (10) years from the date such Option or SAR is granted in the case of Options and SARs and three (3) years after the calendar year in which the award is granted in the case of RSUs. The Board shall not, in the event of any such advancement or extension, be under any obligation to advance or extend the date on or by which any Option or SAR may be exercised or RSU may be outstanding by any other Participant.
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(5) The Committee may, by resolution, but subject to applicable regulatory approvals, decide that any of the provisions hereof concerning the effect of termination of the Participant’s employment shall not apply for any reason acceptable to the Committee.
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(6) The Board may, subject to regulatory approval, discontinue the Plan at any time without the consent of the Participants provided that such discontinuance shall not materially and adversely affect any Awards previously granted to a Participant under the Plan.
ARTICLE 10 − MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1 Use of an Administrative Agent and Trustee.
The Board may in its sole discretion appoint from time to time one or more entities to act as administrative agent to administer the Awards granted under the Plan and to act as trustee to hold and administer the assets that may be held in respect of Awards granted under the Plan, the whole in accordance with the terms and conditions determined by the Board in its sole discretion. The Company and the administrative agent will maintain records showing the number of Awards granted to each Participant under the Plan.
Section 10.2 Tax Withholding.
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(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, all distributions, delivery of Shares or payments to a Participant (or to the liquidator, executor or administrator, as the case may be, of the estate of the Participant) under the Plan shall be made net of applicable source deductions. If the event giving rise to the withholding obligation involves an issuance or delivery of Shares, then, the withholding obligation may be satisfied by (a) having the Participant elect to have the appropriate number of such Shares sold by the Company, the Company’s transfer agent and registrar or any trustee appointed by the Company pursuant to Section 10.1 hereof, on behalf of and as agent for the Participant as soon as permissible and practicable, with the proceeds of such sale being delivered to the Company, which will in turn remit such amounts to the appropriate governmental authorities, or (b) any other mechanism as may be required or appropriate to conform with local tax and other rules.
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(2) Notwithstanding the first paragraph of this Section 10.2, the applicable tax withholdings may be waived where the Participant directs in writing that a payment be made directly to the Participant’s registered retirement savings plan in circumstances to which regulation 100(3) of the regulations of the Tax Act apply.
Section 10.3 Reorganization of the Company.
The existence of any Awards shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its shareholders to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, or any amalgamation, combination, merger or consolidation involving the Company or to create or issue any bonds, debentures, shares or other securities of the Company or the rights and conditions attaching thereto or to affect the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar nature or otherwise.
Section 10.4 Personal Information
Each Participant shall provide the Company and the Board with all information they require in order to administer the Plan. The Company and the Board may from time to time transfer or provide access to such information to a third party service provider for purposes of the administration of the Plan provided that such service providers will be provided with such information for the sole purpose of providing such services to the Company. By participating in the Plan, each Participant acknowledges that information may be so provided and agrees to its provision on the terms set forth herein. Except as specifically contemplated in this Section 10.4, the Company and the Board shall not disclose the personal information of a Participant except: (i) in response to regulatory filings or other requirements for the information by a governmental authority with jurisdiction over the Company; (ii) for the
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purpose of complying with a subpoena, warrant or other order by a court, person or body having jurisdiction to compel production of the information; or (iii) as otherwise required by law. In addition, personal information of Participants may be disclosed or transferred to another party during the course of, or completion of, a change in ownership of, or the grant of a security interest in, all or a part of the Company or its Affiliates including through an asset or share sale, or some other form of business combination, merger or joint venture, provided that such party is bound by appropriate agreements or obligations.
Section 10.5 Governing Laws.
The Plan and all matters to which reference is made herein shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the laws of Canada applicable therein.
Section 10.6 Severability.
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of the Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision and any invalid or unenforceable provision shall be severed from the Plan.
Section 10.7 Effective Date of the Plan.
The Plan was approved by the Board on October 14, 2020 and shall take effect on November 19, 2020, subject to the acceptance of the Plan by the shareholders of the Company, and any other applicable regulatory authorities.