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Highlander Silver Corp. — AGM Information 2021
Jan 11, 2021
47613_rns_2021-01-11_c1aa0b4d-1ec9-49a0-914e-bc888ec93b5e.pdf
AGM Information
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LIDO MINERALS LTD.
Suite 810 - 789 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC V6C 1H2
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
This Information Circular (the “ Circular ”) accompanies the Notice of the annual general and special meeting (the “ Meeting ”) of the Shareholders of Lido Minerals Ltd. (the “ Company ” or “ Lido ”), and is furnished to Shareholders holding shares of Lido (the “ Shares ”), in connection with the solicitation by the management of Lido of proxies to be voted at the Meeting to be held at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) on February 5, 2021 at Suite 810 - 789 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 1H2 or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
COVID-19
In view of the current and rapidly evolving COVID-19 outbreak, the Company asks that, in considering whether to attend the Meeting in person, shareholders follow the instructions of the Public Health Agency of Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html). The Company encourages Shareholders not to attend the Meeting in person if experiencing any of the described COVID-19 symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing. The Company may take additional precautionary measures in relation to the Meeting in response to further developments in the COVID-19 outbreak. As always, the Company encourages shareholders to vote prior to the Meeting. Shareholders are encouraged to vote on the matters before the meeting by proxy and to join the Meeting by teleconference. To access the Meeting by teleconference, dial toll free at 1-800-319-7310 , Participation Code: 77783 , followed by the # sign.
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS INFORMATION CIRCULAR
The date of this Circular is December 31, 2020. Unless otherwise stated, all amounts herein are in Canadian dollars. The following documents filed by the Company on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com are specifically incorporated by reference into, and form an integral part of, this Circular: the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and the related notes thereto, for the financial years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019; the report of the Company’s auditor thereon; and management’s discussion and analysis related to the above financial statements.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation in connection with any matters described herein other than those contained in this Circular and, if given or made, any such information or representation should be considered not to have been authorized by the Company.
This Circular does not constitute the solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities or the solicitation of a proxy by any person in any jurisdiction in which such solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such solicitation.
Information contained in this Circular should not be construed as legal, tax or financial advice and Shareholders are urged to consult their own professional advisers in connection therewith.
PROXIES AND VOTING RIGHTS
Management Solicitation
The solicitation of proxies by management of the Company will be conducted by mail and may be supplemented by telephone or other personal contact to be made without special compensation by the directors, officers and employees of the Company. Lido does not reimburse Shareholders, nominees or agents for costs incurred in obtaining from their principals authorization to execute forms of proxy, except that has requested brokers and nominees who hold stock in their respective names to furnish the proxy-related materials to their customers, and the Company will reimburse such brokers and nominees for their related out of pocket expenses. No solicitation will be made by specifically engaged employees or soliciting agents. The cost of solicitation will be borne by Lido. No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than as contained in this Circular in connection with the solicitation of proxies.
If given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company. The delivery of this Circular shall not create, under any circumstances, any implication that there has been
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no change in the information set forth herein since the date of this Circular. This Circular does not constitute the solicitation of a proxy by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such solicitation is not authorized, or in which the person making such solicitation is not qualified to do so, or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer of solicitation.
The Company has arranged for intermediaries to forward the Meeting materials to beneficial owners of Shares (the “ Beneficial Shareholders ”) held of record by those intermediaries. The Company has distributed or made available for distribution, copies of the Notice, this Circular and form of proxy to clearing agencies, securities dealers, banks and trust companies or their nominees (collectively, the “ Intermediaries ”) for distribution to Beneficial Shareholders held of record by those Intermediaries. Such Intermediaries are required to forward such documents to the Beneficial Shareholders unless a Beneficial Shareholder has waived the right to receive them. The solicitation of proxies from Beneficial Shareholders will be carried out by the Intermediaries or by Lido if the names and addresses of the Beneficial Shareholders are provided by Intermediaries. Lido will pay the permitted fees and costs of the Intermediaries for reasonable fees and disbursements incurred in connection with the distribution of these materials.
Lido does not intend to pay for Intermediaries to forward to objecting Beneficial Shareholders under NI 54-101 the proxy-related materials and Form 54-101F7 Request for Voting Instructions Made by Intermediary . An objecting Beneficial Shareholder will not receive such materials unless the objecting Beneficial Shareholder’s Intermediary assumes the cost of delivery.
These proxy-related materials are being sent to both registered and non-registered Shareholders. If you are a nonregistered Shareholder, and the Company or its agent has sent these materials directly to you, your name and address and information about your Shares, have been obtained in accordance with applicable securities regulatory requirements from the Intermediary holding on your behalf.
Appointment of Proxy
Registered Shareholders are entitled to vote at the Meeting. On a show of hands, every Shareholder is entitled to one vote for each Share that such Shareholder holds on the record date of December 31, 2020 on the resolutions to be voted upon at the Meeting, and any other matter to come before the Meeting. The list of Registered Shareholders is available for inspection during normal business hours at the offices of National Securities Administrators Ltd. (“ National ”) and will be available at the Meeting.
The persons named as proxyholders (the “ Designated Persons ”) in the enclosed form of proxy are directors and/or officers of Lido.
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 be voted, the completed form of proxy must be received by the Company’s registrar and transfer agent, National at their offices located at 702 – 777 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1S4, by mail, or by fax at 604-5598908, or by email at [email protected], no later than 10:00 a.m. on February 3, 2021 or at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays recognized in the Province of British Columbia) before the time and date of any adjournment or postponement of the Meeting.
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.
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The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy will vote the shares in respect of which they are appointed in accordance with the direction of the Shareholders appointing them. In the absence of such direction, such shares will be voted in the discretion of the person named in the proxy. The enclosed form of proxy confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein with respect to amendments or variations to matters identified in the Notice of Meeting and with respect to other matters which may properly come before the Meeting. At the time of printing of this information circular, management knows of no such amendments, variations or other matters to come before the Meeting. However, if any other matters which are not now known to management should properly come before the Meeting, the proxy will be voted on such matters in accordance with the best judgment of the named proxies.
Revocation of Proxy
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, or (ii) to the Chairman of the Meeting prior to the vote on matters covered by the proxy on the day of the Meeting or, if adjourned or postponed, any reconvening thereof, or (iii) in any other manner provided by law.
Also, a proxy will automatically be revoked by either: (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 Common 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 AND FOR THE NOMINEES OF THE BOARD FOR DIRECTORS AND AUDITOR.
The enclosed form of proxy confers discretionary authority upon the Designated Persons 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 Circular, management of Lido is not aware of any such amendments, variations, or other matters to come before the Meeting.
In the case of abstentions from, or withholding of, the voting of the Shares on any matter, the Shares that are the subject of the abstention or withholding will be counted for determination of a quorum, but will not be counted as affirmative or negative on the matter to be voted upon.
ADVICE TO BENEFICIAL SHAREHOLDERS
The information set out in this section is of significant importance to those Shareholders who do not hold shares in their own name. Beneficial Shareholders who do not hold their shares in their own name 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 to a Shareholder by a broker, then in almost all cases those Shares will not be registered in the Shareholder’s name on the records of the Company. Such Shares will more likely be registered under the names of the Shareholder’s broker or an agent of that broker. In the United States, the vast majority of such Shares are registered under the name of Cede & Co. as nominee for The Depository Trust Company (which acts as depositary for many U.S. brokerage firms and custodian banks), and in Canada, under the name of CDS
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& 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 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 Lido. 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. Beneficial Shareholders are requested to complete and return the voting instructions 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 its 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 broker (or agent of the broker), a Beneficial Shareholder may attend at the Meeting as proxyholder for a 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 proxy well in advance of the Meeting to their broker (or the broker’s agent) in accordance with the instructions provided by such broker (or agent).
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 the Meeting and vote his, her or its Shares.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES
The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares without par value. As of the record date, determined by the Board to be the close of business on December 31, 2020, a total of 13,285,054 Shares were issued and outstanding. Each Share carries the right to one vote at the Meeting.
Only Registered Shareholders as of the record date, December 31, 2020, are entitled to receive notice of, and to attend and vote at, the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Meeting.
To the knowledge of the directors and senior officers of the Company, no person or company beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or exercises control or direction over, Shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to the outstanding Shares of Lido, other than as set forth below:
| Name of Shareholder | Number of Shares Owned | Percentage of Outstanding Shares(1) |
|---|---|---|
| CDS & Co(2) | 7,664,103(3) | 57.69% |
| Joy Hope Group Limited | 2,000,000 | 15.05% |
Notes:
(1) Based on 13,285,054 Shares issued and outstanding as of the date of this Circular.
(2) CDS & CO is a share depository, the beneficial ownership of which is unknown to the Company.
(3) The above information was supplied by the Transfer Agent, as of the record date.
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AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal period ended September 30, 2020, and the report of the auditors on those statements will be placed before the Meeting. Receipt at the Meeting of the audited financial statements of Lido will not constitute approval or disapproval of any matters referred to in those statements. No vote will be taken on the audited financial statements. These audited financial statements are available at www.sedar.com.
Pursuant to National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations and National Instrument 54- 101 Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer , both of the Canadian Securities Administrators, a person or corporation who in the future wishes to receive annual and interim financial statements from Lido must deliver a written request for such material to Lido. Shareholders who wish to receive annual and interim financial statements are encouraged to complete the appropriate section on the Request form attached to this Circular and send it to the transfer agent, National.
NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
The Company’s articles provide for a Board of no fewer than three directors and no greater than a number as fixed or changed from time to time by ordinary resolution passed by the Shareholders.
At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to pass an ordinary resolution to set the number of directors of Lido for the ensuing year at three (3). The number of directors will be approved if the affirmative vote of the majority of Shares present or represented by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote, are voted in favour to set the number of directors at three (3) .
Management recommends the approval of the resolution to set the number of directors of the Company at three (3).
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At present, the directors of Lido are elected at each annual meeting and hold office until the next annual meeting or until their successors are duly elected or appointed in accordance with the Company’s articles or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. In the absence of instructions to the contrary, the enclosed form of proxy will be voted for the nominees listed in the proxy, all of whom are presently members of the Board.
Management of the Company proposes to nominate the persons named in the table below for election by the Shareholders as directors of Lido. Information concerning such persons, as furnished by the individual nominees, as of the date of this Circular, is as follows:
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Periods during which
Name, Province, Country of Principal Occupation Business or Employment Nominee has Served as a Number of Lido
Residence & Position(s) for Last Five Years Director [(1)] Shares Owned [(1)]
WAYNE SOO [(2)] See “Details of Directors Not Previously Elected by Director since 50,000
British Columbia, Canada a Shareholder Vote” below. October 10, 2018
Director
PATRICK See “Details of Directors Not Previously Elected by Director since Nil
O’FLAHERTY [(2)] a Shareholder Vote” below. January 21, 2019
British Columbia, Canada
Director
HANNAH JIN See “Details of Directors Not Previously Elected by Director Nominee Nil
British Columbia, Canada a Shareholder Vote” below.
Director
Total as a group 50,000 Shares (0.38%)
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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. These numbers do not include outstanding stock options or warrants available for exercise.
(2) Audit Committee member.
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DETAILS OF DIRECTORS NOT PREVIOUSLY ELECTED BY A SHAREHOLDER VOTE
Mr. Wayne Soo
Mr. Wayne Soo provides corporate advisory consultant services to both public and private companies, including project management, transaction analysis, financial modelling, document review, due diligence, drafting of internal corporate memos, assisting with the drafting of news releases, as well as professional service provider introductions.
Mr. Patrick O’Flaherty
Mr. O’Flaherty is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Financial Analyst. He also holds a degree in Economics from Union College, in Schenectady, NY. Mr. O’Flaherty has several years of experience in financial services, including public accounting and wealth management. He has worked for a recognized accounting firm and two recognized banking institutions.
Ms. Hannah Jin
Ms. Jin has 15 years of mineral exploration and business development experience specializing in project evaluation, due diligence and valuation analysis of precious and base metal projects. As a geologist, Ms. Jin worked on several grassroots to operating precious metal projects throughout Canada and the United States. As a business development consultant, Ms. Jin has provided business development services to various investors including private and public Canadian Companies, as well as a Shanghai-based Private Equity firm.
Presently, Ms. Jin is a Business Development Geologist for High Power Exploration Inc., a privately owned investment and multi-commodity mineral exploration and development firm. Ms. Jin holds an M.Sc. in geology from Western University and an M.B.A. from the University of British Columbia. She is a registered Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) in British Columbia.
Management recommends the approval of each of the nominees listed above for election as a director of Lido for the ensuing year.
Management does not contemplate that any of its nominees will be unable to serve as directors. If any vacancies occur in the slate of nominees listed above before the Meeting, then the Designated Persons intend to exercise discretionary authority to vote the Shares represented by proxy for the election of any other persons as directors.
Cease Trade Orders and Conflicts of Interest
Other than as described below, to the knowledge of the Company, as of the date hereof, no Nominee is, or has been, within 10 years before the date hereof, a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company (including the Company) that:
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(a) was subject to a cease trade order or similar order or an order that denied the corporation access to any statutory exemptions for a period of more than 30 consecutive days (an “ Order ”), which was issued while the proposed director or executive officer was acting in the capacity as director, CEO or CFO; or
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(b) was subject to an Order that was issued after the director or executive officer ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, CEO or CFO.
On June 19, 2020, the British Columbia Securities Commission (“BCSC”) issued a cease trade order respecting Champignon Brands Inc. (“Champignon”) pursuant to section 164(1) of the Securities Act (British Columbia). Stephen Brohman, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer is the Chief Financial Officer of Champignon. Champignon failed to file business acquisition reports related to its recent significant acquisitions of Artisan Growers Ltd., Novo Formulations Ltd. and Tassili Life Sciences Corp., as required by Part 8 of National Instrument 51- 102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations. The cease trade order was revoked on August 26, 2020. On August 26, 2020, the BCSC issued a cease trade order respecting Champignon to section 164(1) of the Securities Act (British Columbia). Champignon failed to file the disclosure required by section 14.2 of Form 31-102F5 Information Circular for the restructuring transaction between Champignon and AltMed Capital Corp. as required by Part 8 of National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations. As of the date of this Circular, the cease trade order respecting Champignon has not yet been revoked. In addition, the BCSC is conducting a continuous disclosure review of Champignon which remains in progress.
The directors are required by law to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company and to disclose any interests that they may have in any project or opportunity of the Company. If a conflict of interest
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arises at a meeting of the Board, any director in a conflict will disclose his interest and abstain from voting on such matter.
To the best of the Company’s knowledge, and other than disclosed herein, there are no known existing or potential conflicts of interest among the Company, its promoters, directors and officers or other members of management of the Company or of any proposed promoter, director, officer or other member of management as a result of their outside business interests, except that certain of the directors and officers serve as directors and officers of other companies, and therefore it is possible that a conflict may arise between their duties to the Company and their duties as a director or officer of such other companies. All related party transactions during each reporting period are detailed in the Company’s Management Discussion & Analysis for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.
Bankruptcies
To the best of the Company’s knowledge, no proposed director of Lido is, or within ten (10) years before the date of this Circular, has been a director or an executive officer of any company that, while the person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in the capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets or made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcies or insolvency.
Personal Bankruptcies
To the best of the Company’s knowledge, no proposed director of Lido has, within ten (10) years before the date of this 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.
Securities Related Penalties and Sanctions
To the best of the Company’s knowledge, no proposed director has been subject to, or entered into a settlement agreement resulting from:
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(a) a court order relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or
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(b) any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable securityholder in deciding whether to vote for a proposed director.
STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Definitions
“ CEO ” means an individual who acted as chief executive officer of the Company, or acted in a similar capacity, for any part of the most recently completed financial year;
“ CFO ” means an individual who acted as chief financial officer of the Company, or acted in a similar capacity, for any part of the most recently completed financial year;
“ compensation securities ” includes stock options, convertible securities, exchangeable securities and similar instruments including stock appreciation rights, deferred share units and restricted stock units granted or issued by the Company or one of its subsidiaries for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
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“ NEO ” or “ named executive officer ” means each of the following individuals:
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(a) a CEO;
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(b) a CFO;
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(c) in respect of the Company and its subsidiaries, the most highly compensated executive officer other than the individuals identified in paragraphs (a) and (b) at the end of the most recently completed financial year whose total compensation was more than $150,000, as determined in accordance with subsection 1.3(5) of National Instrument 51-102, for that financial year; and
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(d) each individual who would be an NEO under paragraph (c) but for the fact that the individual was neither an executive officer of the Company, nor acting in a similar capacity, at the end of that financial year;
“ option-based award ” means an award under an equity incentive plan of options, including, for greater certainty, share options, share appreciation rights, and similar instruments that have option-like features;
“ plan ” includes any plan, contract, authorization, or arrangement, whether or not set out in any formal document, where cash, securities, similar instruments or any other property may be received, whether for one or more persons;
“ share-based award ” means an award under an equity incentive plan of equity-based instruments that do not have option-like features, including, for greater certainty, common shares, restricted shares, restricted share units, deferred share units, phantom shares, phantom share units, common share equivalent units, and stock; and
“ underlying securities ” means any securities issuable on conversion, exchange or exercise of compensation securities.
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The following table summarizes the compensation paid to the directors and NEOs of Lido for the last two financial years:
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Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities
Salary,
Year consulting fee, Value of all
Ended retainer or Value of other Total
Sept. commission Bonus Committee or perquisites compensation compensation
Name and Position 30 ($) ($) meeting fees ($) ($) ($) ($)
Lucas Birdsall [(1)] 2020 $10,000 $Nil $Nil $Nil $Nil $10,000
Former Director & 2019 $12,000 $Nil $Nil $Nil $Nil $12,000
Former CFO
Stephen Brohman [(2)] 2020 $7,500 $Nil $Nil $Nil $7,433 $14,933
CFO and Corporate 2019 - - - - - -
Secretary
Carl Chow [(3)] 2020 $Nil $Nil $Nil $Nil $Nil $Nil
Director, Former 2019 $Nil $Nil $Nil $Nil $Nil $Nil
CEO and President
Patrick O’Flaherty 2020 $6,000 $Nil $Nil $Nil $Nil $6,000
Director 2019 $4,500 $Nil $Nil $Nil $Nil $4,500
Wayne Soo 2020 $64,000 $Nil $Nil $Nil $7,433 $71,433
Director 2019 $Nil $Nil $Nil $Nil $Nil $Nil
Paul Ténière [(4)] 2020 $6,038 $Nil $Nil $Nil $24,778 $30,816
CEO 2019 - - - - - -
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(1) Mr. Birdsall resigned as Director and as CFO on April 17, 2020.
(2) Mr. Brohman was appointed CFO and Corporate Secretary on April 29, 2020.
(3) Mr. Chow resigned as CEO and President on June 30, 2020.
(4) Mr. Ténière was appointed as CEO on June 30, 2020.
Other than as set forth in the foregoing table, the named executive officers and directors have not received, during the most recently completed financial year, compensation pursuant to any standard arrangement for the compensation of directors for their services in their capacity as directors, including any additional amounts payable for committee participation or special assignments, any other arrangement, in addition to, or in lieu of, any standard arrangement, for the compensation of directors in their capacity as directors, or any arrangement for the compensation of directors for services as consultants or experts.
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities
No compensation securities were granted or issued during the most recently completed financial year.
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No named executive officer or director of the Company exercised any outstanding compensation securities during the most recently completed financial year of the Company.
Stock Option Plans and Other Incentive Plans
The Company adopted a stock option plan on May 11, 2020 (the “Stock Option Plan”) which provides eligible directors, officers, employees and consultants with the opportunity to acquire an ownership interest in the Company and is the basis for the Company’s long-term incentive scheme. The key features of the Stock Option Plan are as follows:
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The maximum number of Shares issuable under the Stock Option Plan shall not exceed 10% of the number of Shares of the Company issued and outstanding as of each award date, inclusive of all Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to previously granted stock options.
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The options have a maximum term of five years from the date of issue.
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Options vest as the board of directors of the Company may determine upon the award of the options.
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The exercise price of options granted under the Stock Option Plan will be determined by the board of directors, but will not be less that the greater of the closing market price of the Company’s Shares on the Exchange on (a) the trading day prior to the date of grant of the options; and (b) the date of grant of the stock options.
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The expiry date of an option shall be the earlier of the date fixed by the Company’s board of directors on the award date, and: (a) in the event of the death of the option holder while he or she is a director or employee (other than an employee performing investor relations activities), 12 months from the date of death of the option holder, or while he or she is a consultant or an employee performing investor relations activities, 30 days from the date of death of the option holder; (b) in the event that the option holder holds his or her option as a director and such option holder ceases to be a director of the Company other than by reason of death, 90 days following the date the option holder ceases to be a director (provided however that if the option holder continues to be engaged by the Company as an employee or consultant, the expiry date shall remain unchanged), unless the option holder ceases to be a director as a result of ceasing to meet the qualifications set forth in section 124 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) or a special resolution passed by the shareholders of the Company pursuant to section 128(3) of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), in which case the expiry date will be the date that the option holder ceases to be a director of the Company; (c) in the event that the option holder holds his or her option as an employee or consultant of the Company (other than an employee or consultant performing investor relations activities) and such option holder ceases to be an employee or consultant of the Company other than by reason of death, 30 days following the date the option holder ceases to be an employee or consultant, unless the option holder ceases to be such as a result of termination for cause or an order of the British Columbia Securities Commission, the Exchange or any regulatory body having jurisdiction to so order, in which case the expiry date shall be the date the option holder ceases to be an employee or consultant of the Company; and (d) in the event that the option holder holds his or her option as an employee or consultant of the Company who provides investor relations activities on behalf of the Company, and such option holder ceases to be an employee or consultant of the Company other than by reason of death, the expiry date shall be the date the option holder ceases to be an employee or consultant of the Company.
The Stock Option Plan may be terminated at any time by resolution of the board of directors, but any such termination will not affect or prejudice rights of participants holding options at that time. If the Stock Option Plan is terminated, outstanding options will continue to be governed by the provisions of the Stock Option Plan. The decision to grant options is made by the Board as a whole, and a grant is approved by directors’ resolutions or at a meeting of the Board. Decisions address vesting, maximum term, number of options, exercise price and method of exercise.
As at the date hereof, the Company does not have any stock options outstanding, nor has the Company issued any stock options since its incorporation. The Company does not currently have any other Incentive Plans.
The Company will not issue any stock options unless such issuance is in accordance with section 2.25 of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions.
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Employment, Consulting and Management Agreements
Other than as set out below, the Company did not enter into any employment, consulting or managements during the most recently completed fiscal year.
The Company entered into a corporate management agreement (the “ Management Agreement ”) dated July 1, 2020 with Partum Advisory Services Corp. (“ Partum ”) to provide management, accounting and administrative services to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Management Agreement for a monthly fee of $5,000 plus applicable taxes and reimbursement of all out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Company. The Management Agreement is for an initial term of 12 months, to be automatically renewed for further 12-month periods, unless either party gives 90 days’ notice of non-renewal, in which case the Management Agreement will terminate. The Management Agreement can be terminated by either party on 90 days’ written notice. It can also be terminated by the Company for cause without prior notice or upon the mutual consent in writing of both parties. If there is a takeover or change of control of the Company resulting in the termination of the Management Agreement, Partum is entitled to receive an amount equal to 6 months of fees payable as a lump sum payment due on the day after the termination date.
Partum was not indebted to the Company during the Company’s last completed financial year, and the Management Agreement remains in effect.
During the most recently completed financial year, the Company paid or accrued a total $332,524 in management, consulting and accounting fees.
Subsequent to the year end, the Company entered into a management agreement (the “CEO Agreement”) dated October 1, 2020 with Paul Ténière to provide the services of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to the Company in accordance with the terms of the CEO Agreement for a monthly fee of $3,500 plus applicable taxes and reimbursement of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Company. The CEO Agreement is for an initial term of 9 months, to be re-negotiated at the discretion of the consultant and the Company for a longer-term agreement following completion of the initial term. Under the Terms of the CEO Agreement, the consultant is also entitled to receive 50,000 stock options that vest quarterly over a period of 12 months and 250,000 common shares that vest quarterly over a period of 12 months. The consultant will be entitled to participate in other monetary incentive programs that may be established by the Company from time to time, at the discretion of the board of directors. The consultant may terminate the CEO Agreement on one month’s notice to the Company and at any time after 90 days following the date on which there is a change of control. The Company may terminate the CEO Agreement at any time without notice upon a material breach of the agreement, on one month’s notice and equivalent pay to the consultant, and vesting of all common stock, options and cash bonus as applicable or upon a change of control.
Oversight and Description of Named Executive Officer and Director Compensation
The Board is responsible for determining, by way of discussions at board meetings, the compensation to be paid to the Company’s executive officers. Lido at this time does not have a formal compensation program with specific performance goals; however, the performance of each executive is considered along with the Company’s ability to pay compensation and its results of operation for the period. The Company presently has two NEOs, Paul Ténière and Stephen Brohman. Mr. Ténière has served as CEO of Lido since June 30, 2020 and Mr. Brohman has served as CFO and Corporate Secretary of Lido since April 29, 2020.
The Company’s executive compensation is currently comprised of a base fee or salary. Base fees or salaries are intended to provide current compensation and a short-term incentive for the NEO to meet the Company’s goals, as well as to remain competitive with the industry. Base fees or salaries are compensation for job responsibilities and reflect the level of skills, expertise and capabilities demonstrated by the NEO.
Compensation is designed to achieve the following key objectives:
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(a) to support our overall business strategy and objectives;
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(b) to provide market competitive compensation that is substantially performance-based;
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(c) to provide incentives that encourage superior corporate performance and retention of highly skilled and talented employees; and
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(d) to align executive compensation with corporate performance and therefore Shareholders’ interests.
-
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INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
No person who is, or at any time during the two most recently completed financial years was, a director or executive officer of the Company, a proposed nominee for election as a director of the Company, or an associate of any of the foregoing individuals, has been indebted to the Company at any time since the commencement of the Company’s last completed financial year.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
Except as otherwise disclosed in this Circular, no: (a) director, proposed director or executive officer of Lido; (b) person or company who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, Shares or who exercises control or direction of Shares, or a combination of both carrying more than ten percent of the voting rights attached to the outstanding Shares (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 Lido, except with an interest arising from the ownership of Shares where such person or company will receive no extra or special benefit or advantage not shared on a pro rata basis by all Shareholders.
AUDIT COMMITTEE DISCLOSURE
National Instrument 52-110 of the Canadian Securities Administrators (“ NI 52110 ”) requires the Company, as a venture issuer, to disclose annually in its Circular certain information concerning the constitution of its Audit Committee and its relationship with its independent auditor.
The Audit Committee Charter
Lido adopted an audit committee charter on January 31, 2019, the text of which is included as Schedule “A” to this Circular.
Composition of the Audit Committee
As of the date of this Circular, the following are the members of the Audit Committee:
| Audit Committee Members | ||
|---|---|---|
| Carl Chow | Not Independent | Financially literate |
| Patrick O’Flaherty (Chair) | Independent | Financially literate |
| Wayne Soo | Independent | Financially literate |
Relevant Education and Experience
In addition to each member’s general business experience, the education and experience of each member that is relevant to the performance of his responsibilities as a member of the Audit Committee is as follows:
Carl Chow Mr. Carl Chow served on the board of directors for a Singapore domiciled company, Interact Investments Inc., from 2010 to 2015. Mr. Chow held a position as an Investor Relations senior manager for New Age Financing Limited, from 2006 until 2009. His role and responsibilities were composed of liaising with start-up companies and locating strategic Venture Capital funding. Prior to this position he served as CEO and director of Meadow Springs, Inc. Mr. Chow completed a diploma in Financial Management from the British Columbia Institution of Technology.
Patrick O’Flaherty Mr. O’Flaherty is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Financial Analyst. He also holds a degree in Economics from Union College, in Schenectady, NY. Mr. O’Flaherty has several years of experience in financial services, including public accounting and wealth management. He has worked for a recognized accounting firm and two recognized banking institutions.
Wayne Soo Mr. Wayne Soo is equipped with a robust suite of managerial, operational and financial capabilities; cultivated from experience in a diverse cross-section of industries. Mr. Soo has owned and operated numerous private entities including general contractors and custom glass installation firms. Mr. Soo specializes in optimizing logistical
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efficiencies and business development activities. An avid investor, Mr. Soo is well versed within the capital markets and has extensive experience evaluating publicly traded companies.
Audit Committee Oversight
Since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, the Board has not failed to adopt a recommendation of the Audit Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor.
Reliance on Certain Exemptions
At no time since the commencement of our most recently completed financial year, have we relied on the exemption in sections 2.4 (De Minimis Non-audit Services), 3.2 (Initial Public Offerings), 3.4 (Events Outside Control of Member), 3.5 (Death, Disability or Resignation of Audit Committee Member) of NI 52- 110, or an exemption from NI 52-110, in whole or in part, granted under Part 8 of NI 52-110.
Reliance on the Exemption in Subsection 3.3(2) or Section 3.6
At no time since the commencement of our most recently completed financial year, have we relied on the exemption in subsection 3.3(2) (Controlled Companies) or section 3.6 (Temporary Exemption for Limited and Exception Circumstances) of NI 52-110.
Reliance on Section 3.8
At no time since the commencement of our most recently completed financial year, have we relied on section 3.8 (Acquisition of Financial Literacy) of NI 52-110.
Reliance on Section 6.1
Pursuant to section 6.1 of NI 52-110, as a venture issuer we are relying on the exemption from the audit committee composition requirements and certain reporting obligations found in Parts 3 and 5 of NI 52-110.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has adopted specific policies and procedures for the engagement of non-audit services as described in the Audit Committee Charter under the heading “External Auditors”.
External Auditor Service Fees
In the following table, “audit fees” are fees billed by the Company’s external auditor for services provided in auditing the Company’s annual financial statements for the subject year. “Audit-Related Fees” are fees not included in audit fees that are billed by the Auditor for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit review of the Company’s financial statements. “Tax Fees” are fees billed by the auditor for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. “All Other Fees” are fees billed by the Auditor for products and services not included in the foregoing categories.
The aggregate fees billed by the Auditor in the last two fiscal years, by category, are as set out in the table below.
| Financial Year Ended Sept. 30 |
Audit Fees ($) |
Audit-Related Fees ($) |
Tax Fees ($) |
All Other Fees ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $15,000 | $6,500 | $900 | $Nil |
| 2019 | $14,710 | $2,700 | $1,500 | $Nil |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Maintaining a high standard of corporate governance is a priority for the Board and the Company’s management believes that effective corporate governance will help create and maintain shareholder value in the long term. A description of Lido’s corporate governance practices, which addresses the matters set out in National Instrument 58101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices , is set out below.
Board of Directors
The Board facilitates its exercise of independent supervision over the Company’s management through frequent meetings of the Board.
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Independence of Directors
As a venture issuer, Lido is exempt from the independence requirements of NI 52-110, Part 3. Patrick O’Flaherty and Wayne Soo are not officers or employees of Lido or of an affiliate of Lido.
Carl Chow is not considered to be independent as defined in NI 52-110 as he is a former executive officer of the Company.
Directorships
The current directors of the Company and each of the individuals to be nominated for election as a director of Lido at the Meeting may serve as a director or officer of one or more other reporting issuers as at the date of this Notice of Meeting and Circular. However, our directors are required by law to act honestly and in good faith with a view to our best interests and to disclose any interests which they may have in any of our projects or opportunities. If a conflict of interest arises at a meeting of the Board, any director in a conflict will disclose his interest and abstain from voting on such matter. In determining whether or not we will participate in any project or opportunity, that director will primarily consider the degree of risk to which we may be exposed and our financial position at that time.
To the best of our knowledge, there are no known existing or potential conflicts of interest among us and our promoters, directors, officers or other members of management as a result of their outside business interests except that certain of the directors, officers, promoters and other members of management serve as directors, officers, promoters and members of management of other public companies, and therefore it is possible that a conflict may arise between their duties as a director, officer, promoter or member of management of such other companies.
Orientation and Continuing Education
The Board briefs all new directors with respect to the policies of the Board and other relevant corporate and business information. The Board does not provide any continuing education, but does encourage directors to individually and as a group keep themselves informed on changing corporate governance and legal issues. Directors are individually responsible for updating their skills as required to meet their obligations as directors. In addition, the Board undertakes strategic planning sessions with management.
Ethical Business Conduct
The Board has found that the fiduciary duties placed on individual directors by the Company’s governing corporate legislation and the common law of Canada and the restrictions placed by applicable corporate legislation on an individual director’s participation in decisions of the Board in which the director has an interest have been sufficient to ensure that the Board operates independently of management and in the best interests of Lido.
Nomination of Directors
The Board is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to become new Board members and recommending to the Board new director nominees for the next annual meeting of Shareholders.
New nominees must have a track record in general business management, special expertise in an area of strategic interest to Lido, the ability to devote the required time, show support for the Company’s mission and strategic objectives, and a willingness to serve.
Compensation
The Board conducts reviews with regard to the compensation of the directors and CEO once a year. To make its recommendations on such compensation, the Board informally takes into account the types of compensation and the amounts paid to directors and officers of comparable publicly traded Canadian companies.
At present, no compensation is paid to the directors of the Company in their capacity as directors. The Board does not currently have a compensation committee.
Other Board Committees
The Board has no other committees other than the Audit Committee.
Assessments
The Board regularly monitors the adequacy of information given to directors, communications between the Board and management and the strategic direction and processes of the Board and its committees. The Board is currently responsible for assessing its own effectiveness, the effectiveness of individual directors and the effectiveness of the Audit Committee.
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INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS OR COMPANIES IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Except as disclosed elsewhere in this Circular, no director or executive officer of the Company who was a director or executive officer since the beginning of the Company’s last financial year, each proposed nominee for election as a director of Lido, or any associate or affiliates of any such directors, officers or nominees, has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of Shares or other securities in Lido or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Meeting other than the election of directors.
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to pass an ordinary resolution re-appointing Dale Matherson Carr-Hilton Labonte LLP as the auditor to hold office until the next annual meeting of the Shareholders or until such firm is removed from office or resigns as provided by law and to authorize the Board to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditor. Dale Matherson Carr-Hilton Labonte LLP, of Vancouver, British Columbia has served as the auditor for Lido since October 16, 2018.
Management recommends that Shareholders vote for the approval of the re-appointment of Dale Matherson Carr-Hilton Labonte LLP as the auditor for Lido for the ensuing year at a remuneration to be fixed by the Board.
PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
APPROVAL OF THE STOCK OPTION PLAN
At the Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to consider, and if thought advisable, to approve by way of ordinary resolution, approval of a 10% rolling stock option plan (the “ Stock Option Plan ”), a copy of which is attached hereto as Schedule “B”.
Accordingly, at the Meeting, Shareholders are being asked to consider and, if thought advisable, approve an ordinary resolution in the following form:
“BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
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(1) the Stock Option Plan of the Company, substantially in the form attached at Schedule “B” to the Circular of the Company dated May 11, 2020, be and the same is hereby ratified, confirmed and approved;
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(2) any director or officer be and is hereby authorized to amend the Stock Option Plan should such amendments be required by applicable regulatory authorities; and
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(3) any one director or officer of the Company be and is hereby authorized and directed to do all such things and to execute and deliver all documents and instruments as may be necessary or desirable to carry out the terms of this resolution.”
Management recommends that shareholders vote in favour of the approval of the Stock Option Plan. To be adopted, this resolution is required to be passed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information relating to Lido is available at www.sedar.com under the Company’s profile. Shareholders may contact the Company at its head office by mail at Suite 810, 789 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 1H2, to request copies of the Company’s financial statements and related Management’s Discussion and Analysis (the “ MD&A ”). Financial information is provided in the audited financial statements and MD&A for Lido for its year ended September 30, 2020.
OTHER MATTERS
Management of Lido knows of no other matters to come before the Meeting other than those referred to in the Notice of Meeting included at the beginning of this Circular. However, if any other matters that are not known to management
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should properly come before the Meeting, the accompanying form of proxy confers discretionary authority upon the persons named in the proxy to vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board has authorized and approved the content of this Circular has been approved and the delivery of it to each Shareholder of Lido entitled to receive it and to the appropriate regulatory agencies.
Dated at Vancouver, British Columbia as of the December 31, 2020
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF LIDO MINERALS LTD.
Paul Ténière Chief Executive Officer
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SCHEDULE "A" AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
Lido Minerals Ltd.
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
PURPOSE
The overall purpose of the Audit Committee (the "Committee") of Lido Minerals Ltd. ' Corp. (the "Company") is to ensure that the Company s management has designed and implemented an effective system of internal financial controls to review and report on the integrity of the financial statements and related financial disclosure 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 financial information. It is the intention of the Board that through the involvement of the Committee, the external audit will be conducted independently of the Company's Management to ensure that the independent auditors serve the interests of Shareholders rather than the interests of Management of the Company. The Committee will act as a liaison to provide better communication between the Board and the external auditors. The Committee will monitor the independence and performance of the Company's independent auditors.
COMPOSITION, PROCEDURES AND ORGANIZATION
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The Committee shall consist of at least three members of the Board of Directors (the "Board").
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At least two (2) members of the Committee shall be independent and the Committee shall endeavour to appoint a majority of independent directors to the Committee who, in the opinion of the Board, would be free from a relationship which would interfere with the exercise of the Committee members' independent judgment. At least one (1) member of the Committee shall have accounting or related financial management expertise. All members of the Committee that are not financially literate will work towards becoming financially literate to obtain a working familiarity with basic finance and accounting practices applicable to the Company. For the purposes of this Charter, an individual is financially literate if he or she has the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Company's financial statements.
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The Board, at its organizational meeting held in conjunction with each annual general meeting of the shareholders, shall appoint the members of the Committee for the ensuing year. The Board may, at any time, remove or replace any member of the Committee and may fill any vacancy in the Committee.
1
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Unless the Board shall have appointed a chair of the Committee, the members of the Committee shall elect a chair and a secretary from among their number.
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The quorum for meetings shall be a majority of the members of the Committee, present in person, by telephone or other telecommunication device that permits all persons participating in the meeting to speak and to hear each other.
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The Committee shall have access to such officers and employees of the Company, to the Company's external auditors and to such information respecting the Company, as it considers to be necessary or advisable in order to perform its duties and responsibilities.
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Meetings of the Committee shall be conducted as follows:
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(a) The Committee shall meet at least four times annually at such times and at such locations as may be requested by the chair of the Committee. The external auditors or any member of the Committee may request a meeting of the Committee;
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(b) the external auditors shall receive notice of and have the right to attend all meetings of the Committee; and
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(c) management representatives may be invited to attend all meetings except private sessions with the external auditors.
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The internal auditors and the external auditors shall have a direct line of communication to the Committee through its chair and may bypass management if deemed necessary. The Committee, through its chair, may contact directly any employee in the Company as it deems necessary and any employee may bring before the Committee any matter involving questionable, illegal or improper financial practices or transactions.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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The overall duties and responsibilities of the Committee shall be as follows:
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(a) to assist the Board in the discharge of its responsibilities relating to the Company's accounting principles, reporting practices and internal controls and its approval of the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and related financial disclosure;
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(b) to establish and maintain a direct line of communication with the Company's internal and external auditors and assess their performance;
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(c) to ensure that the management of the Company has designed, implemented and is
2
maintaining an effective system of internal financial controls; and
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(d) to report regularly to the Board on the fulfillment of its duties and responsibilities.
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The duties and responsibilities of the Committee as they relate to the external auditors shall be as follows:
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(a) to recommend to the Board a firm of external auditors to be engaged by the Company, and to verify the independence of such external auditors;
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(b) to review and approve the fee, scope and timing of the audit and other related services rendered by the external auditors;
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(c) to review the audit plan of the external auditors prior to the commencement of the audit;
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(d) to review and/ or discuss with the external auditors, upon completion of their audit:
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(i) the non-audit services provided by the external auditors;
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(ii) the quality and not just the acceptability of the Company's accounting principles; and
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(iii) the implementation of structures and procedures to ensure that the Committee meets the external auditors on a regular basis in the absence of management.
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The duties and responsibilities of the Committee as they relate to the internal control procedures of the Company are to:
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(a) review the appropriateness and effectiveness of the Company's policies and business practices which impact on the financial integrity of the Company, including those relating to internal auditing, insurance, accounting, information services and systems and financial controls, management reporting and risk management;
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(b) review compliance under the Company's business conduct and ethics policies and to periodically review these policies and recommend to the Board changes which the Committee may deem appropriate;
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(c) review any unresolved issues between management and the external auditors that could affect the financial reporting or internal controls of the Company; and
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(d) periodically review the Company's financial and auditing procedures and the extent to which recommendations made by the internal audit staff or by the external auditors have
3
been implemented.
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The Committee is also charged with the responsibility to:
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(a) review the Company's quarterly statements of earnings, including the impact of unusual items and changes in accounting principles and estimates and report to the Board with respect thereto;
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(b) review and approve the financial sections of:
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(i) the annual report to Shareholders;
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(ii) the annual information form, if required;
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(iii) annual and interim MD&A;
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(iv) prospectuses;
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(v) news releases discussing financial results of the Company; and
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(vi) other public reports of a financial nature requiring approval by the Board,
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(vii) and report to the Board with respect thereto;
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(c) review regulatory filings and decisions as they relate to the Company's financial statements;
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(d) review the appropriateness of the policies and procedures used in the preparation of the Company's financial statements and other required disclosure documents and consider recommendations for any material change to such policies;
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(e) review and report on the integrity of the Company's financial statements;
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(f) review the minutes of any audit committee meeting of subsidiary companies;
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(g) review with management, the external auditors and, if necessary, with legal counsel any litigation, claim or other contingency, including tax assessments that could have a material effect upon the financial position or operating results of the Company and the manner in which such matters have been disclosed in the financial statements;
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(h) review the Company's compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements as they relate to financial statements, tax matters and disclosure of financial information; and
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(i) develop a calendar of activities to be undertaken by the Committee for each ensuing year and to submit the calendar in the appropriate format to the Board of Directors following each annual general meeting of shareholders.
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The Committee shall have the authority:
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(a) to engage independent counsel and other advisors as it determines necessary to carry out its duties,
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(b) to set and pay the compensation for any advisors employed by the Committee; and
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(c) to communicate directly with the internal and external auditors.
5
SCHEDULE "B" STOCK OPTION PLAN
Schedule B
LIDO MINERALS LTD.
STOCK OPTION PLAN
MAY 11, 2020
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
1.1 DEFINITIONS
As used herein, unless anything in the subject matter or context is inconsistent therewith, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“ Administrator ” means such director or other senior officer or employee of the Company as may be designated as Administrator by the Board from time to time;
“Award Date ” means the date on which the Board grants and announces a particular Option;
“Board ” means the board of directors of the Company;
“Company ” means Lido Minerals Ltd. and any subsidiary thereof (within the meaning of the Securities Act), as the context may apply;
“ Consultant ” means an individual (or a company wholly owned by the individual) who (i) provides, on a bona fide basis, ongoing consulting, technical, management or other services to the Company; (ii) spends a significant amount of time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company; and (iii) has a relationship with the Company that enables the individual to be knowledgeable about the business and affairs of the Company;
“Director ” means directors, senior officers and Management Company Employees of the Company;
“ Employee ” means (i) an individual considered an employee under the Income Tax Act , Canada (i.e. for whom income tax and other deductions are made by the Company); (ii) an individual who works full-time for the Company providing services normally provided by an employee of the Company but for whom income tax and other deductions are not made by the Company; (iii) an individual who works for the Company on a continuing and regular basis for a minimum amount of time per week, but for whom income tax and other deductions are not made by the Company; and (iv) other persons who are providing, have provided, or have agreed to provide a service of value to the Company;
“ Exchange ” means the Canadian Securities Exchange, or such other exchange upon which the Company, Shares may be listed for trading from time to time;
“ Exercise Notice ” means the notice respecting the exercise of an Option, in the form set out as Schedule “B” hereto, duly executed by the Option Holder;
“Exercise Period ” means the period during which a particular Option may be exercised, being the period from and including the Award Date through to and including the Expiry Date;
“ Exercise Price ” means the price at which an Option may be exercised as determined in accordance with section 3.5;
“Expiry Date ” means the date determined in accordance with section 3.3 and after which a particular Option cannot be exercised;
“Insider” means a Director or senior officer of the Company, a director or senior officer of a company that is an Insider or subsidiary of the Company, or a person that beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, voting shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding voting shares of the Company;
“ Management Company Employee ” means an individual employed by a company providing
Lido Minerals Ltd. – Stock Option Plan
Page 1 of 7
management services to the Company, which are required for the ongoing successful operation of the business enterprise of the Company, but excluding a person engaged in investor relations activities;
“ Option ” means an option to acquire Shares, awarded to a Director, Employee or Consultant pursuant to the Plan;
“ Option Certificate ” means the certificate, substantially in the form set out as Schedule “A” hereto, evidencing an Option;
“ Option Holder ” means a current or former Director, Employee or Consultant who holds an unexercised and unexpired Option or, where applicable, the Personal Representative of such person;
“ Personal Representative ” means (i) in the case of a deceased Option Holder, the executor or administrator of the deceased duly appointed by a court or public authority having jurisdiction to do so; and (ii) in the case of an Option Holder who for any reason is unable to manage his or her affairs, the person entitled by law to act on behalf of such Option Holder;
“Plan ” means this stock option plan;
“Securities Act ” means the Securities Act (British Columbia); and
“Share ” or “ Shares ” means, as the case may be, one or more common shares without par value in the capital of the Company.
1.2 CHOICE OF LAW
The Plan is established under, and the provisions of the Plan shall be interpreted and construed solely in accordance with, the laws of the Province of British Columbia.
1.3 HEADINGS
The headings used herein are for convenience only and are not to affect the interpretation of the Plan.
ARTICLE II PURPOSE AND PARTICIPATION
2.1 PURPOSE
The purpose of the Plan is to provide the Company with a Share-related mechanism to attract, retain and motivate Directors, Employees and Consultants, to reward such of those persons by the grant of options under the Plan by the Board from time to time for their contributions toward the long term goals of the Company and to enable and encourage such persons to acquire Shares as long term investments.
2.2 PARTICIPATION
The Board shall, from time to time, in its sole discretion determine those Directors, Employees and Consultants, if any, to whom Options are to be awarded. If the Board elects to award an Option to a Director, the Board shall, in its sole discretion but subject to section 3.2, determine the number of Shares to be acquired on the exercise of such Option. If the Board elects to award an Option to an Employee or Consultant, the number of Shares to be acquired on the exercise of such Option shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion, and in so doing the Board may take into account the following criteria:
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(a) the person’s remuneration as at the Award Date in relation to the total remuneration payable by the Company to all of its Employees and Consultants as at the Award Date;
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(b) the length of time that the person has provided services to the Company; and
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- (c) the nature and quality of work performed by the person.
2.3 NOTIFICATION OF AWARD
Following the approval by the Board of the awarding of an Option, the Administrator shall notify the Option Holder in writing of the award and shall enclose with such notice the Option Certificate representing the Option so awarded.
2.4 COPY OF PLAN
Each Option Holder, concurrently with the notice of the award of the Option, shall be provided with a copy of this Plan. A copy of any amendment to the Plan shall be promptly provided by the Administrator to each Option Holder.
2.5 LIMITATION
This Plan does not give any Option Holder who is a Director the right to serve or continue to serve as a Director, nor does it give any Option Holder who is an Employee or Consultant the right to be or to continue to be employed or engaged by the Company.
ARTICLE III TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS
3.1 BOARD TO ALLOT SHARES
The Shares to be issued to Option Holders upon the exercise of Options shall be allotted and authorized for issuance by the Board prior to the exercise thereof.
3.2 NUMBER OF SHARES
The maximum number of Shares issuable under the Plan shall not exceed 10% of the number of Shares of the Company issued and outstanding as of each Award Date, inclusive of all Shares presently reserved for issuance pursuant to previously granted stock options.
Options that have been cancelled or that have expired without being exercised in full shall continue to be issuable under the Plan.
3.3 TERM OF OPTION
Subject to section 3.4, the Expiry Date of an Option shall be the date so fixed by the Board at the time the particular Option is awarded, provided that such date shall not be later than the fifth anniversary of the Award Date of the Option.
3.4 TERMINATION OF OPTION
An Option Holder may exercise an Option in whole or in part at any time or from time to time during the Exercise Period provided that, with respect to the exercise of part of an Option, the Board may at any time and from time to time fix limits, vesting requirements or restrictions in respect of which an Option Holder may exercise part of any Option held by him. Any Option or part thereof not exercised within the Exercise Period shall terminate and become null, void and of no effect as of 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the Expiry Date. The Expiry Date of an Option shall be the earlier of the date so fixed by the Board on the Award Date, and the date established, if applicable, in subsections (a) to (c) below.
(a) Death
In the event that the Option Holder should die while he or she is still (i) a Director or Employee
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(other than an Employee performing investor relations activities), the Expiry Date shall be 12 months from the date of death of the Option Holder; or (ii) a Consultant, or an Employee performing investor relations activities, the Expiry Date shall be the 30th day from the date of death of the Option Holder.
(b)
Ceasing to Hold Office
In the event that the Option Holder holds his or her Option as Director and such Option Holder ceases to be a Director of the Company other than by reason of death, the Expiry Date of the Option shall be the 90th day following the date the Option Holder ceases to be a Director of the Company unless the Option Holder continues to be engaged by the Company as an Employee or Consultant, in which case the Expiry Date shall remain unchanged; however, if the Option Holder ceases to be a Director of the Company as a result of:
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(i) ceasing to meet the qualifications set forth in s.124 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia); or
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(ii) a special resolution having been passed by the members of the Company pursuant to subsection 128(3) of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia),
then the Expiry Date shall be the date the Option Holder ceases to be a Director of the Company.
(c) Ceasing to be Employed
In the event that the Option Holder holds his or her Option as an Employee or Consultant of the Company (other than an Employee or Consultant performing investor relations activities) and such Option Holder ceases to be an Employee or Consultant of the Company other than by reason of death, the Expiry Date of the Option shall be the 30[th] day following the date the Option Holder ceases to be an Employee or Consultant of the Company unless the Option Holder ceases to be such as a result of:
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(i) termination for cause; or
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(ii) on order of the British Columbia Securities Commission, the Exchange, or any regulatory body having jurisdiction to so order,
in which case the Expiry Date shall be the date the Option Holder ceases to be an Employee or Consultant of the Company.
(d) Ceasing to Perform Investor Relations Activities
Notwithstanding paragraph (c) immediately above, in the event that the Option Holder holds his or her Option as an Employee or Consultant of the Company who provides investor relations activities on behalf of the Company, and such Option Holder ceases to be an Employee or Consultant of the Company other than by reason of death, the Expiry Date shall be the date the Option Holder ceases to be an Employee or Consultant of the Company.
3.5 EXERCISE PRICE
The Exercise Price shall be that price per Share, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, and announced as of the Award Date, at which an Option Holder may purchase a Share upon the exercise of an Option, provided that it shall not be less than the greater of the closing market price of the Company’s Shares traded through the facilities of the Exchange (or, if the Shares are no longer listed for trading on the Exchange, then such other exchange or quotation system on which the Shares are listed or quoted for trading) on (a) the day prior to the Award Date; and (b) the Award Date.
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3.6 ASSIGNMENT OF OPTIONS
Options may not be assigned or transferred, and all Option Certificates will be so legended, provided however that the Personal Representatives of an Option Holder may, to the extent permitted by section 4.1, exercise the Option within the Exercise Period.
3.7 ADJUSTMENTS
If prior to the complete exercise of any Option, any of the following events should occur:
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i) any reduction in the number of shares of the Company due to consolidation thereof;
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ii) any increase in the number of shares of the Company outstanding due to subdivision thereof; and
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iii) any reclassification of the shares of the Company.
an appropriate adjustment shall be made in the number or kind of shares issuable with respect to the unexercised portion of the Option, in accordance with such reduction, increase or reclassification of shares, subsequent to any such change in the number or kind of outstanding shares becoming effective.
No fractional Shares shall be issued upon the exercise of the Options and accordingly, if as a result of the Event an Option Holder would become entitled to a fractional share, such Option Holder shall have the right to purchase only the next lowest whole number of shares and no payment or other adjustment will be made with respect to the fractional interest so disregarded. Additionally, no lots of Shares in an amount less than 500 Shares shall be issued upon the exercise of the Options unless such amount of Shares represents the balance left to be exercised under the Options.
3.8 EXERCISE RESTRICTIONS
The Board may, at the time an Option is awarded or upon renegotiation of the same, attach restrictions relating to the exercise of the Option, including vesting provisions. Any such restrictions shall be recorded on the applicable Option Certificate.
ARTICLE IV EXERCISE OF OPTION
4.1 EXERCISE OF OPTION
An Option may be exercised only by the Option Holder or his Personal Representative. An Option Holder or his Personal Representative may exercise an Option in whole or in part, subject to any applicable exercise restrictions, at any time or from time to time during the Exercise Period up to 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the Expiry Date by delivering to the Administrator an Exercise Notice, the applicable Option Certificate and a certified cheque or bank draft payable to the Company in an amount equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option.
4.2 ISSUE OF SHARE CERTIFICATES
As soon as practicable following the receipt of the Exercise Notice, the Administrator shall cause to be delivered to the Option Holder a certificate for the Shares so purchased. If the number of Shares so purchased is less than the number of Shares subject to the Option Certificate surrendered, the Administrator shall forward a new Option Certificate to the Option Holder concurrently with delivery of the aforesaid share certificate for the balance of the Shares available under the Option.
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4.3 CONDITION OF ISSUE
The issue of Shares by the Company pursuant to the exercise of an Option is subject to this Plan and compliance with the laws, rules and regulations of all regulatory bodies applicable to the issuance and distribution of such Shares and to the listing requirements of the Exchange or any other stock exchange or exchanges on which the Shares may be listed. The Option Holder agrees to comply with all such laws, rules and regulations and agrees to furnish to the Company any information, report and/or undertakings required to comply with and to fully cooperate with the Company in complying with such laws, rules and regulations.
4.4 MONITORING OF TRADES
An Option Holder who performs investor relations activities shall provide written notice to the Board of each of his trades of securities of the Company within five business days of each trade.
ARTICLE V ADMINISTRATION
5.1 ADMINISTRATION
The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator on the instructions of the Board or such committee of the Board formed in respect of matters relating to the Plan. The Board or such committee may make, amend and repeal at any time and from time to time such regulations not inconsistent with this Plan as it may deem necessary or advisable for the proper administration and operation of this Plan and such regulations shall form part of this Plan. The Board may delegate to the Administrator or any Director, Employee or officer of the Company such administrative duties and powers as it may see fit.
5.2 INTERPRETATION
The interpretation by the Board or its authorized committee of any of the provisions of this Plan and any determination by it pursuant thereto shall be final and conclusive and shall not be subject to any dispute by any Option Holder. No member of the Board or any person acting pursuant to authority delegated by the Board hereunder shall be liable for any action or determination in connection with this Plan made or taken in good faith and each member of the Board and each such person shall be entitled to indemnification with respect to any such action or determination in the manner provided for by the Company.
ARTICLE VI APPROVALS, AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION
6.1 APPROVALS REQUIRED FOR PLAN
Prior to its implementation by the Company, this Plan is subject to the receipt of approval by the Board and, if applicable, approval of the Exchange.
6.2 PROSPECTIVE AMENDMENT
Subject to applicable regulatory approval, the Board may from time to time amend this Plan and the terms and conditions of any Option thereafter to be awarded and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, may make such amendments for the purpose of meeting any changes in any relevant law, rule or regulation applicable to this Plan, any Option or the Shares, or for any other purpose which may be permitted by all relevant laws, rules and regulations, provided always that any such amendment shall not alter the terms or conditions of any Option or impair any right of any Option Holder pursuant to any Option awarded prior to such amendment.
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6.3 RETROACTIVE AMENDMENT
Subject to applicable regulatory approval, the Board may from time to time retroactively amend this Plan.
6.4 TERMINATION
The Board may terminate this Plan at any time provided that such termination shall not alter the terms or conditions of any Option or impair any right of any Option Holder pursuant to any Option awarded prior to the date of such termination and notwithstanding such termination the Company, such Options and such Option Holders shall continue to be governed by the provisions of this Plan.
6.5 AGREEMENT
The Company and every person to whom an Option is awarded hereunder shall be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.
ARTICLE VII CANADIAN TAX WITHHOLDING
7.1 The Company may withhold from any amount payable to an Optionee, either under this Plan or otherwise, such amount as may be necessary to enable the Company to comply with the applicable requirements of any Canadian federal, provincial or local law, or any administrative policy of any applicable tax authority, relating to the withholding of tax or any other required deductions with respect to awards hereunder (“ Withholding Obligations ”). The Company shall also have the right in its discretion to satisfy any liability for any Withholding Obligations by selling, or causing a broker to sell, on behalf of any Optionee such number of Shares issued to the Optionee upon the exercise of Options granted hereunder sufficient to fund the Withholding Obligations (after deducting commissions payable to the broker) or retaining any amount payable which would otherwise be delivered, provided or paid to the Optionee hereunder. The Company may require an Optionee, as a condition to exercise of an Option, to make such arrangements as the Company may require so that the Company can satisfy applicable Withholding Obligations, including, without limitation, require the Optionee to:
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(a) remit the amount of any such Withholding Obligations to the Company in advance;
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(b) reimburse the Company for any such Withholding Obligations; or
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(c) cause a broker who sells Shares acquired by the Optionee under the Plan on behalf of the Optionee to withhold from the proceeds realized from such sale the amount required to satisfy any such Withholding Obligations and to remit such amount directly to the Company.
Any Shares of an Optionee which are sold by the Company, or by a broker engaged by the Company (the “ Broker ”), to fund Withholding Obligations will be sold as soon as reasonably practicable in transactions effected on the Exchange. In effecting the sale of any such Shares, the Company or the Broker will exercise its sole judgment as to the timing and manner of sale and will not be obligated to seek or obtain a minimum price. Neither the Company nor the Broker will be liable for any loss arising out of any sale of such Shares including any loss relating to the manner or timing of such sales, the prices at which the Shares are sold or otherwise. In addition, neither the Company nor the Broker will be liable for any loss arising from a delay in transferring any Shares to an Optionee. The sale price of Shares sold on behalf of Optionees will fluctuate with the market price of the Company’s shares and no assurance can be given that any particular price will be received upon any such sale.
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Schedule A
Lido Minerals Ltd.
STOCK OPTION PLAN
OPTION CERTIFICATE
Date:
This certificate is issued pursuant to the provisions of the Lido Minerals Ltd. (the “ Company ”) Stock Option Plan (the “ Plan ”) and evidences that _______
_ ___ ( Name of Optionee ) is the holder of an option (the “ Option ”) to purchase up to __ ( Number of Shares_ ) common shares (the “ Shares ”) in the capital stock of the Company at a purchase price of $_ per Share. Subject to the provisions of the Plan:
(a) the Award Date of this Option is ______ ( insert date of grant ); and
(b) the Expiry Date of this Option is ______ ( insert date of expiry
Additional Vesting or Other Restrictions:
This Option may be exercised in accordance with its terms at any time and from time to time from and including the Award Date through to and including up to 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the Expiry Date, by delivering to the Administrator of the Plan an Exercise Notice, in the form provided in the Plan, together with this certificate and a certified cheque or bank draft payable to the Company in an amount equal to the aggregate of the Exercise Price of the Shares in respect of which this Option is being exercised.
This certificate and the Option evidenced hereby is not assignable, transferable or negotiable and is subject to the detailed terms and conditions contained in the Plan. This certificate is issued for convenience only and in the case of any dispute with regard to any matter in respect hereof, the provisions of the Plan and the records of the Company shall prevail.
LIDO MINERALS LTD.
By: Authorized Signatory
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Schedule B
EXERCISE NOTICE
Date:
- To: The Administrator, Stock Option Plan Lido Minetals Ltd. (the “Company”)
The undersigned hereby irrevocably gives notice, pursuant to the Company’s Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”), of the exercise of the Option to acquire and hereby subscribes for (cross out inapplicable item):
- (a) all of the Shares; or
(b) ______ of the Shares, which are the subject of the Option Certificate attached hereto.
Calculation of total Exercise Price:
(i) number of Shares to be acquired on exercise: __ Shares (ii) multiplied by the Exercise Price per Share: $___ TOTAL EXERCISE PRICE, enclosed herewith: $_____
The undersigned tenders herewith a certified cheque or bank draft in an amount equal to the total Exercise Price of the aforesaid Shares, as calculated above, and directs the Company to issue the share certificate evidencing said Shares in the name of the undersigned to be mailed to the undersigned at the following address:
Signature of Option Holder
Name of Option Holder (please print)
_________ SIN
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