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Moon River Moly Ltd. — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2022
Feb 8, 2022
47864_rns_2022-02-08_321529b6-6d62-4f64-9dd9-cd001949709e.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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MOON RIVER CAPITAL LTD.
217 Queen Street West, Suite 401 Toronto, Ontario M5V 0R2
NOTICE OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an annual and special meeting (the " Meeting ") of shareholders of Moon River Capital Ltd. (the " Company ") will be held on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 , at the hour of 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time), at the office of Irwin Lowy LLP at Suite 401, 217 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5V 0R2, for the following purposes:
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to receive and consider the audited financial statements of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021 and the reports of the auditors thereon;
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to appoint the auditors of the Company and to authorize the directors to fix their remuneration;
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to elect the directors of the Company;
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to approve and confirm the stock option plan of the Company;
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to consider, and if appropriate, to pass, with or without variation, an ordinary resolution of the majority of the disinterested shareholders of the Company to ratify, confirm and approve the removal of the consequences associated with the Company not completing a qualifying transaction within 24 months after its date of listing with the TSX Venture Exchange, as more fully described in the circular;
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to consider, and if appropriate, to pass, with or without variation, an ordinary resolution of the majority of the disinterested shareholders of the Company to ratify, confirm and approve certain amendments to the Company’s escrow agreement, as more fully described in the circular;
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to consider, and if deemed appropriate, to pass, with or without variation, an ordinary resolution of the majority of the disinterested shareholders of the Company to ratify, confirm and approve the payment of a finder’s fee to a non-arm’s length party to the Company, as more fully described in the circular;
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to consider and, if deemed advisable, pass, with or without variation, a resolution confirming the repeal of all existing by-laws of the Company and ratifying and approving the enactment of a new by-law no. 1 of the Company; and
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to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
A shareholder wishing to be represented by proxy at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof must deposit his, her or its duly executed form of proxy with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar, TSX Trust Company (the “ Transfer Agent ”), at 100 Adelaide Street West, Suite 301, Toronto, Ontario M5H 1S3 not later than 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on February 25, 2022 or, if the Meeting is adjourned, not later than 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, preceding the time of such adjourned meeting.
Shareholders who are unable to attend the Meeting in person, are requested to date, complete, sign and return the enclosed form of proxy so that as large a representation as possible may be had at the Meeting.
The board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) has by resolution fixed the close of business on January 28, 2022, as the record date for the Meeting, being the date for the determination of the registered holders of common shares of the Company entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting and any adjournment thereof.
COVID-19 GUIDANCE
In the context of the effort to mitigate potential risk to the health and safety associated with COVID-19 and in compliance with the orders and directives of the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto, the shareholders are being discouraged from attending the Meeting in person. All shareholders are encouraged to vote on the matters before the Meeting by proxy in the manner set out herein and in the accompanying circular dated January 28, 2022 of the Company.
The accompanying Circular provides additional detailed information relating to the matters to be dealt with at the Meeting and is supplemental to, and expressly made a part of, this notice of annual and special meeting. Additional information about the Company and its financial statements are also available on the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com.
DATED this 28[th] day of January, 2022.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
"Jamie Levy" (signed)
Chief Executive Officer
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MOON RIVER CAPITAL LTD.
217 Queen Street West, Suite 401 Toronto, Ontario M5V 0R2
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR As at January 28, 2022
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
THIS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR ("CIRCULAR") IS FURNISHED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOLICITATION BY MANAGEMENT OF MOON RIVER CAPITAL LTD. (the " Company ") of proxies to be used at the annual and special meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at the office of Irwin Lowy LLP at Suite 401, 217 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5V 0R2 at the hour of 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time), and at any adjournment or postponement thereof (the " Meeting ") for the purposes set out in the enclosed notice of meeting (the " Notice "). Although it is expected that the solicitation of proxies will be primarily by mail, proxies may also be solicited personally or by telephone, facsimile or other proxy solicitation services. In accordance with National Instrument 54-101 – Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer (" NI 54-101 "), arrangements have been made with brokerage houses and clearing agencies, custodians, nominees, fiduciaries or other intermediaries to send the Company’s proxy solicitation materials (the " Meeting Materials ") to the beneficial owners of the common shares of the Company (the " Common Shares ") held of record by such parties. The Company may reimburse such parties for reasonable fees and disbursements incurred by them in doing so. The costs of the solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company. The Company may also retain, and pay a fee to, one or more professional proxy solicitation firms to solicit proxies from the shareholders of the Company in favour of the matters set forth in the Notice.
COVID-19 GUIDANCE
In the context of the effort to mitigate potential risk to the health and safety associated with COVID-19 and in compliance with the orders and directives of the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto, the shareholders are being discouraged from attending the Meeting in person. All shareholders are encouraged to vote on the matters before the Meeting by proxy in the manner set out herein.
APPOINTMENT AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES
A holder of Common Shares who appears on the records maintained by the Company’s registrar and transfer agent as a registered holder of Common Shares (each a " Registered Shareholder ") may vote in person at the Meeting or may appoint another person to represent such Registered Shareholder as proxy and to vote the Common Shares of such Registered Shareholder at the Meeting. In order to appoint another person as proxy, a Registered Shareholder must complete, execute and deliver the form of proxy accompanying this Circular, or another proper form of proxy, in the manner specified in the Notice.
The purpose of a form of proxy is to designate persons who will vote on the shareholder’s behalf in accordance with the instructions given by the shareholder in the form of proxy. The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy are officers or directors of the Company. A REGISTERED SHAREHOLDER DESIRING TO APPOINT SOME OTHER PERSON, WHO NEED NOT BE A SHAREHOLDER OF THE COMPANY, TO REPRESENT HIM OR HER AT THE MEETING MAY DO SO BY FILLING IN THE NAME OF SUCH PERSON IN THE BLANK SPACE PROVIDED IN THE FORM OF PROXY OR BY COMPLETING ANOTHER PROPER FORM OF PROXY. A Registered Shareholder wishing to be represented by proxy at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof must, in all cases, deposit the completed form of proxy with the Company’s Transfer Agent and registrar, not later than 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on February 25, 2022, or, if the Meeting is adjourned, not later than 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, preceding the time of such adjourned Meeting at which the form of proxy is to be used. A form of proxy should be executed by the Registered Shareholder or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing or, if the Registered Shareholder is a corporation, by an officer or attorney thereof duly authorized.
Proxies may be deposited with the Transfer Agent using one of the following methods:
| By Mail or Hand Delivery: | TSX Trust Company 100 Adelaide Street West, Suite 301, Toronto, Ontario M5H 1S3 |
| Facsimile: | 416-595-9593 You will need to provide your 12 digit control number (located on the form of proxy accompanying this Circular) |
| By Internet: | www.voteproxyonline.com You will need to provide your 12 digit control number (located on the form of proxy accompanying this Circular). |
A Registered Shareholder attending the Meeting has the right to vote in person and, if he or she does so, his or her form of proxy is nullified with respect to the matters such person votes upon at the Meeting and any subsequent matters thereafter to be voted upon at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. For any questions, a Registered Shareholder should contact the Transfer Agent toll free in North America at 1(866) 600-5869 or, if calling from outside North America, at 416-342-1091 or by email at [email protected].
A Registered Shareholder who has given a form of proxy may revoke the form of proxy at any time prior to using it: (a) by depositing an instrument in writing, including another completed form of proxy, executed by such Registered Shareholder or by his or her attorney authorized in writing or by electronic signature or, if the Registered Shareholder is a corporation, by an authorized officer or attorney thereof at, or by transmitting by telephone or electronic means, a revocation signed, subject to the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), by electronic signature, to (i) the registered office of the Company, located at 217 Queen Street West, Suite 401, Toronto, Ontario M5V 0R2, at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof or (ii) with the Chairman of the Meeting on the day of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof; or (b) in any other manner permitted by law.
EXERCISE OF DISCRETION BY PROXIES
The Common Shares represented by proxies in favour of management nominees will be voted or withheld from voting in accordance with the instructions of the Registered Shareholder on any ballot that may be called for and, if a Registered Shareholder specifies a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon at the meeting, the Common Shares represented by the proxy shall be voted accordingly. Where no choice is specified, the proxy will confer discretionary authority and will be voted for the election of directors, for the appointment of auditors and the authorization of the directors to fix their remuneration and for each item of special business, as stated elsewhere in this Circular.
The enclosed form of proxy also confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein to vote with respect to any amendments or variations to the matters identified in the Notice and with respect to other matters which may properly come before the Meeting in such manner as such nominee in his judgment may determine. At the time of printing this Circular, the management of the Company knows of no such amendments, variations or other matters to come before the Meeting.
ADVICE TO NON-REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS
The information set forth in this section is of significant importance to many shareholders of the Company, as a substantial number of shareholders of the Company do not hold Common Shares in their own name. Only Registered Shareholders or the persons they appoint as their proxies are permitted to attend and vote at the Meeting and only forms of proxy deposited by Registered Shareholders will be recognized and acted upon at the Meeting. Common Shares beneficially owned by a beneficial holder of Common Shares who does not appear on the records maintained by the Company’s registrar and transfer agent as a registered holder of Common Shares (each a " NonRegistered Holder ") are registered either: (i) in the name of an intermediary (an " Intermediary ") with whom the Non-Registered Holder deals in respect of the Common Shares (Intermediaries include, among others, banks, trust companies, securities dealers or brokers and trustees or administrators of self-administered RRSPs, RRIFs, RESPs
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and similar plans); or (ii) in the name of a clearing agency (such as CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc.) (a " Clearing Agency ") of which the Intermediary is a participant. Accordingly, such Intermediaries and Clearing Agencies would be the Registered Shareholders and would appear as such on the list maintained by the Transfer Agent. Non-Registered Holders do not appear on the list of the Registered Shareholders maintained by the Transfer Agent.
Distribution of Meeting Materials to Non-Registered Holders
In accordance with the requirements of NI 54-101, the Company has distributed copies of the Meeting Materials to the Clearing Agencies and Intermediaries for onward distribution to Non-Registered Holders as well as directly to NOBOs (as defined below).
Non-Registered Holders fall into two categories - those who object to their identity being known to the issuers of securities which they own (" OBOs ") and those who do not object to their identity being made known to the issuers of the securities which they own (" NOBOs "). Subject to the provisions of NI 54-101, issuers may request and obtain a list of their NOBOs from Intermediaries directly or via their transfer agent and may obtain and use the NOBO list for the distribution of proxy-related materials to such NOBOs. If you are a NOBO and the Company or its agent has sent the Meeting Materials directly to you, your name, address and information about your holdings of Common Shares have been obtained in accordance with applicable securities regulatory requirements from the Intermediary holding the Common Shares on your behalf.
The Company’s OBOs can expect to be contacted by their Intermediary. The Company does not intend to pay for Intermediaries to deliver the Meeting Materials to OBOs and it is the responsibility of such Intermediaries to ensure delivery of the Meeting Materials to their OBOs.
Voting by Non-Registered Holders
The Common Shares held by Non-Registered Holders can only be voted or withheld from voting at the direction of the Non-Registered Holder. Without specific instructions, Intermediaries or Clearing Agencies are prohibited from voting Common Shares on behalf of Non-Registered Holders. Therefore, each Non-Registered Holder should ensure that voting instructions are communicated to the appropriate person well in advance of the Meeting.
The various Intermediaries have their own mailing procedures and provide their own return instructions to NonRegistered Holders, which should be carefully followed by Non-Registered Holders in order to ensure that their Common Shares are voted at the Meeting.
Non-Registered Holders will receive either a voting instruction form or, less frequently, a form of proxy. The purpose of these forms is to permit Non-Registered Holders to direct the voting of the Common Shares they beneficially own. Non-Registered Holders should follow the procedures set out below, depending on which type of form they receive.
Voting Instruction Form. In most cases, a Non-Registered Holder will receive, as part of the Meeting Materials, a voting instruction form (a " VIF "). If the Non-Registered Holder does not wish to attend and vote at the Meeting in person (or have another person attend and vote on the Non-Registered Holder’s behalf), the VIF must be completed, signed and returned in accordance with the directions on the form.
or,
Form of Proxy. Less frequently, a Non-Registered Holder will receive, as part of the Meeting Materials, a form of proxy that has already been signed by the Intermediary (typically by a facsimile, stamped signature) which is restricted as to the number of Common Shares beneficially owned by the Non-Registered Holder but which is otherwise not completed. If the Non-Registered Holder does not wish to attend and vote at the Meeting in person (or have another person attend and vote on the Non-Registered Holder’s behalf), the Non-Registered Holder must complete and sign the form of proxy and in accordance with the directions on the form.
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Voting by Non-Registered Holders at the Meeting
Although a Non-Registered Holder may not be recognized directly at the Meeting for the purposes of voting Common Shares registered in the name of an Intermediary or a Clearing Agency, a Non-Registered Holder may attend the Meeting as proxyholder for the Registered Shareholder who holds Common Shares beneficially owned by such NonRegistered Holder and vote such Common Shares as a proxyholder. A Non-Registered Holder who wishes to attend the Meeting and to vote their Common Shares as proxyholder for the Registered Shareholder who holds Common Shares beneficially owned by such Non-Registered Holder, should (a) if they received a VIF, follow the directions indicated on the VIF; or (b) if they received a form of proxy strike out the names of the persons named in the form of proxy and insert the Non-Registered Holder’s or its nominees name in the blank space provided. Non-Registered Holders should carefully follow the instructions of their Intermediaries, including those instructions regarding when and where the VIF or the form of proxy is to be delivered.
All references to shareholders in the Meeting Materials are to Registered Shareholders as set forth on the list of Registered Shareholders of the Company as maintained by the Transfer Agent, unless specifically stated otherwise.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES
The authorized share capital of the Company consists of an unlimited number of Common Shares without par value and an unlimited number of special shares, issuable in series. As of January 28, 2022 (the " Record Date "), there were a total of 11,400,000 Common Shares issued and outstanding and no special shares issued and outstanding. Each Common Share outstanding on the Record Date carries the right to one vote at the Meeting.
Only Registered Shareholders as of the Record Date are entitled to receive notice of, and to attend and vote at, the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Meeting. On a show of hands, every Registered Shareholder and proxy holder will have one vote and, on a poll, every Registered Shareholder present in person or represented by proxy will have one vote for each Common Share held.
To the knowledge of the directors and executive officers of the Company, as of the date hereof, no person or company beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or exercises control or direction over, Common Shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to the outstanding Common Shares, other than as set forth below:
| Name | Number of Common Shares | Percentage |
| JB Levy Corp.(1) | 2,000,000 | 17.54% |
| Kerry Knoll | 2,000,000 | 17.54% |
| Ian James McDonald | 2,000,000 | 17.54% |
Note:
(1) This entity is beneficially owned and controlled by Jamie Levy.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Except as set out under the heading " Particulars of Matters to be Acted Upon " below, no person who has been a director or an officer of the Company at any time since the beginning of its last completed financial year or any associate of any such director or officer has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the meeting, except as disclosed in this Circular.
CHANGES IN ACCORDANCE WITH NEW CPC POLICY
As a result of changes announced by the TSX Venture Exchange (“ TSXV ”) to the capital pool company (“ CPC ”) program and changes to the TSXV’s Policy 2.4 – Capital Pool Companies , which came into effect as of January 1, 2021 (the “ New CPC Policy ”), the Company intends to implement certain amendments to become further aligned with the New CPC Policy.
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Pursuant to the New CPC Policy, in order for the Company to become subject to the New CPC Policy it is required to obtain the approval of disinterested shareholders of the Company. As a result, the Company is seeking such approval at the Meeting to: (i) remove the consequences of failing to complete a qualifying transaction (“ Qualifying Transaction ”) within 24 months of the Company’s date of listing on the TSXV (the “ Listing Date ”); (ii) amend the escrow release conditions and certain other provisions of the Company’s escrow agreement (the “ Escrow Agreement ”); and (iii) permit for the payment of a finder’s fee to a Non-Arm’s Length Party (as that term in defined in the policies of the TSXV) to the Company in connection with a Qualifying Transaction. These proposed resolutions are described further herein.
PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
To the knowledge of the board of directors of the Company (the " Board "), the only matters to be brought before the Meeting are those matters set forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting.
1. RECEIPT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited financial statements of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021 and the reports of the auditor thereon, which shall accompany this Circular, will be placed before shareholders at the Meeting. No vote will be taken on the financial statements. The financial statements and additional information concerning the Company are available under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com. Receipt at the Meeting of the auditor’s report and the Company’s audited annual financial statements will not constitute approval or disapproval of any matters referred to therein.
2. APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
Proxies received in favour of management will be voted in favour of the appointment of Wasserman Ramsay, Chartered Accountants as auditor of the Company to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and the authorization of the directors to fix their remuneration, unless the shareholder has specified in the proxy that his, her or its common shares are to be withheld from voting respect thereof. Wasserman Ramsay, Chartered Accountants were first engaged as the auditor of the Company effective August 2019
3. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
The Board currently consists of three (3) directors to be elected annually. The following table states the names of the persons nominated by management for election as directors, their municipality of residence, any offices with the Company currently held by them, their principal occupations or employment during the past five years, the period or periods of service as directors of the Company and the approximate number of voting securities of the Company beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, or over which control or direction is exercised as of the date hereof. The term of office of each director will be from the date of the meeting at which he is elected until the next annual meeting, or until his successor is elected or appointed.
| Name, Province or State and Country of Residence |
Principal Occupation | Position with the Company |
Served as a Director of the Company since |
Number of Common Shares Beneficially Owned or Controlled, Directly or Indirectly(1) |
Percentage of Common Shares Owned or Controlled |
| Jamie Levy(2) Toronto, ON |
President and Chief Executive Officer of Generation Mining Ltd. |
President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Director |
August 6, 2019 | 2,000,000 | 17.54% |
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| Name, Province or State and Country of Residence |
Principal Occupation | Position with the Company |
Served as a Director of the Company since |
Number of Common Shares Beneficially Owned or Controlled, Directly or Indirectly(1) |
Percentage of Common Shares Owned or Controlled |
| Kerry Knoll(2) Toronto, ON |
Chairman of the Board of Generation Mining Ltd. |
Secretary and Director | August 6, 2019 | 2,000,000 | 17.54% |
| Ian James McDonald(2) Toronto, ON |
Retired | Director | August 6, 2019 | 2,000,000 | 17.54% |
Note:
(1) The information as to voting securities beneficially owned, controlled or directed, not being within the knowledge of the Company, has been furnished by the respective nominees individually. (2) Member of the Audit Committee.
The shareholders will be asked at the Meeting to consider and, if thought appropriate, to pass with or without variation an ordinary resolution to approve the election of the current directors, fixing the Board at three (3) members, electing three (3) directors individually and not as a slate to the Board, and permitting the directors of the Company, in between annual general meetings, to appoint one or more additional directors to the Board, the full text of which is set forth in Schedule "A" to this Circular (the " Election of Moon Directors Resolution ").
Proxies received in favour of management will be voted for the election of the above-named nominees, unless the shareholder has specified in the proxy that his or her Common Shares are to be withheld from voting in respect thereof. In the absence of instructions to the contrary, proxies given pursuant to the solicitation by management of the Company will be voted FOR the nominees listed in this Circular. Management has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable to serve as a director but, if a nominee is for any reason unavailable to serve as a director, proxies in favour of management will be voted in favour of the remaining nominees and may be voted for a substitute nominee unless the shareholder has specified in the proxy that his or her shares are to be withheld from voting in respect of the election of directors.
As at the date of this Circular, the current directors, as a group, directly or indirectly, beneficially own or exercise control or direction over 6,000,000 Common Shares, representing approximately % of the issued and outstanding Common Shares.
Corporate Cease Trade Orders or Bankruptcies
Other than as set out below, none of the proposed directors, within 10 years before the date of this Circular, has been a director or executive officer of any company that:
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(a) was subject to: (i) a cease trade order; (ii) an order similar to a cease trade order; or (iii) an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days (collectively an " Order ") and that was issued while the proposed director was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; or
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(b) was subject to an Order that was issued after the proposed director ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer.
Messrs. Knoll and McDonald were directors of Canada Lithium Corp. (“ Canada Lithium ”) when it completed a Plan of Arrangement on January 31, 2014 to acquire Sirocco Mining Inc. (“ Sirocco ”). The final step in the transaction was the amalgamation of Canada Lithium and Sirocco to form RB Energy Inc. (“ RBI ”). In October, 2014, RBI commenced
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proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (“ CCAA ”) and, in November, 2014, the TSX delisted RBI’s common shares for failure to meet its continued listing requirements. Messrs. Knoll and McDonald were directors of RBI when it sought court protection under the CCAA and was granted such protection by an order of the Québec Superior Court on October 14, 2014. Pursuant to court orders made on May 8, 2015, the CCAA proceedings were terminated.
Personal Bankruptcies
None of the proposed directors of the Company have, within the 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 such person.
Penalties and Sanctions
None of the proposed directors of the Company have been subject to any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority or been subject to any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable investor in making an investment decision.
4. APPROVAL AND CONFIRMATION OF STOCK OPTION PLAN
The Company has adopted a stock option plan (the " Stock Option Plan ") for senior officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Company. The Stock Option Plan was adopted by the Board on August 6, 2019. The Stock Option Plan provides for the issuance of stock options to acquire up to 10% of the Company’s issued and outstanding capital as at the date of closing of the Company’s initial public offering (" IPO ") subject to standard anti-dilution adjustment. This is a "rolling plan" as the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the grant of stock options will increase as the Company’s issued and outstanding share capital increases. At no time will more than 10% of the outstanding shares be subject to grant under the Stock Option Plan. If a stock option expires, is exercised or otherwise terminates for any reason, the number of Common Shares of the Company in respect of that expired, exercised or terminated stock option shall again be available for the purpose of the Stock Option Plan. The principal features of the Stock Option Plan are described in more detail below (see " Statement of Executive Compensation – Stock Option Plan ).
The Stock Option Plan is a “rolling” stock option plan and under Policy 4.4 of the TSXV, a listed company on the TSXV is required to obtain the approval of its shareholders for a "rolling" stock option plan at each annual meeting of shareholders. Accordingly, shareholders will be asked to approve the following resolution:
" BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
- the stock option plan of the Company as described in the Circular dated January 28, 2022, be and it is hereby confirmed and approved."
In accordance with the policies of the TSXV, the Stock Option Plan must be approved by the majority of votes cast at the Meeting on the resolution.
PROXIES RECEIVED IN FAVOUR OF MANAGEMENT WILL BE VOTED FOR THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION IN RESPECT OF THE STOCK OPTION PLAN, UNLESS A SHAREHOLDER HAS SPECIFIED IN THE PROXY THAT HIS OR HER SHARES ARE TO BE VOTED AGAINST SUCH RESOLUTION.
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5. REMOVAL OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF FAILING TO COMPLETE A QUALIFYING TRANSACTION WITHIN 24 MONTHS OF THE LISTING DATE
Pursuant to section 15.2(b)(i) of the New CPC Policy and the TSXV’s Form 2F – CPC Escrow Agreement (the “ New CPC Escrow Agreement ”), any CPC listed on tier 2 of the TSXV may, subject to obtaining disinterested shareholder approval at a meeting of shareholders, remove the potential consequences associated with the CPC failing to complete a Qualifying Transaction within 24 months after the date of listing of the common shares of that CPC on the TSXV, including the potential delisting or suspension of a CPC if it has not obtained majority shareholder approval to transfer its listing to the NEX board of the TSXV (the “ NEX ”) and cancelling certain seed shares held by Non-Arm’s Length Parties to the CPC (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV).
For the purposes of the disinterested shareholder approval, the votes attached to the listed shares of the CPC held by Non-Arm’s Length Parties to the CPC who own seed shares and their associates and affiliates are excluded from the calculation of any such approval.
Disinterested Shareholder Approval
At the Meeting, disinterested shareholders will be asked to consider and vote on an ordinary resolution to confirm and approve the terms of the New CPC Policy as set out in section 15.2(b)(i) therein with respect to the removal of the consequences described above of failing to complete a Qualifying Transaction within 24 months after the Listing Date, with or without variation (the " New CPC Policy Qualifying Transaction Resolution "), as follows:
" BE IT RESOLVED THAT AS AN ORDINARY RESOLUTION OF DISINTERESTED SHAREHOLDERS, THAT:
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the removal of the potential consequences associated with the Company if it fails to complete a Qualifying Transaction within 24 months after the date of listing of the Common Shares on the TSXV, including the potential delisting or suspension of the Company if it has not obtained majority shareholder approval to transfer its listing to the NEX and the cancellation of certain seed shares held by Non-Arm’s Length Parties to the Company, be and is hereby confirmed and approved; and
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any one or more directors and officers of the Company be authorized to perform all such acts, deeds and things and execute, under seal of the Company or otherwise, all such documents as may be required to give effect to this resolution."
An ordinary resolution of disinterested shareholders is a resolution passed by a majority of the disinterested shareholders of the Company (which excludes the votes attached to the Common Shares held by Non-Arm’s Length Parties of the Company who own seed shares and their associates and affiliates) at a general meeting by a simple majority of the disinterested votes cast in person or by proxy.
PROXIES RECEIVED IN FAVOUR OF MANAGEMENT WILL BE VOTED FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE NEW CPC POLICY QUALIFYING TRANSACTION RESOLUTION UNLESS A SHAREHOLDER HAS SPECIFIED IN THE PROXY THAT HIS, HER OR ITS COMMON SHARES ARE TO BE VOTED AGAINST SUCH RESOLUTION.
6. AMENDMENT OF ESCROW AGREEMENT
Pursuant to section 15.2(b)(iv) of the New CPC Policy, any CPC that is listed on the TSXV, may, after it obtains disinterested shareholder approval at meeting of shareholders, amend any CPC Escrow Agreement to which it is a party to:
- (a) reduce the length of the term of any escrow provision to a term that is not less than such as is permitted by section 10.2 of the New CPC Policy; provided that it complies with all other terms and conditions of the CPC Escrow Agreement being amended.
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On January 21, 2020, the Company, the Transfer Agent and certain securityholders of the Company entered into a Form 2F CPC Escrow Agreement, a copy of which is available under the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Under the CPC Policy and the provisions of the TSXV’s current Form 2F – CPC Escrow Agreement , all escrow shares will be released from escrow in accordance with one of the following schedules:
(a) if the resulting issuer upon completion of the Company’s Qualifying Transaction is a tier 1 issuer on the TSXV:
| Release Dates | Percentage of Total Escrowed Securities to be Released |
| [Insert date of Final Exchange Bulletin] | 25% |
| [Insert date 6 months following Final Exchange Bulletin] |
25% |
| [Insert date 12 months following Final Exchange Bulletin] |
25% |
| [Insert date 18 months following Final Exchange Bulletin] |
25% |
| TOTAL | 100% |
(b) if the resulting issuer upon completion of the Company’s Qualifying Transaction is a tier 2 issuer on the TSXV:
| Release Dates | Percentage of Total Escrowed Securities to be Released |
| [Insert date of Final Exchange Bulletin] | 10% |
| [Insert date 6 months following Final Exchange Bulletin] |
15% |
| [Insert date 12 months following Final Exchange Bulletin] |
15% |
| [Insert date 18 months following Final Exchange Bulletin] |
15% |
| [Insert date 24 months following Final Exchange Bulletin] |
15% |
| [Insert date 30 months following Final Exchange Bulletin] |
15% |
| [Insert date 36 months following Final Exchange Bulletin] |
15% |
| TOTAL | 100% |
In comparison, under the New CPC Policy and the provisions of the New CPC Escrow Agreement, the Escrow Agreement may be amended such that, except for CPC stock options and option shares that are released from escrow on the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) as provided in section 10.2(a) of the New CPC Policy, all escrowed securities will be released from escrow in accordance with the following schedule (and capitalized terms used and not defined in this paragraph or elsewhere in the Circular have the meanings given to them in the TSXV policies):
| Release Dates | Percentage of Total Escrowed Securities to be Released |
| Date of Final Exchange Bulletin | 25% |
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| Date 6 months following Final Exchange Bulletin |
25% |
| Date 12 months following Final Exchange Bulletin |
25% |
| Date 18 months following Final Exchange Bulletin |
25% |
| TOTAL | 100% |
Subject to obtaining disinterested shareholder approval, the Company is proposing to amend the Escrow Agreement in accordance with the terms of the New CPC Policy in order to reduce the length of the term of the applicable escrow provision to a term that is not less than such as is permitted by section 10.2 of the New CPC Policy.
Disinterested Shareholder Approval
At the Meeting, disinterested Shareholders will be asked to consider and vote on an ordinary resolution to confirm and approve the terms of the New CPC Policy as set out in section 15.2(b)(iv) therein with respect to the amendment of the Escrow Agreement, with or without variation (the " New CPC Policy Escrow Resolution "), as follows:
"BE IT RESOLVED THAT AS AN ORDINARY RESOLUTION OF DISINTERESTED SHAREHOLDERS, THAT:
-
the amendment of the Escrow Agreement dated January 21, 2020 among the Company, the Transfer Agent, and certain securityholders of the Company in order to reduce the length of the term of any escrow provision to a term that is not less than such as is permitted by section 10.2 of the New CPC Policy be and is hereby confirmed and approved; and
-
any one or more directors and officers of the Company be authorized to perform all such acts, deeds and things and execute, under seal of the Company or otherwise, all such documents as may be required to give effect to this resolution."
An ordinary resolution of disinterested shareholders is a resolution passed by a majority of the disinterested shareholders of the Company (which excludes the votes attached to the Common Shares held by certain securityholders who are party to the Escrow Agreement) at a general meeting by a simple majority of the disinterested votes cast in person or by proxy.
PROXIES RECEIVED IN FAVOUR OF MANAGEMENT WILL BE VOTED FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE NEW CPC POLICY ESCROW RESOLUTION UNLESS A SHAREHOLDER HAS SPECIFIED IN THE PROXY THAT HIS, HER OR ITS COMMON SHARES ARE TO BE VOTED AGAINST SUCH RESOLUTION.
7. PERMITTING PAYMENT OF A FINDER’S FEE TO A NON-ARM’S LENGTH PARTY TO THE COMPANY
Under the previous CPC policy, a finder’s fee could not be paid to a Non-Arm’s Length Party to the Company.
Under the New CPC Policy, a finder’s fee may be paid to a Non-Arm’s Length Party to the Company, provided:
-
(a) the Qualifying Transaction is not a Non-Arm’s Length Qualifying Transaction (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV);
-
(b) the Qualifying Transaction is not a transaction between the Company and an existing public company;
-
(c) the finder’s fee is payable in the form of cash, listed shares and/or warrants only;
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-
(d) the amount of any concurrent financing is not included in the value of the measurable benefit used to calculate the finder’s fee; and
-
(e) Shareholder approval of the finder’s fee is obtained by ordinary resolution at a meeting of shareholders.
Under the New CPC Policy, the Company may seek disinterested shareholder approval to permit payment of a finder’s fee to a non-arm’s length party to the Company (“ Non-Arm’s Length Finders Fees ”).
At the Meeting, disinterested shareholders will be asked to consider and vote on an ordinary resolution to confirm and approve the terms of the New CPC Policy with respect to permitting the payment of Non-Arm’s Length Finders Fees to the Company (the “ Non-Arm’s Length Finders Fees Resolution ”), as follows:
“ BE IT RESOLVED THAT AS AN ORDINARY RESOLUTION OF DISINTERESTED SHAREHOLDERS, THAT:
-
1 the Company approve and ratify, subject to regulatory approval, Non-Arm’s Length Finders Fees as is permitted by the New CPC Policy be and is hereby confirmed and approved; and
-
any one officer or director of the Company is hereby authorized to execute and deliver all such documents and do all such acts and things as may be deemed advisable in such individual’s discretion for the purpose of giving effect to this resolution.”
An ordinary resolution of disinterested shareholders is a resolution passed by a majority of the disinterested shareholders of the Company (which excludes the votes attached to the Common Shares held by Non-Arm’s Length Parties of the Company who own seed shares and their associates and affiliates) at a general meeting by a simple majority of the disinterested votes cast in person or by proxy.
PROXIES RECEIVED IN FAVOUR OF MANAGEMENT WILL BE VOTED FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE NON-ARM’S LENGTH FINDERS FEES RESOLUTION UNLESS A SHAREHOLDER HAS SPECIFIED IN THE PROXY THAT HIS, HER OR ITS COMMON SHARES ARE TO BE VOTED AGAINST SUCH RESOLUTION.
8. ADOPTION OF NEW GENERAL BY-LAW NO. 1
The Company recently undertook a review of the by-laws of the Company (the " Old By-Laws "), particularly in light of evolving corporate statute and corporate governance best practices, and the Company determined that it would be in the best interests of the Company to implement a new by-law no. 1 (the " New By-Law No. 1 ") in order to incorporate such best practices. The Company adopted the New By-Law No. 1 effective January 26, 2022, subject to ratification and confirmation of the shareholders of the Company.
The New By-Law No. 1 is standard in its form and governs all aspects of the business and affairs of the Company, such as the establishment of a quorum for meetings of directors and shareholders, the conduct of such meeting, signing authorities, the appointment of officers, the description of the officers' duties, the establishment of committees of the Board, the authority of persons to contract on behalf of the Company and similar matters. A copy of the New ByLaw No. 1 is attached hereto as Schedule “C”.
At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to consider and, if deemed advisable, pass, with or without variation, the following resolution ratifying and confirming the repeal of the Old By-Laws and the adoption of the New By-Law No. 1 (the " By-Law No. 1 Resolution "):
" BE IT RESOLVED THAT :
- any existing by-laws of the Company be repealed and by-law no. 1, being a general by-law in the form attached to the Circular dated January 28, 2022 of the Company as schedule C, be and is hereby ratified and
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confirmed as a by-law of the Company; and
- any director or officer of the Company be and he or she is hereby authorized and directed, for and on behalf of the Company, to execute and deliver all such documents and to do all such other acts or things as he or she may determine to be necessary or advisable to give effect to this resolution, the execution of any such document or the doing of any such other act or thing being conclusive evidence of such determination
,and if any of the foregoing has been done before the date of this resolution that they be approved, confirmed and ratified in all respects.
In order to pass the By-Law No. 1 Resolution, at least a majority of the votes cast by the shareholders present at the Meeting in person or by proxy must be voted in favour of the By-Law No. 1 Resolution. If the By-Law No. 1 Resolution does not receive the requisite shareholder approval, the Old By-Laws will take effect as of the termination of the Meeting.
The Board recommends that shareholders vote in favour of the By-Law No. 1 Resolution to approve the repeal of the Old By-Laws as set out above.
PROXIES RECEIVED IN FAVOUR OF MANAGEMENT WILL BE VOTED FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE BY-LAW NO. 1 RESOLUTION UNLESS A SHAREHOLDER HAS SPECIFIED IN THE PROXY THAT HIS, HER OR ITS COMMON SHARES ARE TO BE VOTED AGAINST SUCH RESOLUTION
STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Named Executive Officer
Under applicable securities legislation, the Company is required to disclose certain financial and other information relating to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the most highly compensated executive officer of the Company as at December 31, 2021 whose total compensation was more than $150,000 for the financial year of the Company ended December 31, 2021 (collectively the " Named Executive Officers ") and for the directors of the Company.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
As a CPC, the Company is prohibited from payments of any kind, directly or indirectly, to its Named Executive Officers or directors until the completion of a Qualifying Transaction unless otherwise permitted by the New CPC Policy. Accordingly, the Company has not provided any cash or incentive compensation to the Named Executive Officers other than the grant of stock options described below.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table provides a summary of compensation paid, directly or indirectly, for each of the two most recently completed financial years to the Named Executive Officers and the directors of the Company:
| TABLE OF COMPENSATION EXCLUDING COMPENSATION SECURITIES | |||||||
| Name and position | Year | Salary, consulting fee, retainer or commission ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Committee or meeting fees ($) |
Value of perquisites ($) |
Value of all other compensation ($) |
Total compensation ($) |
| Jamie Levy Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Director |
2021 2020 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
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| TABLE OF COMPENSATION EXCLUDING COMPENSATION SECURITIES | |||||||
| Name and position | Year | Salary, consulting fee, retainer or commission ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Committee or meeting fees ($) |
Value of perquisites ($) |
Value of all other compensation ($) |
Total compensation ($) |
| Kerry Knoll Secretary and Director |
2021 2020 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
| Ian McDonald Director |
2021 2020 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities
The following table provides a summary of all compensation securities granted or issued to each Named Executive Officer and to each director of the Company during the most recently completed financial year of the Company for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Company or any of its subsidiaries:
==> picture [492 x 339] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
COMPENSATION SECURITIES
Name and position Type of Number of Date of Issue, Closing price of Closing price Expiry date
compensatio compensation issue or conversion security or of security or
n security securities, number grant or exercise underlying underlying
of underlying price security on the security at
securities, and % of ($) date immediately year end
class prior to the date ($)
of completing the
IPO
($)
Jamie Levy Stock Options 100,000 exercisable March 20, 0.10 0.10 0.27 March 20,
Chief Executive for 100,000 Common 2020 2025
Officer, Chief Shares representing
Financial Officer, 0.88 % of the
Treasurer and outstanding number
Director of Common Shares
Kerry Knoll Stock Options 100,000 exercisable March 20, 0.10 0.10 0.27 March 20,
Secretary and for 100,000 Common 2020 2025
Director Shares representing
0.88% of the
outstanding number
of Common Shares
Ian McDonald Stock Options 100,000 exercisable March 20, 0.10 0.10 0.27 March 20,
Director for 100,000 Common 2020 2025
Shares representing
0.88% of the
outstanding number
of Common Shares
----- End of picture text -----
None of the Named Executive Officers or directors of the Company exercised any compensation securities during the most recently completed financial year of the Company.
Stock Option Plan
On August 6, 2019, the Company adopted the Stock Option Plan, which permits the Board to grant options to purchase
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up to 10% of the issued number of Common Shares outstanding at the date of the grant. The Stock Option Plan is the Company’s only equity compensation plan. As of the date of this Circular, the Company has granted 300,000 options to purchase Common Shares.
The purpose of the Stock Option Plan established by the Company, pursuant to which it may grant incentive stock options, is to promote the profitability and growth of the Company by facilitating the efforts of the Company to obtain and retain key individuals. The Stock Option Plan provides an incentive for and encourages ownership of the Common Shares by its key individuals so that they may increase their stake in the Company and benefit from increases in the value of the Common Shares. Pursuant to the Stock Option Plan, the maximum number of Common Shares reserved for issuance in any 12-month period to any one optionee other than a consultant may not exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the date of the grant. The maximum number of Common Shares reserved for issuance in any 12-month period to any consultant may not exceed 2% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares at the date of the grant and the maximum number of Common Shares reserved for issuance in any 12-month period to all persons engaged in investor relations activities may not exceed 2% of the issued and outstanding number of Common Shares at the date of the grant. Incentive stock options may be exercised until the greater of 12 months after the completion of the Proposed Qualifying Transaction and 90 calendar days following the date the optionee ceases to be a director, officer or employee of the Company or its affiliates or a consultant or a management company employee, provided that if the cessation of such position or arrangement was by reason of death, the option may be exercised within a maximum period of one year after such death, subject to the expiry date of such option. The Stock Option Plan is administered by the Board.
The Stock Option Plan provides for the grant of options to purchase Common Shares to eligible directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company or any of its affiliates (" Participants "). The number of Common Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to options granted to any one Participant, other than a consultant, shall not, within any 12-month period, exceed 5% of the total number of Common Shares then issued and outstanding unless disinterested shareholder approval is obtained. The number of Common Shares issuable to any insider and such insiders’ associates pursuant to options granted under the Stock Option Plan and all other security-based compensation arrangements of the Corporation shall not, at any time, exceed 10% of the total number of Common Shares then issued and outstanding, unless disinterested shareholder approval is obtained. The number of Common Shares issued to insiders and such insiders’ associates pursuant to the Stock Option Plan and all other security-based compensation arrangements shall not, within any 12-month period, exceed 10% of the total number of Common Shares then issued and outstanding, unless disinterested shareholder approval is obtained. The number of Common Shares issued to any one consultant shall not, within any 12-month period, exceed 2% of the total number of Common Shares then issued and outstanding. The number of Common Shares issued to all persons engaged to conduct investor relations activities shall not, within any 12-month period, exceed 2% of the total number of Common Shares then issued and outstanding.
The exercise price of an option is set by the Board at the time of grant but may not be less than the Discounted Market Price (as defined in the policies of the TSXV). If a press release fixing the price is not issued, the Discounted Market Price is the closing price per Common Share on the TSXV on the last trading day preceding the date of grant on which there was a closing price (less the applicable discount) provided that, if the Board, in its sole discretion, determines that the closing price on the last trading day preceding the date of grant would not be representative of the market price of the Common Shares, then the Board may base the price on the greater of the closing price and the weighted average price per share for the Common Shares for five (5) consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day preceding the date of grant on which there was a closing price on the TSXV. The weighted average price shall be determined by dividing the aggregate sale price of all Common Shares sold on the TSXV during the said five (5) consecutive trading days, by the total number of Common Shares so sold.
The expiration of any option will be accelerated if the Participant’s employment or other relationship with the Company terminates. An optionee that ceases to be a Participant (for reasons other than termination for cause) has 90 days from the date of termination to exercise all existing vested options; provided that in no event shall such right extend beyond the option period. In the event of the death of a Participant, the options granted to the Participant shall be exercisable for a period of 12 months from the date of death of the Participant by the person or persons to whom the Participant’s rights under the option shall pass by the Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided that in no event shall such right extend beyond the option period. If the date on which an option expires occurs within or immediately following the last day of a trading black-out period imposed pursuant to the Company’s insider trading policy (as may be amended from time to time), then the expiry date of such option shall be the date
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that is 10 business days following the date of expiry of the trading black-out period. Any exercise, cancellation or expiry of options will make new grants available under the Stock Option Plan effectively resulting in re-loading of the number of options available to grant under the Stock Option Plan.
The Stock Option Plan further provides for the termination of options in connection with certain fundamental changes such as the dissolution, liquidation or merger of the Company, or in the event of a change of control of the Company and provides for accelerated vesting in such circumstances, at the discretion of the Board. Subject to the approval of any stock exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed, the Board may suspend, amend or terminate the Stock Option Plan.
The following types of amendments to the Stock Option Plan or an option granted under the Stock Option Plan require shareholder approval: (a) amendments to the number of Common Shares (or other securities) issuable under the Stock Option Plan; (b) any amendment which reduces the exercise price of an option that is held by an insider; (c) any amendment to the number of Common Shares (or other securities) issuable to an insider; (d) any amendment which extends the term of an Option held by or benefiting an insider; (e) amendments to the definition of "Participants"; (f) any amendment which adds any form of financial assistance; (g) any amendment to a financial assistance provision which is more favorable to Participants; (h) any amendment which adds a cashless exercise feature which does not provide for a full deduction of the number of underlying securities from the Stock Option Plan reserve; and (i) amendments adding a deferred or restricted share unit which results in Participants receiving securities while no cash consideration is received by the Company. The Board may approve all other amendments to the Stock Option Plan or options granted under the Stock Option Plan.
Employment, Consulting and Management Agreements
There are no employment, consulting or management agreements in place with any of the Named Executive Officers or the directors of the Company.
Pension Disclosure
There are no pension or retirement plan in place for the Named Executive Officers or the directors of the Company.
Termination and Change of Control Benefits
The Company has not provided compensation, monetary or otherwise to any person who now acts or has previously acted as a Named Executive Officer or director of the Company in connection with or related to the retirement, termination or resignation of such person. The Company has not provided any compensation to such persons as a result of a change of control of the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates. The Company is not party to any compensation plan or arrangement with Named Executive Officers or directors of the Company resulting from the resignation, retirement or the termination of employment of such person.
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
The following table sets forth information in respect of the Company’s equity compensation plans under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance, aggregated in accordance with all equity plans previously approved by the Company’s Shareholders and all equity plans not approved by the Company’s Shareholders as at the end of the period ended December 31, 2021:
| Plan Category | Number of Securities to be Issued upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (#) |
Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options Warrants and Rights ($) |
Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans (#) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity compensation plans approved by securityholders |
560,000 | 0.10 | 580,000 |
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| Plan Category | Number of Securities to be Issued upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (#) |
Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options Warrants and Rights ($) |
Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans (#) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity compensation plans not approved by securityholders |
N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total | 560,000 | 0.10 | 580,000 |
| Note: |
- (1) The Stock Option Plan is a "rolling" stock option plan whereby the maximum number of Common Shares that may be reserved for issuance pursuant to the Stock Option Plan will not exceed 10% of the issued shares of the Company at the closing of the Company’s initial public offering on March 20, 2020. As of December 31, 2021, 580,000 Common Shares are still available for issue under the Stock Option Plan.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
Other than as otherwise disclosed in this Circular, no director, executive officer or principal shareholder of the Company, or associate or affiliate of any of the foregoing, has had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year end or in any proposed transaction that has materially affected or will materially affect the Company.
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
No director or officer of the Company or person who acted in such capacity in the last financial years of the Company, or any other individual who at any time during the most recently completed financial years of the Company was a director of the Company or any associate of the Company, is indebted to the Company, nor is any indebtedness of any such person to another entity the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding provided by the Company.
STATEMENT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES
National Instrument 58-101 ( Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices ) (" NI 58-101 ") requires the Company to disclose its corporate governance practices by providing in the Circular the disclosure required by Form 58-101F2. NI 58-201 establishes corporate governance guidelines which apply to all public companies.
The Board believes that good corporate governance improves corporate performances and benefits all Shareholders. The Canadian Securities Administrators (the " CSA ") have adopted NP 58-201, which provides non-prescriptive guidelines on corporate governance practices for reporting issuers such as the Company. In addition, the CSA have implemented NI 58-101, which prescribes certain disclosure by the Company of its corporate governance practices. This section sets out the Company’s approach to corporate governance and addresses the Company’s compliance with NI 58-101.
Board of Directors
National Instrument 52-110 (" NI 52-110 ") provides that a director is independent if he or she has no direct or indirect "material relationship" with the company. "Material relationship" is defined as a relationship which could, in the view of the company’s board of directors, be reasonably expected to interfere with the exercise of a director’s independent judgment.
Of the proposed nominees, Jamie Levy, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer is an "inside" or management director and accordingly is considered not "independent". Each of Kerry Knoll and Ian McDonald are considered by the Board to be "independent", within the meaning of NI 52-110. In assessing Form 58-101F1 and making the foregoing determinations, the circumstances of each director have been examined in relation to a number of factors.
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The mandate of the Board is to act in the best interests of the Company and to supervise management. The Board will be responsible for approving long-term strategic plans and annual operating budgets recommended by management. The Boards’ consideration and approval is also required for material contracts and business transactions, and all debt and equity financing transactions. Any responsibility which is not delegated to management or to the committees of the Board remains with the Board. The Board meets on a regular basis consistent with the state of the Company’s affairs and also from time to time as deemed necessary to enable it to fulfill its responsibilities.
Directorships
The following table sets forth the directors of the Company who currently hold directorships with other reporting issuers:
| Name of Director | Reporting Issuer |
| Jamie Levy | Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd., Northway Resources Corp., Generation Mining Limited, Kenorland Minerals Ltd. and Conquest Resources Limited |
| Kerry Knoll | Generation Mining Limited. |
Continuing Education
When new directors are appointed, they will receive orientation, commensurate with their previous experience, on the Company’s properties, business and industry and on the responsibilities of directors. Board meetings may also include presentations by the Company’s management and employees to give the directors additional insight into the Company’s business.
Ethical Business Conduct
The Board has found that the fiduciary duties placed on individual directors by the Company’s governing corporate legislation and the common law and the restrictions placed by the applicable corporate legislation on an individual directors’ participation in decisions of the Board in which the director has an interest have been sufficient to ensure that the Board operates independently of management and in the best interests of the Company.
Nomination of Directors
The Board considers its size when it considers the number of directors to recommend to the shareholders for election at the annual meeting of shareholders, taking into account the number required to carry out the Board’s duties effectively and to maintain a diversity of views and experience. The Board does not have a nominating committee, and these functions are currently performed by the Board as a whole. However, if there is a change in the number of directors required by the Company, this policy will be reviewed.
Compensation
The Board will determine the compensation for the directors and Named Executive Officers of the Company. A summary of the compensation received by the Named Executive Officers and directors of the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021is provided in this Circular under the heading: “Statement of Executive Compensation”. Other than the Audit Committee described in this Circular under the heading “Audit Committee”, the Board has no other committees.
Assessments
The Board regularly assesses its own effectiveness and the effectiveness and contribution of each Board committee and director.
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AUDIT COMMITTEE INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE CIRCULAR OF A VENTURE ISSUER
NI 52-110 requires that certain information regarding the Audit Committee of a "venture issuer" (as that term is defined in NI 52-110) be included in the management information circular sent to shareholders in connection with the issuer’s annual meeting.
Audit Committee Charter
The full text of the charter of the Company’s Audit Committee is attached hereto as Schedule "B".
Composition of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee members are currently Jamie Levy, Kerry Knoll and Ian McDonald, each of whom is a director and financially literate. Kerry Knoll and Ian McDonald are independent in accordance with NI 52-110. Jamie Levy is not independent by virtue of his management position with the Company.
Relevant Education and Experience
The following are details regarding the relevant education and experience of each member of the Audit Committee relevant to the performance of his duties as a member of the Audit Committee:
Jamie Levy, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Director
Jamie Levy is President and CEO of Generation Mining Limited which is developing a palladium deposit in northern Ontario. Previous to that he was President and CEO of Pine Point Mining Limited (formerly Darnley Bay Resources Limited) from January 2013 to February 2018, which was developing a zinc project in the Northwest Territories before it was acquired by Osisko Metals Incorporated in February 2018. Previous to that, he was vice-president of Pinetree Capital Ltd., an investment and merchant banking firm focused on the technology sector. Mr. Levy holds a Bachelor degree from Concordia University.
Kerry Knoll, Secretary and Director
Kerry Knoll is Chairman and Director of Generation Mining Limited which is developing a palladium deposit in northern Ontario. Previous to that he was Chairman of Pine Point Mining Limited (formerly Darnley Bay Resources Limited) from August 2009 to February 2018, which was developing a zinc project in the Northwest Territories before it was taken over by Osisko Metals Incorporated in February 2018. Over his career he has co-founded several mining companies, including Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. (merged with Goldcorp Inc.), Blue Pearl Mining Ltd. (later Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc., was acquired by Centerra Gold Inc.) and Glencairn Gold Corp. (acquired by B2Gold Corp). Mr. Knoll holds a Bachelor degree from each of the University of Alberta and Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
Ian McDonald, Director
Ian McDonald was most recently President and CEO of Stonegate Agricom Ltd. from August 2008 to July 2017, which was developing a phosphate project in Idaho when it was acquired by Itafos, a publicly traded (TSXV: IFOS) vertically integrated phosphate fertilizers and specialty products company. Over his career he has co-founded several mining companies, including Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. (merged with Goldcorp Inc.), Blue Pearl Mining Ltd. (later Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc., was acquired by Centerra Gold Inc.) and Glencairn Gold Corp. (acquired by B2Gold Corp.). Mr. McDonald holds a diploma from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
Audit Committee Oversight
Since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year, there has not been a recommendation of the Audit Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor which was not adopted by the Board.
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Audit Fees
The following table provides details in respect of audit and tax fees billed by the external auditor of the Company for professional services rendered to the Company during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
| Year | Audit Fees ($) |
Audit Related Fees |
Tax Fees ($) |
All Other Fees |
||||
| 7,500 | nil | nil | nil | |||||
| Year ended December 31, 2020 | ||||||||
| 7,500 | nil | nil | nil | |||||
| Year ended December 31, 2021 |
Audit Fees – aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements as well as services provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings.
Audit-Related Fees – audit-related fees that are paid for assurance and related services rendered by the auditors that are not reported under "Audit Fees".
Tax Fees – aggregate fees billed for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning professional services. These services included reviewing tax returns and assisting in responses to government tax authorities.
All Other Fees – aggregate fees billed for professional services which included accounting advice.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSON IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
No director, executive officer or principal shareholder of the Company, or associate or affiliate of any of the foregoing, has had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the Company’s incorporation or in any proposed transaction that has materially affected or will materially affect the Company.
STATUTORY RIGHTS
Securities legislation in certain of the provinces and territories of Canada provides security holders of the Company with, in addition to any other rights that they may have at law, rights of rescission or to damages, or both, if there is a misrepresentation in a circular or a notice that is required to be delivered to such security holders. However, such rights must be exercised within prescribed time limits. The Company’s security holders should refer to the applicable provisions of the securities legislation of their province or territory for particulars of those rights or consult with a lawyer.
OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY COME BEFORE THE MEETING
The management knows of no matters to come before the Meeting other than as set forth in the Notice. However, if other matters which are not known to the management should properly come before the Meeting, the accompanying proxy will be voted on such matters in accordance with the best judgment of the persons voting the proxy.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information relating to the Company is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Securityholders may contact the Company in order to request copies of the Company’s financial statements at the offices of the Company at 217 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5V 0R2. Financial information about the Company may be found in the Company’s audited financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the fiscal periods ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021.
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GENERAL
The contents and the sending of the Notice and this Circular to each Shareholder of the Company entitled thereto, each director of the Company, the auditor of the Company and, where required, all applicable securities regulatory authorities have been approved by the Board of the Company.
DATED at Toronto, Ontario, this 28[th] day of January, 2022.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
"Jamie Levy" (signed) Chief Executive Officer and Director
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SCHEDULE “A”
MOON RIVER CAPITAL LTD.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS RESOLUTION
RESOLVED AS AN ORDINARY RESOLUTION THAT:
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The board of directors of the Company be set at three (3) directors within the minimum and maximum allowed under the articles of the Company and the following persons be individually elected as directors of the Company to hold office until the next meeting of shareholders or until their successor are elected or appointed:
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Jamie Levy
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Kerry Knoll
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Ian McDonald
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SCHEDULE "B"
MOON RIVER CAPITAL LTD.
CHARTER OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1.
PURPOSE
1.1 The primary functions of the Audit Committee of Moon River Capital Ltd. (the " Company ") are to fulfill its responsibilities in relation to reviewing the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, financial disclosures and internal controls over financial reporting; monitoring the system of internal control; monitoring the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; selecting the external auditors for shareholder approval; and reviewing the qualifications, independence and performance of the external auditors.
2. MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION
2.1 Composition - Subject to paragraph 2.6, the Audit Committee shall consist of not less than three independent members of the Board. At the invitation of the Audit Committee, members of the Company’s management and others may attend Audit Committee meetings as the Audit Committee considers necessary or desirable.
2.2 Appointment and Removal of Audit Committee Members - Each member of the Audit Committee shall be appointed by the Board on an annual basis and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, or until the earlier of (a) the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders of the Company at which the member’s term of office expires, (b) the death of the member or (c) the resignation, disqualification or removal of the member from the Audit Committee or from the Board. The Board may fill a vacancy in the membership of the Audit Committee.
2.3 Chair - At the time of the annual appointment of the members of the Audit Committee, the Board shall appoint a Chair of the Audit Committee. The Chair shall be a member of the Audit Committee, preside over all Audit Committee meetings, coordinate the Audit Committee’s compliance with this mandate, work with management to develop the Audit Committee’s annual work-plan and provide reports of the Audit Committee to the Board. The Chair may vote on any matter requiring a vote and shall provide a second vote in the case of a tie vote.
2.4 Independence - Subject to paragraph 2.6, each member of the Audit Committee shall be an "independent" (as such term is used in National Instrument 52-110 - Audit Committees (" NI 52-110 ").
2.5 Financial Literacy - Subject to paragraph 2.6, members of the Audit Committee shall be financially literate or agree to become financially literate within a reasonable period of time following the member’s appointment. 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.
2.6 Venture Issuer - For so long as the Company is a "venture issuer" as defined in NI 52-110, it is not required to comply with the provisions of paragraph 2.1 "Composition", 2.4 "Independence" or 2.4 "Financial Literacy" above. In the event the Company cannot comply with all or a part of these provisions, then the Committee shall be comprised of not less than three members of the Board, a majority of whom are not officers or employees of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.
3. MEETINGS
3.1 Meetings - The members of the Audit Committee shall hold meetings as are required to carry out this mandate, and in any case no less than four meetings annually. The external auditors are entitled to attend and be heard at each Audit Committee meeting. The Chair, any member of the Audit Committee, the external auditors, the Chairman of the Board or the President and CEO may call a meeting of the Audit Committee. The Chair shall chair all Audit Committee meetings that he or she attends, and in the absence of the Chair, the members of the Audit Committee present may appoint a Chair from their number for a meeting.
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3.2 Secretary and Minutes - The Secretary, his or her designate or any other person the Audit Committee requests, shall act as secretary at Audit Committee meetings. Minutes of Audit Committee meetings shall be recorded and maintained by the Corporate Secretary and subsequently presented to the Audit Committee for approval.
3.3 Quorum - A majority of the members of the Audit Committee shall constitute a quorum. If a quorum cannot be obtained for an Audit Committee meeting, members of the Board who would qualify as members of the Audit Committee may, at the request of the Chair or the Chairman of the Board, serve as members of the Audit Committee for that meeting.
3.4 Access to Management and Outside Advisors - The Audit Committee shall have unrestricted access to management and employees of the Company, and, from time to time may hold meetings with the external auditor, the CFO or the President and CEO. The Audit Committee shall have the authority to retain and terminate external legal counsel, consultants or other advisors to assist it in fulfilling its responsibilities and to set and pay the respective compensation for these advisors without consulting or obtaining the approval of the Board or any officer of the Company. The Company shall provide appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee, for the services of these advisors.
3.5 Meetings Without Management - The Audit Committee shall hold unscheduled or regularly scheduled meetings, or portions of regularly scheduled meetings, at which management is not present.
4. FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Audit Committee shall have the functions and responsibilities set out below as well as any other functions that are specifically delegated to the Audit Committee by the Board. In addition to these functions and responsibilities, the Audit Committee shall perform the duties required of an audit committee by applicable corporate securities laws, the binding requirements of the stock exchanges on which the securities of the Company are listed, and all other applicable laws.
4.1 Financial Reports
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(a) General - The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and financial disclosures. Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Company’s financial statements and financial disclosures and for the appropriateness of the accounting principles and the reporting policies used by the Company. The external auditors are responsible for auditing the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and, if requested by the Company, for reviewing the Company’s unaudited interim financial statements.
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(b) Review of Annual Financial Reports - The Audit Committee shall review the annual consolidated audited financial statements of the Company, the external auditors’ report thereon and the related management’s discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operation to determine whether they present fairly, in all material respects in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, or any other generally accepted accounting principles in which the financial statements of the Company are prepared from time to time, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company. After completing its review, if advisable, the Audit Committee shall approve and recommend for Board approval the annual financial statements and the related MD&A.
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(c) Review of Interim Financial Reports - The Audit Committee shall review the interim consolidated financial statements of the Company, the external auditors review report thereon, if applicable, and the related MD&A to determine whether they present fairly, in all material respects in accordance with IFRS, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company. After completing its review, if advisable, the Audit Committee shall, if so authorized by the Board, approve the interim financial statements and the related MD&A, or if not authorized by the Board, then approve and recommend for Board approval.
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(d) Review Considerations - In conducting its review of the annual financial statements or the interim financial statements, the Audit Committee shall:
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(i) meet with management and the external auditors to discuss the financial statements and MD&A;
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(ii) review the disclosures in the financial statements;
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(iii) review the audit report or review report prepared by the external auditors;
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(iv) discuss with management, the external auditors and legal counsel, as requested, any litigation claim or other contingency that could have a material effect on the financial statements;
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(v) review critical accounting and other significant estimates and judgments underlying the financial statements as presented by management;
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(vi) review any material effects of regulatory accounting initiatives or off-balance sheet structures on the financial statements as presented by management;
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(vii) review any material changes in accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting practices and their impact on the financial statements as presented by management;
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(viii) review management’s report on the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting;
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(ix) review results of the Company’s whistleblowing program; and
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(x) review any other matters, related to the financial statements, that are brought forward by the external auditors, management or which are required to be communicated to the Audit Committee under accounting policies, auditing standards or applicable law.
4.2 Approval of Other Financial Disclosures - The Audit Committee shall review and, if advisable, approve and recommend for Board approval financial disclosure in a prospectus or other securities offering document of the Company, press releases disclosing financial results of the Company and any other material financial disclosure, including in Management Information Circulars and Annual Information Forms
4.3 External Auditors
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(a) General -The Audit Committee shall be responsible for oversight of the work of the external auditors in auditing and reviewing the Company’s financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting.
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(b) Appointment and Compensation - The Audit Committee shall review and, if advisable, select and recommend (i) for shareholder approval, the appointment of the external auditors and (ii) for shareholder or Board approval, as applicable, the compensation of the external auditors.
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(c) Annual Review Report - At least annually, the Audit Committee shall obtain and review a report by the external auditors describing: (i) their internal quality-control procedures and (ii) any material issues raised by their most recent internal quality-control review, peer review or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the external auditors and any steps taken to deal with any of these issues.
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(d) Audit Plan - At least annually, the Audit Committee shall review a summary of the external auditors’ annual audit plan. The Audit Committee shall consider and review with the external auditors any material changes to the scope of the plan.
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(e) Quarterly Review Report - If the external auditors review the Company’s unaudited interim financial statements, then the Audit Committee shall review a quarterly review report prepared by the external auditors in respect of each of the interim financial statements of the Company.
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(f) Independence of External Auditors - At least annually, and before the external auditors issue their report
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on the annual financial statements, the Audit Committee shall obtain from the external auditors a formal written statement describing all relationships between the external auditors and the Company, discuss with the external auditors any disclosed relationships or services that may affect the objectivity and independence of the external auditors, and obtain written confirmation from the external auditors that they are objective and independent within the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct/Code of Ethics adopted by the provincial institute or order of chartered accountants to which it belongs.
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(g) Evaluation and Rotation of Lead Partner - At least annually, the Audit Committee shall review the qualifications and performance of the lead partners of the external auditors. The Audit Committee shall obtain a report from the external auditors annually verifying that the lead partner of the external auditors has served in that capacity for no more than five fiscal years of the Company and that the engagement team collectively possesses the experience and competence to perform an appropriate audit.
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(h) Pre-Approval of Non-Audit Services - The Audit Committee shall pre-approve any retainer of the external auditors for any non-audit service to the Company in accordance with applicable law and Board approved policies and procedures. The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to a member of the Audit Committee. The decisions of any member of the Audit Committee to whom this authority has been delegated must be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled Audit Committee meeting.
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(i) Hiring Practices - The Audit Committee shall review and approve guidelines regarding the hiring of employees or former employees of the external auditors.
4.4 Internal Controls
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(a) General - The Audit Committee shall monitor the system of internal control.
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(b) Establishment, Review and Approval - The Audit Committee shall require management to implement and maintain appropriate systems of internal control in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and guidance, including internal control over financial reporting and disclosure and to review, evaluate and approve these procedures. At least annually, the Audit Committee shall consider and review with management and the external auditors: (i) the effectiveness of, or weaknesses or deficiencies in: the design or operation of the Company’s internal controls (including computerized information system controls and security); the overall control environment for managing business risks; and accounting, financial and disclosure controls (including, without limitation, controls over financial reporting), non financial controls, and legal and regulatory controls and the impact of any identified weaknesses in internal controls on management’s conclusions; (ii) any significant changes in internal control over financial reporting that are disclosed, or considered for disclosure, including those in the Company’s periodic regulatory filings; (iii) any material issues raised by any inquiry or investigation by the Company’s regulators; (iv) any related significant issues and recommendations of the external auditors together with management’s responses thereto, including the timetable for implementation of recommendations to correct weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls.
4.5 Whistleblowing Procedures - The Audit Committee shall review and approve the establishment by management of procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company from employees or others, regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters.
4.6 Succession Planning - In consultation with the Board, the Audit Committee shall review succession plans for the CFO and the Chief Accountant or Controller of the Company. The Audit Committee shall review candidates for the position of CFO of the Company and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the appointment of a CFO.
4.7 Adverse Investments and Transactions - The Audit Committee shall review any investments and transactions that could adversely affect the well-being of the Company.
4.8 Audit Committee Disclosure - The Audit Committee shall review and approve any audit committee disclosures required by securities regulators in the Company’s disclosure documents.
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4.9 Assessment of Regulatory Compliance - The Audit Committee shall review management’s assessment of compliance with laws and regulations as they pertain to responsibilities under this mandate, report its findings to the Board and recommend changes it considers appropriate.
4.10 Delegation - The Audit Committee may designate a sub-committee to review any matter within this mandate as the Audit Committee deems appropriate.
5. REPORTING TO THE BOARD
5.1 The Chair shall report to the Board, as required by applicable law or as deemed necessary by the Audit Committee or as requested by the Board, on matters arising at Audit Committee meetings and, where applicable, shall present the Audit Committee’s recommendation to the Board for its approval.
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SCHEDULE “C”
BY-LAW NO. 1
A by-law relating generally to the conduct of the affairs of
MOON RIVER CAPITAL LTD.
(hereinafter called the " Corporation ")
BE IT ENACTED as a by-law of the Corporation as follows:
INTERPRETATION
1.1 Definitions.
In this By-law No.1, unless the context otherwise requires:
" Act " means the Business Corporations Act , R.S.O. 1990, c. B.16 and the regulations made thereunder, as from time to time amended, and every statute or regulation that may be substituted therefor;
" appointed " includes " elected " and vice versa;
" articles " means the articles of the Corporation as from time to time amended or restated;
" board " means the board of directors of the Corporation and " director " means a member of the board;
" by-laws " means this By-law No.1 and all other by-laws of the Corporation from time to time in force and effect;
" By-law No 1 " means this by-law;
" meeting of shareholders " includes an annual meeting of shareholders and a special meeting of shareholders;
" non-business day " means Saturday, Sunday and any other day that is a holiday as defined in the Legislation Act (Ontario), 2006, S.O. 2006, c. 21, Sched. F, as from time to time amended, and every statute or regulation that may be substituted therefor;
" offering corporation " means a corporation as defined in the Act;
" public announcement " shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service in Canada, or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation under its profile on the System of Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval at www.sedar.com;
" special meeting of shareholders " includes a meeting of any class or classes of shareholders and a special meeting of all shareholders entitled to vote at an annual meeting of shareholders;
" recorded address " means, in the case of a shareholder, the shareholder's address as recorded in the securities register; and in the case of joint shareholders, the address appearing in the securities register in respect of such joint holding or the first address so appearing if there is more than one; and, in the case of a director, officer, auditor or member of a committee of the board, the latest address of such person as shown in the records of the Corporation or in the most recent notice filed under the Corporations Information Act (Ontario) or any statute that may be substituted for it, whichever, to the knowledge of the Corporation, is the more current; and
" signing officer " means, in relation to any instrument, any person authorized to sign on behalf of the Corporation by section 2.4 of this By-law No.1 or by a resolution passed pursuant thereto;
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1.2 Interpretation.
Unless defined in section 1.1, words and expressions defined in the Act have the same meanings when used herein. Words importing the singular number include the plural and vice versa. Words importing gender include the feminine, masculine and neuter genders. Words importing a person include an individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, unincorporated association, unincorporated syndicate, trust, unincorporated organization, body corporate and a natural person in his or her capacity as trustee, executor, administrator, or other legal representative.
BUSINESS OF THE CORPORATION
2.1 Registered Office.
The registered office of the Corporation shall be at the location in Ontario initially specified in the articles of the Corporation, and thereafter, provided same is permitted under the Act, from time to time the Corporation may (i) by resolution of the directors change the location of the registered office of the Corporation within a municipality or geographic township, and (ii) by special resolution, change the municipality or geographic township in which its registered office is located to another place in Ontario.
2.2 Corporate Seal.
The Corporation may, but need not, have a corporate seal and if one is adopted it shall be in a form approved from time to time by the board.
2.3 Financial Year.
The board may, by resolution, fix the financial year end of the Corporation, and the board may from time to time, by resolution, change the financial year of the Corporation.
2.4 Execution of Instruments.
Deeds, transfers, assignments, contracts, obligations, certificates and other instruments may be signed on behalf of the Corporation by any one of the following: by any one person who holds the office of chair of the board, chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, executive vice-president, senior vice-president, secretary, treasurer, assistant secretary or the holder of any other office created from time to time by by-law or the board. In addition, the board may from time to time direct by resolution the manner in which and the person or persons by whom any particular instrument or class of instruments may or shall be signed. Any signing officer may affix the corporate seal to any instrument requiring the same.
2.5 Banking Arrangements.
The banking business of the Corporation including, without limitation, the borrowing of money and the giving of security therefor, shall be transacted with such banks, trust companies or other bodies corporate or organizations as may from time to time be designated by or under the authority of the board. Such banking business or any part thereof shall be transacted under such agreements, instructions and delegations of powers as the board may from time to time prescribe or authorize.
2.6 Voting Rights in Other Bodies Corporate.
The signing officers of the Corporation under section 2.4 hereof may execute and deliver proxies and arrange for the issuance of voting certificates or other evidence of the right to exercise the voting rights attaching to any securities held by the Corporation. Such instruments shall be in favour of such person or persons as may be determined by the officers executing or arranging for them. In addition, the board may from time to time direct the manner in which and the person by whom any particular voting rights or class of voting rights may or shall be exercised.
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BORROWING AND SECURITY
3.1 Borrowing Power.
Without limiting the borrowing powers of the Corporation as set forth in the Act, but subject to the articles, the board may from time to time on behalf of the Corporation, without authorization of the shareholders:
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(a) borrow money upon the credit of the Corporation;
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(b) issue, reissue, sell or pledge debt obligations of the Corporation;
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(c) give a guarantee on behalf of the Corporation to secure performance of any obligation of any person; and
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(d) mortgage, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise create a security interest in all or any property of the Corporation, owned or subsequently acquired, to secure any obligation of the Corporation.
Nothing in this section limits or restricts the borrowing of money by the Corporation on bills of exchange or promissory notes made, drawn, accepted or endorsed by or on behalf of the Corporation.
3.2 Delegation.
Subject to the Act and the articles, the board may from time to time delegate to a committee of the board, a director or an officer of the Corporation or any other person as may be designated by the board all or any of the powers conferred on the board by section 3.1 hereof or by the Act to such extent and in such manner as the board may determine at the time of each such delegation.
DIRECTORS
4.1 Number of Directors.
Until changed in accordance with the Act, the board shall consist of not fewer than the minimum number and not more than the maximum number of directors provided in the articles, provided, however, that for so long as the Corporation is an offering corporation, the board shall consist of not fewer than three directors.
4.2 Qualification.
A person shall be disqualified from being a director of the Corporation if such person is less than 18 years of age, has been found under the Substitute Decisions Act (Ontario) or under the Mental Health Act (Ontario) to be incapable of managing property, has been found to be incapable by a court in Canada or elsewhere, is not an individual, or has the status of a bankrupt. A director need not be a shareholder. The board shall be comprised of the number of Canadian residents as may be prescribed from time to time by the Act.
4.3 Election and Term.
The election of directors shall take place at each annual meeting of shareholders. Subject to the Act, each director shall cease to hold office at the close of the first annual meeting of shareholders following his or her election, but, if qualified, shall be eligible for re-election at such annual meeting. Subject to the Act and section 4.1 hereof, the number of directors to be elected at any such meeting shall be the number of directors determined from time to time by special resolution or, if the special resolution empowers the directors to determine the number, by resolution of the board. The election shall be by ordinary resolution. If directors are not elected at a meeting of shareholders, the incumbent directors shall continue in office until their successors are elected.
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4.4 Advanced Notice.
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(a) Subject to the provisions of the Act and the articles, a nominee will not be eligible for election as director of the Corporation unless such nomination is made in accordance with the following procedures. Nominations of a person for election to the board may be made at any annual meeting of shareholders, or at any special meeting of shareholders if one of the purposes for which the special meeting was called was the election of directions, (a) by or at the director of the board or an authorized officer of the Corporation, including pursuant to a notice of meting; (b) by or at the direction or request of one or more shareholders pursuant to a proposal made in accordance with the provisions of the Act or a requisition of the shareholders made in accordance with the provisions of the Act or (c) by any person (a " Nominating Shareholder ") (i) who, at the close of business on the date of the giving of the notice provided for below in this section 4.4 and on the record date for notice of such meeting, is entered in the securities register as a holder of one or more shares carrying the right to vote at such meeting or who beneficially owns shares that are entitled to be voted at such meeting and (ii) who complies with the notice procedures set forth below in this section 4.4.
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(b) In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a Nominating Shareholder, the Nominating Shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the secretary of the Corporation at the registered office of the Corporation in accordance with this section 4.4.
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(c) To be timely, a Nominating Shareholder's notice to the secretary of the Corporation must be made (i) in the case of an annual meeting of shareholders, not less than 30 nor more than 65 days prior to the date of the annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting of shareholders is called for a date that is less than 50 days after the date (the " Notice Date ") on which the first public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was made, notice by the Nominating Shareholder may be made not later than the close of business on the 10[th] day following the Notice Date; and (ii) in the case of a special meeting (other than an annual meeting) of shareholders called for the purpose of electing directors (whether or not called for other purposes), not later than the close of business on the 15[th] day following the day on which the first public announcement of the date of the special meeting of shareholders was made. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a meeting of shareholders or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a Nominating Shareholder's notice as described above.
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(d) To be in proper written form, a Nominating Shareholder's notice to the secretary of the Corporation must set forth (i) as to each person whom the Nominating Shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of the person (B) the principal occupation or employment of the person (C) the class or series and number of shares in the share capital of the Corporation which are controlled or which are owned beneficially or of record by the person as of the record date for the meeting of shareholders (if such date shall then have been made publicly available and shall have occurred) and as of the date of such notice, and (D) any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed in a dissident's proxy circular in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to the Act and applicable securities legislation; and (ii) as to the Nominating Shareholder giving the notice, any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Nominating Shareholder has a right to vote any shares of the Corporation and any other information relating to such Nominating Shareholder that would be required to be made in a dissent's proxy circular in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to the Act and applicable securities legislation. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable shareholder's understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee.
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(e) No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the provisions of this section 4.4; provided, however, that nothing in this section 4.4 shall be deemed to preclude discussion by a shareholder (as distinct from the nomination of directors) at a meeting of shareholders of any matter in respect of which it would have been entitled to submit a proposal pursuant to the provisions of the Act. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in the foregoing provisions and, if any proposed nomination is not in compliance with such foregoing provisions, to declare that such defective nomination shall be disregarded.
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(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of the by-laws, notice given to the secretary of the Corporation pursuant to this section 4.4 may only be given by personal delivery, facsimile transmission or by email (at such email address as stipulated from time to time by the secretary of the Corporation for purposes of this notice), and shall be deemed to have been given and made only at the time it is served by personal delivery, email (at the address as aforesaid) or sent by facsimile transmission (provided that receipt of confirmation of such transmission has been received) to the secretary of the Corporation at the address of the registered office of the Corporation; provided that if such delivery or electronic communication is made on a non-business day or later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on a day which is a business day, then such delivery or electronic communication shall be deemed to have been made on the subsequent day that is a business day.
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(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the board may, in its sole discretion, waive any requirement in this section 4.4.
4.5 Removal of Directors.
Subject to the Act, the shareholders may by ordinary resolution passed at an annual or special meeting of shareholders remove any director from office and the vacancy created by such removal may be filled by the election of any qualified individual at the same meeting, failing which it may be filled by the board.
4.6 Vacation of Office.
A director ceases to hold office when he or she dies; he or she is removed from office by the shareholders; he or she ceases to be qualified for election as a director, or his or her written resignation is received by the Corporation, or, if a time is specified in such resignation, at the time so specified, whichever is later.
4.7 Vacancies.
Subject to the Act, a quorum of the board may appoint a qualified individual to fill a vacancy in the board.
4.8 Action by the Board.
The board shall manage or supervise the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation. The powers of the board may be exercised at a meeting (subject to sections 4.9 and 4.10 hereof) at which a quorum is present or by resolution in writing signed by all the directors entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of the board. Where there is a vacancy or vacancies in the board, the remaining directors may exercise all the powers of the board so long as a quorum remains in office.
4.9 Meetings by Telephone.
If all the directors of the Corporation consent thereto generally or if all the directors of the Corporation present at or participating in the meeting consent, a director may participate in a meeting of the board or a committee of the board by means of telephone, electronic or other communications facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other, simultaneously and instantaneously, and a director participating in such meeting by such means shall be deemed to be present at the meeting. Any such consent shall be effective whether given before
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or after the meeting to which it relates and may be given with respect to all meetings of the board and of committees of the board. If a majority of the directors participating in a meeting held pursuant to this section are then in Canada, the meeting shall be deemed to have been held in Canada.
4.10
Place of Meeting.
Meetings of the board shall be held at any place within or outside Ontario.
4.11 Calling of Meetings.
Meetings of the board shall be held from time to time at such place (subject to section 4.10 hereof), at such time and on such day as the board, the chair of the board, the president or any two directors may determine.
4.12 Notice of Meeting.
Notice of the time and place of each meeting of the board shall be given in the manner provided in section 11 hereof to each director (a) not less than 48 hours before the time when the meeting is to be held if the notice is mailed, or (b) not less than 24 hours before the time when the meeting is to be held if the notice is given personally or is delivered or sent by any means of transmitted or recorded communication; provided that no notice of a meeting shall be necessary if all the directors in office are present or if those absent waive notice of such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called. A notice of a meeting of directors need not specify the purpose of or the business to be transacted at the meeting except where the Act requires such purpose or business or the general nature thereof to be specified.
4.13 Attendance of Auditors.
The auditors of the Corporation shall be entitled to attend and be heard at meetings of the board on matters relating to their duties as auditors.
4.14 First Meeting of New Board.
Provided a quorum of directors is present, each newly elected board may without notice hold its first meeting immediately following the meeting of shareholders at which such board is elected.
4.15 Adjourned Meeting.
Notice of an adjourned meeting of the board is not required if the time and place of the adjourned meeting is announced at the original meeting.
4.16 Regular Meetings.
The board may appoint a day or days in any month or months for regular meetings at a place and hour to be named. A copy of any resolution of the board fixing the place and time of regular meetings shall be sent to each director forthwith after being passed, but no other notice shall be required for any such regular meeting except where the Act required the purpose thereof or the business to be transacted thereat to be specified.
4.17 Chair.
The chair of any meeting of the board shall be the first mentioned of such of the following officers as have been appointed and who is a director and is present at the meeting: the chair of the board, the chief executive officer, the president, an executive vice-president or a vice-president. If no such officer is present, the directors present shall choose one of their number to be chair.
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4.18 Quorum.
The quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the board shall be two-fifths of the number of directors then in office or such greater number of directors as the board may from time to time determine.
4.19 Votes to Govern.
At all meetings of the board every question shall be decided by a majority of the votes cast on the question. In case of an equality of votes the chair of the meeting shall be entitled to a second or casting vote.
4.20 Conflict of Interest.
A director who is a party to, or who is a director or officer of or has a material interest in any person who is a party to, a material contract or transaction or proposed material contract or transaction with the Corporation shall disclose to the Corporation the nature and extent of that interest at the time and in the manner provided by the Act. Such a director shall not attend any part of a meeting of directors during which the contract or transaction is discussed and shall not vote on any resolution to approve the same except as permitted by the Act. If no quorum exists for the purpose of voting on such a resolution only because a director is not permitted to be present at the meeting, the remaining directors shall be deemed to constitute a quorum for the purposes of voting on the resolution.
4.21 Remuneration and Expenses.
The directors shall be paid such remuneration for their services as directors as the board may from time to time determine. The directors shall also be entitled to be reimbursed for travelling and other expenses properly incurred by them in attending meetings of the board or any committee thereof. Nothing herein contained shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving remuneration therefor.
4.22 Resolution in Lieu of Meeting.
A resolution in writing signed by all the directors entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of the board or a committee of the board is as valid as if it had been passed at a meeting of the board or committee of the board. A resolution in writing takes effect on the day on which the last director who is entitled and required to sign the resolution signs it. A resolution in writing may be signed in one or more counterparts and such counterparts taken together shall constitute the same resolution. A counterpart signed by a director and transmitted by facsimile or other device capable of transmitting a printed message is as valid as an originally signed counterpart.
COMMITTEES
5.1 Committees of the Board.
The board may appoint from its number one or more committees of the board, however designated, and delegate to any such committee any of the powers of the board except those which pertain to items which, under the Act, a committee of the board has no authority to exercise.
5.2 Transaction of Business.
The powers of a committee of the board may be exercised by a meeting at which a quorum is present or by resolution in writing signed by all members of such committee who would have been entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of the committee. Meetings of such committee may be held at any place in or outside Ontario.
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5.3 Audit Committee.
If the Corporation is an offering corporation the board shall elect annually from among its number an audit committee to be composed of not fewer than three directors, each of whom shall be eligible to serve as a member of an audit committee under the Act, applicable securities legislation and applicable stock exchange rules. The audit committee shall have the powers and duties provided in the Act and in any committee charter as may be adopted by the board from time to time.
5.4 Advisory Bodies.
The board may from time to time appoint such advisory bodies as it may deem advisable.
5.5 Procedure.
Unless otherwise determined by the board, each committee of the board and each advisory board shall have power to fix its quorum at not less than two-fifths of its members, to elect its chair and to regulate its procedure.
OFFICERS
6.1 Appointment.
The board may from time to time appoint a chief executive officer, president, one or more senior or executive vicepresidents (to which title may be added words indicating function), a secretary, a treasurer and such other officers as the board may determine, including one or more assistants to any of the officers so appointed. One person may hold more than one office. The board may specify the duties of and, in accordance with this By-law No.1 and subject to the Act, delegate to such officers powers to manage the business and affairs of the Corporation. Subject to section 6.4 hereof, an officer of the Corporation may but need not be a director.
6.2 Chief Executive Officer.
The board may designate one of its officers of the Corporation as chief executive officer of the Corporation and may from time to time revoke any such designation and designate another officer of the Corporation as chief executive officer of the Corporation. The officer designated as chief executive officer shall, subject to the authority of the board, have general supervision and control of the affairs of the Corporation.
6.3 Chief Financial Officer.
The board may designate one of the officers of the Corporation as chief financial officer of the Corporation and may from time to time revoke any such designation and designate another officer of the Corporation as chief financial officer of the Corporation. The officer designated as chief financial officer shall have such duties and exercise such powers as the board may from time to time prescribe.
6.4 Chair of the Board.
The board may from time to time also appoint a chair of the board who shall be a director. If appointed, the chair of the board shall, if present, preside at all meetings of the board and shareholders. In addition, he or she shall have such other powers and duties as the board may specify by resolution or as are incident to his or her office.
6.5 Vice Chair of the Board.
The board may from time to time also appoint a vice chair of the board who shall be a director. If appointed, he or she shall have such powers and duties as the board may specify by resolution or as are incident to his or her office.
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6.6 President.
Unless otherwise designated by the board in accordance with section 6.2 hereof, the president shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and, subject to the authority of the board and the powers designated to the chief executive officer (if the chief executive officer is not also the president), shall have general supervision of the affairs and business of the Corporation. During the absence or disability of the president, his or her duties shall be performed and his or her powers exercised by the officer or officers of the Corporation designated from time to time by the board.
6.7 Executive or Senior Vice-President.
An executive or senior vice-president shall have such powers and duties as the board or the president may prescribe.
6.8 Secretary.
Unless otherwise determined by the board, the secretary shall attend, and be the secretary of, all meetings of the board, shareholders and committees of the board. The secretary shall enter or cause to be entered in records kept for that purpose minutes of all proceedings at meetings of the board, the shareholders and committees of the board, whether or not he or she attends such meetings. He or she shall give or cause to be given, as and when instructed, all notices to directors, shareholders, auditors and members of committees of the board. He or she shall be the custodian of the stamp or mechanical device generally used for affixing the corporate seal of the Corporation and of all books, papers, records, documents and instruments belonging to the Corporation, except when some other officer or agent has been appointed for that purpose, and he shall have such other powers and duties as otherwise may be specified.
6.9 Treasurer.
The board may designate a treasurer who, subject to any resolution of the board and under the direction of the board, shall keep proper accounting records in compliance with the Act and shall be responsible for the deposit of money, the safekeeping of securities and the disbursement of the funds of the Corporation. Subject to any resolution of the board, he or she shall render to the board whenever required an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial position of the Corporation and he or she shall have such other powers and duties as otherwise may be specified.
6.10 Powers and Duties of Officers.
The powers and duties of all officers shall be such as the terms of their engagement call for or as the board or (except for those whose powers and duties are to be specified only by the board) the chief executive officer may specify. The board and (except as aforesaid) the chief executive officer may, from time to time and subject to the Act, vary, add to or limit the powers and duties of an officer. Any of the powers and duties of an officer to whom an assistant has been appointed may be exercised and performed by such assistant, unless the board or the chief executive officer otherwise directs.
6.11 Term of Office.
The board, in its discretion, or the president may remove any officer of the Corporation without prejudice to any officer's rights under any employment contract. Otherwise each officer appointed by the board shall hold office until his or her successor is appointed or until his or her earlier resignation.
6.12 Terms of Employment and Remuneration.
The terms of employment and the remuneration of officers elected or appointed by the board shall be settled by it from time to time.
6.13 Agents and Attorneys.
The board shall have power from time to time to appoint agents or attorneys for the Corporation within or outside of
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Canada with such powers (including the power to sub-delegate) of management, administration or otherwise as may be thought fit.
6.14 Fidelity Bonds.
The board may require such officers, employees and agents of the Corporation as the board deems advisable to furnish bonds for the faithful discharge of their powers and duties, in such form and with such surety as the board may from time to time determine.
PROTECTION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND OTHERS
7.1 Limitation of Liability.
Every director and officer of the Corporation in exercising his or her powers and discharging his or her duties shall act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Corporation and exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. Subject to the foregoing, no director or officer shall be liable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of any other director, officer or employee, or for joining in any receipt or other act for conformity, or for any loss, damage or expense happening to the Corporation through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired by order of the board for or on behalf of the Corporation, or for the insufficiency or deficiency of any security in or upon which any of the moneys of the Corporation shall be invested, or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency or tortious acts of any person with whom any of the moneys, securities or effects of the Corporation shall be deposited, or for any loss occasioned by any error of judgment or oversight on his or her part, or for any other loss, damage or misfortune which shall happen in the execution of the duties of his or her office or in relation thereto, unless the same are occasioned by his or her own willful neglect or default, provided that nothing herein shall relieve any director or officer of any liability imposed upon him or her by the Act.
7.2 Indemnity.
Subject to the Act, the Corporation shall indemnify a director or officer, a former director or officer, or a person who acts or acted at the Corporation's request as a director or officer of a body corporate of which the Corporation is or was a shareholder or creditor, and his or her heirs, executors, administrators and other legal personal representatives, against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, reasonably incurred by him or her in respect of any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which he or she is made a party by reason of having been a director or officer of the Corporation or body corporate of which the Corporation is or was a shareholder or creditor, if (a) he or she acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Corporation; and (b) in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding enforced by a monetary penalty, he or she had reasonable grounds for believing that his or her conduct was lawful. The Corporation may also indemnify that person in such other circumstances as the Act or law permits or requires. Nothing in this Bylaw No.1 shall limit the right of any individual entitled to indemnity to claim indemnity apart from the provisions of this By-law No.1.
7.3 Advance of Costs.
The Corporation shall advance moneys to a director, officer or other individual for the costs, charges and expenses of a proceeding referred to in section 7.2 hereof. The individual shall repay the moneys if the individual does not fulfil the conditions of section 7.2 hereof.
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7.4 Insurance.
Subject to the Act, the Corporation may purchase and maintain such insurance for the benefit of its directors and officers as the board may from time to time determine.
SHARES
8.1 Allotment of Shares.
Subject to the Act and the articles, the board may from time to time allot or grant options to purchase the whole or any part of the authorized and unissued shares of the Corporation in such manner and to such persons or class of persons as the board shall by resolution determine, provided that no share shall be issued until it is fully paid as provided by the Act.
8.2 Commissions.
The board may from time to time authorize the Corporation to pay a reasonable commission to any person in consideration of such person purchasing or agreeing to purchase shares of the Corporation, whether from the Corporation or from any other person, or procuring or agreeing to procure purchasers for any such shares.
8.3 Transfer Agents and Registrars.
The board may from time to time by resolution appoint a registrar to keep the register of security holders and a transfer agent to keep the register of transfers and may also appoint one or more branch registrars to keep branch registers of security holders and one or more branch transfer agents to keep branch registers of transfers, but one person may be appointed both registrar and transfer agent. The board may at any time terminate any such appointment.
8.4 Registration of Transfer.
Subject to the Act, no transfer of shares shall be registered in a register of transfers or branch register of transfers except upon presentation of the certificate representing the share endorsement made on or delivered with it which complies with the Act, duly executed by the appropriate person as provided by the Act, together with such reasonable assurance or evidence of signature, identification and authority to transfer as the board may from time to time prescribe, and on payment of all applicable taxes and any reasonable fees prescribed by the board, and compliance with such restrictions on transfer as are authorized by the articles, if any, and on satisfaction of any lien referred to in section 8.5 hereof.
8.5 Lien for Indebtedness.
The Corporation shall have a lien on the shares registered in the name of a shareholder who is indebted to the Corporation except where such class or series of shares of the Corporation is listed on a stock exchange, and the lien may be enforced, subject to the articles, by the sale of the shares affected by it or by any other action, suit, remedy or proceeding authorized or permitted by law or by equity and, pending enforcement, the Corporation may refuse to register a transfer of the whole or any part of those shares.
8.6 Non-Recognition of Trusts.
Subject to the Act, the Corporation may treat the registered holder of any share as the person exclusively entitled to vote, to receive notices, to receive any dividend or other payment in respect of the share, and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner of the share.
8.7 Share Certificates.
Every holder of one or more fully paid shares of the Corporation shall be entitled, at his or her option, to a share
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certificate, or to a non-transferable written certificate of acknowledgement of his or her right to obtain a share certificate, stating the number and class or series of shares held by him or her as shown on the securities register, and stating that such shares are fully paid. Share certificates shall be in such form as the board shall from time to time approve and shall be signed in accordance with section 2.4 hereof and need not be under the corporate seal; provided that, unless the board otherwise orders, certificates representing shares in respect of which a transfer agent, registrar, or both has been appointed shall not be valid unless countersigned by or on behalf of such transfer agent or registrar. The signature of one of the signing officers or, in the case of share certificates which are not valid unless countersigned by or on behalf of a transfer agent or registrar, the signatures of both signing officers may be mechanically reproduced upon share certificates and every such signature shall for all purposes be deemed to be the signature of the officer whose signature it reproduces and shall be binding upon the Corporation. A share certificate executed as aforesaid shall be valid notwithstanding that one or both of the officers whose signature appears thereon no longer holds office at the date of issue or delivery of the certificate.
8.8 Replacement of Share Certificates.
The board or any officer or agent designated by the board may in its or his or her discretion direct the issue of a new share certificate or other such certificate in lieu of and on cancellation of a share certificate that has been mutilated or in substitution for a certificate claimed to have been lost, apparently destroyed or wrongfully taken, on payment of such reasonable fee and on such terms as to indemnity, reimbursement of expenses and evidence of loss and of title as the board may from time to time prescribe, whether generally or in any particular case.
8.9 Joint Shareholders.
If two or more persons are registered as joint holders of any share, the Corporation shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate in respect of that share, and delivery of the certificate to one of those persons shall be sufficient delivery to all of them. Any one of those persons may give effectual receipts for the certificate issued in respect of it or for any dividend, bonus, return of capital or other money payable or warrant issuable in respect of that share.
8.10 Deceased Shareholders.
In the event of the death of a holder, or of one of the joint holders, of any share, the Corporation shall not be required to make any entry in the register of shareholders in respect of the death or to make any dividend or other payments in respect of the share except on production of all such documents as may be required by law and on compliance with the reasonable requirements of the Corporation and its transfer agents.
DIVIDENDS AND RIGHTS
9.1
Dividends.
Subject to the Act and the articles, the board may from time to time declare dividends payable to the shareholders according to their respective rights and interests in the Corporation. Dividends may be paid in money or property or by the issue of fully paid shares of the Corporation or options or rights to acquire fully paid shares of the Corporation. Any dividend unclaimed after a period of two years from the date on which it has been declared to be payable shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Corporation.
9.2 Dividend Cheques.
A dividend payable in money shall be paid by cheque drawn on the Corporation's bankers or one of them to the order of each registered holder of shares of the class or series in respect of which it has been declared and mailed by prepaid ordinary mail to such registered holder at his or her address appearing on the securities register, unless such holder otherwise directs. In the case of joint holders, the cheque shall, unless such joint holders otherwise jointly direct, be made payable to the order of all the joint holders and mailed to them at the address appearing on the register of shareholders in respect of such joint holding, or to the first address so appearing if there are more than one. The mailing of such cheque, unless it is not paid on due presentation, shall satisfy and discharge the liability for the
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dividend to the extent of the sum represented by it plus the amount of any tax which the Corporation is required to and does withhold.
9.3 Non-Receipt of Cheques.
In the event of non-receipt of any dividend cheque by the person to whom it is sent, the Corporation shall issue to such person a replacement cheque for a like amount on such terms as to indemnity, reimbursement of expenses and evidence of non-receipt and of title as the board may from time to time prescribe, whether generally or in any particular case.
9.4 Record Date for Dividends and Rights.
The board may fix in advance a date, preceding by not more than 50 days the date for the payment of any dividend or the date for the issue of any warrant or other evidence of right to subscribe for securities of the Corporation, as a record date for the determination of the persons entitled to receive payment of the dividend or to exercise the right to subscribe for such securities, and notice of any such record date shall be given not less than seven days before the record date in the manner provided by the Act. In every such case, only persons who are shareholders of record at the close of business on the record date so fixed shall be entitled to receive payment of such dividend or to exercise the right to subscribe for such securities and to receive the warrant or other evidence in respect of such right, notwithstanding the transfer or issue of any shares after the record date is fixed.
MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
10.1 Annual Meetings.
The annual meeting of shareholders shall be held at such time in each year and, subject to section 10.3 hereof, at such place as the board, the chair of the board may from time to time determine, for the purpose of receiving the reports and statements required by the Act to be laid before the annual meeting, electing directors, appointing auditors and fixing or authorizing the board to fix the remuneration of the auditors, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
10.2 Special Meetings.
The board or the chair of the board shall have power to call a special meeting of shareholders at any time.
10.3 Place of Meetings.
Meetings of shareholders shall be held at such place within or outside Ontario as the directors determine or, in the absence of such determination, at the place where the registered office of the Corporation is located.
10.4 Participation in Meeting by Electronic Means.
Any person entitled to attend a meeting of shareholders may participate in the meeting, in accordance with the Act, by means of a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility that permits all participants to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting, if the Corporation makes available such a communication facility. A person participating in a meeting by such means is deemed for the purposes of the Act to be present at the meeting.
10.5 Meeting held by Electronic Means.
If the directors or the shareholders of the Corporation call a meeting of shareholders pursuant to the Act, those directors or shareholders, as the case may be, may determine that the meeting shall be held, in accordance with the Act, entirely by means of a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility that permits all participants to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting.
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10.6 Notice of Meetings.
Notice of the time and place of each meeting of shareholders shall be sent in the manner provided in section 11 hereof not less than 10 days, or if the Corporation is an offering corporation not less than 21 days, but in either case not more than 50 days before the date of the meeting to each director, to the auditor, and to each shareholder who at the close of business on the record date for notice is entered in the securities register as the holder of one or more shares carrying the right to vote at the meeting. Notice of a special meeting of shareholders shall state the nature of the business in sufficient detail to permit the shareholder to form a reasoned judgement on it and shall give the text of any ordinary resolution, special resolution, or by-law to be submitted to the special meeting.
10.7 List of Shareholders Entitled to Notice.
For every meeting of shareholders, the Corporation shall prepare a list of shareholders entitled to receive notice of the meeting. The list shall be arranged in alphabetical order and show the number of shares held by each shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting. If a record date for the meeting is fixed pursuant to section 10.8 hereof, the shareholders listed shall be those registered at the close of business on that record date. If no record date is fixed, the shareholders listed shall be those registered at the close of business on the day immediately preceding the day on which notice of the meeting is given, or where no such notice is given, on the day on which the meeting is held. The list shall be available for examination by any shareholder during usual business hours at the registered office of the Corporation or at the place where the central securities register is maintained and at the meeting for which the list was prepared.
10.8 Record Date for Notice.
The board may fix in advance a date, preceding the date of any meeting of shareholders by not more than 60 days and not less than 30 days, as a record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and notice of any such record date shall be given not less than seven days before such record date, by newspaper advertisement in the manner provided in the Act and by written notice to each stock exchange in Canada on which the shares of the Corporation are listed for trading. If no such record date is so fixed, the record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to receive notice of the meeting shall be at the close of business on the day immediately preceding the day on which the notice is given or, if no notice is given, shall be the day on which the meeting is held.
10.9 Meetings Without Notice.
A meeting of shareholders may be held without notice at any time and at any place permitted by the Act or the articles (a) if all the shareholders entitled to vote thereat are present in person or duly represented by proxy or if those not present or represented by proxy waive notice of or otherwise consent to such meeting being held, and (b) if the auditors and the directors are present or waive notice, or otherwise consent to the meeting being held; so long as the shareholders, auditors or directors present are not attending for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called. At such a meeting, any business may be transacted which the Corporation may transact at a meeting of shareholders.
10.10 Chair, Secretary and Scrutineers.
The chair of the board, if such an officer has been elected or appointed and is present, otherwise another director of the Corporation who is a shareholder of the Corporation, shall be chair of any meeting of shareholders. If no such person is present within 15 minutes from the time fixed for holding the meeting, the persons present and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to be chair. If the secretary of the Corporation is absent, the chair shall appoint some person, who need not be a shareholder, to act as secretary of the meeting. If desired, one or more scrutineers, who need not be shareholders, may be appointed by a resolution or by the chair with the consent of the meeting.
10.11 Persons Entitled to be Present.
The only persons entitled to be present at a meeting of shareholders shall be those entitled to vote thereat, the directors and the auditors of the Corporation and others who, although not entitled to vote, are entitled or required under the Act or the articles or by-laws to be present at the meeting. Any other person may be admitted only on the invitation
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of the chair of the meeting or with the consent of the meeting.
10.12 Quorum.
A quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of shareholders shall be two persons present in person, each being a shareholder entitled to vote thereat or a duly appointed proxyholder or representative for a shareholder so entitled. If a quorum is present at the opening of any meeting of shareholders, the shareholders present or represented may proceed with the business of the meeting even if a quorum is not present throughout the meeting.
If a quorum is not present at the time appointed for the meeting or within a reasonable time after that which the shareholders may determine, the shareholders present or represented may adjourn the meeting to a fixed time and place but may not transact any other business.
10.13 Right to Vote.
Every person named in the list referred to in section 10.7 hereof shall be entitled to vote the shares shown on the list opposite his or her name at the meeting to which the list relates.
10.14 Proxyholders and Representatives.
Every shareholder entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders may appoint a proxyholder, or one or more alternate proxyholders, as his or her nominee to attend and act at the meeting in the manner and to the extent authorized and with the authority conferred by the proxy. A proxy shall be in writing executed by the shareholder or his or her attorney and shall conform to the requirements of the Act. Alternatively, every shareholder which is a body corporate or association may authorize by resolution of its directors or governing body an individual to represent it at a meeting of shareholders and that individual may exercise on the shareholder's behalf all the powers it could exercise if it were an individual shareholder. The authority of such an individual shall be established by depositing with the Corporation a certified copy of the resolution, or in such other manner as may be satisfactory to the secretary of the Corporation or the chair of the meeting. Any such proxyholder or representative need not be a shareholder.
10.15 Time for Deposit of Proxies.
The board may fix a time, not exceeding 48 hours, excluding non-business days, preceding any meeting or adjourned meeting of shareholders before which time proxies to be used at the meeting must be deposited with the Corporation or its agent, and any time so fixed shall be specified in the notice calling the meeting. A proxy shall be acted on only if, prior to the time so fixed and specified in the notice calling the meeting, it has been deposited with the Corporation or its agent or, if no such time is specified in the notice, it has been received by the secretary of the Corporation or by the chair of the meeting or any adjournment thereof before the time of voting.
10.16 Personal Representative.
If the shareholder of record is deceased, his or her personal representative, upon filing with the secretary of the meeting sufficient proof of his or her appointment, shall be entitled to exercise the same voting rights at any meeting of shareholders as the shareholder of record would have been entitled to exercise if he or she were living, and for the purposes of the meeting shall be considered a shareholder. If there is more than one personal representative, the provisions of section 10.17 hereof shall apply.
10.17 Joint Shareholders.
If two or more persons hold shares jointly, any one of them present in person or duly represented by proxy at a meeting of shareholders may, in the absence of the other or others, vote the shares; but if more than one of them are present in person or represented by proxy and vote, they shall vote together as one on the shares jointly held by them.
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10.18 Votes to Govern.
At any meeting of shareholders every question shall, unless otherwise required by the articles or by-laws or by applicable law, be determined by a majority of the votes cast on the question. In case of an equality of votes either upon a show of hands or upon a poll, the chair of the meeting shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote.
10.19 Show of Hands.
Subject to the Act, any question at a meeting of shareholders shall be decided by a show of hands, unless a ballot thereon is required or demanded as hereinafter provided, and upon a show of hands every person who is present and entitled to vote shall have one vote. Whenever a vote by show of hands shall have been taken upon a question, unless a ballot thereon is so required or demanded, a declaration by the chair of the meeting that the vote upon the question has been carried or carried by a particular majority or not carried and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting shall be prima facie evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against any resolution or other proceeding in respect of the said question, and the result of the vote so taken shall be the decision of the shareholders upon the said question.
10.20 Ballots.
On any question proposed for consideration at a meeting of shareholders, and whether or not a show of hands has been taken thereon, the chair may require a ballot or any person who is present and entitled to vote on such question at the meeting may demand a ballot. A ballot so required or demanded shall be taken in such manner as the chair shall direct. A requirement or demand for a ballot may be withdrawn at any time prior to the taking of the ballot. If a ballot is taken each person present shall be entitled, in respect of the shares which such person is entitled to vote at the meeting upon the question, to that number of votes provided by the Act or the articles, and the result of the ballot so taken shall be the decision of the shareholders upon the said question.
10.21 Adjournment.
The chair at a meeting of shareholders may, with the consent of the meeting and subject to such conditions as the meeting may decide, adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place. If a meeting of shareholders is adjourned for less than 30 days, it will not be necessary to give notice of the adjourned meeting, other than by announcement at the earliest meeting that is adjourned. Subject to the Act, if a meeting of shareholders is adjourned by one or more adjournments for an aggregate of 30 days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as for an original meeting.
NOTICES
11.1 Method of Giving Notices.
Any notice (which term includes any communication or document) to be given (which term includes sent, transmitted, delivered or served) pursuant to the Act, the regulations thereunder, the articles, the by-laws or otherwise to a shareholder, director, officer, auditor or member of a committee of the board shall be sufficiently given if delivered personally to the person to whom it is to be given, if mailed to such person at the person's recorded address by prepaid mail, or if transmitted by telephone, facsimile or other electronic means in accordance with the Electronic Commerce Act (Ontario). A notice so delivered shall be deemed to have been given when it is delivered personally or to the recorded address as aforesaid; a notice so mailed shall be deemed to have been given when deposited in a post office or public letter box; and a notice so sent by any means of transmitted or recorded communication shall be deemed to have been given when dispatched or delivered by dispatch. A notice so delivered shall be deemed to have been received when it is delivered personally, a notice so mailed shall be deemed to have been received at the time it would be delivered in the ordinary course of mail, and a notice so transmitted shall be deemed to have been received on the day it is transmitted. The secretary may change or cause to be changed the recorded address of any shareholder, director, officer, auditor or member of a committee of the board in accordance with any information believed by the secretary to be reliable.
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11.2 Notice to Joint Shareholders.
If two or more persons are registered as joint holders of any share, notice to one of such persons shall be sufficient notice to all of them. Any notice shall be addressed to all of such joint holders and the address to be used for the purposes of section 11.1 hereof shall be the address appearing on the securities register in respect of such joint holding, or the first address so appearing if there are more than one.
11.3 Computation of Time.
In computing the date when notice must be given under any provision requiring a specified number of days' notice of any meeting or other event, the date of giving the notice shall be excluded and the date of the meeting or other event shall be included.
11.4 Undelivered Notices.
If any notice given to a shareholder pursuant to section 11.1 hereof is returned on three consecutive occasions because he or she cannot be found, the Corporation shall not be required to give any further notices to that shareholder until he or she informs the Corporation in writing of his or her new address.
11.5 Omissions and Errors.
The accidental omission to give any notice to any shareholder, director, officer, auditor or member of a committee of the board, or the non-receipt of any notice by any such person, or any error in any notice not affecting the substance of the notice, shall not invalidate any action taken at any meeting held pursuant to such notice or otherwise founded on it.
11.6 Persons Entitled by Death or Operation of Law.
Every person who, by operation of law, transfer, death of a shareholder or any other means whatsoever, shall become entitled to any share, shall be bound by every notice in respect of the share which has been duly given to the shareholder from whom he or she derives his or her title to the share before his or her name and address were entered on the securities register (whether the notice was given before or after the happening of the event upon which he or she became so entitled) and before he or she furnished the Corporation with the proof of authority or evidence of his or her entitlement prescribed by the Act.
11.7 Waiver of Notice.
Any shareholder, proxyholder or other person entitled to attend a meeting of shareholders, director, officer, auditor or member of a committee of the board may at any time waive any notice, or waive or abridge the time for any notice required to be given to him or her under the Act, the regulations, the articles, the by-laws or otherwise, and that waiver or abridgement, whether given before or after the meeting or other event of which notice is required to be given, shall cure any default in the giving or in the time of the notice, as the case may be. Any such waiver or abridgement shall be in writing, except a waiver of notice of a meeting of shareholders or of the board or a committee of the board, which may be given in any manner.
11.8 Electronic Documents.
A requirement under these by-laws that a notice, document or other information be provided in writing may be satisfied by providing an electronic document and a requirement under these by-laws for a signature or that a document be executed, in relation to an electronic document, may be satisfied, in each case, if the requirements in the Act in respect thereof are met.
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EFFECTIVE DATE
12.1 Amendment and Restatement.
This By-law No. 1 amends, restates and supercedes all of the previous by-laws of the Corporation. The amendment and restatement shall not affect the previous operation of any by-law so amended and restated or repealed, or affect the validity of any act done or right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired or incurred under, or the validity of any contract or agreement made pursuant to, or the validity of any articles or predecessor charter documents of the Corporation obtained pursuant to, any such by-law before its amendment and restatement or repeal. All officers and persons acting under any by-law so amended and restated or repealed shall continue to act as if appointed under the provisions of this By-law No.1 and all resolutions of the board, the shareholders or committees of the board with continuing effect passed under any amended and restated or repealed by-law shall continue to be good and valid except to the extent inconsistent with this By-law No.1 and until amended or repealed.
12.2 Effective Date.
This By-law No.1 shall come into force upon being passed by the board except with respect to those provisions, if any, which may require the prior approval of shareholders in which event those portions of this By-law No.1 shall come into effect upon having been approved by the shareholders.
ENACTED this ● day of ●, ●.
WITNESS the corporate seal of the Corporation.
President Secretary
CONFIRMED by the shareholders in accordance with the Act the ● day of ●, ●.
Secretary
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