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NameSilo Technologies Corp. — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2023
Mar 22, 2023
44517_rns_2023-03-21_8dc021ee-f7ee-4fee-b79f-4ee0ffdfa86b.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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NAMESILO TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
1100 – 1199 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6E 3T5
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON APRIL 18, 2023
AND
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
March 20, 2023
This document requires immediate attention. If you are in doubt as to how to deal with the documents or matters referred to in this Information Circular, you should immediately contact your advisor.
NAMESILO TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
1100 – 1199 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6E 3T5
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
March 20, 2023
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 Tuesday, April 18, 2023 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 March 20, 2023. 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.
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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 March 14, 2023, 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 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.
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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 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.
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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 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.
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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 March 14, 2023, a total of 91,585,648 common shares were issued and outstanding. Each common share carries the right to one vote at the Meeting.
Only registered shareholders as of the record date are entitled to receive notice of, and to attend and vote at, the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Meeting.
To the knowledge of the directors and executive officers of the Company, no person or company beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or exercises control or direction over, 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:
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| 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. |
7,061,466(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) |
| KRISTAPS RONKA Ontario, Canada 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, NameSilo LLC. |
2,788,775 (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 4,500,600 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
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- (b) was subject to an order that was issued after the director or executive officer ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, 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.
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 in regards 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.
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:
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(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
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(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.
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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:
-
(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
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(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 March 20, 2023, 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;
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(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;
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(c) in respect of the company and its subsidiaries, the most highly compensated executive officer other than the individuals identified in paragraphs (a) and (b) at the end of the most recently completed financial year whose total compensation was more than $150,000, as determined in accordance with subsection 1.3(5), for that financial year;
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(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, 2021, the Company had two NEOs, namely:
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(i) Paul Andreola, who has been the Chief Executive Officer and President; and
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(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 51-102F6 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, 2021 and 2020. 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 ($) |
| Paul Andreola(1), CEO, President and Director |
2021 2020 |
132,000 72,000 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
89,742 Nil |
221,742 72,000 |
| Natasha Tsai(2), CFO |
2021 2020 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
| Colin Bowkett, |
2021 2020 |
132,000 72,000 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
89,742 Nil |
221,742 72,000 |
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| Director | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kristaps Ronka, Director |
2021 2020 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
69,101 Nil |
69,101 Nil |
| Paul Kozak(2) Director |
2021 2020 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
29,615 Nil |
29,615 Nil |
| Daniel Nanson(3) Former Director |
2021 2020 |
15,750 37,800 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
15,750 37,800 |
Notes:
(1) Mr. Andreola was appointed Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director of the Company on February 11, 2014.
(2) Ms. Natasha Tsai was appointed 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: $83,951 for the year ended December 31, 2021 and $71,059 for the year ended December 31, 2020. Malaspina Consultants Inc. is a private company that provides outsourced accounting services to junior public companies.
(3) Mr. Kozak was appointed a Director of the Company on May 13, 2021.
(4) Mr. Nanson was appointed a Director of the Company on March 26, 2019 and resigned on May 13, 2021.
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities and Instruments
The following table of compensation securities provides a summary of all compensation securities granted, or issued by the Company to each NEO and directors of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, for services provided, directly or indirectly, to the Company.
Compensation Securities
| Compensation Securities | Compensation Securities | Compensation Securities | Compensation Securities | Compensation Securities | Compensation Securities | Compensation Securities | Compensation Securities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and position |
Type of compensa tion security |
Number of compensati on securities, number of underlying securities, and percentage of class |
Date of issue or grant |
Issue, conversion or exercise price ($) |
Closing price of security or underlying security on date of grant ($) |
Closing price of security or underlying security at year end ($) |
Expiry date |
| Paul Andreola(1), CEO, President and director |
Stock Options |
750,000 | September 17, 2021 |
0.22 | 0.22 | 0.16 | September 17, 2026 |
| Natasha Tsai(2), CFO |
Stock Options |
100,000 | September 17, 2021 |
0.22 | 0.22 | 0.16 | September 17, 2026 |
| Colin Bowkett(3), Director |
Stock Options |
750,000 | September 17, 2021 |
0.22 | 0.22 | 0.16 | September 17, 2026 |
| Kristaps Ronka, Director |
Stock Options |
600,000 | September 17, 2021 |
0.22 | 0.22 | 0.16 | September 17, 2026 |
| Paul Kozak Director |
Stock Options |
250,000 | September 17, 2021 |
0.22 | 0.22 | 0.16 | September 17, 2026 |
Notes:
(1) On October 25, 2022, Mr. Andreola was granted 650,000 stock options exercisable at $0.18 and expiring October 25, 2027.
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(2) The 100,000 stock options were granted to Malaspina Consultants Inc., a company in which Ms. Tsai is a managing director. On October 25, 2022, Malaspina Consultants Inc. was granted 100,000 stock options exercisable at $0.18 and expiring October 25, 2027.
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(3) On October 25, 2022, Mr. Bowkett was granted 650,000 stock options exercisable at $0.18 and expiring October 25, 2027. (4) On October 25, 2022, Mr. Ronka was granted 650,000 stock options exercisable at $0.18 and expiring October 25, 2027. (5) On October 25, 2022, Mr. Kozak was granted 150,000 stock options exercisable at $0.18 and expiring October 25, 2027.
Exercise of Compensation Securities by Directors and NEOs
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, no NEO or director of the Company exercised their compensation securities.
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 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. All of the members of the Compensation Committee are 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 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
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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 directors. The Company did not make any changes to its compensation polices during or after the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
Pension
The Company does not provide any pension benefits for directors or executive officers.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
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, 2021:
| 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 |
5,625,000 | $0.28 | 3,639,664 |
| Equity compensation plans not approved by the security holders |
Nil | Nil | Nil |
| **Total ** | 5,625,000 | $0.28 | 3,639,664 |
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
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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.
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
Approval and Ratification of Shareholder Rights Plan
At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to vote in respect of an ordinary resolution approving and ratifying a shareholder rights plan (the “Shareholder Rights Plan”). The Shareholder Rights Plan was approved and adopted by the Board of Directors on March 20, 2023, subject to ratification by shareholders at the Meeting. A summary of the principal terms of the Shareholder Rights Plan is provided in Schedule “B” to this Information Circular. The full text of the Shareholder Rights Plan is available on the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com.
Overview of the Shareholder Rights Plan
The approval and ratification of the Shareholder Rights Plan is not being recommended in response to or in contemplation of any known take-over bid or other similar transaction. Neither management nor the Board of Directors is aware of any pending, threatened or proposed acquisition or take-over bid of the Company. The adoption of the Shareholder Rights Plan does not change the duty of the Board of Directors to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company. Further, the Shareholder Rights Plan is not intended as a means to prevent a take-over of the Company, to secure the continuance of management or the Board in their respective offices, or to deter fair offers for the shares. In the event of a take-over bid or similar transaction, the Board of Directors will continue to have the right and responsibility to take such action and to make such recommendations to shareholders as are considered necessary or appropriate. The Shareholder Rights Plan applies to the shares, securities that are convertible into shares, as well as any other shares with voting rights that may be issued by the Company. Currently, the common shares are the only class of shares issued and outstanding. Should the Company issue a new class of voting shares in the future, the Shareholder Rights Plan would apply to those voting shares in the same manner described below. The Company does not have any present intention of issuing any other class of voting shares.
Rationale for Adopting the Shareholder Rights Plan
In asking shareholders to approve the Shareholder Rights Plan, the Board considered the legislative framework in Canada governing take-over bids. Under provincial securities legislation, a take-over bid generally means an offer to acquire voting securities of a person or persons, where the securities subject to the offer to acquire, together with securities already owned by the bidder and certain related parties, constitute 20% or more of the outstanding securities. The Shareholder Rights Plan is designed to address certain concerns raised by the
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existing legislative framework by creating mechanisms to assist in maximizing shareholder value in the face of a take-over bid and encouraging fair and equal treatment of all shareholders.
Notwithstanding amendments that were made to the legislative framework for take-over bids in 2016, there are still concerns related to the potential for unequal treatment of shareholders due to the possibility that control of the Company could be acquired pursuant to a private agreement in which one or a small group of shareholders dispose of shares at a premium to market price, which premium is not shared with the other shareholders. In addition, a person may slowly accumulate shares through stock exchange acquisitions which may result, over time, in an acquisition of control without payment of fair value for control or a fair sharing of a control premium among all shareholders. The Shareholder Rights Plan is intended to mitigate the potential for such “creeping” take-over bids. It does so by encouraging a potential bidder to proceed either by way of a Permitted Bid (as defined in the Plan), which requires the take-over bid to satisfy certain minimum standards designed to promote fairness, or with the concurrence of the Board.
Shareholder Rights Plan Resolution
BE IT RESOLVED AS AN ORDINARY RESOLUTION OF THE SHAREHOLDERS THAT:
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The Shareholder Rights Plan, as described in this Information Circular, is hereby confirmed, approved and ratified.
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Any one or more directors or officers of the Company are hereby authorized, for and on behalf of the Company, to take, or cause to be taken, any and all such acts and things and to execute and deliver, under the corporate seal of the Company or otherwise, all such agreements, deeds, instruments, notices, consents, acknowledgments, certificates, assurances and other documents (including any documents required under applicable laws or regulatory policies) as any such director or officer in his or her sole discretion may determine to be necessary or desirable to give effect to the foregoing resolutions, such determination to be conclusively evidenced by the taking of any such action or such director’s or officer’s execution and delivery of any such agreement, deed, instrument, notice, consent, acknowledgement, certificate, assurance or other document.
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Notwithstanding the passing of this resolution by the shareholders, the Board of Directors may revoke this resolution before it is acted upon, without further approval of the shareholders, if the Board of Directors determines, in its sole discretion.
The Company is not aware of any shareholder who will be ineligible to vote on the approval of the Shareholder Rights Plan at the Meeting.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS DETERMINED THAT THE SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE SHAREHOLDERS AND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IN FAVOUR OF THE SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN RESOLUTION.
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.
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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 | Independent | Financially Literate |
| Paul Kozak | Independent | Financially Literate |
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 served as a director on a number of reporting issuers and has the ability to understand financial statements for reporting issuers.
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.
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.
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.
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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, 2021 $98,000 1,225 9,500 - $108,725 |
Year Ended December 31, 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| $88,000 1,100 7,000 - |
||
| $96,100 |
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 of Directors, reasonably interfere with the exercise of a director’s independent judgment. Except for Paul Andreola, who is not an independent director because of position as CEO of the Company, all of the directors of the Company are independent directors.
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. AtlasEngineeredProductsLtd. |
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,
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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, Corporate Governance and Compensation Committees.
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.sedar.com.
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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 years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
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.
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 March 20, 2023.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
NAMESILO TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
“Paul Andreola”
Paul Andreola President and Chief Executive Officer
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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
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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.
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2.2
-
The Audit Committee shall consist of no less than three Directors.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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3.4 The Audit Committee will have direct communications access at all times with the external auditors.
4.
Non-Audit Services
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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.
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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
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(i) acting as an agent of the Company for the sale of all or substantially all of the undertaking of the Company; and
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(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
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5.1 The external auditors will be appointed each year by the shareholders of the Company at the annual general meeting of the shareholders.
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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
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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.
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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.
B-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
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13.1 The Audit Committee may meet with the external auditors independently of the management of the Company at any time, acting reasonably.
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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.
B-3
Schedule “B”
Shareholder Rights Plan - Summary
The following is a summary of the principal terms of the shareholder rights plan (“Shareholder Rights Plan”) approved and adopted by the board of directors of NameSilo Technologies Corp. (the “Company”) on March 20, 2023, subject to ratification by shareholders of the Company at the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held on April 18, 2023 (the “Meeting”). This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Shareholder Rights Plan, which is available on the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com.
Overview
The Shareholder Rights Plan provides a mechanism whereby a take-over bid must remain open for at least 105 days (unless shortened by the Company in accordance with applicable securities legislation) and must remain open for a further 10 days after the acquiring person publicly announces that the shares deposited or tendered and not withdrawn constitute more than 50% of the shares outstanding held by independent shareholders. The Company has issued rights (“Rights”) as of March 20, 2023 (the “Effective Date”) to all shareholders pursuant to the terms of the Shareholder Rights Plan. One Right will be issued for each outstanding common share or other security which entitles the hold to vote generally in the election of directors (“Voting Share”) that is outstanding on March 20, 2023 and one Right will be issued for each Voting Share issued after March 20, 2023 and prior to the earlier of the separation time (as described below) and the termination of the Shareholder Rights Plan. The Rights will automatically trade with and be transferred with their underlying shares unless and until an event occurs that causes a separation, which would include a flip-in event (as described below) or the announcement of an intention to commence a take-over bid (other than Permitted Bid (as described below)). The Rights are not exercisable unless and until there is such a separation. The issuance of the Rights does not change the manner in which shareholders currently trade their shares.
A flip-in event would occur if a person were to become an acquiring person, that is, if a person acquires beneficial ownership of at least 20% of the shares other than pursuant to certain exceptions such as a Permitted Bid or an Exempt Acquisition. If the person acquires shares under a Permitted Bid or an Exempt acquisition or one of the other specified exceptions, they are not considered to be an acquiring person and no flip-in event occurs. If a person does become an acquiring person, each Right then entitles each holder (other than the acquiring person) to purchase shares at a 50% discount. Each holder of a Right may then purchase that number of shares having a fair market value at the relevant time equal to twice the exercise price for an amount equal to the exercise price, in effect permitting shares to be acquired at a 50% discount to the market price at the time of exercise.
The acquiring person is not permitted to exercise any Rights. The Shareholder Rights Plan provides that the acquiring person’s Rights become null and void when the flip-in event occurs. The Shareholder Rights Plan also provides that the Board of Directors may either waive the Shareholder Rights Plan or redeem the Rights at a minimal price in certain circumstances. The Shareholder Rights Plan thereby encourages unsolicited bidders to either make a Permitted Bid or to approach the Board of Directors with their offer and attempt to convince the Board of Directors to either waive the flip-in event or to redeem the Rights. If the offer is coercive or inadequate, the Board of Directors can choose not to cooperate with the bidder and not to agree to waive the Shareholder Rights Plan or redeem the Rights.
Key Characteristics
The key characteristics of the Shareholder Rights Plan are described in more detail below:
• Creation and Issuance of Rights. Pursuant to the Shareholder Rights Plan, the Company will issue one Right for each Voting Share outstanding on March 20, 2023, and will issue one Right for each additional Voting Share issued after March 20, 2023 but prior to the separation time or the expiry of the Rights. Certificates issued
B-1
for shares after March 20, 2023 (but prior to the close of business at the separation time or the expiry of the Rights) will include a legend evidencing the Rights. Notwithstanding the foregoing, certificates representing Voting Shares that were issued prior to approval of the Shareholder Rights Plan do not require a legend to evidence the Rights.
• Term of Shareholder Rights Plan. The Shareholder Rights Plan must be ratified at the Meeting in order to stay in effect. In addition, the Shareholder Rights Plan must be reconfirmed by shareholders every three years to remain in effect. It may also be terminated earlier by the Board of Directors in certain circumstances.
• Separation Time. The Rights can become separated or unstapled from the shares to which they are attached and then trade separately from the shares. This separation time will generally only occur on the close of business on the 10th trading day after the earlier of: (a) the first date of public disclosure of facts indicating that a person has become an acquiring person (i.e. that there has been a flip-in event); (b) the date of commencement or first public announcement of a non-permitted take-over bid; or (c) the date on which a Permitted Bid ceases to qualify as a Permitted Bid. Unless and until the separation time occurs, the Rights will continue to be attached to and trade with the shares.
• Flip-in Event. When a person becomes an acquiring person, a Flip-in Event occurs. Each Right will constitute the right to purchase from the Company that number of Common Shares having an aggregate Market Price on the date of the occurrence of the Flip-in Event equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price. .
• Acquiring Person. An acquiring person is a person that becomes the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the outstanding shares, subject to the following exemptions: a voting share reduction (generally, a repurchase or redemption of shares by the Company which has the effect of increasing the person’s or company’s percentage ownership of the Company); a permitted bid acquisition (an acquisition of shares made pursuant to a Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted Bid); an exempt acquisition (an acquisition in respect of which the Board of Directors has waived the application of the Shareholder Rights Plan or an acquisition made pursuant to a Shareholder-approved transaction such as an amalgamation or arrangement or an acquisition made as an intermediate step in a larger transaction where the acquiring party has then distributed the shares out to its security holders); and a pro rata acquisition (generally, the acquisition of shares pursuant to a rights offering, public offering or private placement to the extent necessary to prevent dilution of the person’s or company’s shareholding).
• Beneficial Ownership, Exemptions for Portfolio Managers and Others, and Permitted Lock-up Agreements. In determining whether a person has become an acquiring person, all shares over which the person has beneficial ownership must be included. A person is deemed to beneficially own any shares which are owned by its associates or affiliates or by persons or companies “acting jointly or in concert” with such person for the purpose of acquiring shares and any shares which it has the right to vote or the right to acquire within 60 days. Specific exclusions clarify that portfolio managers, fund managers, trust companies, crown agents engaged in the management of investment funds and pension plan and registered plan administrators are not caught simply because they may have the right to vote shares managed by them for others. In addition, to the extent there are any shareholders holding at least 20% of the outstanding shares as of March 20, 2023, such shareholders would be grandfathered and would not trigger a flip-in event as a result of their current holdings, but would become an acquiring person upon the acquisition of additional shares amounting to more than 1.0% of the outstanding shares. The Company is not aware of any such 20% Shareholder.
A person may also be considered to be the beneficial owner of shares that are subject to a lock-up agreement. A lock-up agreement is an agreement under which a Shareholder (a “Locked-Up Shareholder”) agrees to deposit or tender its shares to a particular bid (the “Lock-Up Bid”). The person who makes the Lock-Up Bid will be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of the Locked-Up Shareholder unless the agreement it enters into with the Locked-Up Shareholder is a “permitted lock-up agreement”. In order for a lock-up
B-2
agreement to constitute a “permitted lock-up agreement”, certain conditions must be met (a “Permitted LockUp Agreement”).
A Permitted Lock-Up Agreement is one which permits the Locked-up Shareholder to withdraw its shares from the lock-up to tender to another take-over bid or support another transaction that will provide greater value to the Locked-Up Shareholder than the Lock-Up Bid, subject to certain exceptions. If the Lock-Up Bid is for less than 100% of the shares, a Permitted Lock-Up Agreement must also permit the Locked-Up Shareholder to withdraw its shares from the lock-up to tender to another take-over bid or support another transaction offering to acquire a greater number of shares for at least the same consideration per Share, again subject to certain exceptions. A Permitted Lock-Up Agreement is not allowed to require a Locked-Up Shareholder to pay excessive fees, penalties, expense reimbursement or other amounts if it fails to deposit or tender its shares to the Lock-Up Bid or withdraws shares previously tendered in order to deposit such shares to another take-over bid or support another transaction.
• Permitted Bid and Competing Permitted Bid. An offeror can avoid causing a flip-in event by making a bid that meets all of the requirements of the Shareholder Rights Plan (a “Permitted Bid”). A Permitted Bid must: (i) be made by way of a take-over bid circular; (ii) be made to all shareholders of record, other than the offeror, for all or a portion of the shares outstanding; (iii) be open for acceptance for at least 105 days (or such shorter period as permitted by securities legislation); (iv) require a minimum deposit of more than 50% of the shares held by independent shareholders (i.e., generally, shareholders who are not, or are not related to, the acquiring person); (v) unless the take-over bid is withdrawn, allow the shares to be deposited up to the close of business on the first date on which the deposited shares are taken up or paid for; (vi) allow the shares deposited pursuant to the take-over bid to be withdrawn until they are taken up and paid for; and (vii) if the required minimum amount of shares are deposited, require the offeror to make a public announcement of that fact and leave the take-over bid open for deposits of shares for an additional 10 days after the announcement.
The Shareholder Rights Plan also allows for a competing Permitted Bid (a "Competing Permitted Bid") to be made while a Permitted Bid is in existence. A Competing Permitted Bid is a take-over bid that is made after a Permitted Bid has been made but prior to its expiry, termination or withdrawal and that satisfies all the requirements of a Permitted Bid as described above, except that no shares can be taken up or paid for prior to the close of business on the last day of the minimum initial deposit period that such take-over bid must remain open for deposits.
• Redemption Rights and Waiver. An offeror can also avoid causing a flip-in event by negotiating with the Board of Directors and convincing them to allow a take-over bid that is not a Permitted Bid but is made fairly to all holders of shares. In such circumstances, the Board of Directors can waive the flip-in event and deem the take-over bid to be an exempt acquisition such that the reduced exercise price does not come into effect. Any such waiver in respect of a particular take-over bid will also constitute a waiver of any other takeover bid made to all holders of shares during the period when the first take-over bid is outstanding. The Board of Directors can also waive the flip-in event in certain other circumstances; for example, if a person has inadvertently become an acquiring person and within a specified period of time reduces its shareholdings.
Further, the Shareholder Rights Plan permits the Board of Directors to redeem (buy back and cancel) the Rights for a nominal price ($0.00001 per Right) in certain circumstances. The redemption right must generally be made for all and not less than all the Rights and must be made prior to the occurrence of a flip-in event.
• Exercise Price. The exercise price is three times the current market value of the shares from time to time. Before a flip-in event, a Rights holder would receive one Share upon the exercise of a Right, the effect of which is to render the Rights of little or no value at the time of issue. After a flip-in event, all Rights holders, other than the acquiring person, would be entitled to purchase shares at a 50% discount to the market value, effectively entitling the Rights holders to acquire six shares upon the exercise of each Right. The Exercise Price and the number of Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time upon the occurrence of certain events,
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including a subdivision or consolidation of the shares, the declaration of a dividend payable through the issuance of certain securities or the issuance of certain securities in exchange for or in lieu of shares.
• Trading of Rights. Until the separation time, the Rights will be evidenced by the outstanding certificates for shares and the Rights may be transferred with, and only with, the shares. Unless and until the separation time occurs (or earlier termination or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of a certificate representing shares will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares represented by the certificate. If the separation time occurs, the Company will either mail separate certificates evidencing the Rights or otherwise register the Rights in an uncertificated “book entry form”, but in either case will maintain a separate register for the holders of Rights.
• Deemed Redemption. The Shareholder Rights Plan provides that, in the event a person acquires shares pursuant to a Permitted Bid or an exempt acquisition, the Rights are no longer valid and are deemed to have been redeemed by the Board of Directors.
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