AI assistant
NameSilo Technologies Corp. — AGM Information 2024
Jul 11, 2024
44517_rns_2024-07-11_0a604223-2ecb-4f2d-b230-32dbe7d57bc8.pdf
AGM Information
Open in viewerOpens in your device viewer
NAMESILO TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
1100 – 1199 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6E 3T5
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 7, 2024
AND
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
July 8, 2024
This document requires immediate attention. If you are in doubt as to how to deal with the documents or matters referred to in this Information Circular, you should immediately contact your advisor.
NAMESILO TECHNOLOGIES CORP. 1100 – 1199 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6E 3T5
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting (the “Meeting”) of NameSilo Technologies Corp. (the “Company”) will be held at Suite 704, 595 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia on August 7, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) for the following purposes:
-
to set the number of directors of the Company for the ensuing year at four (4) persons;
-
to elect Paul Andreola, Colin Bowkett, Kristaps Ronka and Paul Kozak as directors of the Company to hold office until the next annual general meeting of the Company, or until such time as their successors are duly elected or appointed in accordance with the Company’s constating documents;
-
to appoint Mao & Ying LLP, as the auditors of the Company until the next annual general meeting of the Company and to authorize the directors of the Company to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditors;
-
to consider and if deemed appropriate, to pass, with or without variation, an ordinary resolution approving, ratifying and confirming the Company’s rolling 10% stock option plan as more particularly described in the accompanying Information Circular.
-
to transact such other business as may be properly brought before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The accompanying Information Circular provides additional information relating to the matters to be dealt with at the Meeting and is supplemental to, and expressly made a part of, this Notice of Meeting.
The Company’s Board of Directors has fixed July 2, 2024, as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. Each registered shareholder at the close of business on that date is entitled to such notice and to vote at the Meeting in the circumstances set out in the accompanying Information Circular.
If you are a registered shareholder of the Company and will not attend the Meeting, you will need to complete, date and sign the accompanying form of proxy and deposit it with the Company’s transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc., 100 University Avenue, 8th Floor, Toronto, ON M5J 2Y1 by mail or fax, no later than forty-eight (48) hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays), prior to the time of the Meeting or adjournment thereof, unless the chairman of the Meeting elects to exercise his discretion to accept proxies received subsequently.
If you are a non-registered shareholder of the Company and received this Notice of Meeting and accompanying materials through a broker, a financial institution, a participant, a trustee or administrator of a self-administered retirement savings plan, retirement income fund, education savings plan or other similar self-administered savings or investment plan registered under the Income Tax Act (Canada), or a nominee of any of the foregoing that holds your securities on your behalf (the “Intermediary”), please complete and return the materials in accordance with the instructions provided to you by your Intermediary.
2
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 8[th] day of July, 2024.
By Order of the Board of NAMESILO TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
“Paul Andreola”
Paul Andreola Chief Executive Officer
3
NAMESILO TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
1100 – 1199 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6E 3T5
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
July 8, 2024
INTRODUCTION
This Information Circular accompanies the Notice of Annual General Meeting (the “Notice”) and is furnished to shareholders holding common shares in the capital of NameSilo Technologies Corp. (the “Company”) in connection with the solicitation by the management of the Company of proxies to be voted at the Annual General Meeting (the “Meeting”) of the shareholders to be held at 10:00 am (Vancouver time) on August 7, 2024 at Suite 704, 595 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Date and Currency
The date of this Information Circular is dated July 8, 2024. Unless otherwise stated, all amounts herein are in Canadian dollars.
MANAGEMENT SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
The solicitation of proxies by management of the Company will be conducted by mail and may be supplemented by telephone or other personal contact to be made, without special compensation, by the directors, officers and employees of the Company. The Company does not reimburse shareholders, nominees or agents for costs incurred in obtaining from their principals authorization to execute forms of proxy, except that the Company has requested brokers and nominees who hold stock in their respective names to furnish this proxy material to their customers, and the Company will reimburse such brokers and nominees for their related out of pocket expenses. No solicitation will be made by specifically engaged employees or soliciting agents. The Company will bear the cost of the solicitation.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than as contained in this Information Circular in connection with the solicitation of proxies. If given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company. The delivery of this Information Circular shall not create, under any circumstances, any implication that there has been no change in the information set forth herein since the date of this Information Circular. This Information Circular does not constitute the solicitation of a proxy by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such solicitation is not authorized, or in which the person making such solicitation is not qualified to do so, or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer of solicitation.
APPOINTMENT AND REVOCATION OF PROXY
Appointment of Proxy
Registered shareholders are entitled to vote at the Meeting. A shareholder is entitled to one vote for each common share that such shareholder holds on the record date of July 2, 2024, on the resolutions to be voted upon at the Meeting, and any other matter to come before the Meeting.
If a registered shareholder does not attend the Meeting in person, in order to vote, registered shareholders of the Company need to complete, date and sign the form of proxy and deposit it with the
4
Company’s transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc., 100 University Avenue, 8th Floor, Toronto, ON M5J 2Y1 by mail or fax, no later than forty eight (48) hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) prior to the time of the Meeting, or adjournment thereof.
The persons named as proxyholders (the “Designated Persons”) in the enclosed form of proxy are directors and/or officers of the Company.
A SHAREHOLDER HAS THE RIGHT TO APPOINT A PERSON OR COMPANY (WHO NEED NOT BE A SHAREHOLDER) TO ATTEND AND ACT FOR OR ON BEHALF OF THAT SHAREHOLDER AT THE MEETING, OTHER THAN THE DESIGNATED PERSONS NAMED IN THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY.
TO EXERCISE THE RIGHT, THE SHAREHOLDER MAY DO SO BY STRIKING OUT THE PRINTED NAMES AND INSERTING THE NAME OF SUCH OTHER PERSON AND, IF DESIRED, AN ALTERNATE TO SUCH PERSON, IN THE BLANK SPACE PROVIDED IN THE FORM OF PROXY. SUCH SHAREHOLDER SHOULD NOTIFY THE NOMINEE OF THE APPOINTMENT, OBTAIN THE NOMINEE’S CONSENT TO ACT AS PROXY AND SHOULD PROVIDE INSTRUCTION TO THE NOMINEE ON HOW THE SHAREHOLDER’S SHARES SHOULD BE VOTED. THE NOMINEE SHOULD BRING PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TO THE MEETING.
In order to be voted, the completed form of proxy must be received by the Company’s transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”) at their offices located at 100 University Avenue, 8th Floor, Toronto, ON M5J 2Y1 by mail or fax not later than forty-eight (48) hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, prior to the time of the Meeting, unless the chairman of the Meeting elects to exercise his discretion to accept proxies received subsequently.
A proxy may not be valid unless it is dated and signed by the shareholder who is giving it or by that shareholder’s attorney-in-fact duly authorized by that shareholder in writing or, in the case of a corporation, dated and executed by a duly authorized officer or attorney-in-fact for the corporation. If a form of proxy is executed by an attorney-in-fact for an individual shareholder or joint shareholders, or by an officer or attorneyin-fact for a corporate shareholder, the instrument so empowering the officer or attorney-in-fact, as the case may be, or a notarial certified copy thereof, must accompany the form of proxy.
Revocation of Proxies
A shareholder who has given a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is exercised by an instrument in writing: (a) executed by that shareholder or by that shareholder’s attorney-in-fact authorized in writing or, where the shareholder is a corporation, by a duly authorized officer of, or attorney-in-fact for, the corporation; and (b) delivered either: (i) to the Company at the address set forth above, at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting or, if adjourned or postponed, any reconvening thereof, or (ii) to the Chairman of the Meeting prior to the vote on matters covered by the proxy on the day of the Meeting or, if adjourned or postponed, any reconvening thereof, or (iii) in any other manner provided by law.
Also, a proxy will automatically be revoked by either: (i) attendance at the Meeting and participation in a poll (ballot) by a shareholder, or (ii) submission of a subsequent proxy in accordance with the foregoing procedures. A revocation of a proxy does not affect any matter on which a vote has been taken prior to any such revocation.
VOTING OF PROXIES
A shareholder may indicate the manner in which the Designated Persons are to vote with respect to a matter to be voted upon at the Meeting by marking the appropriate space. If the instructions as to voting indicated in the proxy are certain, the common shares represented by the proxy will be voted or withheld from voting in
5
accordance with the instructions given in the proxy. If the shareholder specifies a choice in the proxy with respect to a matter to be acted upon, then the common shares represented will be voted or withheld from the vote on that matter accordingly. The common shares represented by a proxy will be voted or withheld from voting in accordance with the instructions of the shareholder on any ballot that may be called for and if the shareholder specifies a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the common shares will be voted accordingly.
IF NO CHOICE IS SPECIFIED IN THE PROXY WITH RESPECT TO A MATTER TO BE ACTED UPON, THE PROXY CONFERS DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY WITH RESPECT TO THAT MATTER UPON THE DESIGNATED PERSONS NAMED IN THE FORM OF PROXY. IT IS INTENDED THAT THE DESIGNATED PERSONS WILL VOTE THE COMMON SHARES REPRESENTED BY THE PROXY IN FAVOUR OF EACH MATTER IDENTIFIED IN THE PROXY AND FOR THE NOMINEES OF THE COMPANY’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR DIRECTORS AND AUDITOR.
The enclosed form of proxy confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein with respect to other matters which may properly come before the Meeting, including any amendments or variations to any matters identified in the Notice, and with respect to other matters which may properly come before the Meeting. At the date of this Information Circular, management of the Company is not aware of any such amendments, variations, or other matters to come before the Meeting.
In the case of abstentions from, or withholding of, the voting of the common shares on any matter, the common shares that are the subject of the abstention or withholding will be counted for determination of a quorum, but will not be counted as affirmative or negative on the matter to be voted upon.
ADVICE TO BENEFICIAL SHAREHOLDERS
The information set out in this section is of significant importance to those shareholders who do not hold shares in their own name. Shareholders who do not hold their shares in their own name (referred to in this Information Circular as “Beneficial Shareholders”) should note that only proxies deposited by shareholders whose names appear on the records of the Company as the registered holders of common shares can be recognized and acted upon at the Meeting. If common shares are listed in an account statement provided to a shareholder by a broker, then in almost all cases those common shares will not be registered in the shareholder’s name on the records of the Company. Such common shares will more likely be registered under the names of the shareholder’s broker or an agent of that broker. In Canada, the vast majority of such common shares are registered under the name of CDS & Co., being the registration name for The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited (which acts as nominee for many Canadian brokerage firms and in the United States, under the name Cede & Co., as nominee for The Depository Trust Company which acts as depository for many U.S. brokerage firms). Beneficial Shareholders should ensure that instructions respecting the voting of their common shares are communicated to the appropriate person well in advance of the Meeting.
Regulatory polices require Intermediaries to seek voting instructions from Beneficial Shareholders in advance of shareholder meetings. Beneficial Shareholders have the option of not objecting to their Intermediary disclosing certain ownership information about themselves to the Company (such Beneficial Shareholders are designated as non-objecting beneficial owners, or “NOBOs”) or objecting to their Intermediary disclosing ownership information about themselves to the Company (such Beneficial Shareholders are designated as objecting beneficial owners, or “OBOs”).
In accordance with the requirements of National Instrument 54-101 – Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer , the Company has elected to send the notice of meeting, this Information Circular and a request for voting instructions (a “VIF”), instead of a proxy (the notice of Meeting, Information
6
Circular and VIF or proxy are collectively referred to as the “Meeting Materials”) directly to the NOBOs and indirectly through Intermediaries to the OBOs. The Intermediaries (or their service companies) are responsible for forwarding the Meeting Materials to OBOs.
Meeting Materials sent to Beneficial Shareholders are accompanied by a VIF, instead of a proxy. By returning the VIF in accordance with the instructions noted on it, a Beneficial Shareholder is able to instruct the Intermediary (or other registered shareholder) how to vote the Beneficial Shareholder’s shares on the Beneficial Shareholder’s behalf. For this to occur, it is important that the VIF be completed and returned in accordance with the specific instructions noted on the VIF.
The majority of Intermediaries now delegate responsibility for obtaining instructions from Beneficial Shareholders to Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions (“Broadridge”) in Canada. Broadridge typically prepares a machine-readable VIF, mails these VIFs to Beneficial Shareholders and asks Beneficial Shareholders to return the VIFs to Broadridge, usually by way of mail, the Internet or telephone. Broadridge then tabulates the results of all instructions received and provides appropriate instructions respecting the voting of shares to be represented at the Meeting by proxies for which Broadridge has solicited voting instructions. A Beneficial Shareholder who receives a Broadridge VIF cannot use that form to vote shares directly at the Meeting. The VIF must be returned to Broadridge (or instructions respecting the voting of shares must otherwise be communicated to Broadridge) well in advance of the Meeting in order to have the shares voted. If you have any questions respecting the voting of shares held through an Intermediary, please contact that Intermediary for assistance.
In either case, the purpose of this procedure is to permit Beneficial Shareholders to direct the voting of the shares which they beneficially own. A Beneficial Shareholder receiving a VIF cannot use that form to vote common shares directly at the Meeting. Beneficial Shareholders should carefully follow the instructions set out in the VIF including those regarding when and where the VIF is to be delivered. Should a Beneficial Shareholder who receives a VIF wish to attend the Meeting or have someone else attend on their behalf, the Beneficial Shareholder may request a legal proxy as set forth in the VIF, which will grant the Beneficial Shareholder or their nominee the right to attend and vote at the Meeting.
Only registered shareholders have the right to revoke a proxy. A Beneficial Shareholder who wishes to change its vote must, at least seven days before the Meeting, arrange for its Intermediary to revoke its VIF on its behalf.
All references to shareholders in this Information Circular are to registered shareholders, unless specifically stated otherwise.
These securityholder materials are being sent to both registered and non-registered owners of the securities. If you are a non-registered owner, and the Company or its agent has sent these materials directly to you, your name and address and information about your holdings of securities, have been obtained in accordance with applicable securities regulatory requirements from the intermediary holding on your behalf.
By choosing to send these materials to you directly, the Company (and not the intermediary holding on your behalf) has assumed responsibility for (i) delivering these materials to you, and (ii) executing your proper voting instructions. Please return your voting instructions as specified in the request for voting instructions.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES
The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares without par value. As of the record date, being the close of business on July 2, 2024, a total of 89,865,148 common shares were issued and outstanding. Each common share carries the right to one vote at the Meeting.
7
Only registered shareholders as of the record date are entitled to receive notice of, and to attend and vote at, the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Meeting.
To the knowledge of the directors and executive officers of the Company, no person or company beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or exercises control or direction over, common shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to the outstanding common shares of the Company.
NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
The Articles of the Company provide for a board of directors of no fewer than three directors and no greater than a number as fixed or changed from time to time by majority approval of the shareholders.
At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to pass an ordinary resolution to set the number of directors of the Company for the ensuing year at four (4). The number of directors will be approved if the affirmative vote of the majority of common shares present or represented by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote are voted in favour to set the number of directors at four (4).
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION TO SET THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY AT FOUR (4).
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The directors of the Company are elected at each annual general meeting and hold office until the next annual general meeting or until their successors are duly elected or appointed in accordance with the Company’s Articles or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. In the absence of instructions to the contrary, the enclosed Form of Proxy will be voted for the nominees listed in the Form of Proxy, all of whom are presently members of the Board of Directors.
Management of the Company proposes to nominate the persons named in the table below for election by the shareholders as directors of the Company. Information concerning such persons, as furnished by the individual nominees, is as follows:
| Name Province, Country of Residence and Position(s) with the Company |
Periods During which Nominee has Served as a Director and/or Officer |
Principal Occupation, Business or Employment for Last Five Years |
Number of Common Shares Owned(1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL ANDREOLA(2) British Columbia, Canada President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
CEO, President and Director since February 11, 2014 |
Mr. Andreola has been the CEO, President and a director of the Company since February 2014. He has been a director of Atlas Engineered Products Ltd. since December, 2020. |
7,190,466(3) (Direct & Indirect) |
| COLIN BOWKETT(2) British Columbia, Canada Director |
Director since February 11, 2014 |
Mr. Bowkett has been a Director of the Company since November 17, 2010. |
1,484,500 (Direct) |
8
| Name Province, Country of Residence and Position(s) with the Company |
Periods During which Nominee has Served as a Director and/or Officer |
Principal Occupation, Business or Employment for Last Five Years |
Number of Common Shares Owned(1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRISTAPS RONKA Florida, USA Director |
Director since December 1, 2017 |
Mr. Ronka has been a Director of the Company since December 1, 2017. Mr. Ronka is an entrepreneur, investor and advisor. Mr. Ronka co- founded AdParlor in 2007, a Toronto-based bootstrapped company that in 4 years became the leader in handling large Facebook Ad campaigns reaching a $100 million run rate. Mr. Ronka is the CEO of the Company’s holding company, NameSiloLLC. |
2,852,275 (Direct) |
| PAUL KOZAK(2) Ontario, Canada Director |
Director since May 13, 2021 |
Mr. Kozak was an investment advisor at BMO Nesbitt Burns from September 1997 to October 2021. Mr. Kozak is currently a Pharmacist Part B and a consultant in financial services. |
2,810,6434) (Direct & Indirect) |
Notes:
-
(1) Shares beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, or over which control or direction is exercised, as at March 14, 2023. (2) Member of the Audit Committee.
-
(3) Mr. Andreola holds 4,629,600 common shares directly and 2,560,866 common shares are held by the spouse of Mr. Andreola.
(4) Mr. Kozak holds 1,687,500 common shares directly, 200,000 common shares through a company controlled by Mr. Kozak and 923,143 common shares are held by the spouse of Mr. Kozak.
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY UNTIL THE NEXT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
Management does not contemplate that any of its nominees will be unable to serve as directors. If any vacancies occur in the slate of nominees listed above before the Meeting, then the Designated Persons intend to exercise discretionary authority to vote the common shares represented by proxy for the election of any other persons as directors.
Cease Trade Orders
Except as disclosed below, no director or executive officer of the Company, is or has been, within the ten years preceding the date of this Information Circular, a director, chief executive officer, chief financial officer of any company that:
-
(a) was subject to an order that was issued while the director or executive officer was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; or
-
(b) was subject to an order that was issued after the director or executive officer ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer.
For the purposes of this Information Circular, an “order” means a cease trade order, an order similar to a cease trade order or an order that denied the relevant company access to an exemption under securities legislation, and such order was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days.
9
On May 8, 2015, Hunter Bay Minerals plc (“Hunter”) was subject to a cease trade order issued by the British Columbia Securities Commission (“BCSC”), and on August 7, 2015 was subject to a cease trade order issued by the Alberta Securities Commission, for Hunter’s failure to file its annual audited financial statements and annual management discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. At the time of its failure to file, Natasha Tsai was Chief Financial Officer of Hunter.
On August 14, 2020, Natasha Tsai was subject of a management cease trader order (“MCTO”) issued by the BCSC relating to Zinc One Resources Inc. (“Zinc One”), for Zinc One’s failure to file its annual audited financial statements and annual management discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2020. At the time of its failure to file, Natasha Tsai was Chief Financial Officer of Zinc One. This MCTO was revoked by the BCSC on December 15, 2020 upon Zinc One’s filing the required records.
On January 29, 2020, Natasha Tsai was subject of an MCTO issued by the BCSC in regards to PPX Mining Corp. (“PPX”), for PPX’s failure to file its annual audited financial statements and annual management discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019. At the time of its failure to file, Natasha Tsai was Chief Financial Officer of PPX. This MCTO was revoked by the BCSC on July 27, 2020 upon PPX’s filing the required records.
On February 3, 2021, PPX was subject to a cease trade order issued by the BCSC, for PPX’s failure to file its annual audited financial statements and annual management discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. At the time of its failure to file, Natasha Tsai was Chief Financial Officer of PPX.
On April 30, 2024, Natasha Tsai and Paul Andreola were subject of a MCTO issued by the BCSC, for the Company’s failure to file its annual audited financial statements and annual management discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. This MCTO was revoked by the BCSC on July 2, 2024 upon the Company’s filing the required records.
On May 31, 2024, Natasha Tsai was subject of a MCTO issued by the BCSC, relating to Volatus Capital Corp. (“Volatus”), for Volatus’ failure to file its annual audited financial statement and annual management discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024.
Bankruptcies
To the knowledge of management of the Company, no director or executive officer of the Company, or shareholder holding a sufficient number of securities of the Company to affect materially the control of the Company, is or has been, with the ten years preceding the date of this Information Circular:
-
(a) a director or an executive officer of any company that, while the person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in the capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets or made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcies or insolvency; or
-
(b) become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or been subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of the individual.
Penalties or Sanctions
To the knowledge of management of the Company, no director or officer of the Company, or any shareholder holding a sufficient number of securities of the Company to affect materially the control of the Company has:
10
-
(a) been subject to any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a Canadian securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or
-
(b) been subject to any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would be likely to be considered important to a reasonable investor making an investment decision.
Personal Bankruptcies
To the knowledge of management of the Company, no director or officer of the Company, or any shareholder holding a sufficient number of securities of the Company to affect materially the control of the Company or a personal holding company of any such persons has, within the ten years before the date of this Information Circular, become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or been 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 a director or officer.
STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
General
The following information, dated as of the date hereof, is provided as required under Form 51-102F6V for venture Issuers (the “ Form ”), as such term is defined in National Instrument 51-102.
For the purposes of this Form:
“CEO” means an individual who acted as chief executive officer of the Company, or acted in a similar capacity, for any part of the most recently completed financial year;
“CFO” means an individual who acted as chief financial officer of the Company, or acted in a similar capacity, for any part of the most recently completed financial year;
“company” includes other types of business organizations such as partnerships, trusts and other unincorporated business entities;
“compensation securities ” includes stock options, convertible securities, exchangeable securities and similar instruments including stock appreciation rights, deferred share units and restricted stock units granted or issued by the company or one of its subsidiaries for services provided or to be provided, directly or indirectly, to the company or any of its subsidiaries;
“external management company” includes a subsidiary, affiliate or associate of the external management company;
“ named executive officer ” or “ NEO ” means each of the following individuals:
-
(a) each individual who, in respect of the company, during any part of the most recently completed financial year, served as chief executive officer, including an individual performing functions similar to a chief executive officer;
-
(b) each individual who, in respect of the company, during any part of the most recently completed financial year, served as chief financial officer, including an individual performing functions similar to a chief financial officer;
-
(c) in respect of the company and its subsidiaries, the most highly compensated executive officer other than the individuals identified in paragraphs (a) and (b) at the end of the most recently completed financial year whose total compensation was more than $150,000, as determined in accordance with subsection 1.3(5), for that financial year;
11
- (d) each individual who would be a named executive officer under paragraph (c) but for the fact that the individual was not an executive officer of the company, and was not acting in a similar capacity, at the end of that financial year;
“plan” includes any plan, contract, authorization, or arrangement, whether or not set out in any formal document, where cash, compensation securities or any other property may be received, whether for one or more persons;
- “ underlying securities ” means any securities issuable on conversion, exchange or exercise of compensation securities.
During the financial year ended December 31, 2023, the Company had two NEOs, namely:
-
(i) Paul Andreola, who has been the Chief Executive Officer and President; and
-
(ii) Natasha Tsai, who has been the Chief Financial Officer.
Director and NEO Compensation, Excluding Options and Compensation Securities
The following table (presented in accordance with National Instrument Form 51-102F6V Statement of Executive Compensation) excluding options and compensation securities, provides a summary of the compensation paid by the Company to each NEO and director of the Company for the completed financial years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. Options and compensation securities are disclosed under the heading “ Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities and Instruments ” below.
Table of compensation excluding compensation securities
| Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | Table of compensation excluding compensation securities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and position Paul Andreola, CEO, President and Director Natasha Tsai(1), CFO Colin Bowkett, Director Kristaps Ronka, Director Paul Kozak(2) Director |
Year 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 |
Salary, consulting fee, retainer or commission ($) 180,000 180,000 Nil Nil 180,000 180,000 Nil Nil Nil Nil |
Bonus ($) Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil |
Committee or meeting fees ($) Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil |
Value of perquisites ($) Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil |
Value of all other compensation(3) ($) Nil 63,984 Nil Nil Nil 63,984 Nil 63,984 Nil 14,765 |
Total compensation ($) 180,000 243,984 Nil Nil 180,000 243,984 Nil 63,984 Nil 14,765 |
Notes:
- (1) Ms. Natasha Tsai was appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company on May 31, 2018. She is an employee of Malaspina Consultants Inc., which provides accounting services to the Company. The Company paid the following amounts to Malaspina Consultants Inc. for the accounting and administrative services provided by Ms. Natasha Tsai: $107,405 for the year ended December 31, 2023 and $91,768 for the year ended December 31,
12
-
Malaspina Consultants Inc. is a private company that provides out-sourced accounting services to junior public companies.
-
(2) Mr. Kozak was appointed as a director of the Company on May 13, 2021.
-
(3) This includes the fair value of stock options granted during each year. The Company has chosen the Black-Scholes methodology to calculate the grant date fair value of option-based awards as it is the methodology used in the Company’s financial statements. The fair value of option-based awards is determined by the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model with the following assumptions for the year ended December 31, 2022: risk-free interest rate of 3.52%; expected dividend yield of 0%; forfeiture rate of 0%; annualized volatility of 61%; and expected life of 5 years.
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities and Instruments
The following table of compensation securities provides a summary of all compensation securities granted, or issued by the Company to each NEO and directors of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, for services provided, directly or indirectly, to the Company.
| Name and position Paul Andreola, CEO(1), President and director Natasha Tsai(2), CFO Colin Bowkett(3), Director Kristaps Ronka(4), Director Paul Kozak(5), Director |
Type of compensa tion security Stock Options Stock Options Stock Options Stock Options Stock Options |
Number of compensati on securities, number of underlying securities, and percentage of class Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil |
Compensation Securities Date of issue or grant Issue, conversion or exercise price ($) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A |
Closing price of security or underlying security on date of grant ($) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A |
Closing price of security or underlying security at year end ($) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A |
Expiry date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A |
Notes:
(1) Mr. Andreola holds a total of 1,400,000 compensation securities and underlying securities as at December 31, 2023.
(2) Malaspina Consultants Inc., a Company of which Ms. Tsai is a managing director holds a total of 200,000 compensation securities and underlying securities as at December 31, 2023.
(3) Mr. Bowkett holds a total of 1,400,000 compensation securities and underlying securities as at December 31, 2023.
(4) Mr. Ronka holds a total of 1,250,000 compensation securities and underlying securities as at December 31, 2023.
(5) Mr. Kozak holds a total of 400,000 compensation securities and underlying securities as at December 31, 2023.
Exercise of Compensation Securities by Directors and NEOs
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, no NEO or director of the Company exercised their compensation securities.
13
Employment, Consulting and Management Agreements
Other than as set forth below, the Company has no contract, agreement, plan or arrangement that provides for payments to a Named Executive Officer, at, following or in connection with any termination (whether voluntary, involuntary or constructive), resignation, retirement, a change of control of the Company or a change in the Named Executive Officer’s responsibilities.
The Company entered into a management consulting agreement with Paul Andreola pursuant to which Mr. Andreola agreed to provide his services as an executive officer and, in consideration of which, the Company agreed to pay Mr. Andreola a fee of $15,000 per month. Under the agreement, Mr. Andreola is entitled to two years severance in the event of termination without cause.
The Company entered into a consulting agreement with Colin Bowkett pursuant to which Mr. Bowkett agreed to provide his services to the Company and, in consideration of which, the Company agreed to pay Mr. Bowkett a fee of $15,000 per month. Under the agreement, Mr. Bowkett is entitled to two years severance in the event of termination without cause.
The Company entered into an agreement with Malaspina Consultants Inc. (the “Malaspina Agreement”) pursuant to which Natasha Tsai, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, agreed to provide certain consulting services to the Company. The Malaspina Agreement may be terminated by either party on 60 days written notice to the other party. Under the terms of the Malaspina Agreement, the Company agreed to pay Ms. Tsai an hourly rate and Ms. Tsai is entitled to participate in any incentive stock option plan as may be available from time to time in the amounts, on the terms and at the time determined by the Board.
Oversight and Description of Director and NEO Compensation
The Company’s executive compensation program is administered by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee consists of Paul Andreola, Colin Bowkett and Paul Kozak. Paul Andreola and Colin Bowkett are not independent within the meaning of NI 52-110.
The Compensation Committee’s responsibilities include reviewing and making recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to adequacy and the form of compensation to all executive officers and directors of the Company, making recommendations to the Board of Directors in respect of granting of stock options to management, directors officers and other employees and consultants of the Company, and monitoring the performance of the Company’s executive officers.
Executive compensation awarded to the named executive officers consists of two components: (i) management fees and (ii) stock options. The Company does not presently have a long-term incentive plan for its named executive officers. There is no policy or target regarding allocation between cash and noncash elements of the Company’s compensation program.
In setting compensation rates for named executive officers, the Company compares the amounts paid to them with the amounts paid to executives in comparable positions at other comparable companies. The peer group used to determine market pay levels included Steer Technologies Inc., Micromem Technologies, Nanalysis Scientific Corp. and Pivotree Inc., all of which are similarly-sized and publicly traded technology companies therefore is comparable to the Company. The Company’s compensation payable to the named executive officers is based upon, among other things, the responsibility, skills and experience required to carry out the functions of each position held by each named executive officer and varies with the amount of time spent by each named executive officer in carrying out his or her functions on behalf of the Company. The grant of stock options, as a key component of the executive compensation package, enables the Company to attract and retain qualified executives. Stock option grants are based on the total of stock options available under the Option Plan. In granting stock options, the Board of Directors reviews the total of stock options available under the Option Plan and recommends grants to newly retained executive officers at the time of their appointment and considers recommending further grants to executive officers from time to time thereafter. The amount and terms of outstanding options held by an executive are taken into account when determining whether and how new option grants should be made to the executive. The exercise periods are to be set at the date of grant. The stock option grants may contain vesting provisions in accordance to the Company’s Option Plan.
Due to the Company having limited financial resources, compensation is not tied to performance criteria or goals. The Company is unaware of any significant events that have significantly affected compensation of its management team and
14
directors. The Company did not make any changes to its compensation polices during or after the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Pension
The Company does not provide any pension benefits for directors or executive officers.
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
The following table sets out those securities of the Company which have been authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans, for the financial year ended December 31, 2023:
| Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a) |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity compensation plans approved by the securityholders |
6,725,000 | $0.24 | 2,261,514 |
| Equity compensation plans not approved by the security holders |
Nil | Nil | Nil |
| **Total ** | 6,725,000 | $0.24 | 2,261,514 |
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
None of the current or former directors, executive officers, employees of the Company, the proposed nominee s for election to the Board, or their respective associates or affiliates, are or have been indebted to the Company since the beginning of the most recently completed financial year of the Company.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS OR COMPANIES IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
No director or executive officer of the Company or any proposed nominee of Management of the Company for election as a director of the Company, nor any associate or affiliate of the foregoing persons, has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, since the beginning of the Company’s last financial year in matters to be acted upon at the Meeting, other than the election of directors, the appointment of auditors and the confirmation of the Stock Option Plan.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
None of the persons who were directors or executive officers of the Company or a subsidiary at any time during the Company’s last completed financial year, the proposed nominees for election to the Board, any person or company who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or who exercises control or direction over (or a combination of both) more than 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company, nor the associates or affiliates of those persons, has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any transaction or proposed transaction which has materially affected or would materially affect the Company.
15
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR
Shareholders will be asked to vote for the appointment of Mao& Ying LLP to serve as auditors of the Company to hold office until the next annual general meeting of the shareholders or until such firm is removed from office or resigns as provided by law and to authorize the Board of Directors of the Company to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditors.
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS SHAREHOLDERS TO VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF MAO & YING LLP AS THE COMPANY’S AUDITORS UNTIL THE NEXT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AT A REMUNERATION TO BE FIXED BY THE COMPANY’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Stock Option Plan
The Directors of the Company have adopted a rolling 10% stock option plan (the “Stock Option Plan”). The purpose of the Stock Option Plan is to advance the interests of the Company by encouraging the directors, officers, employees, management company employees and consultants of the Company, and of its subsidiaries and affiliates, if any, to acquire Common Shares in the share capital of the Company, thereby increasing their proprietary interest in the Company, encouraging them to remain associated with the Company and furnishing them with additional incentive in their efforts on behalf of the Company in the conduct of its affairs. The Stock Option Plan provides that, subject to the requirements of the Exchange, the aggregate number of securities reserved for issuance will be 10% of the number of the Company’s Common Shares issued and outstanding at the time such options are granted. The Stock Option Plan will be administered by the Company’s Board of Directors, which will have full and final authority with respect to the granting of all options thereunder.
Options may be granted under the Stock Option Plan to such the directors, officers, employees, management or consultants of the Company and its affiliates, if any, as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate. The exercise price of option grants will be determined by the Board of Directors, but after listing on the Exchange will not be less than the closing market price of the Common Shares on the Exchange less allowable discounts at the time of grant. The Stock Option Plan provides that the number of Common Shares that may be reserved for issuance to any one individual upon exercise of all stock options held by such individual may not exceed 5% of the issued Common Shares, if the individual is a director, officer, employee or consultant, or 1% of the issued Common Shares, if the individual is engaged in providing investor relations services, on a yearly basis. All options granted under the Stock Option Plan will expire not later than the date that is ten years from the date that such options are granted. Options terminate earlier as follows: (i) immediately in the event of dismissal with cause; (ii) 90 days from date of termination other than for cause; or (iii) one year from the date of death or disability. Options granted under the Stock Option Plan are not transferable or assignable other than by will or other testamentary instrument or pursuant to the laws of succession.
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS THE RATIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE STOCK OPTION PLAN.
MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS
Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this Circular, no management functions of the Company are to any substantial degree performed by a person or company other than the directors or NEOs of the Company.
16
AUDIT COMMITTEE DISCLOSURE
Pursuant to National Instrument 52-110 – Audit Committees , the Company is required to disclose certain information concerning the constitution of its Audit Committee and its relationship with its independent auditors.
The Audit Committee Charter
The Company’s audit committee charter is set out in Schedule “A” of this Information Circular.
Composition of the Audit Committee
The following persons are members of our audit committee:
| Paul Andreola | NotIndependent | FinanciallyLiterate |
|---|---|---|
| Colin Bowkett | Not Independent | Financially Literate |
| Paul Kozak | Independent | Financially Literate |
In accordance with section 6.1.1(3) of National Instrument 52-110 – Audit Committees , a majority of the members of the audit committee are not executive officers, employees or control persons of the Company.
Relevant Education and Experience
All members of the Audit Committee have the ability to read, analyze and understand the complexities surrounding the issuance 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, and have an understanding of internal controls.
In addition to each member's general business experience, the education and experience of each Audit Committee member that is relevant to the performance of his/her responsibilities as an Audit Committee member is as follows:
Paul Andreola : Mr. Andreola has business development and financial markets experience. Previously in his career, Mr. Andreola was a licensed investment advisor for over 10 years and has facilitated multiple early stage private and public companies in the resource and technology sectors. He has served as a director and an audit committee member on other reporting issuers. He has the knowledge and the financial skills required for public companies including analyzing and evaluating financial statements and commentary.
Colin Bowkett : Mr. Bowkett has more than 20 years of experience in business development and strategic alliances, and is a partner in Venturewerx, a private investment firm based in Vancouver. Mr. Bowkett has facilitated and financed multiple technology, manufacturing, oil and gas, and mining transactions in both the private and public sector. Mr. Bowkett has also served as a director and an audit committee member of other reporting issuers. He has the knowledge and financial skills required for public companies including analyzing and evaluating financial statements and commentary.
Paul Kozak : Mr. Kozak was an investment advisor at BMO Nesbitt Burns from September 1997 to October 2021. Mr. Kozak is currently a Pharmacist Part B and a consultant in financial services. He has the knowledge and financial skills in understanding and analysing financial statements through his experience in the financial sector.
17
Audit Committee Oversight
At no time since the commencement of the Company’s most recent completed financial year has a recommendation of the Audit Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor not been adopted by the Board of Directors.
Reliance on Certain Exemptions
At no time since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year has the Company relied on the exemption in Section 2.4 of NI 52-110 (De Minimis Non-audit Services) , or an exemption from NI 52-110, in whole or in part, granted under Part 8 of NI 52-110.
The Company is relying on the venture issuer exemption under section 6.1 of NI 52-110, from the audit committee composition requirements.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has adopted specific policies and procedures for the engagement of non-audit services as set out in the Audit Committee Charter of the Company.
External Auditor Service Fees
In the following table, “audit fees” are fees billed by the Company’s external auditor for services provided in auditing the Company’s annual financial statements for the subject year. “Audit-related fees” are fees not included in audit fees that are billed by the auditor for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit review of the Company’s financial statements. “Tax fees” are fees billed by the auditor for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. “All other fees” are fees billed by the auditor for products and services not included in the foregoing categories.
The aggregate fees billed by the Company’s external auditor in the last two fiscal years, by category, are as follows:
| Audit Fees Audit-Related Fees Tax Fees All Other Fees Total |
Year Ended December 31, 2023 ($) 90,000 - 2,600 - 92,600 |
Year Ended December 31, 2022 ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 75,000 - 2,600 - |
||
| 77,600 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Pursuant to National Instrument 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practice s, the Company is required to disclose its corporate governance practices as follows:
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is currently comprised of four (4) members. Securities legislation recommends that the Board of Directors of a public company be constituted with a majority of individuals who qualify as “independent” directors. An “independent” director is a director who has no direct or indirect material relationship with the Company. A material relationship is a relationship which could, in the view of the Board
18
of Directors, reasonably interfere with the exercise of a director’s independent judgment. Paul Andreola, is not an independent director because of position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Colin Bowkett is not an independent director because of the amount of compensation he received in the last three years. Kristaps Ronka is not an independent director as he is Chief Executive Officer of NameSilo, LLC. Paul Kozak is an independent director of the Company.
Directorships
The following current directors of the Company are directors and/or officers of other reporting issuers:
| Name of Director of the Company | Names of Other Reporting Issuers |
|---|---|
| Paul Andreola | Departure Bay Capital Corp. Total Telcom Inc. Atlas Engineered Products Ltd. |
Orientation and Continuing Education
The Board of Directors provides an overview of the Company’s business activities, systems and business plan to all new directors. New director candidates have free access to any of the Company’s records, employees or senior management in order to conduct their own due diligence and will be briefed on the strategic plans, short, medium and long term corporate objectives, business risks and mitigation strategies, corporate governance guidelines and existing policies of the Company. The directors are encouraged to update their skills and knowledge by taking courses and attending professional seminars.
Ethical Business Conduct
The Board of Directors has found that the fiduciary duties placed on individual directors by the Company’s governing corporate legislation and the common law and the restrictions placed by applicable corporate legislation on an individual director’s participation in decisions of the Board of Directors in which the director has an interest have been sufficient to ensure that the Board of Directors operates independently of management and in the best interests of the Company.
Nomination of Directors
The Board of Directors is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to become new directors and recommending new director nominees for the next annual meeting of shareholders.
New nominees must have a track record in general business management, special expertise in an area of strategic interest to the Company, the ability to devote the required time, show support for the Company’s mission and strategic objectives, and a willingness to serve.
Compensation
The Board of Directors conducts reviews with regard to the compensation of the directors and the Chief Executive Officer once a year. To make its recommendations on such compensation, the Board of Directors takes into account the types of compensation and the amounts paid to directors and officers of comparable publicly traded Canadian companies.
Other Board Committees
The Board of Directors has no other committees other than the Audit and Compensation Committees.
19
Assessments
The Board of Directors regularly monitors the adequacy of information given to directors, communications between the board and management and the strategic direction and processes of the Board and its committees.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS OR COMPANIES IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
Except as disclosed elsewhere in this Information Circular, no director or executive officer of the Company who was a director or executive officer since the beginning of the Company’s last financial year, each proposed nominee for election as a director of the Company, or any associate or affiliates of any such directors, officers or nominees, has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of common shares or other securities in the Company or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Meeting other than the election of directors.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information relating to the Company is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.
Shareholders may contact the Company at its office by mail at 1100 – 1199 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 3T5, to request copies of the Company’s financial statements and related Management’s Discussion and Analysis (the “MD&A”). Financial information is provided in the Company’s audited financial statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2023.
OTHER MATTERS
Other than the above, management of the Company knows of no other matters to come before the Meeting other than those referred to in the Notice of Meeting. However, if any other matters that are not known to management should properly come before the Meeting, the accompanying form of proxy confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein to vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
20
APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The contents of this Information Circular have been approved and the delivery of it to each shareholder of the Company entitled thereto and to the appropriate regulatory agencies has been authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company.
Dated at Vancouver, British Columbia as of July 8, 2024.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
NAMESILO TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
“Paul Andreola”
Paul Andreola
Chief Executive Officer
21
Schedule “A”
NAMESILO TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
1.
Purpose of the Committee
- 1.1 The purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and other relevant public disclosures, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements relating to financial reporting, the external auditors’ qualifications and independence and the performance of the internal audit function and the external auditors.
2. Members of the Audit Committee
-
2.1 At least one Member must be “financially literate” as defined under NI 52-110, having sufficient accounting or related financial management expertise to read and understand a set of financial statements, including the related notes, that present a breadth and level of complexity of the 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.
-
2.2
-
The Audit Committee shall consist of no less than three Directors.
-
2.3 At least one Member of the Audit Committee shall be “independent” as defined under NI 52-110, while the Company is in the developmental stage of its business.
3.
Relationship with External Auditors
-
3.1 The external auditors are the independent representatives of the shareholders, but the external auditors are also accountable to the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee.
-
3.2 The external auditors must be able to complete their audit procedures and reviews with professional independence, free from any undue interference from the management or directors.
-
3.3 The Audit Committee must direct and ensure that the management fully co-operates with the external auditors in the course of carrying out their professional duties.
-
3.4 The Audit Committee will have direct communications access at all times with the external auditors.
4. Non-Audit Services
-
4.1 The external auditors are prohibited from providing any non-audit services to the Company, without the express written consent of the Audit Committee. In determining whether the external auditors will be granted permission to provide non-audit services to the Company, the Audit Committee must consider that the benefits to the Company from the provision of such services, outweighs the risk of any compromise to or loss of the independence of the external auditors in carrying out their auditing mandate.
-
4.2 Notwithstanding section 4.1, the external auditors are prohibited at all times from carrying out any of the following services, while they are appointed the external auditors of the Company:
A-1
-
(i) acting as an agent of the Company for the sale of all or substantially all of the undertaking of the Company; and
-
(ii) performing any non-audit consulting work for any director or senior officer of the Company in their personal capacity, but not as a director, officer or insider of any other entity not associated or related to the Company.
5.
Appointment of Auditors
-
5.1 The external auditors will be appointed each year by the shareholders of the Company at the annual general meeting of the shareholders.
-
5.2 The Audit Committee will nominate the external auditors for appointment, such nomination to be approved by the Board of Directors.
6.
Evaluation of Auditors
- 6.1 The Audit Committee will review the performance of the external auditors on at least an annual basis, and notify the Board and the external auditors in writing of any concerns in regards to the performance of the external auditors, or the accounting or auditing methods, procedures, standards, or principles applied by the external auditors, or any other accounting or auditing issues which come to the attention of the Audit Committee.
7. Remuneration of the Auditors
-
7.1 The remuneration of the external auditors will be determined by the Board of Directors, upon the annual authorization of the shareholders at each general meeting of the shareholders.
-
7.2 The remuneration of the external auditors will be determined based on the time required to complete the audit and preparation of the audited financial statements, and the difficulty of the audit and performance of the standard auditing procedures under generally accepted auditing standards and generally accepted accounting principles of Canada.
8. Termination of the Auditors
- 8.1 The Audit Committee has the power to terminate the services of the external auditors, with or without the approval of the Board of Directors, acting reasonably.
9. Funding of Auditing and Consulting Services
- 9.1 Auditing expenses will be funded by the Company. The auditors must not perform any other consulting services for the Company, which could impair or interfere with their role as the independent auditors of the Company.
10. Role and Responsibilities of the Internal Auditor
- 10.1 At this time, due to the Company’s size and limited financial resources, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company shall be responsible for implementing internal controls and performing the role as the internal auditor to ensure that such controls are adequate.
A-2
11. Oversight of Internal Controls
- 11.1 The Audit Committee will have the oversight responsibility for ensuring that the internal controls are implemented and monitored, and that such internal controls are effective.
12. Continuous Disclosure Requirements
- 12.1 At this time, due to the Company’s size and limited financial resources, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company is responsible for ensuring that the Company’s continuous reporting requirements are met and in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
13. Other Auditing Matters
-
13.1 The Audit Committee may meet with the external auditors independently of the management of the Company at any time, acting reasonably.
-
13.2 The Auditors are authorized and directed to respond to all enquiries from the Audit Committee in a thorough and timely fashion, without reporting these enquiries or actions to the Board of Directors or the management of the Company.
14. Annual Review
- 14.1 The Audit Committee Charter will be reviewed annually by the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee to assess the adequacy of this Charter.
15.
Independent Advisers
- 15.1 The Audit Committee shall have the power to retain legal, accounting or other advisors to assist the Committee.
A-3