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FendX Technologies — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2023
May 19, 2023
48310_rns_2023-05-18_96f5f28b-4d5f-4523-8c66-ce236ff8e739.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 16, 2023
AND
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
May 16, 2023
This document requires immediate attention. If you are in doubt as to how to deal with the documents or matters referred to in this notice and information circular, you should immediately contact your advisor.
FENDX TECHNOLOGIES INC. 2010 Winston Park Drive, 2[nd] Floor Oakville, ON L6H 5R7 Telephone: (800) 344‐9868
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual general and special meeting (the “ Meeting ”) of shareholders of FendX Technologies Inc. (the “ Company ”) will be held at the offices of Clark Wilson LLP, 900 – 885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 3H1 and via ZOOM at:
= https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83933364797?pwd OFhhdXRsMXg5VWVBK2YyNEl4Y1ZNZz09 Meeting ID: 839 3336 4797
Passcode: 120261 or find your local number at https://us06web.zoom.us/u/k248NMwcY
on Friday, June 16, 2023, at the hour of 11:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) for the following purposes:
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(1) to receive the audited financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and the accompanying report of the auditors;
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(2) to set the number of directors of the Company at three (3);
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(3) to elect Dr. Carolyn Myers, Stephen Randall and Pierre Soulard as directors of the Company;
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(4) to appoint Dale Matheson Carr‐Hilton LaBonte LLP as the auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 and to authorize the directors of the Company to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023;
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(5) to consider and, if thought fit, to pass an ordinary resolution to ratify, confirm and approve the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan, as described in the accompanying information circular (the “ Information Circular ”); and
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(6) to transact such further or other business as may properly come before the Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.
The accompanying Information Circular provides additional information relating to the matters to be dealt with at the Meeting and is supplemental to, and expressly made a part of, this notice of Meeting (the “ Notice of Meeting ”).
The board of directors of the Company has fixed May 9, 2023 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. Each registered shareholder at the close of business on that date is entitled to such notice and to vote at the Meeting in the circumstances set out in the accompanying Information Circular.
If you are a registered shareholder of the Company and unable to attend the Meeting in person, please vote by proxy by following the instructions provided in the form of proxy at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays recognized in the Province of British Columbia) before the time and date of the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
In view of COVID‐19, the Company asks that, in considering whether to attend the Meeting in person, shareholders ‐ follow the instructions of the Public Health Agency of Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/public
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health/services/diseases/2019‐novel‐coronavirus‐infection.html). The Company encourages Shareholders not to attend the Meeting in person if experiencing any of the described COVID‐19 symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing. The Company may take additional precautionary measures in relation to the Meeting in response to further developments in the COVID‐19 outbreak. As always, the Company encourages shareholders to vote prior to the Meeting. Shareholders are encouraged to vote on the matters before the meeting by proxy and to join the Meeting by teleconference.
If you are a non‐registered shareholder of the Company and received this Notice of Meeting and accompanying materials through a broker, a financial institution, a participant, or a trustee or administrator of a retirement savings plan, retirement income fund, education savings plan or other similar savings or investment plan registered under the Income Tax Act (Canada), or a nominee of any of the foregoing that holds your securities on your behalf (each, an “ Intermediary ”), please complete and return the materials in accordance with the instructions provided to you by your Intermediary.
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 16[th] day of May, 2023.
By Order of the Board of Directors of
FENDX TECHNOLOGIES INC.
“Dr. Carolyn Myers” Dr. Carolyn Myers President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
PLEASE VOTE. YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY AND PROMPTLY RETURN IT IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.
FENDX TECHNOLOGIES INC.
2010 Winston Park Drive, 2[nd] Floor Oakville, ON L6H 5R7 Telephone: (800) 344‐9868
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
May 16, 2023
INTRODUCTION
This information circular (the “ Information Circular ”) accompanies the notice of annual general and special meeting of shareholders (the “ Notice ”) of FendX Technologies Inc. (the “ Company ”) and is furnished to shareholders (each, a “ Shareholder ”) holding common shares (each, a “ Share ”) of the Company in connection with the solicitation by the management of the Company of proxies to be voted at the annual general and special meeting (the “ Meeting ”) of the Shareholders to be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 16, 2023 at the offices of Clark Wilson LLP, 900 – 885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 3H1 and via ZOOM at = https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83933364797?pwd OFhhdXRsMXg5VWVBK2YyNEl4Y1ZNZz09 Meeting ID: 839 3336 4797, Passcode: 120261 or find your local number at https://us06web.zoom.us/u/k248NMwcY, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Date and Currency
The date of this Information Circular is May 16, 2023. Unless otherwise stated, all amounts herein are in Canadian dollars.
COVID‐19
In view of COVID‐19, the Company asks that, in considering whether to attend the Meeting in person, Shareholders ‐ follow the instructions of the Public Health Agency of Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/public health/services/diseases/2019‐novel‐coronavirus‐infection.html).The Company encourages Shareholders not to attend the Meeting in person if experiencing any of the described COVID‐19 symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing. The Company may take additional precautionary measures in relation to the Meeting in response to further developments in the COVID‐19 outbreak. As always, the Company encourages Shareholders to vote prior to the Meeting. Shareholders are encouraged to vote on the matters before the meeting by proxy and to join the Meeting by teleconference.
PROXIES AND VOTING RIGHTS
Management Solicitation
The solicitation of proxies by management of the Company will be conducted by mail and may be supplemented by telephone or other personal contact to be made without special compensation to any of the directors, officers and employees of the Company. The Company does not reimburse Shareholders, nominees or agents for costs incurred in obtaining authorization from their principals to execute forms of proxy, except that the Company has requested brokers and nominees who hold stock in their respective names to furnish this proxy material to their customers who are NOBOs (as defined below), and the Company will reimburse such brokers and nominees for their related out of pocket expenses. No solicitation will be made by specifically engaged employees or soliciting agents. The cost of solicitation will be borne by the Company.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than as contained in this Information Circular in connection with the solicitation of proxies. If given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company. The delivery of this
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Information Circular shall not create, under any circumstances, any implication that there has been no change in the information set forth herein since the date of this Information Circular. This Information Circular does not constitute the solicitation of a proxy by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such solicitation is not authorized, or in which the person making such solicitation is not qualified to do so, or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer of solicitation.
Appointment of Proxy
Registered Shareholders are entitled to vote at the Meeting. A Shareholder is entitled to one vote for each Share that such Shareholder holds on the record date of May 9, 2023 on the resolutions to be voted upon at the Meeting, and any other matter to come before the Meeting.
The persons named as proxyholders (the “ Designated Persons ”) 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) OTHER THAN THE DESIGNATED PERSONS NAMED IN THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY TO ATTEND AND ACT FOR OR ON BEHALF OF THAT SHAREHOLDER AT THE MEETING.
A SHAREHOLDER MAY EXERCISE THIS RIGHT BY INSERTING THE NAME OF SUCH OTHER PERSON IN THE BLANK SPACE PROVIDED ON THE FORM OF PROXY. SUCH SHAREHOLDER SHOULD NOTIFY THE NOMINEE OF THE APPOINTMENT, OBTAIN THE NOMINEE’S CONSENT TO ACT AS PROXY AND SHOULD PROVIDE INSTRUCTION TO THE NOMINEE ON HOW THE SHAREHOLDER’S SHARES SHOULD BE VOTED. THE NOMINEE SHOULD BRING PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TO THE MEETING.
The Shareholder may vote by mail, by telephone or via the Internet by following instructions provided in the form of proxy at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays recognized in the Province of British Columbia) prior to the scheduled time of the Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof. The Chairman of the Meeting, in his sole discretion, may accept completed forms of proxy on the day of the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
A proxy may not be valid unless it is dated and signed by the Shareholder who is giving it or by that Shareholder’s attorney‐in‐fact duly authorized by that Shareholder in writing or, in the case of a corporation, dated and executed by a duly authorized officer or attorney‐in‐fact for the corporation. If a form of proxy is executed by an attorney‐in‐ fact for an individual Shareholder or joint Shareholders, or by an officer or attorney‐in‐fact for a corporate Shareholder, the instrument so empowering the officer or attorney‐in‐fact, as the case may be, or a notarially certified copy thereof, must accompany the form of proxy.
Revocation of Proxies
A Shareholder who has given a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is exercised by an instrument in writing: (a) executed by that Shareholder or by that Shareholder’s attorney‐in‐fact authorized in writing or, where the Shareholder is a corporation, by a duly authorized officer of, or attorney‐in‐fact for, the corporation; and (b) delivered either: (i) to the Company at the address set forth above, at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting or, if adjourned or postponed, any reconvening thereof, (ii) to the Chairman of the Meeting prior to the vote on matters covered by the proxy on the day of the Meeting or, if adjourned or postponed, any reconvening thereof, or (iii) in any other manner provided by law.
Also, a proxy will automatically be revoked by either: (i) attendance at the Meeting and participation in a poll (ballot) by a Shareholder, or (ii) submission of a subsequent proxy in accordance with the foregoing procedures. A revocation of a proxy does not affect any matter on which a vote has been taken prior to any such revocation.
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Voting of Shares and Proxies and Exercise of Discretion by Designated Persons
A Shareholder may indicate the manner in which the Designated Persons are to vote with respect to a matter to be voted upon at the Meeting by marking the appropriate space on the proxy. The Shares represented by a proxy will be voted or withheld from voting in accordance with the instructions of the Shareholder on any ballot that may be called for and if the Shareholder specifies a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the Shares will be voted accordingly.
IF NO CHOICE IS SPECIFIED IN THE PROXY WITH RESPECT TO A MATTER TO BE ACTED UPON, THE PROXY CONFERS DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY WITH RESPECT TO THAT MATTER UPON THE DESIGNATED PERSONS NAMED IN THE FORM OF PROXY. IT IS INTENDED THAT THE DESIGNATED PERSONS WILL VOTE THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THE PROXY IN FAVOUR OF EACH MATTER IDENTIFIED IN THE PROXY.
The enclosed form of proxy confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein with respect to other matters which may properly come before the Meeting, including any amendments or variations to any matters identified in the Notice. At the date of this Information Circular, management of the Company is not aware of any such amendments, variations or other matters to come before the Meeting.
In the case of abstentions from, or withholding of, the voting of the Shares of a Shareholder on any matter, the Shares that are the subject of the abstention or withholding will be counted for determination of a quorum, but will not be counted as affirmative or negative on the matter to be voted upon.
ADVICE TO BENEFICIAL SHAREHOLDERS
The information set out in this section is of significant importance to those Shareholders who do not hold Shares in their own name. Shareholders who do not hold their Shares in their own name (referred to in this Information Circular as “Beneficial Shareholders”) should note that only proxies deposited by Shareholders whose names appear on the records of the Company as the registered holders of Shares can be recognized and acted upon at the Meeting. If Shares are listed in an account statement provided by a broker, then in almost all cases those Shares will not be registered in the Beneficial Shareholder’s name on the records of the Company. Such Shares will more likely be registered under the names of the Beneficial Shareholder’s broker or an agent of that broker. In the United States, the vast majority of such Shares are registered under the name of Cede & Co. as nominee for The Depository Trust Company (which acts as depositary for many U.S. brokerage firms and custodian banks), and in Canada, under the name of CDS & Co. (the registration name for The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited, which acts as nominee for many Canadian brokerage firms). Beneficial Shareholders should ensure that instructions respecting the voting of their Shares are communicated to the appropriate person well in advance of the Meeting.
The Company does not have access to the names of all Beneficial Shareholders. Applicable regulatory policy requires intermediaries/brokers to seek voting instructions from Beneficial Shareholders in advance of Shareholders’ meetings. Every intermediary/broker has its own mailing procedures and provides its own return instructions to clients, which should be carefully followed by Beneficial Shareholders in order to ensure that their Shares are voted at the Meeting. The form of proxy supplied to a Beneficial Shareholder by his, her or its broker (or the agent of the broker) is similar to the form of proxy provided to registered Shareholders by the Company. However, its purpose is limited to instructing the registered Shareholder (the broker or agent of the broker) how to vote on behalf of the Beneficial Shareholder. The majority of brokers now delegate responsibility for obtaining instructions from clients to Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“ Broadridge ”) in the United States and in Canada. Broadridge typically prepares a special voting instruction form, mails this form to the Beneficial Shareholders and asks for appropriate instructions regarding the voting of Shares to be voted at the Meeting. If Beneficial Shareholders receive the voting instruction forms from Broadridge, they are requested to complete and return the voting instruction forms to Broadridge by mail or facsimile. Alternatively, Beneficial Shareholders can call a toll‐free number and access Broadridge’s dedicated voting website (each as noted on the voting instruction form) to deliver their voting instructions and to vote the Shares held by them. Broadridge then tabulates the results of all
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instructions received and provides appropriate instructions respecting the voting of Shares to be represented at the Meeting. A Beneficial Shareholder receiving a Broadridge voting instruction form cannot use that form as a proxy to vote Shares directly at the Meeting – the voting instruction form must be returned to Broadridge well in advance of the Meeting in order to have the applicable Shares voted at the Meeting.
Although a Beneficial Shareholder may not be recognized directly at the Meeting for the purposes of voting Shares registered in the name of his, her or its broker (or agent of the broker), a Beneficial Shareholder may attend at the Meeting as proxyholder for the registered Shareholder and vote the Shares in that capacity. Beneficial Shareholders who wish to attend at the Meeting and indirectly vote their Shares as proxyholder for the registered Shareholder should enter their own names in the blank space on the instrument of proxy provided to them and return the same to their broker (or the broker’s agent) in accordance with the instructions provided by such broker (or agent), well in advance of the Meeting.
Alternatively, a Beneficial Shareholder may request in writing that his, her or its broker send to the Beneficial Shareholder a legal proxy which would enable the Beneficial Shareholder to attend at the Meeting and vote his, her or its Shares.
Beneficial Shareholders consist of non‐objecting beneficial owners (each, a “ NOBO ”) and objecting beneficial owners (each, an “ OBO ”). A NOBO is a beneficial owner of securities that has provided instructions to an intermediary holding the securities in an account on behalf of the beneficial owner that the beneficial owner does not object, for that account, to the intermediary disclosing ownership information about the beneficial owner under National Instrument 54‐101 ‐ Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer (“ NI 54‐101 ”) of the Canadian Securities Administrators. An OBO means a beneficial owner of securities that has provided instructions to an intermediary holding the securities in an account on behalf of the beneficial owner that the beneficial owner objects, for that account, to the intermediary disclosing ownership information about the beneficial owner under NI 54‐101.
The Company is sending proxy‐related materials directly to NOBOs of the Shares. The Company will not pay for the delivery of proxy‐related materials to OBOs of the Shares under NI 54‐101 and Form 54‐101F7 – Request for Voting Instructions Made by Intermediary . The OBOs of the Shares will not receive the materials unless their intermediary assumes the costs of delivery.
All references to Shareholders in this Information Circular are to registered Shareholders, unless specifically stated otherwise.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES
The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Shares without par value. As of the record date, determined by the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) to be the close of business on May 9, 2023, a total of 51,946,786 Shares were issued and outstanding. Each Share carries the right to one vote at the Meeting.
Only registered Shareholders as of the record date are entitled to receive notice of, and to attend and vote at, the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Meeting.
To the knowledge of the directors and executive officers of the Company, no person or company beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or exercises control or direction over, Shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to the outstanding Shares of the Company.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2022 together with the auditor’s report thereon, will be presented to the Shareholders at the Meeting. The Company’s financial statements and management discussion and analysis are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com
NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to pass an ordinary resolution to set the number of directors of the Company at three (3). An ordinary resolution needs to be passed by a simple majority of the votes cast by the Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting.
Management recommends that Shareholders vote for the approval of setting the number of directors of the Company at three (3).
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At present, the directors of the Company are elected at each annual general meeting and hold office until the next annual general meeting, or until their successors are duly elected or appointed in accordance with the Company’s Articles or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.
The Company’s Articles contain an advance notice provision (the “ Advance Notice Provision ”) of the nomination of directors in certain circumstances. To be timely, the advance notice by the nominating Shareholder (the “Nominating Shareholder” ) must be made:
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(a) in the case of an annual meeting of Shareholders, not less than 30 and not more than 65 days prior to the date of the annual meeting of Shareholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting of Shareholders is to be held on a date that is less than 50 days after the date (the “Notice Date” ) on which the first public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was made, notice by the Nominating Shareholder is to be made not later than the close of business on the 10th day after the Notice Date in respect of such meeting; and
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(b) in the case of a special meeting (which is not also an annual meeting) of Shareholders called for the purpose of electing directors (whether or not called for other purposes), not later than the close of business on the 15th day following the day on which the first public announcement of the date of the special meeting of Shareholders was made.
No nominations of directors for the Meeting by the Nominating Shareholders were received in accordance with the provisions of the Advance Notice Provision.
Management of the Company proposes to nominate all of the current directors of the Company, as set out in the table below, for election by the Shareholders as directors of the Company. Information concerning such persons, as furnished by the individual nominees, is as follows:
| Name, Place of Residence and Position(s) with the Company |
Principal Occupation, Business or Employment for Last Five Years(1) |
Director Since | Number of Shares Owned(1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Carolyn Myers(2) New Jersey, USA President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
Dr. Myers has been the CEO and President of the Company since July 28, 2020; Principal of BioEnsemble Inc. since April 2017; and Vice President Global Alliance Management & International Business Development at Allergan from August 2011 to March 2017. |
July 28, 2020 | 1,500,001(4) |
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| Name, Place of Residence and Position(s) with the Company |
Principal Occupation, Business or Employment for Last Five Years(1) |
Director Since | Number of Shares Owned(1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Randall, CPA, CGA(2)(3) Ontario, Canada Director |
Mr. Randall has been semi‐retired since June 2021. Mr. Randall was a director of Titan Medical Inc. from June 2017 to June 2021 and CFO and Corporate Secretary of Titan Medical Inc. from March 2010 to October 2020. |
January 4, 2023 |
Nil(5) |
| Pierre Soulard(2) Ontario, Canada Director |
Mr. Soulard has been the Chief Legal Officer of CoinSmart Financial Inc. since February 2022; Partner with Miller Thomson LLP from August 2015 until December 2021. |
January 4, 2023 |
Nil(5) |
(1) Information has been furnished by the respective nominees individually.
(2) Member of the Audit Committee.
(3) Chairman of the Audit Committee.
(4) Does not include: 450,000 stock options to purchase Shares, with each stock option exercisable into one Share at a price of $0.15 per Share until April 22, 2027; and 400,000 stock options to purchase Shares, with each stock option exercisable into one Share at a price of $0.30 per Share until January 24, 2028.
- (5) Does not include 300,000 stock options to purchase Shares, with each stock option exercisable into one Share at a price of $0.30 per Share until January 24, 2028.
Management does not contemplate that any of its nominees will be unable to serve as directors. If any vacancies occur in the slate of nominees listed above before the Meeting, then the Designated Persons intend to exercise discretionary authority to vote the Shares represented by proxies for the election of any other persons as directors.
Management recommends that Shareholders vote for the election of each of the nominees listed above as a director of the Company.
Orders
To the best of management’s knowledge, no proposed director of the Company is, or within the ten (10) years before the date of this Information Circular has been, a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company that:
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(a) was subject to a cease trade order, an order similar to a cease trade order, or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days that was issued while the proposed director was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; or
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(b) was subject to a cease trade order, an order similar to a cease trade order, or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days that was issued after the proposed director ceased to be a director, 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.
Bankruptcies
To the best of management’s knowledge, no proposed director of the Company is, or within ten (10) years before the date of this Information Circular, has been, a director or an executive officer of any company that, while the
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person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in the capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets or made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcies or insolvency.
Penalties and Sanctions
To the best of management’s knowledge, no proposed director of the Company has been subject to: (a) any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or (b) any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable securityholder in deciding whether to vote for a proposed director.
STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
General
For the purpose of this Statement of Executive Compensation:
“ NEO ” or “ named executive officer ” means:
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(a) each individual who served as chief executive officer (“ CEO ”) of the Company, or who performed functions similar to a CEO, during any part of the most recently completed financial year,
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(b) each individual who served as chief financial officer (“ CFO ”) of the Company, or who performed functions similar to a CFO, during any part of the most recently completed financial year,
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(c) the most highly compensated executive officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (if any) other than individuals identified in paragraphs (a) and (b) at the end of the most recently completed financial year whose total compensation was more than $150,000, as determined in accordance with subsection 1.3(5) of Form 51‐102F6V, for that financial year, and
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(d) each individual who would be a NEO under paragraph (c) but for the fact that the individual was neither an executive officer of the Company or its subsidiaries (if any), nor acting in a similar capacity, at the end of that financial year.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company was not a reporting issuer in any jurisdiction and was not listed on any stock exchange. The Shares were listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “ Exchange ”) on March 20, 2023. As a result, certain information required by Form 51‐102F6V, Statement of Executive Compensation – Venture Issuers , (“ Form 51‐102F6V ”) has been omitted pursuant to Section 1.3(8) of Form 51‐ 102F6V.
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis
The Company currently has in place a Compensation Committee, as described below. The Compensation Committee is responsible for setting the overall compensation strategy of the Company and administering the Company’s executive compensation program with input from the CEO of the Company in respect of all executive officers other than the CEO. As part of its mandate, the Board will approve the remuneration of the NEOs of the Company. The NEOs of the Company for the financial years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31 2021, were the CEO, CFO and Chief Operating Officer, and these NEOs are the NEOs of the Company. The Board is also responsible for reviewing the Company's compensation policies and guidelines generally.
The objective of Company’s executive compensation program is to motivate, reward, and retain management talent that is needed to achieve the Company's business objectives. The compensation program is designed to ensure that compensation is competitive with other companies of similar size and is commensurate with the experience, performance, and contribution of the individuals involved and the overall performance of the Company. In evaluating performance, consideration is given to the Company’s long‐term interests and quantitative financial objectives, as well to the qualitative aspects of the individual’s performance and achievements.
For year ended December 31, 2023, the Company has allocated $240,000 for the remuneration of the CEO, $160,000 for the remuneration of the CFO, and $214,500 for the remuneration of the COO. The anticipated executive compensation for year ended December 31, 2023 was determined in accordance with the executive compensation program discussed in this section.
Compensation for directors of the Company, if any, will also be determined by the Board on an annual basis. From August 15, 2021 to December 31, 2021, the Company agreed to pay an aggregate of $85,000 to the two former independent directors of the Company. For the year commencing January 1, 2022, the Company agreed to pay an aggregate of $92,976 to the two former independent directors of the Company. For the year commencing January 1, 2023, the Company has agreed to pay an aggregate of $55,000 to the two independent directors of the Company.
Elements of Compensation
The executive compensation program is expected to be comprised of three principal components: (i) base salaries or executive consultant fees; (ii) bonuses, and (iii) the Company’s equity incentive plan (the “ Equity Incentive Plan ”) which the Board adopted on October 19, 2021. Each component of the expected executive compensation program is described below.
Base Salaries and Executive Consulting Fees
Following listing of the Shares on the Exchange, NEOs will be paid a base salary or executive consultant fee to compensate them for providing the leadership and specific skills needed to fulfill their responsibilities. The payment of base salaries or executive consulting fees will be an important component of the intended compensation program and will serve to attract and retain qualified individuals. The base salaries and executive consulting fees for the NEOs will be reviewed annually by the Board and will be determined by considering the contributions made by the NEOs, how their compensation levels related to compensation packages that would be achievable by such officers from other opportunities, and publicly available salary data. Salaries and executive consulting fees of the NEOs are not expected to be determined based on benchmarks or a specific formula.
Bonuses
The Board may from time to time approve bonus payments to reward NEOs for their contribution to the achievement of annual corporate goals and objectives. Bonuses will also serve as a retention incentive for NEOs so that they remain in the employ of the Company. The payment of bonuses is consistent with the intended overall objective of the Company to reward performance.
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Equity‐Based Awards
The Company has adopted the Equity Incentive Plan. See “ Particulars of Matters to be Acted Upon – Approval of Equity Incentive Plan ”.
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
The following table sets forth details of the Equity Incentive Plan, being the Company’s only equity compensation plan, as of December 31, 2022.
| Plan Category | Number of shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options(1) |
Weighted‐average exercise price of outstanding options |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column(a)) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity compensation plans approved by Shareholders |
Nil | N/A | Nil |
| Equity compensation plans not approved by Shareholders |
1,325,000 | $0.18 | 6,268,154 |
| Total | 1,325,000 | $0.18 | 6,268,154 |
(1) The Company does not have any warrants or rights outstanding under any equity compensation plans.
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to pass an ordinary resolution to appoint Dale Matheson Carr‐Hilton LaBonte LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants as auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, and to authorize the directors of the Company to fix the remuneration to be to be paid to the auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. An ordinary resolution needs to be passed by a simple majority of the votes cast by the Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting. Dale Matheson Carr‐Hilton LaBonte LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, were appointed as the auditors of the Company on February 26, 2021.
Management recommends that Shareholders vote for the appointment of Dale Matheson Carr‐Hilton LaBonte LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants as the Company’s auditors for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 and the authorization of the directors of the Company to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023.
AUDIT COMMITTEE DISCLOSURE
Under National Instrument 52‐110 – Audit Committees (“ NI 52‐110 ”), a reporting issuer is required to provide disclosure annually with respect to its audit committee, including the text of its audit committee charter, information regarding composition of the audit committee, and information regarding fees paid to its external auditor. The Company provides the following disclosure with respect to its audit committee (the “ Audit Committee ”):
The Audit Committee Charter
The full text of the Company’s audit committee charter (the “ Audit Committee Charter ”) is attached as Schedule “A” to this Information Circular.
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Composition of the Audit Committee
The following are the members of the Audit Committee as at the date hereof:
| Audit Committee Members | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Carolyn Myers | Not Independent(1) | Financially Literate(2) |
| Stephen Randall, CPA, CGA | Independent(1) | Financially Literate(2) |
| (Chairman) | ||
| Pierre Soulard | Independent(1) | Financially Literate(2) |
(1) A member of an audit committee is independent if the member has no direct or indirect material relationship with the Company, which could, in the view of the Board, reasonably interfere with the exercise of a member’s independent judgment. Under NI 52‐110, an individual who is, or has been within the last three years, an employee or executive officer of the issuer, is considered to have a material relationship with the issuer.
(2) An individual is financially literate if he has the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present a breadth of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Company’s financial statements.
The Audit Committee is responsible for review of both interim and annual financial statements for the Company. For the purposes of performing their duties, the members of the Audit Committee have the right, at all times, to inspect all the books and financial records of the Company and any subsidiaries and to discuss with management and the external auditors of the Company any accounts, records and matters relating to the financial statements of the Company. The Audit Committee members meet periodically with management and annually with the external auditors.
Relevant Education and Experience
The following sets out the education and experience of each Audit Committee member that is relevant to the performance of their responsibilities as an Audit Committee member and that provides each member with: (i) an understanding of the accounting principles used by the Company to prepare its financial statements; (ii) the ability to assess the general application of such accounting principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals and provisions, (iii) experience preparing, auditing, analyzing or evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Company’s financial statements, or experience actively supervising one or more individuals engaged in such activities; and (iv) an understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting:
Stephen Randall ‐ Chairman
Stephen Randall is an experienced senior financial manager and director with over 40 years’ experience. Mr. Randall has served in senior financial roles with private, publicly traded and start‐up companies in the manufacturing, telecommunications, technology and medical device sectors. From 2010 until 2020, Mr. Randall was the CFO and Corporate Secretary of Titan Medical Inc., a Canadian medical device development company listed on both the TSX, (TMD) and Nasdaq, (TMDI). For the years 2017 to 2021 he was also on the Board of Directors of Titan Medical Inc. Previous board experience includes Community Head Injury Resource Services (CHIRS) from 2010 to 2016 where he served as a Director, Treasurer and Chair of the Audit Committee. Mr. Randall holds the Canadian CPA, CGA designation as well as a Hon. B. Comm. and B.A.
Mr. Randall’s experience has provided him with an understanding of financial reporting requirements respecting financial statements sufficient enough to enable him to discharge his duties as a member of the Audit Committee.
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Dr. Carolyn Myers
Dr Myers is an experienced pharmaceutical executive having held senior leadership roles at Allergan (now a subsidiary of AbbVie Inc.), Forest Laboratories, Inc., Mylan N.V. (now Viatris) and Pharmacia Corporation (now Pfizer). She has 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and is currently CEO of the Company. She is also Principal of BioEnsemble Inc., providing consulting business strategy services to small and mid‐size pharma, biotech and medical technology companies. Previously, she was Vice President of Global Alliance Management and International Business Development at Allergan, Vice President of Marketing at Forest Laboratories, Inc. President of Dey Laboratories and President of Mylan Technologies. Dr. Myers is an Executive Committee member of Mid Atlantic Bio Angels, a Healthcare Committee member of Golden Seeds and an independent board member of Hyloris Pharmaceuticals, Mayne Pharma and EyeD Pharma. She has a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia and a M.B.A. from Rutgers University.
Dr. Myers’ experience has provided her with an understanding of financial reporting requirements respecting financial statements sufficient enough to enable her to discharge her duties as a member of the Audit Committee.
Pierre Soulard
Pierre Soulard is the Chief Legal Officer of CoinSmart (NEO: SMRT) and is a former partner at Miller Thomson LLP, a leading Canadian law firm. Mr. Soulard’s legal practice focused on securities law, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance for a wide range of national and international issuers and investors. Mr. Soulard obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Laval University, a B.C.L./LLB from McGill University and a Master of Law from Osgoode Hall Law School.
Mr. Soulard’s experience has provided him with an understanding of financial reporting requirements respecting financial statements sufficient enough to enable him to discharge his duties as a member of the Audit Committee.
Each member of the Audit Committee has:
-
an understanding of the accounting principles used by the Company to prepare its financial statements, and the ability to assess the general application of those principles in connection with estimates, accruals and reserves;
-
experience with analyzing or evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Company’s financial statements, or experience actively supervising individuals engaged in such activities; and
-
an understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting.
Audit Committee Oversight
Since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, the Board has not failed to adopt a recommendation of the Audit Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor.
Reliance on Certain Exemptions
Since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, the Company has not relied on the exemptions in sections 2.4, 6.1.1(4), 6.1.1(5), 6.1.1(6) or Part 8 of NI 52‐110. Section 2.4 (De Minimis Non‐ Audit Services) provides an exemption from the requirement that the Audit Committee must pre‐approve all non‐ audit services to be provided by the auditor, where the total amount of fees related to the non‐audit services are not expected to exceed 5% of the total fees payable to the auditor in the financial year in which the non‐audit services were provided. Sections 6.1.1(4) ( Circumstance Affecting the Business or Operations of the Venture Issuer ),
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6.1.1(5) ( Events Outside Control of Member ) and 6.1.1(6) ( Death, Incapacity or Resignation ) provide exemptions from the requirement that a majority of the members of the Company’s Audit Committee must not be executive officers, employees or control persons of the Company or of an affiliate of the Company. Part 8 (Exemptions) permits a company to apply to a securities regulatory authority or regulator for an exemption from the requirements of NI 52‐110 in whole or in part.
Pre‐Approval Policies and Procedures
Formal policies and procedures for the engagement of non‐audit services have yet to be formulated and adopted. Subject to the requirements of NI 52‐110, the engagement of non‐audit services is considered by, as applicable, the Board and the Audit Committee, on a case‐by‐case basis.
External Auditor Service Fees
The aggregate fees billed by the Company’s external auditor in the last two fiscal years, by category, are as follows:
| Year Ended December 31 | Audit Fees(1) | Audit Related Fees(2) | Tax Fees(3) | All Other Fees(4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $30,000 | $13,500 | Nil | $13,500 |
| 2021 | $30,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil |
(1) “ Audit Fees ” include fees necessary to perform the annual audit and quarterly reviews of our financial statements. Audit Fees include fees for review of tax provisions and for accounting consultations on matters reflected in the financial statements. Audit Fees also include audit or other attest services required by legislation or regulation, such as comfort letters, consents, reviews of securities filings and statutory audits.
(2) “ Audit‐Related Fees ” for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements and are not reported as audit fees. The services provided in this category include due diligence assistance, accounting consultations on proposed transactions, and consultation on International Financial Reporting Standards conversion.
(3) “ Tax Fees ” include fees for all tax services other than those included in “Audit Fees” and “Audit‐Related Fees”. This category includes fees for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice.
(4) “ All Other Fees ” includes all fees other than those reported as Audit Fees, Audit‐Related Fees or Tax Fees.
Exemption
The Company is relying on the exemption provided by section 6.1 of NI 52‐110 which provides that the Company, as a venture issuer, is not required to comply with Part 3 ( Composition of the Audit Committee ) and Part 5 ( Reporting Obligations ) of NI 52‐110.
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
No current or former director, executive officer, proposed nominee for election to the Board, or associate of such persons is, or at any time since the beginning of the Company’s most recently completed financial year has been, indebted to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
No indebtedness of current or former director, executive officer, proposed nominee for election to the Board, or associate of such person is, or at any time since the beginning of the most recently completed financial year has been, the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding provided by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
Except as otherwise disclosed herein, no: (a) director, proposed director or executive officer of the Company; (b) person or company who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, Shares or who exercises control or direction of Shares, or a combination of both, carrying more than ten percent of the voting rights attached to the Shares
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outstanding (each, an “ Insider ”); (c) director or executive officer of an Insider; or (d) associate or affiliate of any of the directors, executive officers or Insiders, has had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year or in any proposed transaction which has materially affected or would materially affect the Company, except with an interest arising from the ownership of Shares where such person or company will receive no extra or special benefit or advantage not shared on a pro rata basis by all holders of the same class of Shares.
MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS
There were no management functions of the Company, which were, to any substantial degree, performed by a person other than the directors or executive officers of the Company, except as otherwise described in this Information Circular.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Pursuant to National Instrument 58‐101 – Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices , the Company is required to disclose its corporate governance practices as follows:
Board of Directors
The Board facilitates its exercise of independent supervision over the Company’s management through frequent meetings of the Board.
Stephen Randall and Pierre Soulard are “independent” in that each are independent and free from any interest and any business or other relationship which could, or could reasonably be perceived to, materially interfere with the director’s ability to act with the best interests of the Company, other than the interests and relationships arising from being shareholders of the Company. Dr. Carolyn Myers is the President and CEO of the Company and is therefore not independent.
Directorships
Certain directors of the Company are currently also directors of other reporting issuers, as described in the table below:
| Name of Director of the Company | Names of Other Reporting Issuers |
|---|---|
| Dr. Carolyn Myers | Hyloris Pharmaceuticals SA – Brussels Stock Exchange Mayne Pharma Group Ltd. – Australian Stock Exchange |
| Pierre Soulard | CyberCatch Holdings Inc. – TSX Venture Exchange |
Orientation and Continuing Education
New Board members receive an orientation package which includes reports on operations and results, and any public disclosure filings by the Company, as may be applicable. Board meetings are sometimes held at the Company’s offices and, from time to time, are combined with presentations by the Company’s management to give the directors additional insight into the Company’s business. In addition, management of the Company makes itself available for discussion with all Board members.
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Ethical Business Conduct
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.
Nomination of Directors
The Board considers its size each year when it considers the number of directors to recommend to the shareholders for election at the annual meeting of shareholders, taking into account the number required to carry out the Board’s duties effectively and to maintain a diversity of view and experience.
The Board does not have a nominating committee, and these functions are currently performed by the Board as a whole. However, if there is a change in the number of directors required by the Company, this policy will be reviewed.
Compensation
The Board is responsible for determining compensation for the directors and the chief executive officer of the Company to ensure it reflects the responsibilities and risks of being a director and chief executive officer of a public company. The Board will determine compensation for the directors and the chief executive officer taking into account the Company’s business ventures and the Company’s financial position.
Other Board Committees
Other than the Audit Committee, the Board has formed a compensation committee (the “ Compensation Committee ”) consisting of Dr. Myers, Stephen Randall and Pierre Soulard. Tasks related to developing and monitoring the Company’s approach to the compensation of the Company’s NEOs and directors are performed by the Compensation Committee in consultation with the Board. The compensation of the NEOs, directors and the Company’s employees or consultants, if any, is reviewed, recommended and approved by the Compensation Committee in consultation with the Board.
Assessments
Due to the minimal size of the Board, no formal policy has been established to monitor the effectiveness of the directors, the Board and its committees.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS OR COMPANIES IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Except as disclosed elsewhere in this Information Circular, no director or executive officer of the Company who was a director or executive officer since the beginning of the Company’s last financial year, no proposed nominee for election as a director of the Company, nor any associate or affiliates of any such directors, officers or nominees, has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of Shares or other securities in the Company or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Meeting, other than the election of directors, the grant of stock options which may be granted to such persons under the Equity Incentive Plan and the grant of awards which may be granted to such persons upon the approval of the Equity Incentive Plan, as further discussed below.
Directors, executive officers, proposed nominees for election as director of the Company may be interested in the approval of the Equity Incentive Plan, pursuant to which they may be award recipients. See “ Particulars of Matters to be Acted Upon – Approval of Equity Incentive Plan ”, below, for more information.
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PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Approval of Equity Incentive Plan
The Company is seeking Shareholder approval of the Equity Incentive Plan at the Meeting. The policies of the Exchange require that the Company obtain Shareholder approval to its Equity Incentive Plan every three years.
National Instrument 45‐106 Prospectus Exemptions (“ NI 45‐106 ”) provides exemptions from the requirement to prepare and file a prospectus in connection with a distribution of securities. As the Company is listed on the Exchange, the Company is classified as an “unlisted reporting issuer” for purposes of the exemption provided in Section 2.24 of NI 45‐106 for distributions of securities to employees, executive officers, directors and consultants of the Company (the “ Exemption ”). NI 45‐106 restricts the use of the Exemption by “unlisted reporting issuers” such as the Company unless the Company obtains Shareholder approval. Specifically, NI 45‐106 provides that the Exemption does not apply to a distribution to an employee or consultant of the “unlisted reporting issuer” who is an investor relations person of the issuer, an associated consultant of the issuer, an executive officer of the issuer, a director of the issuer, or a permitted assign of those persons if, after the distribution,
-
(a) the number of securities, calculated on a fully diluted basis, reserved for issuance under options granted to
-
(i) related persons, exceeds 10% of the outstanding securities of the issuer, or
-
(ii) a related person, exceeds 5% of the outstanding securities of the issuer, or
-
(b) the number of securities, calculated on a fully diluted basis, issued within 12 months to
-
(i) related persons, exceeds 10% of the outstanding securities of the issuer, or
-
(ii) a related person and the associates of the related person, exceeds 5% of the outstanding securities of the issuer.
The term “related person” is defined in NI 45‐106 and generally refers to a director or executive officer of the issuer or of a related entity of the issuer, an associate of a director or executive officer of the issuer or of a related entity of the issuer, or a permitted assign of a director or executive officer of the issuer or of a related entity of the issuer. The term “permitted assign” includes a spouse of the person.
In accordance with the requirements of NI 45‐106, the Board wishes to provide the following information with respect to the Equity Incentive Plan so that the Shareholders may form a reasoned judgment concerning the Equity Incentive Plan.
The purpose of the Equity Incentive Plan is to attract, retain and motivate key individuals. The Equity Incentive Plan is available to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries, as determined by the Board. The maximum number of Shares available for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan in respect of awards shall not exceed 20% of the issued and outstanding number of Shares from time to time. All of the Shares covered by exercised, cancelled or terminated awards will automatically become available Shares for the purposes of awards that may be subsequently granted under the Equity Incentive Plan and the number of awards available to grant increases as the number of issued and outstanding Shares increases. As a result, the Equity Incentive Plan is considered an “evergreen” plan. As of the date of this Information Circular, a total of 2,891,667 awards have been granted under the Plan which are currently outstanding, comprised of 2,741,667 Options (as defined below) and 150,000 RSUs (as defined below).
So long as it is required by the rules and policies of the Exchange or such other exchange upon which the Shares may be come listed for trading, the total number of Shares issuable to persons performing investor relations
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activities on behalf of the Company pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plan, together with Shares issuable to all persons performing investor relations activities under all of the Company’s other security‐based compensation arrangements, shall not exceed two (2%) percent of the issued and outstanding Shares in any twelve‐month period. Except as otherwise provided in an applicable award agreement or as determined by the Board, neither awards nor any rights under any such awards shall be assignable or transferable other than pursuant to a will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
The Equity Incentive Plan provides for the issuance of “stock options”, “restricted share units”, “performance share units” and “deferred share units”.
Stock Options: The Equity Incentive Plan provides that the Board may, from time to time, in its sole discretion, grant awards of stock options (the “ Options ”) to directors, key employees and consultants. An Option entitles a holder thereof to purchase a prescribed number of treasury Shares at an exercise price set at the time of the grant. Such grant may be settled in Shares, cash or combination thereof in the discretion of the Board. If settled in cash, such payment will be equal to the “in the money” amount, being an amount equal to the Market Price (as defined below) of the Shares issuable on the exercise of such Option as of the date such Option is exercised, less the aggregate exercise price of the Option. The Board will establish the exercise price at the time each Option is granted, which exercise price, while the Shares are listed for trading on the Exchange, must in all cases be not less than the closing price of the Shares on the Exchange on both the date of grant and on the trading day immediately preceding the date of grant (the “ Market Price ”). Subject to any accelerated termination as set forth in the Equity Incentive Plan, each Option expires on its respective expiry date. The Board will have the authority to determine the vesting terms applicable to grants of Options. Once an Option becomes vested, it shall remain vested and shall be exercisable until expiration or termination of the Option, unless otherwise specified by the Board, or as otherwise set forth in any written employment agreement, award agreement or other written agreement between the Company or a subsidiary of the Company and the participant. The Board has the right to accelerate the date upon which any Option becomes exercisable. The Board may provide at the time of granting an Option that the exercise of that Option is subject to restrictions, in addition to those specified in the Equity Incentive Plan, such as vesting conditions relating to the attainment of specified performance goals.
Unless otherwise specified by the Board at the time of granting an Option and set forth in the particular award agreement, an exercise notice must be accompanied by payment of the exercise price. Subject to the policies of the Exchange, a participant may, in lieu of exercising an Option pursuant to an exercise notice, elect to surrender such Option to the Company (a “ Cashless Exercise ”) in consideration for an amount from the Company equal to (i) the Market Price of the Shares issuable on the exercise of such Option (or portion thereof) as of the date such Option (or portion thereof) is exercised, less (ii) the aggregate exercise price of the Option (or portion thereof) surrendered relating to such Shares (the “ In‐the‐Money Amount ”) by written notice to the Company indicating the number of Options such participant wishes to exercise using the Cashless Exercise, and such other information that the Company may require. Subject to the provisions of the Equity Incentive Plan and the policies of the Exchange, the Company will satisfy payment of the In‐the‐Money Amount by delivering to the participant such number of Shares having a fair market value equal to the In‐the‐Money Amount.
Restricted Share Units . The Equity Incentive Plan provides that the Board may, from time to time, in its sole discretion, grant awards of restricted share units (each, an “ RSU ”) to directors, key employees and consultants. Each RSU shall represent one Share on vesting. RSUs shall be subject to such restrictions as the Board may establish in the applicable award agreement. The typical restriction for RSUs is time based (i.e. vesting after a fixed period of time). All RSUs will vest and become payable by the issuance of Shares at the end of the applicable restriction period if all applicable restrictions have lapsed.
Restrictions on any RSUs shall lapse immediately and become fully vested to the participant upon a change of control. Upon the death of a participant, subject to the applicable award agreement, any RSUs that have not vested will be immediately and automatically forfeited and cancelled without action and without any cost or payment, provided that any RSUs granted to such participant that had vested prior to the participant’s death will accrue to the participant’s estate in accordance with the Equity Incentive Plan. If a participant’s employment is
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terminated for cause, any RSUs granted to the participant will immediately terminate without payment and be cancelled as of the termination date. If a participant’s employment is terminated without cause, is voluntarily terminated by the participant or termination is due to the participant’s retirement or disability, any RSUs granted to the participant will, subject to the applicable award agreement, immediately terminate without payment and be cancelled as of the termination date, provided, however, that any RSUs granted to such participant that had vested prior to the participant’s termination without cause, voluntary termination, retirement or disability will accrue to the participant in accordance with the Equity Incentive Plan. In the case of directors, if a participant ceases to be a director for any reason, subject to the applicable award agreement, all RSUs granted to such participant will immediately terminate without payment and be cancelled, provided, however, that any RSUs granted to such participant that had vested prior to the participant ceasing to be a director will accrue to the participant in accordance with the Equity Incentive Plan. Where a consultant’s service to the Company terminates for any reason, subject to the applicable award agreement and any other contractual commitments between the participant and the Company, all RSUs granted to such participant will immediately terminate without payment and be cancelled, provided, however, that any RSUs granted to such participant that had vested prior to the termination of the participant's service to the Company will accrue to the participant in accordance with the Equity Incentive Plan.
Performance Share Units . The Equity Incentive Plan provides that the Board may, from time to time, in its sole discretion, grant awards of performance share units (each, a “ PSU ”) to key employees and consultants. Each PSU shall, contingent upon the attainment of the performance criteria within the applicable performance cycle, represent one Share, unless otherwise specified in the applicable award agreement. The performance criteria will be established by the Board which, without limitation, may include criteria based on the participant’s individual performance and/or financial performance of the Company and its subsidiaries. Typical performance criteria could include gross revenues, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, share price performance, the attainment of a specified amount of financing or satisfaction of a participant’s key performance indicators. The applicable award agreement may provide the Board with the right to revise the performance criteria during a performance cycle or after it has ended, if unforeseen events occur, including, without limitation, changes in capitalization, equity restructuring, acquisitions or divestitures, if such events have a substantial effect on the financial results of the Company and make the application of the performance criteria unfair absent a revision.
All PSUs will vest and become payable to the extent that the performance criteria are satisfied in the sole determination of the Board. PSUs granted to a participant shall become fully vested and payable to such participant within 90 days after the last day of the performance cycle or upon a change of control. Upon the death of a participant, subject to the applicable award agreement, all PSUs granted to the participant which, prior to the participant’s death, had not vested, will immediately be forfeited and cancelled without payment, provided, however, that the Board may determine, in its discretion, the number of the participant’s PSUs that will vest based upon the extent to which the applicable performance criteria have been satisfied in that portion of the performance cycle that has lapsed. If a participant’s employment is terminated for cause, any PSUs granted to the participant will immediately terminate without payment and be cancelled as of the termination date. If a participant’s employment is terminated without cause, by voluntary termination, or if the participant’s employment terminates due to retirement or disability, all PSUs granted to the participant which, prior to such termination without cause, voluntary termination, retirement or disability, had not vested, will immediately be forfeited and cancelled without payment, provided, however, that the Board may determine, in its discretion, the number of the participant’s PSUs that will vest based upon the extent to which the applicable performance criteria have been satisfied in that portion of the performance cycle that has lapsed. Where a consultant’s service to the Company terminates for any reason, subject to the applicable award agreement and any other contractual commitments between the participant and the Company, all PSUs granted to such participant will immediately be forfeited and cancelled without payment, provided, however, that the Board may determine, in its discretion, the number of the participant’s PSUs that will vest based upon the extent to which the applicable performance criteria have been satisfied in that portion of the performance cycle that has lapsed.
Deferred Share Units . The Equity Incentive Plan provides that the Board may, from time to time, in its sole discretion, grant awards of deferred share units (each, a “ DSU ”) to directors in lieu of director fees (but not to key
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employees or consultants). Directors become participants effective as of the date each is first appointed or elected as a director and cease to be participants at the time they cease to be a director for any reason. The number of DSUs to be granted to a participant shall be calculated by dividing the amount of fees selected by the director by the market price on the grant date. The market price is defined in the Equity Incentive Plan as the five‐day weighted average closing price of the Shares on the immediately preceding five trading days prior to the grant date.
Each participant shall be entitled to receive, subsequent to the effective date that the participant ceases to be a director for any reason or any earlier vesting period(s) set forth in the applicable award agreement, either (a) that number of Shares equal to the number of DSUs granted to such participant, or (b) a cash payment in an amount equal to the market price of the DSUs granted to such participant on the trading day following the day that the participant ceases to be a director, net of applicable withholdings, and subject to adjustments if the value of a DSU is determined during applicable black‐out periods. Upon the death of a participant, such participant’s estate shall be entitled to receive, within 120 days, a cash payment or Shares that would otherwise have been payable upon such participant ceasing to be a director.
A copy of the Equity Incentive Plan is attached as Schedule “B” to this Information Circular. A copy of the Equity Incentive Plan is also available free of charge at the registered and records office of the Company, 800 – 885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 3H1, during normal business hours up to and including the date of the Meeting.
Approval of Equity Incentive Plan
The Board is requesting that Shareholders affirm, ratify and approve the Equity Incentive Plan. Accordingly, at the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to approve the following ordinary resolution (the “ Plan Resolution ”), which must be approved by at least a majority of the votes cast by Shareholders represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting who vote in respect of the Plan Resolution:
“BE IT RESOLVED, AS AN ORDINARY RESOLUTION OF SHAREHOLDERS THAT:
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the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) in the form attached as Schedule “B” to the management information circular of the Company dated as of May 16, 2023, pursuant to which the board of directors of the Company may, from time to time, authorize the issuance of awards to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries to a maximum of 20% of the issued and outstanding number of Shares at the time of the grant, be and is hereby affirmed, ratified and approved;
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the unallocated entitlements under the Plan, being as of the date of the management information circular of the Company dated as of May 16, 2023 7,497,690 stock options, restricted share units, performance share units and deferred share units still available for issue, be and are hereby approved, confirmed and ratified;
-
the Company shall seek shareholder approval of the Plan no later than June 16, 2026, or such other date that is no later than three years from the date that this resolution is approved;
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the board of directors of the Company be authorized in its absolute discretion to administer the Plan and amend or modify the Plan in accordance with its terms and conditions and with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange; and
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any one director or officer of the Company be and is hereby authorized and directed to do all such acts and things and to execute and deliver, under the corporate seal of the Company or otherwise, all such deeds, documents, instruments and assurances as in his or her opinion may be necessary or desirable to give effect to this resolution, including making any amendments to the Plan as may be required by regulatory authorities, without further approval of the shareholders of the Company.”
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The form of the Plan Resolution set forth above is subject to such amendments as management may propose at the Meeting, but which do not materially affect the substance of the Plan Resolution.
Management of the Company recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of the Plan Resolution at the Meeting. It is the intention of the Designated Persons named in the enclosed form of proxy, if not expressly directed otherwise in such form of proxy, to vote such proxy FOR the Plan Resolution.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Shareholders may contact the Company at its office by mail at 2010 Winston Park Drive, 2[nd] Floor, Oakville, ON L6H 5R7, to request copies of the Company’s financial statements and related Management’s Discussion and Analysis (the “ MD&A ”). Financial information is provided in the Company’s audited financial statements and MD&A for the most recently completed financial year and in the financial statements and MD&A for subsequent financial periods, which are available on SEDAR.
OTHER MATTERS
Other than the above, management of the Company know of no other matters to come before the Meeting other than those referred to in the Notice. If any other matters that are not currently known to management should properly come before the Meeting, the accompanying form of proxy confers discretionary authority upon the Designated Persons named therein to vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The contents of this Information Circular have been approved, and the delivery of it to each shareholder of the Company entitled thereto and to the appropriate regulatory agencies has been authorized, by the Board.
Dated at Vancouver, British Columbia this 16th day of May, 2023.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
FENDX TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
“Dr. Carolyn Myers”
Dr. Carolyn Myers President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
SCHEDULE “A”
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
FENDX TECHNOLOGIES INC.
(the “ Corporation ”)
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
1. MANDATE
The audit committee will assist the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) in fulfilling its financial oversight responsibilities. The committee will review and consider, in consultation with the Corporation’s external auditors, the financial reporting process, the system of internal control over financial reporting and the audit process. In performing its duties, the audit committee will maintain effective working relationships with the Board, management and the external auditors. To effectively perform his or her role, each committee member must obtain an understanding of the principal responsibilities of committee membership as well as the Corporation’s business, operations and risks.
2. COMPOSITION
The Board will appoint, from among their membership, an audit committee after each annual meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation. The audit committee will consist of a minimum of three directors.
2.1 Independence
Subject to Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6 and Part 6 of National Instrument 52‐110 (Audit Committees)) (“ NI 52‐ 110 ”), a majority of the members of the audit committee must be “independent” (as defined in Section 1.4 of NI 52‐110).
2.2 Expertise of Committee Members
Subject to Sections 3.5 and 3.8 and Part 6 of NI 52‐110, a majority of the members of the audit committee must be “financially literate” (as defined in Section 1.6 of NI 52‐110) or must become financially literate within a reasonable period of time after his or her appointment to the committee. At least one member of the committee must have accounting or related financial management expertise.
3. MEETINGS
The audit committee shall meet in accordance with a schedule established each year by the Board, and at other times that the audit committee may determine. The audit committee shall meet at least annually with the Corporation’s Chief Financial Officer and external auditors in separate executive sessions.
4. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The audit committee shall fulfill the following roles and discharge the following responsibilities:
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4.1 External Audit
The audit committee shall be directly responsible for overseeing the work of the external auditors in preparing or issuing the auditor’s report, or performing other audit, review or attestation services, including the resolution of disagreements between management and the external auditors regarding financial reporting. In carrying out this duty, the audit committee shall:
-
(a) recommend to the Board that the external auditor to be nominated for the purpose of preparing or issuing an auditor’s report or performing other audit, review or attestation services for the Corporation;
-
(b) review (by discussion and enquiry) the external auditors’ proposed audit scope and approach;
-
(c) review the performance of the external auditors and recommend to the Board the appointment or discharge of the external auditors;
-
(d) review and recommend to the Board the compensation to be paid to the external auditors;
-
(e) review and confirm the independence of the external auditors by reviewing the non‐audit services provided and the external auditors’ assertion of their independence in accordance with professional standards; and
-
(f) review and approve the Corporation’s hiring policies regarding partners and employees, and former partners and employees, of the present and former external auditor of the Corporation.
4.2 Internal Control
The audit committee shall consider whether adequate controls are in place over annual and interim financial reporting as well as controls over assets, transactions and the creation of obligations, commitments and liabilities of the Corporation. In carrying out this duty, the audit committee shall:
-
(a) evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of management’s system of internal controls over the accounting and financial reporting system within the Corporation; and
-
(b) ensure that the external auditors discuss with the audit committee any event or matter which suggests the possibility of fraud, illegal acts or deficiencies in internal controls.
4.3 Financial Reporting
The audit committee shall review the financial statements and financial information of the Corporation prior to their release to the public. In carrying out this duty, the audit committee shall:
General
-
(a) review significant accounting and financial reporting issues, especially complex, unusual and related party transactions;
-
(b) review and ensure that the accounting principles selected by management in preparing financial statements are appropriate;
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Annual Financial Statements
-
(c) review the draft annual financial statements and provide a recommendation to the Board with respect to the approval of the financial statements;
-
(d) meet with management and the external auditors to review the financial statements and the results of the audit, including any difficulties encountered;
-
(e) review management’s discussion & analysis respecting the annual reporting period prior to its release to the public;
Interim Financial Statements
-
(f) review and approve the interim financial statements prior to their release to the public;
-
(g) review management’s discussion & analysis respecting the interim reporting period prior to its release to the public; and
Release of Financial Information
- (h) where reasonably possible, review and approve all public disclosure containing financial information, including news releases, prior to release to the public. An audit committee must be satisfied that adequate procedures are in place for the review of the Corporation’s public disclosure of financial information extracted or derived from the Corporation’s financial statements, and must periodically assess the adequacy of those procedures.
4.4 Non‐Audit Services
All non‐audit services (being services other than services rendered for the audit and review of the financial statements or services that are normally provided by the external auditor in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements) which are proposed to be provided by the external auditors to the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation shall be subject to the prior approval of the audit committee.
Delegation of Authority
- (a) The audit committee may delegate to one or more independent members of the audit committee the authority to approve non‐audit services, provided any non‐audit services approved in this manner must be presented to the audit committee at its next scheduled meeting.
De‐Minimis Non‐Audit Services
-
(b) The audit committee may satisfy the requirement for the pre‐approval of non‐audit services if:
-
(i) the aggregate amount of all non‐audit services that were not pre‐approved is reasonably expected to constitute no more than five per cent of the total amount of fees paid by the Corporation and its subsidiaries to the external auditor during the fiscal year in which the services are provided; or
-
(ii) the services are brought to the attention of the audit committee and approved, prior to the completion of the audit, by the audit committee or by one or more of its members to whom authority to grant such approvals has been delegated.
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Pre‐Approval Policies and Procedures
-
(c) The audit committee may also satisfy the requirement for the pre‐approval of non‐audit services by adopting specific policies and procedures for the engagement of non‐audit services, if:
-
(i) the pre‐approval policies and procedures are detailed as to the particular service;
-
(ii) the audit committee is informed of each non‐audit service; and
-
(iii) the procedures do not include delegation of the audit committee's responsibilities to management.
4.5 Other Responsibilities
The audit committee shall:
-
(a) establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Corporation regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters;
-
(b) establish procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Corporation of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters;
-
(c) ensure that significant findings and recommendations made by management and the external auditor are received and discussed on a timely basis;
-
(d) review the policies and procedures in effect for considering officers’ expenses and perquisites;
-
(e) perform other oversight functions as requested by the Board; and
-
(f) review and update this Charter and receive approval of changes to this Charter from the Board.
4.6 Reporting Responsibilities
The audit committee shall regularly update the Board about committee activities and make appropriate recommendations.
5. RESOURCES AND AUTHORITY OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The audit committee shall have the resources and the authority appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including the authority to
-
(a) engage independent counsel and other advisors as it determines necessary to carry out its duties;
-
(b) set and pay the compensation for any advisors employed by the audit committee; and
-
(c) communicate directly with the internal and external auditors.
6. GUIDANCE – ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The audit committee should consider undertaking the actions described in the following guidance, which is intended to provide the audit committee members with additional guidance on fulfilment of their roles and responsibilities on the committee:
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6.1 Internal Control
-
(a) evaluate whether management is setting the goal of high standards by communicating the importance of internal control and ensuring that all individuals possess an understanding of their roles and responsibilities,
-
(b) focus on the extent to which external auditors review computer systems and applications, the security of such systems and applications, and the contingency plan for processing financial information in the event of an IT systems breakdown, and
-
(c) gain an understanding of whether internal control recommendations made by external auditors have been implemented by management;
6.2 Financial Reporting
General
-
(a) review significant accounting and reporting issues, including recent professional and regulatory pronouncements, and understand their impact on the financial statements,
-
(b) ask management and the external auditors about significant risks and exposures and the plans to minimize such risks,
-
(c) understand industry best practices and the Corporation’s adoption of them;
Annual Financial Statements
-
(d) review the annual financial statements and determine whether they are complete and consistent with the information known to committee members, and assess whether the financial statements reflect appropriate accounting principles in light of the jurisdictions in which the Corporation reports or trades its shares;
-
(e) pay attention to complex and/or unusual transactions such as restructuring charges and derivative disclosures;
-
(f) focus on judgmental areas such as those involving valuation of assets and liabilities, including, for example, the accounting for and disclosure of loan losses; warranty, professional liability; litigation reserves; and other commitments and contingencies;
-
(g) consider management’s handling of proposed audit adjustments identified by the external auditors;
-
(h) ensure that the external auditors communicate all required matters to the committee;
Interim Financial Statements
-
(i) be briefed on how management develops and summarizes interim financial information, the extent to which the external auditors review interim financial information;
-
(j) meet with management and the auditors, either telephonically or in person, to review the interim financial statements;
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-
(k) to gain insight into the fairness of the interim statements and disclosures, obtain explanations from management on whether:
-
(i) actual financial results for the quarter or interim period varied significantly from budgeted or projected results;
-
(ii) changes in financial ratios and relationships of various balance sheet and operating statement figures in the interim financials statements are consistent with changes in the Corporation’s operations and financing practices;
-
(iii) generally accepted accounting principles have been consistently applied;
-
(iv) there are any actual or proposed changes in accounting or financial reporting practices;
-
(v) there are any significant or unusual events or transactions;
-
(vi) the Corporation’s financial and operating controls are functioning effectively;
-
(vii) the Corporation has complied with the terms of loan agreements, security indentures or other financial position or results dependent agreement; and
-
(viii) the interim financial statements contain adequate and appropriate disclosures;
6.3 Compliance with Laws and Regulations
-
(a) periodically obtain updates from management regarding compliance with this policy and industry “best practices”;
-
(b) be satisfied that all regulatory compliance matters have been considered in the preparation of the financial statements;
-
(c) review the findings of any examinations by securities regulatory authorities and stock exchanges; and
6.4 Other Responsibilities
- (a) review, with the Corporation’s counsel, any legal matters that could have a significant impact on the Corporation’s financial statements.
SCHEDULE “B”
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Fendx Technologies Inc.
OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
October 19, 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| ARTICLE 1 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................. 1 | ARTICLE 1 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................. 1 |
|---|---|
| 1.1 | Purpose ............................................................................................................................... 1 |
| ARTICLE 2 INTERPRETATION ................................................................................................................. 1 | |
| 2.1 | Definitions ........................................................................................................................... 1 |
| 2.2 | Interpretation ..................................................................................................................... 9 |
| ARTICLE 3 ADMINISTRATION ................................................................................................................ 9 | |
| 3.1 | Administration .................................................................................................................... 9 |
| 3.2 | Delegation to Committee ................................................................................................. 10 |
| 3.3 | Determinations Binding .................................................................................................... 11 |
| 3.4 | Eligibility ............................................................................................................................ 11 |
| 3.5 | Plan Administrator Requirements .................................................................................... 11 |
| 3.6 | Total Shares Subject to Awards ........................................................................................ 11 |
| 3.7 | Limits on Grants of Awards ............................................................................................... 12 |
| 3.8 | Award Agreements ........................................................................................................... 12 |
| 3.9 | Non‐transferability of Awards .......................................................................................... 12 |
| ARTICLE 4 OPTIONS ............................................................................................................................ 13 | |
| 4.1 | Granting of Options .......................................................................................................... 13 |
| 4.2 | Exercise Price .................................................................................................................... 13 |
| 4.3 | Term of Options ................................................................................................................ 13 |
| 4.4 | Vesting and Exercisability ................................................................................................. 13 |
| 4.5 | Payment of Exercise Price ................................................................................................. 14 |
| ARTICLE 5 RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS .................................................................................................. 15 | |
| 5.1 | Granting of RSUs ............................................................................................................... 15 |
| 5.2 | RSU Account ...................................................................................................................... 15 |
| 5.3 | Vesting of RSUs ................................................................................................................. 15 |
| 5.4 | Settlement of RSUs ........................................................................................................... 15 |
| ARTICLE 6 PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS ............................................................................................ 16 | |
| 6.1 | Granting of PSUs ............................................................................................................... 16 |
| 6.2 | Terms of PSUs ................................................................................................................... 16 |
| 6.3 | Performance Goals ........................................................................................................... 16 |
| 6.4 | PSU Account ...................................................................................................................... 16 |
| 6.5 | Vesting of PSUs ................................................................................................................. 17 |
| 6.6 | Settlement of PSUs ........................................................................................................... 17 |
| ARTICLE 7 DEFERRED SHARE UNITS .................................................................................................... 17 | |
| 7.1 | Granting of DSUs ............................................................................................................... 17 |
| 7.2 | DSU Account ..................................................................................................................... 19 |
| 7.3 | Vesting of DSUs ................................................................................................................. 19 |
| 7.4 | Settlement of DSUs ........................................................................................................... 19 |
| 7.5 | No Additional Amount or Benefit ..................................................................................... 20 |
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| ARTICLE 8 ADDITIONAL AWARD TERMS ............................................................................................. 20 | ARTICLE 8 ADDITIONAL AWARD TERMS ............................................................................................. 20 |
|---|---|
| 8.1 | Dividend Equivalents ........................................................................................................ 20 |
| 8.2 | Black‐out Period ................................................................................................................ 20 |
| 8.3 | Withholding Taxes ............................................................................................................ 20 |
| 8.4 | Recoupment ...................................................................................................................... 21 |
| ARTICLE 9 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICES .................................................................. 21 | |
| 9.1 | Termination of Employee, Consultant or Director ........................................................... 21 |
| 9.2 | Discretion to Permit Acceleration ..................................................................................... 23 |
| ARTICLE 10 EVENTS AFFECTING THE CORPORATION ........................................................................... 24 | |
| 10.1 | General .............................................................................................................................. 24 |
| 10.2 | Change in Control ............................................................................................................. 24 |
| 10.3 | Reorganization of Corporation’s Capital ........................................................................... 25 |
| 10.4 | Other Events Affecting the Corporation ........................................................................... 26 |
| 10.5 | Immediate Acceleration of Awards .................................................................................. 26 |
| 10.6 | Issue by Corporation of Additional Shares ....................................................................... 26 |
| 10.7 | Fractions............................................................................................................................ 26 |
| ARTICLE 11 U.S. | TAXPAYERS ............................................................................................................... 26 |
| 11.1 | Provisions for U.S. Taxpayers ............................................................................................ 26 |
| 11.2 | ISOs ................................................................................................................................... 27 |
| 11.3 | ISO Grants to 10% Shareholders ....................................................................................... 27 |
| 11.4 | $100,000 Per Year Limitation for ISOs .............................................................................. 27 |
| 11.5 | Disqualifying Dispositions ................................................................................................. 27 |
| 11.6 | Section 409A of the Code ................................................................................................. 27 |
| 11.7 | Section 83(b) Election ....................................................................................................... 28 |
| 11.8 | Application of Article 11 to U.S. Taxpayers ....................................................................... 29 |
| ARTICLE 12 AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN .......................................... 29 | |
| 12.1 | Amendment, Suspension, or Termination of the Plan ..................................................... 29 |
| 12.2 | Permitted Amendments ................................................................................................... 29 |
| ARTICLE 13 MISCELLANEOUS .............................................................................................................. 30 | |
| 13.1 | Legal Requirement ............................................................................................................ 30 |
| 13.2 | No Other Benefit ............................................................................................................... 30 |
| 13.3 | Rights of Participant .......................................................................................................... 30 |
| 13.4 | Corporate Action ............................................................................................................... 30 |
| 13.5 | Conflict .............................................................................................................................. 30 |
| 13.6 | Anti‐Hedging Policy ........................................................................................................... 30 |
| 13.7 | Participant Information .................................................................................................... 31 |
| 13.8 | Participation in the Plan .................................................................................................... 31 |
| 13.9 | International Participants ................................................................................................. 31 |
| 13.10 | Successors and Assigns ..................................................................................................... 31 |
| 13.11 | General Restrictions or Assignment ................................................................................. 31 |
| 13.12 | Severability ....................................................................................................................... 31 |
| 13.13 | Notices .............................................................................................................................. 32 |
| 13.14 | Effective Date .................................................................................................................... 32 |
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13.15 Governing Law .................................................................................................................. 32 13.16 Submission to Jurisdiction ................................................................................................ 32
Fendx Technologies Inc.
Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan
ARTICLE 1 PURPOSE
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this Plan is to provide the Corporation with a share‐related mechanism to attract, retain and motivate qualified Directors, Employees and Consultants of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, to reward such of those Directors, Employees and Consultants as may be granted Awards under this Plan by the Board from time to time for their contributions toward the long‐term goals and success of the Corporation and to enable and encourage such Directors, Employees and Consultants to acquire Shares as long‐term investments and proprietary interests in the Corporation.
ARTICLE 2 INTERPRETATION
2.1 Definitions
When used herein, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms have the indicated meanings, respectively:
-
(a) “ Affiliate ” means any entity that is an “affiliate” for the purposes of National Instrument 45‐106 – Prospectus Exemptions of the Canadian Securities Administrators , as amended from time to time;
-
(b) “ Award ” means any Option, Restricted Share Unit, Performance Share Unit or Deferred Share Unit granted under this Plan which may be denominated or settled in Shares, cash, a combination thereof or in such other form as provided herein in the discretion of the Plan Administrator;
-
(c) “ Award Agreement ” means a signed, written agreement between a Participant and the Corporation, in the form or any one of the forms approved by the Plan Administrator, evidencing the terms and conditions on which an Award has been granted under this Plan and which need not be identical to any other such agreements;
-
(d) “ Board ” means the board of directors of the Corporation as it may be constituted from time to time;
-
(e) “ Business Day ” means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which the principal commercial banks in the City of Vancouver are open for commercial business during normal banking hours;
-
(f) “ Canadian Taxpayer ” means a Participant that is resident of Canada for purposes of the Tax Act;
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-
(g) “ Cash Fees ” has the meaning set forth in Subsection 7.1(a);
-
(h) “ Cashless Exercise ” has the meaning set forth in Subsection 4.5(b);
-
(i) “ Cause ” means, with respect to a particular Participant:
-
(i) “cause” (or any similar term) as such term is defined in the employment or other written agreement between the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation and the Employee;
-
(ii) in the event there is no written or other applicable employment or other agreement between the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation or “cause” (or any similar term) is not defined in such agreement, “cause” as such term is defined in the Award Agreement; or
-
(iii) in the event neither (a) nor (b) apply, then “cause” as such term is defined by applicable law or, if not so defined, such term shall refer to circumstances where (x) an employer may terminate an individual’s employment without notice or pay in lieu thereof or other damages, or (y) the Corporation or any subsidiary thereof may terminate the Participant’s contract without notice or without pay in lieu thereof or other termination fee or damages;
-
(j) “ Change in Control ” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following events:
-
(i) any transaction at any time and by whatever means pursuant to which any Person or any group of two (2) or more Persons acting jointly or in concert hereafter acquires the direct or indirect “beneficial ownership” (as defined in the Securities Act (British Columbia)) of, or acquires the right to exercise Control or direction over, securities of the Corporation representing more than 50% of the then issued and outstanding voting securities of the Corporation, including, without limitation, as a result of a take‐over bid, an exchange of securities, an amalgamation of the Corporation with any other entity, an arrangement, a capital reorganization or any other business combination or reorganization;
-
(ii) the sale, assignment or other transfer of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Corporation to a Person other than a subsidiary of the Corporation;
-
(iii) the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, other than in connection with the distribution of assets of the Corporation to one (1) or more Persons which were Affiliates of the Corporation prior to such event;
-
(iv) the occurrence of a transaction requiring approval of the Corporation’s shareholders whereby the Corporation is acquired through consolidation, merger, exchange of securities, purchase of assets, amalgamation, statutory arrangement or otherwise by any other Person (other than a short form amalgamation or exchange of securities with a subsidiary of the Corporation);
‐ 3 ‐
-
(v) individuals who comprise the Board as of the date hereof (the “ Incumbent Board ”) for any reason cease to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board, unless the election, or nomination for election by the Corporation’s shareholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Board, and in that case such new director shall be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board; or
-
(vi) any other event which the Board determines to constitute a change in control of the Corporation;
provided that, notwithstanding clause (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, a Change in Control shall be deemed not to have occurred if immediately following the transaction set forth in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above: (A) the holders of securities of the Corporation that immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction represented more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of directors of the Corporation hold (x) securities of the entity resulting from such transaction (including, for greater certainty, the Person succeeding to assets of the Corporation in a transaction contemplated in clause (ii) above) (the “ Surviving Entity ”) that represent more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of directors or trustees (“ voting power ”) of the Surviving Entity, or (y) if applicable, securities of the entity that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of 100% of the securities eligible to elect directors or trustees of the Surviving Entity (the “ Parent Entity ”) that represent more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of directors or trustees of the Parent Entity, and (B) no Person or group of two or more Persons, acting jointly or in concert, is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the voting power of the Parent Entity (or, if there is no Parent Entity, the Surviving Entity) (any such transaction which satisfies all of the criteria specified in clauses (A) and (B) above being referred to as a “ Non‐Qualifying Transaction ” and, following the Non‐Qualifying Transaction, references in this definition of “Change in Control” to the “Corporation” shall mean and refer to the Parent Entity (or, if there is no Parent Entity, the Surviving Entity) and, if such entity is a company or a trust, references to the “Board” shall mean and refer to the board of directors or trustees, as applicable, of such entity).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of any Award that constitutes “deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), the payment of which is triggered by or would be accelerated upon a Change in Control, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control for Awards granted to any Participant who is a U.S. Taxpayer unless the transaction qualifies as “a change in control event” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.
-
(k) “ Code ” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. Any reference to a section of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any regulations promulgated thereunder;
-
(l) “ Committee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2;
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-
(m) “ Consultant ” means any individual or entity engaged by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to render consulting or advisory services (including as a director or officer of any subsidiary of the Corporation), other than as an Employee or Director, and whether or not compensated for such services provided, however, that any Consultant who is in the United States or is a U.S. Person at the time such Consultant receives any offer of Award or executes any Award Agreement must be a natural person, and must agree to provide bona fide services to that Corporation that are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital‐raising transaction, and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Corporation’s securities;
-
(n) “ Control ” means the relationship whereby a Person is considered to be “controlled” by a Person if:
-
(i) when applied to the relationship between a Person and a corporation, the beneficial ownership by that Person, directly or indirectly, of voting securities or other interests in such corporation entitling the holder to exercise control and direction in fact over the activities of such corporation;
-
(ii) when applied to the relationship between a Person and a partnership, limited partnership, trust or joint venture, means the contractual right to direct the affairs of the partnership, limited partnership, trust or joint venture; and
-
(iii) when applied in relation to a trust, the beneficial ownership at the relevant time of more than 50% of the property settled under the trust, and
the words “ Controlled by ”, “ Controlling ” and similar words have corresponding meanings; provided that a Person who controls a corporation, partnership, limited partnership or joint venture will be deemed to Control a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, trust or joint venture which is Controlled by such Person and so on;
-
(o)
-
“ Corporation ” means Fendx Technologies Inc., or any successor entity thereof;
-
(p) “ Date of Grant ” means, for any Award, the date specified by the Plan Administrator at the time it grants the Award or if no such date is specified, the date upon which the Award was granted;
-
(q) “ Deferred Share Unit ” or “ DSU ” means a unit equivalent in value to a Share, credited by means of a bookkeeping entry in the books of the Corporation in accordance with Article 7;
-
(r)
-
“ Director ” means a director of the Corporation who is not an Employee;
-
(s) “ Director Fees ” means the total compensation (including annual retainer and meeting fees, if any) paid by the Corporation to a Director in a calendar year for service on the Board;
-
(t) “ Disabled ” or “ Disability ” means, with respect to a particular Participant:
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-
(i) “disabled” or “disability” (or any similar terms) as such terms are defined in the employment or other written agreement between the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation and the Participant;
-
(ii) in the event there is no written or other applicable employment or other agreement between the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation, or “disabled” or “disability” (or any similar terms) are not defined in such agreement, “disabled” or “disability” as such term are defined in the Award Agreement; or
-
(iii) in the event neither (i) or (ii) apply, then the incapacity or inability of the Participant, by reason of mental or physical incapacity, disability, illness or disease (as determined by a legally qualified medical practitioner or by a court) that prevents the Participant from carrying out his or her normal and essential duties as an Employee, Director or Consultant for a continuous period of six months or for any cumulative period of 180 days in any consecutive twelve month period, the foregoing subject to and as determined in accordance with procedures established by the Plan Administrator for purposes of this Plan;
-
(u) “ Effective Date ” means the effective date of this Plan, being October 27, 2020;
-
(v)
-
“ Elected Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Subsection 7.1(a);
-
(w) “ Electing Person ” means a Participant who is, on the applicable Election Date, a Director;
-
(x) “ Election Date ” means the date on which the Electing Person files an Election Notice in accordance with Subsection 7.1(b);
-
(y) “ Election Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Subsection 7.1(b);
-
(z) “ Employee ” means an individual who:
-
(i) is considered an employee of the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation for purposes of source deductions under applicable tax or social welfare legislation; or
-
(ii) works full‐time or part‐time. on a regular weekly basis for the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation providing services normally provided by an employee and who is subject to the same control and direction by the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation over the details and methods of work as an employee of the Corporation or such subsidiary;
-
(aa) “ Exchange ” means the primary exchange on which the Shares are then listed and posted for trading from time to time, as determined by the Plan Administrator;
-
(bb) “ Exercise Notice ” means a notice in writing, signed by a Participant and stating the Participant’s intention to exercise a particular Option;
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-
(cc) “ Exercise Price ” means the price at which an Option Share may be purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option;
-
(dd) “ Expiry Date ” means the expiry date specified in the Award Agreement (which shall not be later than the tenth anniversary of the Date of Grant) or, if not so specified, means the tenth anniversary of the Date of Grant;
-
(ee) “ In the Money Amount ” has the meaning given to it in Subsection 4.5(b);
-
(ff) “ Insider ” means an “insider” as defined in the rules of the Exchange from time to time;
-
(gg) “ Market Price ” at any date in respect of the Shares shall be the volume weighted average trading price of Shares on the Exchange for the five trading days immediately preceding the Date of Grant; provided, further, that with respect to an Award made to a U.S. Taxpayer such Participant, the class of Shares and the number of Shares subject to such Award shall be identified by the Board or the Committee prior to the start of the applicable five trading day period. In the event that such Shares are not listed and posted for trading on any Exchange, the Market Price shall be the fair market value of such Shares as determined by the Board in its sole discretion and, with respect to an Award made to a U.S. Taxpayer, in accordance with Section 409A of the Code;
-
(hh) “ Option ” means a right to purchase Shares under Article 4 of this Plan that is non‐ assignable and non‐transferable, unless otherwise approved by the Plan Administrator;
-
(ii) “ Option Shares ” means Shares issuable by the Corporation upon the exercise of outstanding Options;
-
(jj) “ Participant ” means a Director, Employee or Consultant to whom an Award has been granted under this Plan;
-
(kk) “ Performance Goals ” means performance goals expressed in terms of attaining a specified level of the particular criteria or the attainment of a percentage increase or decrease in the particular criteria, and may be applied to one or more of the Corporation, a subsidiary of the Corporation, a division of the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation, or an individual, or may be applied to the performance of the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation relative to a market index, a group of other companies or a combination thereof, or on any other basis, all as determined by the Plan Administrator in its discretion;
-
(ll) “ Performance Share Unit ” or “ PSU ” means a unit equivalent in value to a Share, credited by means of a bookkeeping entry in the books of the Corporation in accordance with Article 6;
-
(mm) “ Person ” means an individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, unincorporated association, unincorporated syndicate, unincorporated organization, trust, body corporate, and a natural person in his or her capacity as trustee, executor, administrator or other legal representative;
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-
(nn) “ Plan ” means this Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time, pursuant to which all new equity‐based incentive awards granted by the Corporation are governed;
-
(oo) “ Plan Administrator ” means the Board, or if the administration of this Plan has been delegated by the Board to the Committee pursuant to Section 3.2, the Committee;
-
(pp) “ PSU Service Year ” has the meaning given to it in Section 6.1;
-
(qq) “ Restricted Share Unit ” or “ RSU ” means a unit equivalent in value to a Share, credited by means of a bookkeeping entry in the books of the Corporation in accordance with Article 5;
-
(rr) “ Retirement ” means, unless otherwise defined in the Participant’s written or other applicable employment agreement or in the Award Agreement, the termination of the Participant’s working career at the age of 67 or such other retirement age, with consent of the Plan Administrator, if applicable, other than on account of the Participant’s termination of service by the Corporation or its subsidiary for Cause;
-
(ss) “ RSU Service Year ” has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1.
-
(tt) “ Section 409A of the Code ” or “ Section 409A ” means Section 409A of the Code and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs, and other interpretive authority issued thereunder;
-
(uu) “ Securities Laws ” means securities legislation, securities regulation and securities rules, as amended, and the policies, notices, instruments and blanket orders in force from time to time that govern or are applicable to the Corporation or to which it is subject;
-
(vv) “ Security Based Compensation Arrangement ” means a stock option, stock option plan, employee stock purchase plan or any other compensation or incentive mechanism involving the issuance or potential issuance of Shares to Directors, officers, Employees and/or service providers of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation, including a share purchase from treasury which is financially assisted by the Corporation by way of a loan, guarantee or otherwise;
-
(ww) “ Share ” means one (1) common share in the capital of the Corporation as constituted on the Effective Date or any share or shares issued in replacement of such common share in compliance with Canadian law or other applicable law, and/or one share of any additional class of common shares in the capital of the Corporation as may exist from time to time, or after an adjustment contemplated by Article 10, such other shares or securities to which the holder of an Award may be entitled as a result of such adjustment;
-
(xx) “ subsidiary ” means an issuer that is Controlled directly or indirectly by another issuer and includes a subsidiary of that subsidiary, or any other entity in which the Corporation has an equity interest and is designated by the Plan Administrator, from time to time, for purposes of this Plan to be a subsidiary;
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-
(yy) “ Tax Act ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(d);
-
(zz) “ Termination Date ” means, subject to applicable law which cannot be waived:
-
(i) in the case of an Employee whose employment with the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation terminates, (i) the date designated by the Employee and the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation as the “Termination Date” (or similar term) in a written employment or other agreement between the Employee and Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation, or (ii) if no such written employment or other agreement exists, the date designated by the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation, as the case may be, on which the Employee ceases to be an employee of the Corporation or the subsidiary of the Corporation, as the case may be, provided that, in the case of termination of employment by voluntary resignation by the Participant, such date shall not be earlier than the date notice of resignation was given; and in any event, the “Termination Date” shall be determined without including any period of reasonable notice that the Corporation or the subsidiary of the Corporation (as the case may be) may be required by law to provide to the Participant or any pay in lieu of notice of termination, severance pay or other damages paid or payable to the Participant;
-
(ii) in the case of a Consultant whose agreement or arrangement with the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation terminates, (i) the date designated by the Corporation or the subsidiary of the Corporation, as the “Termination Date” (or similar term) or expiry date in a written agreement between the Consultant and Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation, or (ii) if no such written agreement exists, the date designated by the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation, as the case may be, on which the Consultant ceases to be a Consultant or a service provider to the Corporation or the subsidiary of the Corporation, as the case may be, or on which the Participant’s agreement or arrangement is terminated, provided that in the case of voluntary termination by the Participant of the Participant’s consulting agreement or other written arrangement, such date shall not be earlier than the date notice of voluntary termination was given; in any event, the “Termination Date” shall be determined without including any period of notice that the Corporation or the subsidiary of the Corporation (as the case may be) may be required by law to provide to the Participant or any pay in lieu of notice of termination, termination fees or other damages paid or payable to the Participant; and
-
(iii) in the case of a Director, the date such individual ceases to be a Director,
in each case, unless the individual continues to be a Participant in another capacity.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a U.S. Taxpayer, a Participant’s “Termination Date” will be the date the Participant experiences a “separation from service” with the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.
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-
(aaa) “ U.S. ” or “ United States ” means the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any State of the United States, and the District of Columbia;
-
(bbb) “ U.S. Person ” shall mean a “ U.S. person ” as such term is defined in Rule 902(k) of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act (the definition of which includes, but is not limited to, (i) any natural person resident in the United States, (ii) any partnership or corporation organized or incorporated under the laws of the United States, (iii) any partnership or corporation organized outside of the United States by a U.S. Person principally for the purpose of investing in securities not registered under the U.S. Securities Act, unless it is organized, or incorporated, and owned, by accredited investors who are not natural persons, estates or trusts, and (iv) any estate or trust of which any executor or administrator or trustee is a U.S. Person);
-
(ccc) “ U.S. Securities Act ” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and
-
(ddd) “ U.S. Taxpayer ” shall mean a Participant who, with respect to an Award, is subject to taxation under the applicable U.S. tax laws.
2.2 Interpretation
-
(a) Whenever the Plan Administrator exercises discretion in the administration of this Plan, the term “discretion” means the sole and absolute discretion of the Plan Administrator.
-
(b) As used herein, the terms “Article”, “Section”, “Subsection” and “clause” mean and refer to the specified Article, Section, Subsection and clause of this Plan, respectively.
-
(c) Words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa and words importing any gender include any other gender.
-
(d) Unless otherwise specified, time periods within or following which any payment is to be made or act is to be done shall be calculated by excluding the day on which the period begins, including the day on which the period ends, and abridging the period to the immediately preceding Business Day in the event that the last day of the period is not a Business Day. In the event an action is required to be taken or a payment is required to be made on a day which is not a Business Day such action shall be taken or such payment shall be made by the immediately preceding Business Day.
-
(e) Unless otherwise specified, all references to money amounts are to Canadian currency.
-
(f) The headings used herein are for convenience only and are not to affect the interpretation of this Plan.
ARTICLE 3 ADMINISTRATION
3.1 Administration
This Plan will be administered by the Plan Administrator and the Plan Administrator has sole and complete authority, in its discretion, to:
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-
(a) determine the individuals to whom grants under the Plan may be made;
-
(b) make grants of Awards under the Plan relating to the issuance of Shares (including any combination of Options, Restricted Share Units, Performance Share Units or Deferred Share Units) in such amounts, to such Persons and, subject to the provisions of this Plan, on such terms and conditions as it determines including without limitation:
-
(i) the time or times at which Awards may be granted;
-
(ii) the conditions under which:
-
(A) Awards may be granted to Participants; or
-
(B) Awards may be forfeited to the Corporation,
-
including any conditions relating to the attainment of specified Performance Goals;
-
(iii) the number of Shares to be covered by any Award;
-
(iv) the price, if any, to be paid by a Participant in connection with the purchase of Shares covered by any Awards;
-
(v) whether restrictions or limitations are to be imposed on the Shares issuable pursuant to grants of any Award, and the nature of such restrictions or limitations, if any; and
-
(vi) any acceleration of exercisability or vesting, or waiver of termination regarding any Award, based on such factors as the Plan Administrator may determine;
-
(c) establish the form or forms of Award Agreements;
-
(d) cancel, amend, adjust or otherwise change any Award under such circumstances as the Plan Administrator may consider appropriate in accordance with the provisions of this Plan;
-
(e) construe and interpret this Plan and all Award Agreements;
-
(f) adopt, amend, prescribe and rescind administrative guidelines and other rules and regulations relating to this Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub‐ plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable foreign laws or for qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable foreign laws; and
-
(g) make all other determinations and take all other actions necessary or advisable for the implementation and administration of this Plan.
3.2 Delegation to Committee
- (a) The initial Plan Administrator shall be the Board.
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- (b) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may, from time to time, delegate to a committee of the Board, including the Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee (the “ Committee ”), all or any of the powers conferred on the Plan Administrator pursuant to this Plan, including the power to sub‐delegate to any member(s) of the Committee or any specified officer(s) of the Corporation or its subsidiaries all or any of the powers delegated by the Board. In such event, the Committee or any sub‐delegate will exercise the powers delegated to it in the manner and on the terms authorized by the delegating party. Any decision made or action taken by the Committee or any sub‐delegate arising out of or in connection with the administration or interpretation of this Plan in this context is final and conclusive and binding on the Corporation and all subsidiaries of the Corporation, all Participants and all other Persons.
3.3 Determinations Binding
Any decision made or action taken by the Board, the Committee or any sub‐delegate to whom authority has been delegated pursuant to Section 3.2 arising out of or in connection with the administration or interpretation of this Plan is final, conclusive and binding on the Corporation, the affected Participant(s), their legal and personal representatives and all other Persons.
3.4 Eligibility
All Directors, Employees and Consultants are eligible to participate in the Plan, subject to Section 9.1(f). Participation in the Plan is voluntary and eligibility to participate does not confer upon any Director, Employee or Consultant any right to receive any grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan. The extent to which any Director, Employee or Consultant is entitled to receive a grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan will be determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the Plan Administrator.
3.5 Plan Administrator Requirements
Any Award granted under this Plan shall be subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Plan Administrator shall determine that the listing, registration or qualification of the Shares issuable pursuant to such Award upon any securities exchange or under any Securities Laws of any jurisdiction, or the consent or approval of the Exchange and any securities commissions or similar securities regulatory bodies having jurisdiction over the Corporation 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, such Award may not be accepted or exercised, as applicable, in whole or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained on conditions acceptable to the Plan Administrator. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all Awards shall be issued pursuant to the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act, or pursuant an exemption or exclusion from such registration requirements. Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Corporation to apply for or to obtain such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval. Participants shall, to the extent applicable, cooperate with the Corporation in complying with such legislation, rules, regulations and policies.
3.6 Total Shares Subject to Awards
- (a) Subject to adjustment as provided for in Article 10 and any subsequent amendment to this Plan, the aggregate number of Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to Awards
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granted under this Plan shall not exceed 20% of the Corporation’s total issued and outstanding Shares from time to time . This Plan is considered an “evergreen” plan, since the shares covered by Awards which have been settled, exercised or terminated shall be available for subsequent grants under the Plan and the number of Awards available to grant increases as the number of issued and outstanding Shares increases.
-
(b) To the extent any Awards (or portion(s) thereof) under this Plan terminate or are cancelled for any reason prior to exercise in full, or are surrendered or settled by the Participant, any Shares subject to such Awards (or portion(s) thereof) shall be added back to the number of Shares reserved for issuance under this Plan and will again become available for issuance pursuant to the exercise of Awards granted under this Plan.
-
(c) Any Shares issued by the Corporation through the assumption or substitution of outstanding stock options or other equity‐based awards from an acquired company shall not reduce the number of Shares available for issuance pursuant to the exercise of Awards granted under this Plan.
3.7 Limits on Grants of Awards
Notwithstanding anything in this Plan:
-
(a) the aggregate number of Shares:
-
(i) issuable to Insiders at any time, under all of the Corporation’s Security‐ Based Compensation Arrangements, shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the Corporation’s issued and outstanding Shares; and
-
(ii) issued to Insiders within any one (1) year period, under all of the Corporation’s Security Based Compensation Arrangements, shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the Corporation’s issued and outstanding Shares,
provided that the acquisition of Shares by the Corporation for cancellation shall be disregarded for the purposes of determining non‐compliance with this Section 3.7 for any Awards outstanding prior to such purchase of Shares for cancellation.
3.8 Award Agreements
Each Award under this Plan will be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Award Agreement will be subject to the applicable provisions of this Plan and will contain such provisions as are required by this Plan and any other provisions that the Plan Administrator may direct. Any one officer of the Corporation is authorized and empowered to execute and deliver, for and on behalf of the Corporation, an Award Agreement to a Participant granted an Award pursuant to this Plan.
3.9 Non‐transferability of Awards
Except as permitted by the Plan Administrator and to the extent that certain rights may pass to a beneficiary or legal representative upon death of a Participant, by will or as required by law, no assignment or transfer of Awards, whether voluntary, involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise,
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vests any interest or right in such Awards whatsoever in any assignee or transferee and immediately upon any assignment or transfer, or any attempt to make the same, such Awards will terminate and be of no further force or effect. To the extent that certain rights to exercise any portion of an outstanding Award pass to a beneficiary or legal representative upon death of a Participant, the period in which such Award can be exercised by such beneficiary or legal representative shall not exceed one year from the Participant’s death.
ARTICLE 4 OPTIONS
4.1 Granting of Options
The Plan Administrator may, from time to time, subject to the provisions of this Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may prescribe, grant Options to any Participant. The terms and conditions of each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
4.2 Exercise Price
The Plan Administrator will establish the Exercise Price at the time each Option is granted, which Exercise Price must in all cases be not less than the Market Price on the Date of Grant.
4.3 Term of Options
Subject to any accelerated termination as set forth in this Plan, each Option expires on its Expiry Date.
4.4 Vesting and Exercisability
-
(a) The Plan Administrator shall have the authority to determine the vesting terms applicable to grants of Options.
-
(b) Once an Option becomes vested, it shall remain vested and shall be exercisable until expiration or termination of the Option, unless otherwise specified by the Plan Administrator, or as may be otherwise set forth in any written employment agreement, Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation and the Participant. Each vested Option may be exercised at any time or from time to time, in whole or in part, for up to the total number of Option Shares with respect to which it is then exercisable. The Plan Administrator has the right to accelerate the date upon which any Option becomes exercisable.
-
(c) Subject to the provisions of this Plan and any Award Agreement, Options shall be exercised by means of a fully completed Exercise Notice delivered to the Corporation.
-
(d) The Plan Administrator may provide at the time of granting an Option that the exercise of that Option is subject to restrictions, in addition to those specified in this Section 4.4, such as vesting conditions relating to the attainment of specified Performance Goals.
-
(e) At the election of the Plan Administrator, Option Shares can be settled in:
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-
(i) one fully paid and non‐assessable Share issued from treasury to the Participant or as the Participant may direct,
-
(ii) a cash payment equal to the In the Money Amount, or
-
(iii) a combination of Shares and cash as contemplated by paragraphs (i) and (ii) above.
4.5 Payment of Exercise Price
-
(a) Unless otherwise specified by the Plan Administrator at the time of granting an Option and set forth in the particular Award Agreement, the Exercise Notice must be accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price. The Exercise Price must be fully paid by certified cheque, wire transfer, bank draft or money order payable to the Corporation or by such other means as might be specified from time to time by the Plan Administrator, which may include (i) through an arrangement with a broker approved by the Corporation (or through an arrangement directly with the Corporation) whereby payment of the Exercise Price is accomplished with the proceeds of the sale of Shares deliverable upon the exercise of the Option, (ii) through the cashless exercise process set out in Section 4.5(b), or (iii) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Securities Laws, or any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.
-
(b) Unless otherwise specified by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the particular Award Agreement, if permitted by the Plan Administrator, a Participant may, in lieu of exercising an Option pursuant to an Exercise Notice, elect to surrender such Option to the Corporation (a “ Cashless Exercise ”) in consideration for an amount from the Corporation equal to (i) the Market Price of the Shares issuable on the exercise of such Option (or portion thereof) as of the date such Option (or portion thereof) is exercised, less (ii) the aggregate Exercise Price of the Option (or portion thereof) surrendered relating to such Shares (the “ In‐the‐Money Amount ”), by written notice to the Corporation indicating the number of Options such Participant wishes to exercise using the Cashless Exercise, and such other information that the Corporation may require. Subject to Section 8.3, the Corporation shall satisfy payment of the In‐the‐Money Amount by delivering to the Participant such number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole number) having a fair market value equal to the In‐the‐Money Amount.
-
(c) No Shares will be issued or transferred until full payment therefor has been received by the Corporation, or arrangements for such payment have been made to the satisfaction of the Plan Administrator.
-
(d) If a Participant surrenders Options through a Cashless Exercise pursuant to Section 4.5(b), to the extent that such Participant would be entitled to a deduction under paragraph 110(1)(d) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the “ Tax Act ”) in respect of such surrender if the election described in subsection 110(1.1) of the Tax Act were made and filed (and the other procedures described therein were undertaken) on a timely basis after such surrender, the Corporation will cause such election to be so made and filed (and such other procedures to be so undertaken).
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ARTICLE 5 RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS
5.1 Granting of RSUs
-
(a) The Plan Administrator may, from time to time, subject to the provisions of this Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may prescribe, grant RSUs to any Participant in respect of a bonus or similar payment in respect of services rendered by the applicable Participant in a taxation year (the “ RSU Service Year ”). The terms and conditions of each RSU grant may be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each RSU will consist of a right to receive a Share, cash payment, or a combination thereof (as provided in Section 5.4(a)), upon the settlement of such RSU.
-
(b) The number of RSUs (including fractional RSUs) granted at any particular time pursuant to this Article 5 will be calculated by dividing (i) the amount of any bonus or similar payment that is to be paid in RSUs, as determined by the Plan Administrator, by (ii) the Market Price.
5.2 RSU Account
All RSUs received by a Participant shall be credited to an account maintained for the Participant on the books of the Corporation, as of the Date of Grant.
5.3 Vesting of RSUs
The Plan Administrator shall have the authority to determine any vesting terms applicable to the grant of RSUs, provided that the terms comply with Section 409A, with respect to a U.S. Taxpayer.
5.4 Settlement of RSUs
-
(a) The Plan Administrator shall have the sole authority to determine the settlement terms applicable to the grant of RSUs, provided that with respect to a U.S. Taxpayer the terms comply with Section 409A to the extent it is applicable. Subject to Section 11.6(d) below and except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, on the settlement date for any RSU, the Participant shall redeem each vested RSU for the following at the election of the Participant but subject to the approval of the Plan Administrator:
-
(i) one fully paid and non‐assessable Share issued from treasury to the Participant or as the Participant may direct,
-
(ii) a cash payment, or
-
(iii) a combination of Shares and cash as contemplated by paragraphs (i) and (ii) above.
-
(b) Any cash payments made under this Section 5.4 by the Corporation to a Participant in respect of RSUs to be redeemed for cash shall be calculated by multiplying the number of RSUs to be redeemed for cash by the Market Price per Share as at the settlement date.
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-
(c) Payment of cash to Participants on the redemption of vested RSUs may be made through the Corporation’s payroll in the pay period that the settlement date falls within.
-
(d) Notwithstanding any other terms of this Plan but subject to Section 11.6(d) below and except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, no settlement date for any RSU shall occur, and no Share shall be issued or cash payment shall be made in respect of any RSU, under this Section 5.4 any later than the final Business Day of the third calendar year following the applicable RSU Service Year.
ARTICLE 6 PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS
6.1 Granting of PSUs
The Plan Administrator may, from time to time, subject to the provisions of this Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may prescribe, grant PSUs to any Participant in respect of a bonus or similar payment in respect of services rendered by the applicable Participant in a taxation year (the “ PSU Service Year ”). The terms and conditions of each PSU grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, provided that with respect to a U.S. Taxpayer the terms comply with Section 409A to the extent it is applicable. Each PSU will consist of a right to receive a Share, cash payment, or a combination thereof (as provided in Section 6.6(a)), upon the achievement of such Performance Goals during such performance periods as the Plan Administrator shall establish.
6.2 Terms of PSUs
The Performance Goals to be achieved during any performance period, the length of any performance period, the amount of any PSUs granted, the effect of termination of a Participant’s service and the amount of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any PSU will be determined by the Plan Administrator and by the other terms and conditions of any PSU, all as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
6.3 Performance Goals
The Plan Administrator will issue Performance Goals prior to the Date of Grant to which such Performance Goals pertain. The Performance Goals may be based upon the achievement of corporate, divisional or individual goals, and may be applied to performance relative to an index or comparator group, or on any other basis determined by the Plan Administrator. Following the Date of Grant, the Plan Administrator may modify the Performance Goals as necessary to align them with the Corporation’s corporate objectives, subject to any limitations set forth in an Award Agreement or an employment or other agreement with a Participant. The Performance Goals may include a threshold level of performance below which no payment will be made (or no vesting will occur), levels of performance at which specified payments will be made (or specified vesting will occur), and a maximum level of performance above which no additional payment will be made (or at which full vesting will occur), all as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
6.4 PSU Account
All PSUs received by a Participant shall be credited to an account maintained for the Participant on the books of the Corporation, as of the Date of Grant.
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6.5 Vesting of PSUs
The Plan Administrator shall have the authority to determine any vesting terms applicable to the grant of PSUs.
6.6 Settlement of PSUs
-
(a) The Plan Administrator shall have the authority to determine the settlement terms applicable to the grant of PSUs provided that with respect to a U.S. Taxpayer the terms comply with Section 409A to the extent it is applicable. Subject to Section 11.6(d) below and except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, on the settlement date for any PSU, the Participant shall redeem each vested PSU for the following at the election of the Participant but subject to the approval of the Plan Administrator:
-
(i) one fully paid and non‐assessable Share issued from treasury to the Participant or as the Participant may direct,
-
(ii) a cash payment, or
-
(iii) a combination of Shares and cash as contemplated by paragraphs (i) and (ii) above.
-
(b) Any cash payments made under this Section 6.6 by the Corporation to a Participant in respect of PSUs to be redeemed for cash shall be calculated by multiplying the number of PSUs to be redeemed for cash by the Market Price per Share as at the settlement date.
-
(c) Payment of cash to Participants on the redemption of vested PSUs may be made through the Corporation’s payroll in the pay period that the settlement date falls within.
-
(d) Notwithstanding any other terms of this Plan but subject to Section 11.6(d) below and except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, no settlement date for any PSU shall occur, and no Share shall be issued or cash payment shall be made in respect of any PSU, under this Section 6.6 any later than the final Business Day of the third calendar year following the applicable PSU Service Year.
ARTICLE 7 DEFERRED SHARE UNITS
7.1 Granting of DSUs
- (a) The Board may fix from time to time a portion of the Director Fees that is to be payable in the form of DSUs. In addition, each Electing Person is given, subject to the conditions stated herein, the right to elect in accordance with Section 7.1(b) to participate in the grant of additional DSUs pursuant to this Article 7. An Electing Person who elects to participate in the grant of additional DSUs pursuant to this Article 7 shall receive their Elected Amount (as that term is defined below) in the form of DSUs. The “ Elected Amount ” shall be an amount, as elected by the Director, in accordance with applicable
‐ 18 ‐
tax law, between 0% and 100% of any Director Fees that would otherwise be paid in cash (the “ Cash Fees ”).
-
(b) Each Electing Person who elects to receive their Elected Amount in the form of DSUs will be required to file a notice of election in the form of Schedule A hereto (the “ Election Notice ”) with the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation: (i) in the case of an existing Electing Person, by December 31[st] in the year prior to the year to which such election is to apply (other than for Director Fees payable for the 2020 financial year, in which case any Electing Person who is not a U.S. Taxpayer as of the date of this Plan shall file the Election Notice by the date that is 30 days from the Effective Date with respect to compensation paid for services to be performed after such date); and (ii) in the case of a newly appointed Electing Person who is not a U.S. Taxpayer, within 30 days of such appointment with respect to compensation paid for services to be performed after such date. In the case of the first year in which an Electing Person who is a U.S. Taxpayer first becomes an Electing Person under the Plan (or any plan required to be aggregated with the Plan under Section 409A), an initial Election Notice may be filed within 30 days of such appointment only with respect to compensation paid for services to be performed after the end of the 30‐day election period. If no election is made within the foregoing time frames, the Electing Person shall be deemed to have elected to be paid the entire amount of his or her Cash Fees in cash.
-
(c) Subject to Subsection 7.1(d), the election of an Electing Person under Subsection 7.1(b) shall be deemed to apply to all Cash Fees paid subsequent to the filing of the Election Notice. In the case of an Electing Person who is a U.S. Taxpayer, his or her election under Section 7.1(b) shall be deemed to apply to all Cash Fees that are earned after the Election Date. An Electing Person is not required to file another Election Notice for subsequent calendar years.
-
(d) Each Electing Person who is not a U.S. Taxpayer is entitled once per calendar year to terminate his or her election to receive DSUs by filing with the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation a termination notice in the form of Schedule B. Such termination shall be effective immediately upon receipt of such notice, provided that the Corporation has not imposed a “black‐out” on trading. Thereafter, any portion of such Electing Person’s Cash Fees payable or paid in the same calendar year and, subject to complying with Subsection 7.1(b), all subsequent calendar years shall be paid in cash. For greater certainty, to the extent an Electing Person terminates his or her participation in the grant of DSUs pursuant to this Article 7, he or she shall not be entitled to elect to receive the Elected Amount, or any other amount of his or her Cash Fees in DSUs again until the calendar year following the year in which the termination notice is delivered. An election by a U.S. Taxpayer to receive the Elected Amount in DSUs for any calendar year (or portion thereof) is irrevocable for that calendar year after the expiration of the election period for that year and any termination of the election will not take effect until the first day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the termination notice in the form of Schedule C is delivered.
-
(e) Any DSUs granted pursuant to this Article 7 prior to the delivery of a termination notice pursuant to Section 7.1(d) shall remain in the Plan following such termination and will be redeemable only in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
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(f) The number of DSUs (including fractional DSUs) granted at any particular time pursuant to this Article 7 will be calculated by dividing (i) the amount of Director Fees that are to be paid as DSUs, as determined by the Plan Administrator or Director Fees that are to be paid in DSUs (including any Elected Amount), by (ii) the Market Price of a Share on the Date of Grant.
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(g) In addition to the foregoing, the Plan Administrator may, from time to time, subject to the provisions of this Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may prescribe, grant DSUs to any Participant.
7.2 DSU Account
All DSUs received by a Participant (which, for greater certainty includes Electing Persons) shall be credited to an account maintained for the Participant on the books of the Corporation, as of the Date of Grant. The terms and conditions of each DSU grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
7.3 Vesting of DSUs
Except as otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator or as set forth in the particular Award Agreement, DSUs shall vest immediately upon grant.
7.4 Settlement of DSUs
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(a) DSUs shall be settled on the date established in the Award Agreement; provided, however that if there is no Award Agreement or the Award Agreement does not establish a date for the settlement of the DSUs, then, for a Participant who is not a U.S. Taxpayer the settlement date shall be the date determined by the Participant (which date shall not be earlier than the Termination Date), and for a Participant who is a U.S. taxpayer, the settlement date shall be the date determined by the Participant in accordance with the Election Notice (which date shall not be earlier than the “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A)). On the settlement date for any DSU, the Participant shall redeem each vested DSU for:
-
(i) one fully paid and non‐assessable Share issued from treasury to the Participant or as the Participant may direct; or
-
(ii) at the election of the Participant and subject to the approval of the Plan Administrator, a cash payment.
-
(b) Any cash payments made under this Section 7.4 by the Corporation to a Participant in respect of DSUs to be redeemed for cash shall be calculated by multiplying the number of DSUs to be redeemed for cash by the Market Price per Share as at the settlement date.
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(c) Payment of cash to Participants on the redemption of vested DSUs may be made through the Corporation’s payroll or in such other manner as determined by the Corporation.
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7.5 No Additional Amount or Benefit
For greater certainty, neither a Participant to whom DSUs are granted nor any person with whom such Participant does not deal at arm’s length (for purposes of the Tax Act) shall be entitled, either immediately or in the future, either absolutely or contingently, to receive or obtain any amount or benefit granted or to be granted for the purpose of reducing the impact, in whole or in part, of any reduction in the Market Price of the Shares to which the DSUs relate.
ARTICLE 8 ADDITIONAL AWARD TERMS
8.1 Dividend Equivalents
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(a) Unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator or as set forth in the particular Award Agreement, an Award of RSUs, PSUs and DSUs shall include the right for such RSUs, PSUs and DSUs be credited with dividend equivalents in the form of additional RSUs, PSUs and DSUs, respectively, as of each dividend payment date in respect of which normal cash dividends are paid on Shares. Such dividend equivalents shall be computed by dividing: (a) the amount obtained by multiplying the amount of the dividend declared and paid per Share by the number of RSUs, PSUs and DSUs, as applicable, held by the Participant on the record date for the payment of such dividend, by (b) the Market Price at the close of the first Business Day immediately following the dividend record date, with fractions computed to three decimal places. Dividend equivalents credited to a Participant’s account shall vest in proportion to the RSUs, PSUs and DSUs to which they relate, and shall be settled in accordance with Subsections 5.4, 6.6, and 7.4 respectively.
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(b) The foregoing does not obligate the Corporation to declare or pay dividends on Shares and nothing in this Plan shall be interpreted as creating such an obligation.
8.2 Restricted Period
In the event that an Award expires, at a time when a scheduled restricted period is in place or an undisclosed material change or material fact in the affairs of the Corporation exists, the expiry of such Award will be the date that is 10 Business Days after which such scheduled restricted period terminates or there is no longer such undisclosed material change or material fact.
8.3 Withholding Taxes
Notwithstanding any other terms of this Plan, the granting, vesting or settlement of each Award under this Plan is subject to the condition that if at any time the Plan Administrator determines, in its discretion, that the satisfaction of withholding tax or other withholding liabilities is necessary or desirable in respect of such grant, vesting or settlement, such action is not effective unless such withholding has been effected to the satisfaction of the Plan Administrator. In such circumstances, the Plan Administrator may require that a Participant pay to the Corporation the minimum amount as the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation is obliged to withhold or remit to the relevant taxing authority in respect of the granting, vesting or settlement of the Award. Any such additional payment is due no later than the date on which such amount with respect to the Award is required to be remitted to the relevant tax authority by the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation, as the case may be.
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Alternatively, and subject to any requirements or limitations under applicable law, the Corporation or any Affiliate may (a) withhold such amount from any remuneration or other amount payable by the Corporation or any Affiliate to the Participant, (b) require the sale, on behalf of the applicable Participant, of a number of Shares issued upon exercise, vesting, or settlement of such Award and the remittance to the Corporation of the net proceeds from such sale sufficient to satisfy such amount, or (c) enter into any other suitable arrangements for the receipt of such amount.
8.4 Recoupment
Notwithstanding any other terms of this Plan, Awards may be subject to potential cancellation, recoupment, rescission, payback or other action in accordance with the terms of any clawback, recoupment or similar policy adopted by the Corporation or the relevant subsidiary of the Corporation, or as set out in the Participant’s employment agreement, Award Agreement or other written agreement, or as otherwise required by law or the rules of the Exchange. The Plan Administrator may at any time waive the application of this Section 8.4 to any Participant or category of Participants.
ARTICLE 9 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICES
9.1 Termination of Employee, Consultant or Director
Subject to Section 9.2, unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator or as set forth in an employment agreement, Award Agreement or other written agreement:
-
(a) where a Participant’s employment, consulting agreement or arrangement is terminated or the Participant ceases to hold office or his or her position, as applicable, by reason of voluntary resignation by the Participant or termination by the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation for Cause, then any Option or other Award held by the Participant that has not been exercised, surrendered or settled as of the Termination Date shall be immediately forfeited and cancelled as of the Termination Date;
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(b) where a Participant’s employment, consulting agreement or arrangement is terminated by the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation without Cause (whether such termination occurs with or without any or adequate reasonable notice, or with or without any or adequate compensation in lieu of such reasonable notice) then a portion of any unvested Options or other Awards shall immediately vest, such portion to be equal to the number of unvested Options or other Awards held by the Participant as of the Termination Date multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days between the Date of Grant and the Termination Date and the denominator of which is the number of days between the Date of Grant and the date any unvested Options or other Awards were originally scheduled to vest. Any vested Options may be exercised by the Participant at any time during the period that terminates on the earlier of: (A) the Expiry Date of such Option; and (B) the date that is 90 days after the Termination Date. If an Option remains unexercised upon the earlier of (A) or (B), the Option shall be immediately forfeited and cancelled for no consideration upon the termination of such period. In the case of a vested Award other than an Option, such Award will be settled within 90 days after the Termination Date;
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(c) where a Participant’s employment, consulting agreement or arrangement terminates on account of his or her becoming Disabled, then a portion of any unvested Options or other Awards shall immediately vest, such portion to be equal to the number of unvested Options or other Awards held by the Participant as of the date of disability multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days between the Date of Grant and the date of disability and the denominator of which is the number of days between the Date of Grant and the date any unvested Options or other Awards were originally scheduled to vest. Any vested Option may be exercised by the Participant at any time until the Expiry Date of such Option. Any vested Award other than an Option will be settled within 90 days after the Termination Date;
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(d) where a Participant’s employment, consulting agreement or arrangement is terminated by reason of the death of the Participant, then a portion of any unvested Options or other Awards shall immediately vest, such portion to be equal to the number of unvested Options or other Awards held by the Participant as of the date of death multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days between the Date of Grant and the date of death and the denominator of which is the number of days between the Date of Grant and the date any unvested Options or other Awards were originally scheduled to vest. Any vested Option may be exercised by the Participant’s beneficiary or legal representative (as applicable) at any time during the period that terminates on the earlier of: (A) the Expiry Date of such Option; and (B) the first anniversary of the date of the death of such Participant. If an Option remains unexercised upon the earlier of (A) or (B), the Option shall be immediately forfeited and cancelled for no consideration upon the termination of such period. In the case of a vested Award other than an Option, such Award will be settled with the Participant’s beneficiary or legal representative (as applicable) within 90 days after the date of the Participant’s death;
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(e) where a Participant’s employment, consulting agreement or arrangement is terminated due to the Participant’s Retirement, then (i) then a portion of any unvested Options or other Awards shall immediately vest, such portion to be equal to the number of unvested Options or other Awards held by the Participant as of the date of retirement multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days between the Date of Grant and the date of retirement and the denominator of which is the number of days between the Date of Grant and the date any unvested Options or other Awards were originally scheduled to vest, and (ii) any outstanding Award that vests based on the achievement of Performance Goals and that has not previously become vested shall continue to be eligible to vest based upon the actual achievement of such Performance Goals. Any vested Option may be exercised by the Participant at any time during the period that terminates on the earlier of: (A) the Expiry Date of such Option; and (B) the third anniversary of the Participant’s date of Retirement. If an Option remains unexercised upon the earlier of (A) or (B), the Option shall be immediately forfeited and cancelled for no consideration upon the termination of such period. In the case of a vested Award other than an Option that is described in (i), such Award will be settled within 90 days after the Participant’s Retirement. In the case of a vested Award other than an Option that is described in (ii), such Award will be settled at the same time the Award would otherwise have been settled had the Participant remained in active service with the Corporation or its subsidiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, following his or
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her Retirement, the Participant commences (the “ Commencement Date ”) employment, consulting or acting as a director of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (or in an analogous capacity) or otherwise as a service provider to any Person that carries on or proposes to carry on a business competitive with the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, any Option or other Award held by the Participant that has not been exercised or settled as of the Commencement Date shall be immediately forfeited and cancelled as of the Commencement Date;
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(f) a Participant’s eligibility to receive further grants of Options or other Awards under this Plan ceases as of:
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(i) the date that the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation, as the case may be, provides the Participant with written notification that the Participant’s employment, consulting agreement or arrangement is terminated, notwithstanding that such date may be prior to the Termination Date; or
-
(ii) the date of the death, Disability or Retirement of the Participant;
-
(g) notwithstanding Subsection 9.1(b), unless the Plan Administrator, in its discretion, otherwise determines, at any time and from time to time, but with due regard for Section 409A, Options or other Awards are not affected by a change of employment or consulting agreement or arrangement, or directorship within or among the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation for so long as the Participant continues to be a Director, Employee or Consultant, as applicable, of the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation; and
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(h) notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 9.1, in the case of an Award (other than an Option) granted to a U.S. Taxpayer that is vested or that immediately vests (in whole or in part) as a result of a Participant’s termination of service, then such Award will, subject to Section 11.6(d), be settled as soon as administratively practicable following the Participant’s termination of service, but in no event later than 90 days following the Participant’s termination of service. In the case of an Award (other than an Option) granted to a U.S. Taxpayer that remains eligible to vest (in whole or in part) following a Participant’s termination of service based upon the achievement of one or more Performance Goals, such Award will be settled at the originally scheduled settlement date for such Award.
9.2 Discretion to Permit Acceleration
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9.1, the Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, at any time prior to, or following the events contemplated in such Section, or in an employment agreement, Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation and the Participant, permit the acceleration of vesting of any or all Awards or waive termination of any or all Awards, all in the manner and on the terms as may be authorized by the Plan Administrator.
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ARTICLE 10 EVENTS AFFECTING THE CORPORATION
10.1 General
The existence of any Awards does not affect in any way the right or power of the Corporation or its shareholders to make, authorize or determine any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or any other change in the Corporation’s capital structure or its business, or any amalgamation, combination, arrangement, merger or consolidation involving the Corporation, to create or issue any bonds, debentures, Shares or other securities of the Corporation or to determine the rights and conditions attaching thereto, to effect the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or to effect any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise, whether or not any such action referred to in this Article 10 would have an adverse effect on this Plan or on any Award granted hereunder.
10.2 Change in Control
Except as may be set forth in an employment agreement, Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation and the Participant:
- (a) Subject to this Section 10.2, but notwithstanding anything else in this Plan or any Award Agreement, the Plan Administrator may, without the consent of any Participant, take such steps as it deems necessary or desirable, including to cause (i) the conversion or exchange of any outstanding Awards into or for, rights or other securities of substantially equivalent value, as determined by the Plan Administrator in its discretion, in any entity participating in or resulting from a Change in Control; (ii) outstanding Awards to vest and become exercisable, realizable, or payable, or restrictions applicable to an Award to lapse, in whole or in part prior to or upon consummation of such merger or Change in Control, and, to the extent the Plan Administrator determines, terminate upon or immediately prior to the effectiveness of such merger or Change in Control; (iii) the termination of an Award in exchange for an amount of cash and/or property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise or settlement of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction the Plan Administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise or settlement of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Corporation without payment); (iv) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion where such replacement would not adversely affect the holder; or (v) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted under this Section 10.2(a), the Plan Administrator will not be required to treat all Awards similarly in the transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of Options held by a Canadian Taxpayer, the Plan Administrator may not cause the Canadian Taxpayer to receive (pursuant to this Subsection 10.2(a)) any property in connection with a Change in Control other than rights to acquire shares of a corporation or units of a “mutual fund trust” (as defined in the Tax Act), of the Corporation or a “qualifying person” (as defined in the Tax Act) that does not deal at arm’s length (for
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purposes of the Tax Act) with the Corporation, as applicable, at the time such rights are issued or granted.
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 9.1, and except as otherwise provided in a written employment or other agreement between the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation and a Participant, if within 12 months following the completion of a transaction resulting in a Change in Control, a Participant’s employment, consultancy or directorship is terminated by the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation without Cause:
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(i) any unvested Awards held by the Participant at the Termination Date may vest in the sole discretion of the Plan Administrator; and
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(ii) any vested Awards of Participants may, subject to Sections 5.4(d) and 6.6(d) (where applicable), be exercised, surrendered or settled by such Participant at any time during the period that terminates on the earlier of: (A) the Expiry Date of such Award; and (B) the date that is 90 days after the Termination Date, provided that any vested Awards (other than Options) granted to U.S. Taxpayers will be settled within 90 days of the Participant’s “separation from service”. Any Award that has not been exercised, surrendered or settled at the end of such period will be immediately forfeited and cancelled.
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(c) Notwithstanding Subsection 10.2(a) and unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator, if, as a result of a Change in Control, the Shares will cease trading on an Exchange, then the Corporation may terminate all of the Awards, other than an Option held by a Canadian Taxpayer for the purposes of the Tax Act, granted under this Plan at the time of and subject to the completion of the Change in Control transaction by paying to each holder at or within a reasonable period of time following completion of such Change in Control transaction an amount for each Award equal to the fair market value of the Award held by such Participant as determined by the Plan Administrator, acting reasonably, provided that any vested Awards granted to U.S. Taxpayers will be settled within 90 days of the Change in Control.
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(d) It is intended that any actions taken under this Section 10.2 will comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code with respect to Awards granted to U.S. Taxpayers.
10.3 Reorganization of Corporation’s Capital
Should the Corporation effect a subdivision or consolidation of Shares or any similar capital reorganization or a payment of a stock dividend (other than a stock dividend that is in lieu of a cash dividend), or should any other change be made in the capitalization of the Corporation that does not constitute a Change in Control and that would warrant the amendment or replacement of any existing Awards in order to adjust the number of Shares that may be acquired on the vesting of outstanding Awards and/or the terms of any Award in order to preserve proportionately the rights and obligations of the Participants holding such Awards, the Plan Administrator will, subject to the prior approval of the Exchange, authorize such steps to be taken as it may consider to be equitable and appropriate to that end.
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10.4 Other Events Affecting the Corporation
In the event of an amalgamation, combination, arrangement, merger or other transaction or reorganization involving the Corporation and occurring by exchange of Shares, by sale or lease of assets or otherwise, that does not constitute a Change in Control and that warrants the amendment or replacement of any existing Awards in order to adjust the number and/or type of Shares that may be acquired, or by reference to which such Awards may be settled, on the vesting of outstanding Awards and/or the terms of any Award in order to preserve proportionately the rights and obligations of the Participants holding such Awards, the Plan Administrator will, subject to the prior approval of the Exchange, authorize such steps to be taken as it may consider to be equitable and appropriate to that end.
10.5 Immediate Acceleration of Awards
In taking any of the steps provided in Sections 10.3 and 10.4, the Plan Administrator will not be required to treat all Awards similarly and where the Plan Administrator determines that the steps provided in Sections 10.3 and 10.4 would not preserve proportionately the rights, value and obligations of the Participants holding such Awards in the circumstances or otherwise determines that it is appropriate, the Plan Administrator may, but is not required to, permit the immediate vesting of any unvested Awards.
10.6 Issue by Corporation of Additional Shares
Except as expressly provided in this Article 10, neither the issue by the Corporation of shares of any class or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of any class, nor the conversion or exchange of such shares or securities, affects, and no adjustment by reason thereof is to be made with respect to the number of Shares that may be acquired as a result of a grant of Awards.
10.7 Fractions
No fractional Shares will be issued pursuant to an Award. Accordingly, if, as a result of any adjustment under this Article 10 or a dividend equivalent, a Participant would become entitled to a fractional Share, the Participant has the right to acquire only the adjusted number of full Shares and no payment or other adjustment will be made with respect to the fractional Shares, which shall be disregarded.
ARTICLE 11 U.S. TAXPAYERS
11.1 Provisions for U.S. Taxpayers
Options granted under this Plan to U.S. Taxpayers may be non‐qualified stock options or incentive stock options qualifying under Section 422 of the Code (“ ISOs ”). Each Option shall be designated in the Award Agreement as either an ISO or a non‐qualified stock option. If an Award Agreement fails to designate an Option as either an ISO or non‐qualified stock option, the Option will be a non‐qualified stock option. The Corporation shall not be liable to any Participant or to any other Person if it is determined that an Option intended to be an ISO does not qualify as an ISO. Non‐ qualified stock options will be granted to a U.S. Taxpayer only if (i) such U.S. Taxpayer performs services for the Corporation or any corporation or other entity in which the Corporation has a direct or indirect controlling interest or otherwise has a significant ownership interest, as determined under Section 409A, such that the Option will constitute
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an option to acquire “service recipient stock” within the meaning of Section 409A, or (ii) such option otherwise is exempt from Section 409A.
11.2 ISOs
Subject to any limitations in Section 3.6, the aggregate number of Shares reserved for issuance in respect of granted ISOs shall not exceed 10,000,000 Shares, and the terms and conditions of any ISOs granted to a U.S. Taxpayer on the Date of Grant hereunder, including the eligible recipients of ISOs, shall be subject to the provisions of Section 422 of the Code, and the terms, conditions, limitations and administrative procedures established by the Plan Administrator from time to time in accordance with this Plan. At the discretion of the Plan Administrator, ISOs may only be granted to an individual who is an employee of the Corporation, or of a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” of the Corporation, as such terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code.
11.3 ISO Grants to 10% Shareholders
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, if an ISO is granted to a person who owns shares representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of shares of the Corporation or of a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation”, as such terms are defined in Section 424(e) and (f) of the Code, on the Date of Grant, the term of the Option shall not exceed five years from the time of grant of such Option and the Exercise Price shall be at least 110% of the Market Price of the Shares subject to the Option.
11.4 $100,000 Per Year Limitation for ISOs
To the extent the aggregate Market Price as at the Date of Grant of the Shares for which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by any person during any calendar year (under all plans of the Corporation and any “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation”, as such terms are defined in Section 424(e) and (f) of the Code) exceeds US$100,000, such excess ISOs shall be treated as non‐qualified stock options.
11.5 Disqualifying Dispositions
Each person awarded an ISO under this Plan shall notify the Corporation in writing immediately after the date he or she makes a disposition or transfer of any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of such ISO if such disposition or transfer is made (a) within two years from the Date of Grant or (b) within one year after the date such person acquired the Shares. Such notice shall specify the date of such disposition or other transfer and the amount realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, by the person in such disposition or other transfer. The Corporation may, if determined by the Plan Administrator and in accordance with procedures established by it, retain possession of any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO as agent for the applicable person until the end of the later of the periods described in (a) or (b) above, subject to complying with any instructions from such person as to the sale of such Shares.
11.6 Section 409A of the Code
- (a) This Plan will be construed and interpreted to be exempt from, or where not so exempt, to comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent required to preserve the intended tax consequences of this Plan. Any reference in this Plan to Section 409A of the
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-
Code shall also include any regulation promulgated thereunder or any other formal guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to Section 409A of the Code. Each Award shall be construed and administered such that the Award either (A) qualifies for an exemption from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or (B) satisfies the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. If an Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, (I) distributions shall only be made in a manner and upon an event permitted under section 409A of the Code, (II) payments to be made upon a termination of employment or service shall only be made upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A of the Code, (Ill) unless the Award specifies otherwise, each installment payment shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, and (IV) in no event shall a Participant, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year in which a distribution is made except in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that an Award or payment, or the settlement or deferral thereof, is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award will be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will meet the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Section 409A of the Code. The Corporation reserves the right to amend this Plan to the extent it reasonably determines is necessary in order to preserve the intended tax consequences of this Plan in light of Section 409A of the Code. In no event will the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates be liable for any tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on a Participant under Section 409A of the Code or any damages for failing to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
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(b) All terms of the Plan that are undefined or ambiguous must be interpreted in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code if necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
-
(c) The Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may permit the acceleration of the time or schedule of payment of a U.S. Taxpayer’s vested Awards in the Plan under circumstances that constitute permissible acceleration events under Section 409A of the Code.
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(d) Notwithstanding any provisions of the Plan to the contrary, in the case of any “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code who is a U.S. Taxpayer, distributions of non‐qualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code made in connection with a “separation from service” within the meaning set forth in Section 409A of the Code may not be made prior to the date which is six months after the date of separation from service (or, if earlier, the date of death of the U.S. Taxpayer). Any amounts subject to a delay in payment pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be paid as soon practicable following such six‐month anniversary of such separation from service.
11.7 Section 83(b) Election
If a Participant makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to an Award of Shares subject to vesting or other forfeiture conditions, the Participant shall be required to promptly file a copy of such election with the Corporation.
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11.8 Application of Article 11 to U.S. Taxpayers
For greater certainty, the provisions of this Article 11 shall only apply to U.S. Taxpayers.
ARTICLE 12 AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
12.1 Amendment, Suspension, or Termination of the Plan
The Plan Administrator may from time to time, without notice and without approval of the holders of voting shares of the Corporation, amend, modify, change, suspend or terminate the Plan or any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan as it, in its discretion determines appropriate, provided, however, that:
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(a) no such amendment, modification, change, suspension or termination of the Plan or any Awards granted hereunder may materially impair any rights of a Participant or materially increase any obligations of a Participant under the Plan without the consent of the Participant, unless the Plan Administrator determines such adjustment is required or desirable in order to comply with any applicable Securities Laws or Exchange requirements; and
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(b) any amendment that would cause an Award held by a U.S. Taxpayer to be subject to income inclusion under Section 409A of the Code shall be null and void ab initio with respect to the U.S. Taxpayer unless the consent of the U.S. Taxpayer is obtained.
12.2 Permitted Amendments
Without limiting the generality of Section 12.1, the Plan Administrator may, without shareholder approval, at any time or from time to time, amend the Plan for the purposes of:
-
(a) making any amendments to the general vesting provisions of each Award;
-
(b)
-
making any amendments to the provisions set out in Article 9;
-
(c) making any amendments to add covenants of the Corporation for the protection of Participants, as the case may be, provided that the Plan Administrator shall be of the good faith opinion that such additions will not be prejudicial to the rights or interests of the Participants, as the case may be;
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(d) making any amendments not inconsistent with the Plan as may be necessary or desirable with respect to matters or questions which, in the good faith opinion of the Plan Administrator, having in mind the best interests of the Participants, it may be expedient to make, including amendments that are desirable as a result of changes in law in any jurisdiction where a Participant resides, provided that the Plan Administrator shall be of the opinion that such amendments and modifications will not be prejudicial to the interests of the Participants and Directors; or
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(e) making such changes or corrections which, on the advice of counsel to the Corporation, are required for the purpose of curing or correcting any ambiguity or defect or inconsistent provision or clerical omission or mistake or manifest error, provided that
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the Plan Administrator shall be of the opinion that such changes or corrections will not be prejudicial to the rights and interests of the Participants.
ARTICLE 13 MISCELLANEOUS
13.1 Legal Requirement
The Corporation is not obligated to grant any Awards, issue any Shares or other securities, make any payments or take any other action if, in the opinion of the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, such action would constitute a violation by a Participant or the Corporation of any provision of any applicable statutory or regulatory enactment of any government or government agency or the requirements of any Exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed.
13.2 No Other Benefit
No amount will be paid to, or in respect of, a Participant under the Plan to compensate for a downward fluctuation in the price of a Share, nor will any other form of benefit be conferred upon, or in respect of, a Participant for such purpose.
13.3 Rights of Participant
No Participant has any claim or right to be granted an Award and the granting of any Award is not to be construed as giving a Participant a right to remain as an Employee, Consultant or Director. No Participant has any rights as a shareholder of the Corporation in respect of Shares issuable pursuant to any Award until the allotment and issuance to such Participant, or as such Participant may direct, of certificates representing such Shares.
13.4 Corporate Action
Nothing contained in this Plan or in an Award shall be construed so as to prevent the Corporation from taking corporate action which is deemed by the Corporation to be appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on this Plan or any Award.
13.5 Conflict
In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Plan and an Award Agreement, the provisions of the Award Agreement shall govern. In the event of any conflict between or among the provisions of this Plan or any Award Agreement, on the one hand, and a Participant’s employment agreement with the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation, as the case may be, on the other hand, the provisions of the employment agreement or other written agreement shall prevail.
13.6 Anti‐Hedging Policy
By accepting an Award each Participant acknowledges that he or she is restricted from purchasing financial instruments such as prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, or units of exchange funds that are designed to hedge or offset a decrease in market value of Awards.
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13.7 Participant Information
Each Participant shall provide the Corporation with all information (including personal information) required by the Corporation in order to administer the Plan. Each Participant acknowledges that information required by the Corporation in order to administer the Plan may be disclosed to any custodian appointed in respect of the Plan and other third parties, and may be disclosed to such persons (including persons located in jurisdictions other than the Participant’s jurisdiction of residence), in connection with the administration of the Plan. Each Participant consents to such disclosure and authorizes the Corporation to make such disclosure on the Participant’s behalf.
13.8 Participation in the Plan
The participation of any Participant in the Plan is entirely voluntary and not obligatory and shall not be interpreted as conferring upon such Participant any rights or privileges other than those rights and privileges expressly provided in the Plan. In particular, participation in the Plan does not constitute a condition of employment or engagement nor a commitment on the part of the Corporation to ensure the continued employment or engagement of such Participant. The Plan does not provide any guarantee against any loss which may result from fluctuations in the market value of the Shares. The Corporation does not assume responsibility for the income or other tax consequences for the Participants and Directors and they are advised to consult with their own tax advisors.
13.9 International Participants
With respect to Participants who reside or work outside Canada and the United States, the Plan Administrator may, in its sole discretion, amend, or otherwise modify, without shareholder approval, the terms of the Plan or Awards with respect to such Participants in order to conform such terms with the provisions of local law, and the Plan Administrator may, where appropriate, establish one or more sub‐plans to reflect such amended or otherwise modified provisions.
13.10 Successors and Assigns
The Plan shall be binding on all successors and assigns of the Corporation and its subsidiaries.
13.11 General Restrictions or Assignment
Except as required by law, the rights of a Participant under the Plan are not capable of being assigned, transferred, alienated, sold, encumbered, pledged, mortgaged or charged and are not capable of being subject to attachment or legal process for the payment of any debts or obligations of the Participant unless otherwise approved by the Plan Administrator.
13.12 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.
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13.13 Notices
- (a) All written notices to be given by a Participant to the Corporation shall be delivered personally, e‐mail or mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
Fendx Technologies Inc. c/o 900 – 885 West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6C 3H1
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
- (b) All notices to a Participant will be addressed to the principal address of the Participant on file with the Corporation. Either the Corporation or the Participant may designate a different address by written notice to the other. Such notices are deemed to be received, if delivered personally or by e‐mail, on the date of delivery, and if sent by mail, on the fifth Business Day following the date of mailing. Any notice given by either the Participant or the Corporation is not binding on the recipient thereof until received.
13.14 Effective Date
This Plan becomes effective on a date to be determined by the Plan Administrator, subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Corporation.
13.15 Governing Law
This 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 federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without any reference to conflicts of law rules.
13.16 Submission to Jurisdiction
The Corporation and each Participant irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of competent jurisdiction in the Province of British Columbia in respect of any action or proceeding relating in any way to the Plan, including, without limitation, with respect to the grant of Awards and any issuance of Shares made in accordance with the Plan.
SCHEDULE A
Fendx Technologies Inc. OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN (THE “PLAN”)
ELECTION NOTICE
All capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan.
Pursuant to the Plan, I hereby elect to participate in the grant of DSUs pursuant to Article 7 of the Plan and to receive % of my Cash Fees in the form of DSUs.
If I am a U.S. Taxpayer, I hereby further elect for any DSUs subject to this Election Notice to be settled on the later of (i) my “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) or (ii) ______.
I confirm that:
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(a) I have received and reviewed a copy of the terms of the Plan and agreed to be bound by them.
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(b) I recognize that when DSUs credited pursuant to this election are redeemed in accordance with the terms of the Plan, income tax and other withholdings as required will arise at that time. Upon redemption of the DSUs, the Corporation will make all appropriate withholdings as required by law at that time.
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(c) The value of DSUs is based on the value of the Shares of the Corporation and therefore is not guaranteed.
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(d) To the extent I am a U.S. taxpayer, I understand that this election is irrevocable for the calendar year to which it applies and that any revocation or termination of this election after the expiration of the election period will not take effect until the first day of the calendar year following the year in which I file the revocation or termination notice with the Corporation.
The foregoing is only a brief outline of certain key provisions of the Plan. For more complete information, reference should be made to the Plan’s text.
Date:
(Signature of Participant)
(Name of Participant)
SCHEDULE B
Fendx Technologies Inc. OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN (THE “PLAN”)
ELECTION TO TERMINATE RECEIPT OF ADDITIONAL DSUs
All capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan.
Notwithstanding my previous election in the form of Schedule A to the Plan, I hereby elect that no portion of the Cash Fees accrued after the date hereof shall be paid in DSUs in accordance with Article 7 of the Plan.
I understand that the DSUs already granted under the Plan cannot be redeemed except in accordance with the Plan.
I confirm that I have received and reviewed a copy of the terms of the Plan and agree to be bound by them.
Date: (Signature of Participant)
(Name of Participant)
Note: An election to terminate receipt of additional DSUs can only be made by a Participant once in a calendar year.
SCHEDULE C
Fendx Technologies Inc. OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN (THE “PLAN”)
ELECTION TO TERMINATE RECEIPT OF ADDITIONAL DSUs (U.S. TAXPAYERS)
All capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan.
Notwithstanding my previous election in the form of Schedule A to the Plan, I hereby elect that no portion of the Cash Fees accrued after the effective date of this termination notice shall be paid in DSUs in accordance with Article 5 of the Plan.
I understand that this election to terminate receipt of additional DSUs will not take effect until the first day of the calendar year following the year in which I file this termination notice with the Corporation.
I understand that the DSUs already granted under the Plan cannot be redeemed except in accordance with the Plan.
I confirm that I have received and reviewed a copy of the terms of the Plan and agree to be bound by them.
Date:
(Signature of Participant) (Name of Participant)
Note: An election to terminate receipt of additional DSUs can only be made by a Participant once in a calendar year.