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Greenridge Exploration Inc. — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2026
May 23, 2026
48500_rns_2026-05-23_21b97b4a-5450-4a31-9122-2077e3aaf8e4.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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GREENRIDGE EXPLORATION
250 - 997 Seymour Street
Vancouver, BC
V6B 3M1
NOTICE-AND-ACCESS
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To be held on June 22, 2026
and
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR
as at May 8, 2026
GREENRIDGE EXPLORATION
NOTICE-AND-ACCESS NOTIFICATION TO SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General and Special Meeting (the "Meeting") of the holders (the "Shareholders") of common shares (the "Shares") of Greenridge Exploration Inc. (the "Company") will be held at 24th Floor – 1055 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 3P2, on June 22, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) for the following purposes:
- to receive and consider the audited financial statements of the Company for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2025 and 2024, including the accompanying reports of the auditors;
- to determine and set the number of directors for the ensuing year at three (3);
- to elect directors to hold office until the close of the next annual general meeting of shareholders;
- to appoint an auditor for the Company to hold office until the close of the next annual general meeting of shareholders and to authorize the directors to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditor of the Company;
- to consider and, if thought fit, pass an ordinary resolution to approve the Company's Equity Incentive Plan; and
- to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
The accompanying Information Circular provides additional information relating to the matters to be dealt with at the Meeting and is deemed to form part of this Notice. Copies of any documents to be considered, approved, ratified and adopted or authorized at the Meeting will be available for inspection at the office of the Company located at 250 - 997 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 3M1 during normal business hours up to June 22, 2026 being the date of the Meeting. The directors of the Company fixed the close of business on May 8, 2026 as the record date for determining holders of Shares who are entitled to vote at the Meeting.
The Company has adopted the notice-and-access method for delivery of its meeting materials to its Shareholders. As a registered or non-registered shareholder, you are receiving this notification to advise that the meeting materials in connection with the Meeting are available online. The use of this alternate means of delivery is permitted by Canadian securities regulators and minimizes the use of printed paper materials to reduce printing, paper and mailing costs associated with the annual meeting of Shareholders.
The Company has posted online electronic copies of the management information circular, audited financial statements for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2025 and 2024 and related management's discussion and analysis (the "Meeting Materials"). Shareholders who have not provided standing instructions to receive meeting materials by mail are receiving this notification, along with either a proxy form or voting instruction form, so they may provide their voting instructions.
The Meeting Materials may be accessed online as follows:
- the Company's profile on SEDAR+; and
- at the following website: https://greenridge-exploration.com/investors/
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At any time prior to the Meeting or for a period of one year from the date the Meeting Materials are filed on SEDAR+, you can request a free paper copy by sending an email to: [email protected].
Registered shareholders are entitled to vote at the Meeting. A shareholder is entitled to one vote for each common share that such shareholder holds on the record date of May 8, 2026 (the "Record Date") on the resolutions to be voted upon at the Meeting, and any other matter to come before the Meeting. The persons named as proxyholders in the enclosed form of proxy are directors and/or officers of the Company.
If you are a registered Shareholder of the Company and are unable to attend the Meeting in person, the completed form of proxy must be received by the Company's registrar and transfer agent, Odyssey Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent") 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. 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.
Those Shareholders who wish to be represented at the Meeting by proxy must complete and deliver a proper proxy to the Transfer Agent using one of the following methods:
- To Vote Your Proxy Online please visit: https://vote.odysseytrust.com and click on LOGIN. You will require the CONTROL NUMBER printed with your address to the right on your proxy form. If you vote by Internet, do not mail this proxy;
- By mail or personal delivery to Odyssey Trust Company, Attn: Proxy Department, Suite 1100, 67 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M5E 1J8; or
- By fax to Odyssey, to the attention of the Proxy Department at 1-800-517-4553 (toll-free within Canada and the U.S.) or 416-263-9524 (international).
If you are a non-registered Shareholder of the Company and received this Notice and accompanying materials through a broker, a financial institution, a participant, 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 (in any case, an "Intermediary"), please complete and return the materials in accordance with the instructions provided to you by your Intermediary.
The Company is using the notice-and-access provisions under the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 54-101 - Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer (the "Notice-and-Access Provisions") for the delivery of its Information Circular to its Shareholders for the Meeting. Under the Notice-and-Access Provisions, instead of receiving paper copies of the Information Circular, Shareholders will be receiving a Notice-and-Access notification with information on how they may obtain a copy of the Information Circular electronically or request a paper copy. Registered Shareholders will still receive a Proxy form enabling them to vote at the Meeting. The use of the alternative Notice-and-Access Provisions in connection with the Meeting helps reduce paper use, as well as the Company's printing and mailing costs. The Company will arrange to mail paper copies of the Information Circular to those registered Shareholders who have existing instructions on their account to receive paper copies of the Company's Meeting materials.
The Company will not use the procedure known as 'stratification' in relation to the use of Notice-and-Access Provisions. Stratification occurs when a reporting issuer using the Notice-and-Access Provisions provides a paper copy of the Information Circular to some shareholders with this notice package. In relation to the Meeting, all Shareholders will receive the required documentation under the Notice-and-Access Provisions, which will not include a paper copy of the Meeting Materials.
The Information Circular and other Meeting materials will be available online at https://greenridge-exploration.com/investors/ and will remain on the website for one full year thereafter. Meeting materials are also available upon request, without charge, by email at [email protected] or can be accessed online under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
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DATED at Vancouver, B.C. this May 8, 2026.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
GREENRIDGE EXPLORATION INC.
"Russell Starr"
Russell Starr
Chief Executive Officer and Director
GREENRIDGE EXPLORATION
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR
Containing information as at the Record Date, May 8, 2026
(unless otherwise noted)
Shareholders who do not hold their shares in their own name, as registered shareholders, should read "Advice to Beneficial Shareholders" within for an explanation of their rights.
PERSONS MAKING THE SOLICITATION
This Information Circular is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by management of the Company for use at the Meeting to be held on June 22, 2026 at the time and place and for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting. While it is expected the solicitation will be primarily by mail, proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone by directors, officers and employees of the Company. All costs of this solicitation will be borne by the Company. The contents and the sending of this Information Circular have been approved by the directors of the Company.
PROXIES AND VOTING RIGHTS
APPOINTMENT OF PROXY
Registered shareholders are entitled to vote at the Meeting. A shareholder is entitled to one vote for each common share that such shareholder holds on the record date of May 8, 2026 (the "Record Date") 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) TO ATTEND AND ACT FOR OR ON BEHALF OF THAT SHAREHOLDER AT THE MEETING, OTHER THAN THE DESIGNATED PERSONS NAMED IN THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY. TO EXERCISE THE RIGHT, THE SHAREHOLDER MAY DO SO BY STRIKING OUT THE PRINTED NAMES AND INSERTING THE NAME OF SUCH OTHER PERSON AND, IF DESIRED, AN ALTERNATE TO SUCH PERSON, IN THE BLANK SPACE PROVIDED IN 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.
In order to vote for the matters to be dealt with at the Meeting, the completed form of proxy must be received by the Company's registrar and transfer agent, Odyssey Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent") 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. 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.
Those Shareholders who wish to be represented at the Meeting by proxy must complete and deliver a proper proxy to the Transfer Agent using one of the following methods:
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- To Vote Your Proxy Online please visit: https://vote.odysseytrust.com and click on LOGIN. You will require the CONTROL NUMBER printed with your address to the right on your proxy form. If you vote by Internet, do not mail this proxy;
- By mail or personal delivery to Odyssey Trust Company, Attn: Proxy Department, Suite 1100, 67 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M5E 1J8; or
- By fax to Odyssey, to the attention of the Proxy Department at 1-800-517-4553 (toll-free within Canada and the U.S.) or 416-263-9524 (international).
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: (a) attendance at the Meeting and participation in a poll (ballot) by a shareholder, or (b) submission of a subsequent proxy in accordance with the foregoing procedures. A revocation of a proxy does not affect any matter on which a vote has been taken prior to any such revocation.
VOTING OF SHARES AND PROXIES AND EXERCISE OF DISCRETION BY DESIGNATED PERSONS
A shareholder may indicate the manner in which the Designated Persons are to vote with respect to a matter to be voted upon at the Meeting by marking the appropriate space. If the instructions as to voting indicated in the proxy are certain, the Shares represented by the proxy will be voted or withheld from voting in accordance with the instructions given in the proxy. If the shareholder specifies a choice in the proxy with respect to a matter to be acted upon, then the Shares represented will be voted or withheld from the vote on that matter accordingly. 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, and with respect to other matters which may properly come before the Meeting. At the date of this Information Circular, management of the Company is not aware of any such amendments, variations, or other matters to come before the Meeting.
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
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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 names of all of 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 its broker (or the agent of the broker) is similar to the form of proxy provided to registered Shareholders by the Company. However, its purpose is limited to instructing the registered Shareholder (the broker or agent of the broker) how to vote on behalf of the Beneficial Shareholder. The majority of brokers now delegate responsibility for obtaining instructions from clients to Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. ("Broadridge") in the United States and in Canada. Broadridge typically prepares a special voting instruction form, mails this form to the Beneficial Shareholders and asks for appropriate instructions regarding the voting of Shares to be voted at the Meeting. If Beneficial Shareholders receive the voting instruction forms from Broadridge, they are requested to complete and return the voting instruction forms to Broadridge by mail or facsimile. Alternatively, Beneficial Shareholders can call a toll-free number and access Broadridge's dedicated voting website (each as noted on the voting instruction form) to deliver their voting instructions and to vote the Shares held by them. Broadridge then tabulates the results of all instructions received and provides appropriate instructions respecting the voting of Shares to be represented at the Meeting. A Beneficial Shareholder receiving a Broadridge voting instruction form cannot use that form as a proxy to vote Shares directly at the 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 and objecting beneficial owners. A non-objecting beneficial owner 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 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. An objecting beneficial owner 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 National Instrument 54-101.
The Company is sending proxy-related materials indirectly to non-objecting beneficial owners of the Shares. The Company will not pay for the delivery of proxy-related materials to objecting beneficial owners of the Shares. The objecting beneficial owners of the Shares will not receive the materials unless their intermediary assumes the costs of delivery.
Notice-And-Access
The Company is utilizing the notice-and-access mechanism (the "Notice-and-Access Provisions") under National Instrument 54-101 – Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer ("NI 54-101") and National Instrument
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51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations (“NI 51-102”), for distribution of proxy-related materials to Registered and Beneficial Shareholders.
Under the Notice-and-Access Provisions, instead of receiving printed copies of the Circular, Registered and Beneficial Shareholders will receive the Notice of Meeting with information on the Meeting date, location and purpose, as well as information on how they may access the Circular electronically and how they may vote.
Unless otherwise indicated in this Information Circular and in the form of proxy and Notice of Meeting attached hereto, shareholders shall mean registered shareholders.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES
The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Shares without par value, of which 62,922,431 Shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Information Circular. Persons who are registered shareholders at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Meeting subject to the provisions described above.
To the knowledge of the directors and executive officers of the Company, as of the date of this Information Circular, there are no persons or companies who, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or control or direct Shares carrying 10% or more of the voting rights attached to all Shares of the Company, except the following:
| Name | No. of Common Shares Beneficially Owned, Controlled or Directed, Directly or Indirectly | Percentage of Outstanding Shares^{(1)} |
|---|---|---|
| Russell Starr | 7,244,308 | 11.5% |
Note:
(1) Based on 62,922,431 Shares issued and outstanding as of the date of this Information Circular.
PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The annual financial statements of the Company for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2025 and 2024, together with the reports of the auditor thereon, and the related management discussion and analysis will be presented before the Shareholders at the Meeting. The annual financial statements of the Company were filed under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca and mailed to Shareholders in accordance with applicable laws and written instructions received from Shareholders or intermediaries. Additional copies may be obtained from the Company upon request and will be available at the Meeting. No action is required to be taken at the Meeting with respect to the financial statements.
DETERMINATION OF NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
The directors are elected at each annual general meeting to hold office until the next annual general meeting or until their successors are duly elected or appointed, unless such office is earlier vacated in accordance with the Articles of the Company or a director becomes disqualified to act as a director. The authority to determine the number of directors of the Company rests with the shareholders. The Articles of the Company provide that the number of directors, excluding additional directors, may be fixed or changed from time to time by ordinary resolution whether previous notice thereof has been given or not. It is intended to fix the number of directors at three (3) for the ensuing year.
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Management of the company recommends that shareholders vote for the resolution to set the number of directors of the company at three (3).
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's board of directors (the "Board") presently consists of three (3) directors. The term of office of each of the present directors expires at the Meeting. Each director elected will hold office until the next annual general meeting of the Company or until their successor is duly elected or appointed, unless the office is earlier vacated in accordance with the Articles of the Company or the BCBCA or they become disqualified to act as a director.
The persons named in the following table are proposed by management for election as directors of the Company. In the absence of instructions to the contrary, the enclosed Proxy will be voted for the nominees listed herein.
MANAGEMENT DOES NOT CONTEMPLATE THAT ANY OF THE NOMINEES WILL BE UNABLE TO SERVE AS A DIRECTOR. THE COMPANY HAS NOT RECEIVED NOTICE OF, AND MANAGEMENT IS NOT AWARE OF ANY PROPOSED NOMINEE IN ADDITION TO, THE NAMED NOMINEES.
The following information concerning the respective nominees has been furnished by each of them:
| Name, Jurisdiction of Residence and Position | Principal Occupation or employment and, if not previously elected Director, occupation during the past 5 years | Director Since | Number and Percentage of Shares Owned^{(1)} |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Starr^{(2)} | |||
| Collingwood, ON | |||
| Chief Executive Officer and Director | Director (August 2023 to Present) and CEO (July 2023 to Present) of the Company; Head of Capital Markets Consultant of DeFi Technologies Inc. (May 2022 to June 2025); Director of Renegade Gold Inc. (formerly Trillium Gold Mines Inc.) (July 2020 to February 2024); CEO of Trillium Gold Mines Inc. (July 2020 to June 2023); CEO and Executive Chair of Valour (February 2021 to February 2023); Director of Canada Nickel Company Inc. (December 2019 to February 2023). | August 31, 2023 | 7,244,308 |
| (11.5%) | |||
| Mike Parmar^{(2)} | |||
| Vancouver, BC | |||
| Executive Chairman and Director | Director (December 2022 to Present) and Executive Chairman (December 2024 to Present) of the Company; Director (December 2022 to July 2025) and Interim CEO (March 2025 to July 2025) of Aventis Energy Inc. (formerly Vital Battery Metals Inc.); Consultant to various publicly traded companies. | December 19, 2022 | 1,607,859 |
| (2.56%) | |||
| Warren Stanyer^{(2)} | |||
| Delta, BC | |||
| President and Director | Director and President of the Company (December 2024 to Present); CEO and President of Nevada Sunrise Metals Corporation (August 2013 to Present); CEO and Director of ALX Resources Corp. (November 2017 to December 2024). | December 30, 2024 | 238,434 |
| (0.37%) |
Notes:
(1) Shares beneficially directly or indirectly owned or over which control or direction is exercised, at the date of this Circular, based upon information furnished to the Company by the individual directors or obtained from the System for Electronic Disclosure by Insiders ("SEDI"). Based on 62,922,431 Shares issued and outstanding as of May 8, 2026.
(2) Member of the Audit Committee.
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No proposed director is to be elected under any arrangement or understanding between the proposed director and any other person or company, except the directors and executive officers of the Company acting solely in such capacity.
Except as disclosed herein, to the knowledge of the Company, no proposed director:
(a) is, as at the date of the Information Circular, or has been, within 10 years before the date of the Information Circular, a director, CEO or CFO of any company (including the Company) that:
(i) was the subject, while the proposed director was acting in the capacity as director, CEO or CFO of such company, of a cease trade or similar 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;
(ii) was subject to a cease trade or similar order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days, that was issued after the proposed director ceased to be a director, CEO or CFO but which resulted from an event that occurred while the proposed director was acting in the capacity as director, CEO or CFO of such company; or
(b) is, as at the date of this Information Circular, or has been within 10 years before the date of the information Circular, a director or executive officer of any company (including the Company) that, while that person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or
(c) has, within the 10 years before the date of this Information Circular, become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or become subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of the proposed director; or
(d) has been subject to any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or
(e) been subject to any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable securityholder in deciding whether to vote for a proposed director.
APPOINTMENT AND REMUNERATION OF AUDITOR
Shareholders will be asked to vote for the re-appointment of De Visser Gray LLP as the auditor of the Company to hold office until the next annual meeting of the Shareholders at a remuneration to be fixed by the Board. De Visser Gray LLP has served as auditor since August 19, 2024.
Unless you give other instructions, the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy intend to vote FOR the appointment of De Visser Gray LLP to act as the Company's auditor until the close of the next annual general meeting and to authorize the Board to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditor.
APPROVAL OF EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
On February 26, 2024, the Board approved the Company's Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to approve the continuation of the Plan. The Plan is considered an "evergreen" plan, since the Shares covered by Awards which have been exercised, settled or terminated shall be available for subsequent grants under the Plan and
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the number of Awards available to grant increases as the number of issued and outstanding Shares increases. Pursuant to Policy 6.5(4) of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Company is required to obtain the approval of its shareholders for any stock option plan that is an "evergreen" plan every three years at the Company's annual meeting of shareholders.
The purpose of the Plan is to provide an incentive to directors, officers, employees and consultants to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company, to continue their participation in the affairs of the Company and to increase their efforts on behalf of the Company.
The following summary of the Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to Plan. A copy of the Plan is attached hereto as Schedule "B".
Eligible Optionees. Under the Plan, the Company can grant RSUs and Options to acquire Shares of the Company to directors, officers, and consultants of the Company, as well as to employees of the Company. Service providers providing ongoing services to the Company and its subsidiaries are also eligible.
Number of Shares Reserved. The number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Options and RSUs granted under the Plan may not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Shares from time to time at the date of the grant of Options or RSUs.
Number of Shares Held by an Individual. The maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Options or RSUs granted to any individual under the Plan is limited to an amount equal to 5% of the then issued and outstanding Shares (on a non-diluted basis) in any 12-month period.
Number of Shares Held by Persons Performing Investor Relations. The maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Options or RSUs granted to all persons in aggregate who are employed to perform investor relations activities is limited to an amount equal to 2% of the then issued and outstanding Shares (on a non-diluted basis) in any 12-month period, provided that such Options vest in stages over a 12-month period with no more than ¼ of the Options vesting in any three-month period.
Number of Shares Held by Insiders. The maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable pursuant to all compensation securities granted or issued in any 12 month period to Insiders (as a group) must not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Shares, calculated as at the date any compensation security is granted or issued to any Insider.
Maximum Term of Options. The term of any Options granted under the Plan is fixed by the Board and may not exceed ten (10) years from the date of grant.
Maximum Restriction period of RSUs. The applicable restriction period in respect of a particular RSU award shall not end later than December 31 of the calendar year which is three (3) years after the calendar year in which the RSU is granted.
Vesting Provisions. Options and RSUs granted under the Plan may be subject to vesting provisions. Such vesting provisions are determined by the Board or the Exchange, if applicable.
Termination. Any Options granted pursuant to the Plan will terminate within 60 days of the option holder ceasing to act as a director, officer, employee of the Company, unless such cessation is on account of death. If such cessation is on account of death, the Options terminate on the first anniversary of such cessation.
Transferability. The Options and RSUs are non-assignable and non-transferable.
Amendments. Any substantive amendments to the Plan will be subject to the Company first obtaining the approvals, if required, of: (a) the shareholders or disinterested shareholders, as the case may be, of the Company at a general meeting where required by the rules and policies of the Exchange, or any stock exchange on which the Shares may then be listed for trading; and (b) the Exchange, or any stock exchange on which the Shares may then be listed for trading.
Administration. The Plan is administered by the Board or a committee appointed by the Board.
Board Discretion. The Plan provides that the number of Shares subject to each Option, the exercise price, the expiry time, the extent to which such option is exercisable, including vesting schedules, and other terms and conditions relating to such Options will be determined by the Board.
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Shareholders will be asked at the Meeting to approve, with or without variation, the following ordinary resolution (the “Plan Resolution”):
“BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
- the Company’s equity incentive plan, adopted by the board of directors of the Company effective as of February 26, 2024, (the “Plan”), in substantially the form described in the management information circular of the Company dated May 8, 2026, including the reservation for issuance under the Plan at any time of a maximum of 10% of the issued common shares of the Company, be and is hereby confirmed, ratified, and approved;
- all unallocated awards issuable under the Plan be approved and authorized until the third anniversary of the adoption of the present resolution by the shareholders of the Company, being June 22, 2029;
- 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
- any one or more director(s) or officer(s) of the Company be authorized and directed to do all acts and things and to execute and deliver all documents required, as in the opinion of such director or officer may be necessary or appropriate in order to give effect to this resolution.”
A copy of the Plan is attached hereto as Schedule “B”.
The Board recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of the Plan Resolution.
STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Company is a “venture issuer” as defined under National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations and is disclosing its director and executive compensation in accordance with Form 51-102F6V – Statement of Executive Compensation – Venture Issuers (“Form 51-102F6V”).
Named Executive Officers
For the purposes of this Circular, a Named Executive Officer (“NEO”) of the Company means each of the following individuals:
(a) a chief executive officer (“CEO”) of the Company;
(b) a chief financial officer (“CFO”) of the Company; and
(c) each of the Company’s three most highly compensated executive officers, or individuals acting in a similar capacity, other than the CEO and CFO, at the end of, or during, the most recently completed financial year if their individual total compensation was more than $150,000 for that financial year, including individuals who would be an NEO under this paragraph but for the fact that he or she was not acting in such capacity at the end of the financial year.
During the Company’s fiscal year ended August 31, 2025, the following individuals were the Named Executive Officers of the Company: (a) Russell Starr, CEO and Director, and (b) Simon Tso, CFO and Corporate Secretary.
Director and Named Executive Officer Compensation Discussion
At its present stage of development, the Company does not have any formal objectives, criteria and analysis for determining the compensation of its Named Executive Officers and primarily relies on the discussions and determinations of the Board.
With a view to minimizing its cash expenditures not directed at the exploration of the Company's property, the Company does not intend to pay a material amount of compensation to management for the next 12 months. However, this policy will be re-evaluated periodically. The Company expects to grant incentive stock options and RSUs to the Named Executive Officers and its non-executive directors, under the Plan which was approved by the Directors on February 26, 2024 and is being placed before the Meeting for shareholder approval. See "Approval of Equity Incentive Plan" above for the material terms of the Plan.
Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities
The following table provides a summary of compensation paid, payable, awarded, granted, given or otherwise provided, directly or indirectly, by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company to each NEO and director of the Company during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2025 and 2024, other than stock options and other compensation securities.
| Name and Position | Year Ended August 31 | Salary, consulting fee, retainer or commission ($) | Bonus ($) | Committee or meeting fees ($) | Value of prerequisites ($) | Value of all other compensation ($) | Total compensation ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Starr^{(1)(2)} | |||||||
| Chief Executive Officer and Director | 2025 | ||||||
| 2024 | $147,500 | ||||||
| $84,000 | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | $150,606 | ||||||
| $187,045 | $298,106 | ||||||
| $271,045 | |||||||
| Tak Tsan Tso^{(3)(4)} | |||||||
| Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary | 2025 | ||||||
| 2024 | $55,000 | ||||||
| $33,600 | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | $102,875 | $55,000 | |||||
| $136,475 | |||||||
| Mike Parmar^{(5)(6)} | |||||||
| Director and Executive Chairman | 2025 | ||||||
| 2024 | $96,000 | ||||||
| $67,200 | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | $30,345 | ||||||
| $130,932 | $126,345 | ||||||
| $198,132 | |||||||
| Warren Stanyer^{(7)} | |||||||
| Director and President | 2025 | ||||||
| 2024 | $79,894 | ||||||
| N/A | - | ||||||
| N/A | - | ||||||
| N/A | - | ||||||
| N/A | $29,786 | ||||||
| N/A | $109,680 | ||||||
| N/A | |||||||
| Amanuel Bein^{(8)} | |||||||
| Former Director | 2025 | ||||||
| 2024 | Nil | ||||||
| - | Nil | ||||||
| - | Nil | ||||||
| - | Nil | ||||||
| - | Nil | ||||||
| $112,227 | Nil | ||||||
| $112,227 |
Notes:
(1) Appointed as director on August 31, 2023 and as Chief Executive Officer on July 28, 2023.
(2) Mr. Starr provides his services as CEO and Director of the Company through Ridgeside Canada Inc.
(3) Appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary on May 12, 2023.
(4) Mr. Tso provides his services as CFO of the Company through Athena Chartered Professional Accountant Ltd.
(5) Appointed as director on December 19, 2022 and executive chairman on December 30, 2024.
(6) Mr. Parmar provides his services as an independent Director of the Company through MSP Consulting Inc.
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(7) Appointed as director and President on December 30, 2024.
(8) Appointed as director on August 31, 2023, and resigned on January 15, 2025.
External Management Companies
Through Ridgeside Canada Inc., a company wholly-owned by the Company's CEO, Russell Starr, Mr. Starr is paid a monthly fee of $12,500 per month pursuant to a management consulting agreement dated July 28, 2023 (the "CEO Agreement"). All of the monthly fees paid by the Company to Ridgeside Canada Inc. are allocated to Mr. Starr. On October 1, 2024, the monthly fee was adjusted from $10,000 to $12,500 per month pursuant to the terms of the CEO Agreement. The payments to Ridgeside Canada Inc. are reflected in Mr. Starr's compensation in the Director and Named Executive Officer Compensation, Excluding Compensation Securities table above.
Through Athena Chartered Professional Accountant Ltd., a company wholly-owned by the Company's CFO, Simon Tso, Mr. Tso is paid a monthly fee of $5,000 per month pursuant to a consulting agreement dated December 18, 2023. On February 1, 2025, the monthly fee was adjusted from $4,000 to $5,000 per month. All of the monthly fees paid by the Company to Athena Chartered Professional Accountant Ltd. are allocated to Mr. Tso. The payments to Athena Chartered Professional Accountant Ltd. are reflected in Mr. Tso's compensation in the Director and Named Executive Officer Compensation, Excluding Compensation Securities table above.
Other than as disclosed above, there were no external consulting agreements with the Company's NEOs during the most recently completed financial year.
Director and NEO Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities
The following table sets forth incentive stock options (option-based awards) pursuant to the Company's Plan that were granted to NEOs and directors of the Company during the financial year ended August 31, 2025.
| Compensation Securities | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and position | Type of compensation security | Number of compensation securities, number of underlying securities, and percentage of class^{(6)} | Date of issue or grant | Issue, conversion or exercise price ($) | Closing price of security or underlying security on date of grant ($) | Closing price of security or underlying security at Year Ended August 31, 2025 ($) | Expiry Date |
| Russell Starr^{(1)} | |||||||
| CEO, Director | Stock options | 200,000 | |||||
| (0.36%) | June 2, 2025 | 0.40 | 0.395 | 0.39 | June 2, 2027 | ||
| RSUs^{(5)} | 600,000 | ||||||
| (1.07%) | June 2, 2025 | N/A | 0.395 | 0.39 | June 2, 2028 | ||
| Mike Parmar^{(2)} | |||||||
| Director, Executive Chairman | RSUs^{(5)} | 200,000 | |||||
| (0.36%) | June 2, 2025 | N/A | 0.395 | 0.39 | June 2, 2028 |
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| Compensation Securities | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and position | Type of compensation security | Number of compensation securities, number of underlying securities, and percentage of class^{(6)} | Date of issue or grant | Issue, conversion or exercise price ($) | Closing price of security or underlying security on date of grant ($) | Closing price of security or underlying security at Year Ended August 31, 2025 ($) | Expiry Date |
| Simon Tso^{(3)} | |||||||
| CFO, Corporate Secretary | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Warren Stanyer^{(4)} | |||||||
| Director, President | Stock options | 100,000 (0.18%) | June 2, 2025 | 0.40 | 0.395 | 0.39 | June 2, 2027 |
Notes:
(1) As of August 31, 2025, Mr. Starr had beneficial ownership of 600,000 RSUs (none of which had vested) and: (1) 200,000 stock options, previously granted on June 2, 2025, exercisable at $0.40; and (2) 500,000 stock options, previously granted on March 5, 2024, exercisable at $0.63.
(2) As of August 31, 2025, Mr. Parmar had beneficial ownership of 200,000 RSUs (none of which had vested) and 350,000 stock options, previously granted on March 5, 2024, exercisable at $0.63.
(3) Mr. Tso was not granted any compensation securities in the year ended August 31, 2025. As of August 31, 2025, Mr. Tso held 275,000 stock options, previously granted on March 5, 2024, exercisable at $0.63.
(4) As of August 31, 2025, Mr. Stanyer had beneficial ownership of 100,000 stock options, previously granted on June 2, 2025, exercisable at $0.40.
(5) RSUs issued vested in four tranches, with one-fourth (1/4) vesting every four (4) months starting on the date of grant.
(6) Percentage of class represents the number of compensation securities granted or issued divided by the total amount of issued and outstanding securities of that class as at August 31, 2025. There were 2,913,500 stock options, 1,300,000 RSUs and 55,898,752 Common Shares issued and outstanding as at August 31, 2025.
The following table sets forth all exercises by directors or NEOs of compensation securities in the financial year ended August 31, 2025.
| Exercise of Compensation Securities by directors and NEOs | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and position | Type of compensation security | Number of underlying securities exercised | Date of exercise | Exercise price per security ($) | Closing price per security on date of exercise ($) | Difference between exercise price and closing price on date of exercise ($) | Total value on exercise date ($) |
| Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
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Outstanding Compensation Securities
The following table sets forth the outstanding compensation securities held by the Directors and NEOs of the Company as of August 31, 2025:
| Total Compensation Securities held as at August 31, 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name and position | Type of compensation security | Total number of compensation securities, number of underlying securities |
| Russell Starr | ||
| CEO, Director | Stock Options^{(1)} | 700,000 |
| RSUs | 600,000 (all unvested) | |
| Mike Parmar | ||
| Director, Executive Chairman | Stock Options^{(1)} | 350,000 |
| RSUs | 200,000 (all unvested) | |
| Warren Stanyer | ||
| Director, President | Stock Options^{(1)} | 100,000 |
| Simon Tso | ||
| CFO, Corporate Secretary | Stock Options^{(1)} | 275,000 |
Notes:
(1) Aggregate number of stock options held. Exercise prices, grant dates and expiry dates may vary between stock options. Please see "Director and NEO Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities" above.
Incentive Plans
Equity Incentive Plan
For the summary of the Company’s Plan, please see the section “Approval of Equity Incentive Plan” above.
Employment, Consulting and Management Agreements
Other than as described below, as of the date of this Information Circular, the Company did not have any contract, agreement, plan or arrangement that provides for payment to any NEOs, executive officers or directors at, following or in connection with any termination (whether voluntary, involuntary or constructive), resignation, retirement, a change in control of the Company or a change in an NEO’s, executive officer’s or director’s responsibilities.
The Company’s director, Warren Stanyer, is paid a monthly fee of $10,000 per month pursuant to a consulting agreement dated December 30, 2024. The payments to Mr. Stanyer are reflected in Mr. Stanyer’s compensation in the Director and Named Executive Officer Compensation, Excluding Compensation Securities table above.
Through MSP Consulting Inc., a company wholly-owned by the Company’s Director, Mike Parmar, Mr. Parmar is paid a monthly fee of $8,000 per month pursuant to a consulting agreement dated December 18, 2023. All of the monthly fees paid by the Company to MSP Consulting Inc. are allocated to Mr. Parmar. The payments to MSP Consulting Inc. are reflected in Mr. Parmar’s compensation in the Director and Named Executive Officer Compensation, Excluding Compensation Securities table above.
Oversight and Description of Director and NEO Compensation
Philosophy and Objectives
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The compensation program for the senior management of the Company is designed to ensure that the level and form of compensation achieves certain objectives, including:
(a) attracting and retaining talented, qualified, and effective executives;
(b) motivating the short and long-term performance of those executives; and
(c) better aligning their interests with those of the Company's shareholders.
In compensating its senior management, the Company has employed a combination of base salary and equity participation through its Plan.
Elements of the Compensation Program
The significant elements of compensation awarded to the NEOs are a cash salary and stock options. The Company does not presently have a long-term incentive plan for its NEOs. There is no policy or target regarding allocation between cash and noncash elements of the Company's compensation program. The Board annually reviews the total compensation package of each of the Company's executives on an individual basis, against the backdrop of the compensation goals and objectives described above.
Cash Salary
As a general rule, the Company seeks to offer its NEOs a reasonable compensation package that is in line with the Company's shareholder value, operating results, and liquidity considerations, consideration of compensation packages offered by other companies similar in size and complexity, and as a means of rewarding the NEOs for efforts expended on behalf of the Company.
Equity Participation
The Company believes that encouraging its executives and employees to become shareholders is the best way of aligning their interests with those of its shareholders. Equity participation is accomplished through the Company's Plan. Stock options and RSUs are granted to senior executives taking into account a number of factors, including the amount and term of awards previously granted, base salary and bonuses, and the Company's goals. Options and RSUs are generally granted to senior executives and vest on terms determined by the Board.
The Board has not conducted a formal evaluation of the implications of the risks associated with the Company's compensation policies. Risk management is a consideration of the Board when implementing its compensation policies and the Board does not believe that the Company's compensation policies result in unnecessary or inappropriate risk taking, including risks that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Use of Financial Instruments
The Company does not have a policy that would prohibit a NEO or director from purchasing financial instruments, including prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars or units of exchange funds, that are designed to hedge or offset a decrease in market value of equity securities granted as compensation or held, directly or indirectly, by the NEO or director. However, management is not aware of any NEO or director purchasing such an instrument.
Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits
The Company's NEOs are not generally entitled to significant perquisites or other personal benefits that are not offered to the Company's other employees.
Pension Plan Benefits
The Company does not have any pension plans that provide for payments or benefits to the NEOs at, following, or in connection with retirement, including any defined benefits plan or any defined contribution plan. The Company does not have a deferred compensation plan with respect to any NEO.
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DISCLOSURE OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICE
The Board is committed to ensuring that the Company identifies and implements effective corporate governance practices, which are both in the interest of its shareholders and contributes to effective and efficient decision making.
In accordance with National Instrument 58-101 - Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices and National Policy 58-201 – Corporate Governance Guidelines the Company is required to disclose, on an annual basis, its approach to corporate governance. In addition, the Company is subject to National Instrument 52-110 – Audit Committees, which prescribes certain requirements in relation to audit committees and defines the meaning of independence with respect to directors. These reflect current regulatory guidelines of the Canadian Securities Administrators.
The Company has established its own corporate governance practices in light of these guidelines, as set forth below. In certain cases, the Company's practices will comply with the guidelines; however, the Board considers that some of the guidelines are not suitable for the Company at its current stage of development and therefore these guidelines have not been adopted. The Company is at an early stage of development, with a current three-person Board and limited financial resources. As a result, the Company's corporate governance practices have not been extensively developed. The Board will continue to review with management the corporate governance practices of the Company to ensure that they are sound practices for effective and efficient decision making.
Board of Directors and Directorships
The Board is responsible for the governance of the Company. It establishes the overall polices and standards of the Company. The Board meets on a regular basis. In addition to these meetings the directors are kept informed of operations through regular reports and analyses by, and discussions with, management.
The Board is currently comprised of three directors, all of whom are proposed to be nominated for election as set out in this Information Circular. National Instrument 52-110 - Audit Committees ("NI 52-110") defines an "independent" director as one who has no direct or indirect "material relationship" with the Company. A "material relationship" is defined as a relationship that could, in the view of the Board, reasonably be expected to interfere with the exercise of a director's independent judgement. NI 52-110 also sets out certain situations where a director will automatically be considered to have a material relationship with the Company.
Applying the definition set out in NI 52-110, two of the three members of the Board are independent. Russell Starr is not independent, given he is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mike Parmar and Warren Stanyer are independent.
Certain of the directors of the Company are also directors and/or officers of other reporting issuers (or equivalent) in a jurisdiction or a foreign jurisdiction as follows:
| Name of Director | Names of Other Reporting Issuers |
|---|---|
| Warren Stanyer | Nevada Sunrise Metals Corporation |
ORIENTATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
Upon election or appointment of new directors, the Company will provide new directors with an information package of the Company, including, among other things, its policies, procedures and disclosures. Generally, the Company expects that the board members have a familiarity with the business of the Company. Professional advisors may be invited to attend Board meetings, as needed. The Company also relies on the relatively straightforward nature of its business and the established qualifications and expertise of its board members.
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Ethical Business Conduct
As required under the British Columbia Business Corporations Act ("BCBCA") and the Company's articles:
- a director or senior officer who holds any office or possesses any property, right or interest that could result, directly or indirectly, in the creation of a duty or interest that materially conflicts with that individual's duty or interest as a director or executive officer of the Company must promptly disclose the nature and extent of that conflict; and
- a director who holds a disclosable interest (as that term is used in the BCBCA) in a contract or transaction into which the Company has entered or proposes to enter may not vote on any directors' resolution to approve the contract or transaction, other than as permitted by the BCBCA and the Company's articles.
Generally, as a matter of practice, directors or senior officers who have disclosed a material interest in any transaction or agreement that the Board is considering will not take part in any Board discussion respecting that contract or transaction, unless permitted by the BCBCA and the Company's articles. If on occasion such directors do participate in the discussions, they will abstain from voting on any matters relating to matters in which they have disclosed a material interest.
NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS & ASSESSMENTS
Potential candidates for appointment to the Board will be considered by the entire Board of the Company. The Board has no specific procedures for regularly assessing the effectiveness and contribution of the Board, its committees or individual directors. As the business of the Company is relatively straightforward, it is expected that a significant lack of performance on the part of a committee or individual director would become readily apparent and could be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
With respect to the Board as a whole, the Board will monitor its performance on an ongoing basis and as part of that process, consider the overall performance of the Company and input from its shareholders. The Board as a whole is responsible for assessing its effectiveness, its members and each committee.
Compensation
Disclosure of compensation is made in accordance with National Instrument 51-102F6V - Statement of Executive Compensation – Venture Issuers. Please see the discussion under the heading "Statement of Executive Compensation" of this Information Circular for greater detail.
Other Board Committees
The only standing committee of the Board is the Audit Committee, which is described in greater detail below.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
National Instrument 52-110 – Audit Committees ("NI 52-110") requires that certain information regarding the Audit Committee of an issuer be included in the management information circular sent to shareholders in connection with the issuer's annual meeting and that the Audit Committee to meet certain requirements.
OVERVIEW
The overall purpose of the Audit Committee is to ensure that the Company's management has designed and implemented an effective system of internal financial controls, to review and report on integrity of the consolidated financial statements of the Company and to review the Company's compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements as they relate to financial statements, taxation matters and disclosure of material facts. The Board has adopted a Charter for the Audit
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Committee that sets out the Audit Committee’s mandate, organization, powers and responsibilities, a copy of which is attached as Schedule “A” to this Circular.
COMPOSITION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee is comprised of Mike Parmar, Russell Starr, and Warren Stanyer. Each member of the Audit Committee is considered to be “financially literate” and “independent” within the meaning of sections 1.4 and 1.5 of NI 52-110, with the exception of Russell Starr, who is not independent as he is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
Relevant Education and Experience
The following table sets out the education and experience of each Audit Committee member that is relevant to the performance of his 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:
| Director | Relevant Education and Experience |
|---|---|
| Mike Parmar (Chair) | Mr. Parmar brings over 12 years of business experience in the capital markets, specializing in the start-up, development, operation, and financing of early-stage companies. He has particular focus in the mineral exploration and development sector. Through this work, he has been involved with project management, budgeting, preparation and review of financial statements and financial strategy. |
| Russell Starr | Mr. Starr brings over 20 years of business experience in the capital markets. He has particular focus in the mineral exploration and development sector. Over such time, Mr. Starr has served in a variety of capacities, including Chief Executive Officer, President, Director, Corporate Finance and Senior Vice President. Through this work, he has been involved with project management, budgeting, preparation and review of financial statements and financial strategy. |
| Warren Stanyer | Mr. Stanyer is a mineral exploration industry executive with over 30 years of experience in Canadian public company administration, as well as assisting in the planning and execution of exploration programs. Mr. Stanyer gained experience in the integration of modern exploration techniques to search for mineral deposits, especially in certain gold, uranium, and base metals camps of northern Canada. |
AUDIT COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT
Since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, there has not been a recommendation of the Audit Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor that was not adopted by the Board.
RELIANCE ON CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS
At no time since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year has the Company relied on the exemption in Section 2.4, 6.1.1(4), 6.1.1(5), or 6.1.1(6) of NI 52-110, or an exemption from NI 52-110, in whole or in part, granted under Part 8 of NI 52-110.
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PRE-APPROVAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Audit Committee is authorized by the Board to review the performance of the Company's external auditors and approve in advance provision of services other than auditing and to consider the independence of the external auditors, including a review of the range of services provided in the context of all consulting services bought by the Company. The Audit Committee is authorized to approve in writing any non-audit services or additional work which the Chairman of the Audit Committee deems is necessary, and the Chairman will notify the other members of the Audit Committee of such non-audit or additional work and the reasons for such non-audit work for the Committee's consideration, and if thought fit, approval in writing.
EXTERNAL AUDITOR SERVICE FEES (BY CATEGORY)
The following table discloses the fees billed to the Company by its external auditor during the two last financial years.
| Financial Year Ending | Audit Fees^{(1)} | Audit Related Fees^{(2)} | Tax Fees^{(3)} | All Other Fees^{(4)} |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 31, 2025 | $42,000 | Nil | $2,500 | Nil |
| August 31, 2024 | $27,500 | Nil | Nil | Nil |
Notes:
(1) The aggregate fees billed by the Company's auditor for audit fees.
(2) The aggregate fees billed 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 disclosed in the "Audit Fees" column.
(3) The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the Company's auditor for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning.
(4) All other fees billed by the auditor for products and services not included in the foregoing categories.
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
The following table sets forth details of all the Company's equity compensation plans as of August 31, 2025.
| Plan Category | (a) Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights^{(1)} | (b) Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | (c) Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | 2,913,500 | $0.81 | 2,676,375^{(2)} |
| Total | 2,913,500 | $0.81 | 2,676,375^{(2)} |
Notes:
(1) Options are exercisable into underlying common shares of the Company on a one-for-one basis.
(2) Based on 55,898,752 Shares issued and outstanding as of August 31, 2025.
The Plan was adopted by the Board on February 26, 2024, and is being placed before the Meeting for Shareholder approval. See "Approval of Equity Incentive Plan" above for the material terms of the Plan.
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INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Aggregate Indebtedness
As at the date of this Information Circular, no director, executive officer or employee, and no former, director, executive officer or employee, of the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, is currently indebted to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Indebtedness of Directors and Executive Officers under Securities Purchase and Other Programs
No individual who is a director or executive officer of the Company, or who at any time during the most recently completed financial year was a director or executive officer of the Company, and no proposed nominee for election as a director, nor any associate of any of the foregoing, is currently, or was at any time during the financial year ended August 31, 2025, indebted to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and no indebtedness of such persons is or has been the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar agreement provided by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
Other than as disclosed in this Information Circular, no (a) director, proposed director or executive officer of the Company; (b) person or company who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, common shares or who exercises control or direction of common shares, or a combination of both carrying more than ten percent of the voting rights attached to the common shares outstanding (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 common 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 common shares.
MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS
There are no management functions of the Company which are to any substantial degree performed by a person or company other than the directors or executive officers of the Company.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Shareholders may contact the Company at 250 - 997 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 3M1 or by email at [email protected] to request copies of the Company's financial statements and related Management Discussion & Analysis (the "MD&A"). Financial information is provided in the Company's audited financial statements and MD&A for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2025, which are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.
OTHER BUSINESS
Unless otherwise specified, all matters referred to herein for approval by the Shareholders require a simple majority of the Shareholders voting, in person or by proxy, at the Meeting. Where information contained in this Information Circular, rests specifically within the knowledge of a person other than the Company, the Company has relied upon information furnished by such person.
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The contents of this Information Circular have been approved and this mailing has been authorized by the Board.
Dated this 8th day of May, 2026.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
GREENRIDGE EXPLORATION INC.
"Russell Starr"
Russell Starr
Chief Executive Officer and Director
SCHEDULE "A"
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
This Charter establishes the composition, the authority, roles and responsibilities and the general objectives of the Company's audit committee, or its board of directors in lieu thereof (the "Audit Committee"). The roles and responsibilities described in this Charter must at all times be exercised in compliance with the legislation and regulations governing the Company and any subsidiaries.
Composition
- Number of Members. The Audit Committee must be comprised of a minimum of three directors of the Company, a majority of whom will be independent. Independence of the board members will be as defined by applicable legislation.
- The members of the Committee will be appointed by the Board of the Company ("Board") annually at the first meeting of the Board following the annual meeting of the shareholders, to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are duly appointed.
- Chair. The Board will designate one member to act as chair of the Audit Committee (the "Chair") or, if it fails to do so, the members of the Audit Committee will appoint the Chair among its members.
- Financially Literacy. All members of the audit committee will be financially literate as defined by applicable legislation. If upon appointment a member of the Audit Committee is not financially literate as required, the person will be provided with a period of three months to acquire the required level of financial literacy.
Meetings
- Meetings and Quorum. The Audit Committee will meet at least quarterly, with the authority to convene additional meetings as circumstances require. A majority of the members of the Audit Committee will constitute a quorum.
- Agenda. The Chair will set the agenda for each meeting, after consulting with management and the external auditor. Agenda materials such as draft financial statements must be circulated to all Audit Committee members for members to have a reasonable amount of time to review the materials prior to the meeting.
- In Camera Sessions. The Audit Committee will, when appropriate, hold in camera sessions without management present.
- Minutes. The Audit Committee will keep minutes of its meetings which will be available for review by the Board. The Audit Committee may appoint any person who need not be a member, to act as the secretary at any meeting. The Audit Committee may invite such officers, directors and employees of the Company and such other advisors and persons as it may see fit, from time to time, to attend at meetings of the Audit Committee.
Roles and Responsibilities
The roles and responsibilities of the Audit Committee include the following:
External Auditor
The Audit Committee will:
(a) Selection of the external auditor. Select, evaluate and recommend to the Board, for shareholder approval, the Auditor to examine the Company's accounts, controls and financial statements.
(b) Scope of Work. Evaluate, prior to the annual audit by the Auditors, the scope and general extent of the Auditor's review, including the Auditor's engagement letter.
(c) Compensation. Recommend to the Board the compensation to be paid to the external auditors.
(d) Replacement of Auditor. If necessary, recommend the replacement of the Auditor to the Board of Directors.
(e) Approve Non-Audit Related Services. Pre-approve all non-audit services to be provided by the Auditor to the Company or its subsidiaries.
(f) Direct Responsibility for Overseeing Work of Auditors. Must directly oversee the work of the Auditor. The Auditor must report directly to the Audit Committee.
(g) Resolution of Disputes. Assist with resolving any disputes between the Company's management and the Auditors regarding financial reporting.
Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Information
The Audit Committee will:
(a) Review Audited Financial Statements. Review the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and related MD&A, discuss those statements with management and with the Auditor, and recommend their approval to the Board.
(b) Review of Interim Financial Statements. Review and discuss with management the quarterly consolidated financial statements and related MD&A, and recommend their approval by the Board.
(c) Public Disclosure. Review the annual and interim financial statements and related MD&A, news releases that contain significant financial information that has not previously been released to the public, and any other public disclosure documents that are required to be reviewed by the Audit Committee under any applicable laws and satisfy itself that the documents do not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated or that is necessary to make a statement not misleading in light of the circumstances under which it was made before the Corporation publicly discloses this information.
(d) Auditor Reports and Recommendations. Review and consider any significant reports and recommendations issued by the Auditor, together with management's response, and the extent to which recommendations made by the Auditor have been implemented.
Risk Management, Internal Controls and Information Systems
The Audit Committee will:
(a) Internal Control. Review with the Auditors and with management, the general policies and procedures used by the Company with respect to internal accounting and financial controls. Remain informed, through communications with the Auditor, of any weaknesses in internal control that could cause errors or deficiencies in financial reporting or deviations from the accounting policies of the Company or from applicable laws or regulations.
(b) Financial Management. Periodically review the team in place to carry out financial reporting functions, circumstances surrounding the departure of any officers in charge of financial reporting, and the appointment of individuals in these functions.
(c) Accounting Policies and Practices. Review management plans regarding any changes in accounting practices or policies and the financial impact thereof.
(d) Litigation. Review with the Auditors and legal counsel any litigation, claim or contingency, including tax assessments, that could have a material effect upon the financial position of the Company and the manner in which these matters are being disclosed in the consolidated financial statements.
(e) Other. Discuss with management and the Auditors correspondence with regulators, employee complaints, or published reports that raise material issues regarding the Company's financial statements or disclosure.
Complaints
(a) Accounting, Auditing and Internal Control Complaints. The Audit Committee must establish a procedure for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal controls or auditing matters.
(b) Employee Complaints. The Audit Committee must establish a procedure for the confidential transmittal on condition of anonymity by the Company's employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
Authority
(a) Auditor. The Auditor, and any internal auditors hired by the company, will report directly to the Audit Committee.
(b) To Retain Independent Advisors. The Audit Committee may, at the Company's expense and without the approval of management, retain the services of independent legal counsels and any other advisors it deems necessary to carry out its duties and set and pay the monetary compensation of these individuals.
Reporting
The Audit Committee will report to the Board on:
(a) the Auditor's independence;
(b) the performance of the Auditor and any recommendations of the Audit Committee in relation thereto;
(c) the reappointment and termination of the Auditor;
(d) the adequacy of the Company's internal controls and disclosure controls;
(e) the Audit Committee's review of the annual and interim consolidated financial statements;
(f) the Audit Committee's review of the annual and interim management discussion and analysis;
(g) the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory matters to the extent they affect the financial statements of the Company; and
(h) all other material matters dealt with by the Audit Committee.
SCHEDULE "B"
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
[See attached]
GREENRIDGE EXPLORATION INC.
2024 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, 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, as amended from time to time;
(b) “Award” means any Option or Restricted Share Unit granted under this Plan, which may be denominated or settled in Shares, cash or in such other forms as provided for herein;
(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, and evidencing the terms and conditions on which an Award has been granted under this Plan (including written or other applicable employment agreements) and which need not be identical to any other such agreements;
(d) “BCA” means the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia);
(e) “Black-Out Period” means a period of time when pursuant to any policies of the Corporation or applicable law, any securities of the Corporation may not be traded by certain persons designated by the Corporation;
(f) “Board” means the board of directors of the Corporation as it may be constituted from time to time;
(g) “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;
(h) “Canadian Taxpayer” means a Participant that is resident in Canada for purposes of the Tax Act;
(i) “Cause” means:
(i) with respect to a particular Employee: (1) “cause” as such term is defined in the employment or other written agreement between the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation and the Employee; (2) in the event there is no written or other applicable
employment agreement between the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation or "cause" is not defined in such agreement, "cause" as such term is defined in the Award Agreement; or (3) in the event neither clause (1) nor (2) apply, then "cause" as such term is defined by applicable law or, if not so defined, such term shall refer to circumstances where an employer can terminate an individual's employment without notice or pay in lieu thereof;
(ii) in the case of a Consultant (1) the occurrence of any event which, under the written consulting contract with the Consultant or the common law or the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Consultant provides services, gives the Corporation or any of its Affiliates the right to immediately terminate the consulting contract; or (2) the termination of the consulting contract as a result of an order made by any Regulatory Authority having jurisdiction to so order;
(iii) in the case of a Director, ceasing to be a Director as a result of (1) ceasing to be qualified to act as a Director pursuant to the section 124 of the BCA; (2) a resolution having been passed by the shareholders pursuant to section 128(3)(a) of the BCA, or (3) an order made by any Regulatory Authority having jurisdiction to so order; or
(iv) in the case of an Officer, (1) cause as such term is defined in the written employment agreement with the Officer or if there is no written employment agreement or cause is not defined therein, the usual meaning of just cause under the common law or the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Officer provides services; or (2) ceasing to be an Officer as a result of an order made by any Regulatory Authority having jurisdiction to so order.
(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 or more Persons acting jointly or in concert (other than the Corporation or a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) 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 wholly-owned 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 or more Persons which were wholly-owned subsidiaries 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 wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation);
(v) any other event which the Board determines to constitute a change in control of the
Corporation; or
(vi) individuals who comprise the Board as of the last annual meeting of shareholders of the Corporation (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;
provided that, notwithstanding clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, a Change in Control shall be deemed not to have occurred pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above 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).
(k) "Commencement Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(e);
(l) "Committee" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2;
(m) "Consultant" means an individual consultant or an employee or director of a consultant entity, other than a Participant that is an Employee, who:
(i) is engaged to provide services on a bona fide basis to the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation, other than services provided in relation to a distribution of securities of the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation;
(ii) provides the services under a written contract with the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation; and
(iii) spends or will spend a significant amount of time and attention on the affairs and business of the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation;
(n) "Control" means:
(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 Greenridge Exploration Inc.;
(p) “CSE” means the Canadian Securities Exchange;
(q) “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;
(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, in respect of a Participant, suffering from a state of mental or physical disability, illness or disease that prevents the Participant from carrying out his or her normal duties as an Employee for a continuous period of six months or for any period of six months in any consecutive twelve month period, as certified by two medical doctors or as otherwise 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 February 26, 2024;
(v) “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, and, for greater certainty, includes any Executive Chairman of the Corporation.
(w) “Exchange” means the exchange on which the Shares are or may be listed from time to time;
(x) “Exercise Notice” means a notice in writing, signed by a Participant and stating the Participant’s intention to exercise a particular Option;
(y) “Exercise Price” means the price at which an Option Share may be purchased pursuant to the
exercise of an Option;
(z) "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;
(aa) "Insider" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 1(1) of the Securities Act (British Columbia);
(bb) "Market Price" at any date in respect of the Shares shall be the greater of the closing trading price of the Shares on (i) the trading day prior to the relevant date, and (ii) the relevant date; provided that, 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;
(cc) "Option Shares" means Shares issuable by the Corporation upon the exercise of outstanding Options;
(dd) "Participant" means an Employee, Consultant or Director to whom an Award has been granted under this Plan;
(ee) "Participant's Employer" means with respect to a Participant that is or was an Employee, the Corporation or such subsidiary of the Corporation as is or, if the Participant has ceased to be employed by the Corporation or such subsidiary of the Corporation, was the Participant's Employer;
(ff) "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;
(gg) "Plan" means this Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time;
(hh) "Plan Administrator" means the Board or, to the extent that the administration of this Plan has been delegated by the Board to the Committee pursuant to Section 3.2, the Committee;
(ii) "Regulatory Approvals" means any necessary approvals of the Regulatory Authorities as may be required from time to time for the implementation, operation or amendment of this Plan or for the Awards granted from time to time hereunder;
(jj) "Regulatory Authorities" means all organized trading facilities on which the Shares are listed, and all securities commissions or similar securities regulatory bodies having jurisdiction over the Corporation, this Plan or the Awards granted from time to time hereunder;
(kk) "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;
(II) "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;
(mm) "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;
(nn) "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;
(oo) "Share" means one 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 8, such other shares or securities to which the holder of an Award may be entitled as a result of such adjustment;
(pp) "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, provided that, in the case of a Canadian Taxpayer, the issuer is related (for purposes of the Tax Act) to the Corporation;
(qq) "Tax Act" means the Income Tax Act (Canada);
(rr) "Termination Date" means:
(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 in a written employment agreement, or other written agreement between the Employee and Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation, or (ii) if no written employment agreement exists, the date designated by the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation, as the case may be, on which an 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 "Termination Date" specifically does not mean the date of termination of 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
(ii) in the case of a Consultant whose consulting agreement or arrangement with the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation, as the case may be, terminates, the date that is designated by the Corporation or the subsidiary of the Corporation (as the case may be), as the date on which the Participant's consulting 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, and "Termination Date" specifically does not mean the date on which any period of notice of termination that the Corporation or the subsidiary of the Corporation (as the case may be) may be required to provide to the Participant under the terms of the consulting agreement or arrangement expires.
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:
(a) determine the individuals to whom grants of Awards under the Plan may be made;
(b) make grants of Awards under the Plan, whether relating to the issuance of Shares or otherwise (including any combination of Options or Restricted 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;
(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.
(b) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may, from time to time, delegate to a committee of the Board (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.
3.3 Determinations Binding
Except 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, 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 and all subsidiaries of the Corporation, the affected Participant(s), their respective legal and personal representatives and all other Persons.
3.4 Eligibility
All Employees, Consultants and Directors are eligible to participate in the Plan, subject to 7.1(f) Participation in the Plan is voluntary and eligibility to participate does not confer upon any Employee, Consultant or Director any right to receive any grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan. The extent to which any Employee, Consultant or Director is entitled to receive a grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan will be determined in the 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 Corporation 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. 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 8 and any subsequent amendment to this Plan, the aggregate number of Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under this Plan shall not exceed 10% 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 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 are exercised, terminated or are cancelled for any reason prior to exercise in full, 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 maximum number of Shares for which Awards may be issued to any one Participant in any 12-month period shall not exceed 5% of the outstanding Shares, calculated on the date an Award is granted to the Participant, unless the Company obtains disinterested shareholder approval as required by the policies of the Exchange;
(b) the maximum number of Shares for which Awards may be issued to any Consultant or persons (in the aggregate) retained to provide Investor Relations Activities (as defined by the CSE) in any 12-month period shall not exceed 2% of the outstanding Shares, calculated on the date an Award is granted to the Consultant or any such person, as applicable; and
(c) unless disinterested shareholder approval as required by the policies of the Exchange is obtained: (i) the maximum number of Shares for which Awards may be issued to Insiders (as a group) at any point in time shall not exceed 10% of the outstanding Shares; and (ii) the aggregate number of Awards granted to Insiders (as a group), within any 12-month period, shall not exceed 10% of the outstanding Shares, calculated at the date an Award is granted to any Insider.
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, any 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, vests any interest or right in such Awards or under this Plan 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.
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. Should the Expiry Date for an Option fall within a Black-Out Period, subject to the requirements of the Exchange, such Expiry Date shall be automatically extended without any further act or formality to that date which is the 10th Business Day after the end of the Black-Out Period, such 10th Business Day to be considered the Expiry Date for such Option for all purposes under the Plan.
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 instalment 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 or instalment 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 instalment of 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.
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, 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, or (ii) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by the Securities Laws, or any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.
(b) No Shares will be issued or transferred until full payment therefor has been received by the Corporation.
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 services rendered in the year of grant. The terms and conditions of each RSU grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
(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 compensation that is to be paid in RSUs, as determined by the Plan Administrator, by (ii) the Market Price of a Share on the Date of Grant.
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.
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. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, on the settlement date for any RSU, the Participant shall redeem each vested RSU for:
(i) one fully paid and non-assessable Share issued from treasury to the Participant or as the Participant may direct, or
(ii) a cash payment, or
(iii) a combination of Shares and cash as contemplated by paragraphs (i) and (ii) above, in each case as determined by the Plan Administrator in its discretion.
(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.
(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) 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 year in which the RSU is granted.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, in the event that the settlement date for an RSU falls during a Black-Out Period or other trading restriction imposed by the Corporation, then such settlement date shall be automatically extended to the 10th Business Day following the date that such Black-Out Period or other trading restriction is lifted, terminated or removed.
ARTICLE 6
ADDITIONAL AWARD TERMS
6.1 Dividend Equivalents
(a) Unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the particular Award Agreement, as part of a Participant’s grant of RSUs and in respect of the services provided by the Participant for such original grant, RSUs shall be credited with dividend equivalents in the form of additional RSUs, as applicable, 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: (i) the amount obtained by multiplying the amount of the dividend declared and paid per Share by the number of RSUs held by the Participant on the record date for the payment of such dividend, by (ii) 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 to which they relate, and shall be settled in accordance with Section 5.4.
(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.
6.2 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 an Affiliate 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 an Affiliate of the Corporation, as the case may be. Alternatively, and subject to any requirements or limitations under applicable law, the Corporation 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 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.
6.3 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 and in effect at the Date of Grant of the Award, 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 6.3 to any Participant or category of Participants.
ARTICLE 7
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICES
7.1 Termination of Employment, Services or Director
Subject to Section 7.2, 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 as of the Termination Date shall be immediately forfeited and cancelled as of the Termination Date;
(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 any unvested Options or other Awards held by the Participant as of the Termination Date shall be immediately forfeited and cancelled as of the Termination Date and any vested Options or other Awards held by the Participant as of the Termination Date may be exercised or surrendered to the Corporation by the 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 60 days after the Termination Date. Any Option or other Award that remains unexercised or has not been surrendered to the Corporation by the Participant shall be immediately forfeited upon the termination of such period;
(c) where a Participant becomes Disabled, then any Option or other Award held by the Participant that has not vested as of the date of the Disability of such Participant shall continue to vest in accordance with its terms and may be exercised or surrendered to the Corporation by the Participant at any time during the period that terminates on the earlier of: (A) the Expiry Date of such Award; and (B) the third anniversary of the Participant's date of Disability. Any Option or other Award that remains unexercised or has not been surrendered to the Corporation by the Participant shall be immediately forfeited upon the termination of such period;
(d) where a Participant's employment, consulting agreement or arrangement is terminated by reason of the death of the Participant, then any Option or other Award held by the Participant that has not
vested as of the date of the death of such Participant shall vest on such date and may be exercised or surrendered to the Corporation by the Participant at any time during the period that terminates on the earlier of: (A) the Expiry Date of such Award; and (B) the first anniversary of the date of the death of such Participant. Any Option or other Award that remains unexercised or has not been surrendered to the Corporation by the Participant shall be immediately forfeited upon the termination of such period;
(e) where a Participant's employment, consulting agreement or arrangement is terminated due to Retirement, then any Option or other Award held by the Participant that has not vested as of the date of such Retirement shall continue to vest in accordance with its terms and may be exercised or surrendered to the Corporation by the Participant at any time during the period that terminates on the earlier of: (A) the Expiry Date of such Award; and (B) the third anniversary of the Participant's date of Retirement. Any Option or other Award that remains unexercised or has not been surrendered to the Corporation by the Participant shall be immediately forfeited upon the termination of such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, following his or 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 as of the Commencement Date shall be immediately forfeited and cancelled as of the Commencement Date;
(f) a Participant's eligibility to receive further grants of Options or other Awards under this Plan ceases as of:
(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; and
(g) notwithstanding Subsection 7.1(b), unless the Plan Administrator, in its discretion, otherwise determines, at any time and from time to time, 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.
7.2 Discretion to Permit Acceleration
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.1, 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.
7.3 Participants' Entitlement
Except as otherwise provided in this Plan, Awards previously granted under this Plan are not affected by any change in the relationship between, or ownership of, the Corporation and an Affiliate of the
Corporation. For greater certainty, all grants of Awards remain outstanding and are not affected by reason only that, at any time, an Affiliate of the Corporation ceases to be an Affiliate of the Corporation.
ARTICLE 8
EVENTS AFFECTING THE CORPORATION
8.1 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 8 would have an adverse effect on this Plan or on any Award granted hereunder.
8.2 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) 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 Change in Control, and, to the extent the Plan Administrator determines, terminate upon or immediately prior to the effectiveness of such 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 net of any exercise price payable by the Participant (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 net of any exercise price payable by the Participant, 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 in its sole discretion; or (v) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted under this Subsection 8.2(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 8.2(a)) any property in connection with a Change of 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 purposes of the Tax Act) with the Corporation, as applicable, at the time such rights are issued or granted.
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection 8.2(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 granted under this Plan (other than Options held by Canadian Taxpayers) 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, or in the case of Options held by a Canadian Taxpayer by permitting the Canadian Taxpayer to surrender such Options to the Corporation for an amount for each such Option equal to the fair market value of such Option as determined by the Plan Administrator, acting reasonably, upon the completion of the Change in Control (following which such Options may be cancelled for no consideration).
8.3 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.
8.4 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 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 (if required), authorize such steps to be taken as it may consider to be equitable and appropriate to that end.
8.5 Immediate Acceleration of Awards
In taking any of the steps provided in Sections 8.3 and 8.4, the Plan Administrator will not be required to treat all Awards similarly and where the Plan Administrator determines that the steps provided in Sections 8.3 and 8.4 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.
8.6 Issue by Corporation of Additional Shares
Except as expressly provided in this Article 8, 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 or other entitlements of the Participants under such Awards.
8.7 Fractions
No fractional Shares will be issued pursuant to an Award. Accordingly, (whether as a result of any adjustment under this Article 8, a dividend equivalent or otherwise), 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 9
AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
9.1 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:
(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
(b) any amendments to the Plan or to any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan are subject to applicable Exchange approval, if any.
9.2 Shareholder Approval
Notwithstanding Section 9.1, if required by a Regulatory Authority or by the Plan Administrator, this Plan, and any amendment, modification, or change thereto, may be made subject to the approval of the holders of voting shares of the Corporation as prescribed by the Regulatory Authority. If shareholder approval is required, any Awards granted under this Plan prior to such time will not be exercisable or binding on the Company unless and until such approval is obtained.
9.3 Permitted Amendments
Without limiting the generality of Section 9.1, but subject to Section 9.2, 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 7;
(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;
(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
(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 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 10
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 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 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.
10.2 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.
10.3 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.
10.4 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.
10.5 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.
10.6 Participant Information
Each Participant shall provide the Corporation with all information (including personal information) required by the Corporation in order to administer the Plan (including as to whether the circumstances described in Section 7.1(e) exist). 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.
10.7 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.
10.8 International Participants
With respect to Participants who reside or work outside Canada, the Plan Administrator may, in its 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.
10.9 Successors and Assigns
The Plan shall be binding on all successors and assigns of the Corporation and its subsidiaries.
10.10 General Restrictions on 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.
10.11 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.
10.12 Notices
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:
Greenridge Exploration Inc.
6th Floor – 905 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 1L6 Canada
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
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; provided that in the event of any actual or imminent postal disruption, notices shall be delivered to the appropriate party and not sent by mail. Any notice given by either the Participant or the Corporation is not binding on the recipient thereof until received.
10.13 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.
10.14 Governing Law
This Plan and all matters to which reference is made herein shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the internal laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without reference to conflicts of law rules.
10.15 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.