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NameSilo Technologies Corp. — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2025
Nov 18, 2025
44517_rns_2025-11-18_1e5809f0-ba31-423c-b8ce-217ad2ca3848.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 DECEMBER 18, 2025
AND
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
November 13, 2025
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 December 18, 2025, 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 five (5) persons;
- to elect Paul Andreola, Colin Bowkett, Kristaps Ronka, Paul Kozak and Danijel Milic 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% amended equity based compensation plan (the “Equity Plan”) as more particularly described in the accompanying Information Circular; and
- 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 November 7, 2025, 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.
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DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia, this 13th day of November, 2025.
By Order of the Board of
NAMESILO TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
"Paul Andreola"
Paul Andreola
Chief Executive Officer
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NAMESILO TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
1100 – 1199 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 3T5
INFORMATION CIRCULAR
November 13, 2025
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 December 18, 2025 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 November 13, 2025. 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 November 7, 2025, 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
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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 attorney-in-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
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
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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 November 7, 2025, a total of 87,917,129 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 five (5). 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 five (5).
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION TO SET THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY AT FIVE (5).
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. | 7,311,466^{(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. | 1,549,000
(Direct) |
| 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,
NameSilo LLC. | 3,171,952(4)
(Direct &
Indirect) |
| 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. | 2,870,643(5)
(Direct &
Indirect) |
| DANIJEL MILIC
Slovenia
Director | Director since
August 8, 2025 | Mr. Milic is a Chartered Financial Analyst. He is
also the Founder of Inference Point, an investment
research and advisory firm focused on identifying
and supporting high-growth, capital-efficient
public companies located primarily in Canada. | Nil |
Notes:
(1) Shares beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, or over which control or direction is exercised, as at November 13, 2025.
(2) Member of the Audit Committee.
(3) Mr. Andreola holds 4,743,600 common shares directly and 2,567,866 common shares are held by the spouse of Mr. Andreola.
(4) Mr. Ronka holds 2,886,237 common shares directly and 285,715 common shares are held by the spouse of Mr. Ronka.
(5) Mr. Kozak holds 1,697,500 common shares directly, 250,000 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.
Other than disclosed below, to the knowledge of the Company, no proposed director:
(a) is, as at the date of the Information Circular, or has been, within ten (10) years before the date of the Information Circular, a director, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of any company (including the Company) that:
(i) was the subject, while the director was acting in the capacity as director, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of such company, of a cease trade or similar order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days; or
(ii) was subject to a cease trade or similar order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days, that was issued after the director ceased to be a director, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer but which resulted from an event that occurred while the director was acting in the capacity as director, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of such company; or
(b) is, as at the date of this Information Circular, or has been within ten (10) years before the date of the Information Circular, a director or executive officer of any company (including the Company) that, while that person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or
(c) has, within the 10 years before the date of this Information Circular, become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or become subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of the director; or
(d) has been subject to any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or
(e) has been subject to any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable securityholder in deciding whether to vote for a director.
On April 30, 2024, Paul Andreola was subject to a management cease trade order 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.
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.
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;
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"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 $150,000, as determined in accordance with subsection 1.3(5), for that financial year;
(d) each individual who would be a named executive officer under paragraph (c) but for the fact that the individual was not an executive officer of the company, and was not acting in a similar capacity, at the end of that financial year;
"plan" includes any plan, contract, authorization, or arrangement, whether or not set out in any formal document, where cash, compensation securities or any other property may be received, whether for one or more persons;
"underlying securities" means any securities issuable on conversion, exchange or exercise of compensation securities.
During the financial year ended December 31, 2024, the Company had two NEOs, namely:
(i) Paul Andreola, who has been the Chief Executive Officer and President; and
(ii) Natasha Tsai, who has been the Chief Financial Officer.
Director and NEO Compensation, Excluding Options and Compensation Securities
The following table (presented in accordance with National Instrument Form 51-102F6V Statement of Executive Compensation) excluding options and compensation securities, provides a summary of the compensation paid by the Company to each NEO and director of the Company for the completed financial years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. Options and compensation securities are disclosed under the heading "Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities and Instruments" below.
| Table of compensation excluding compensation securities | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and position | Year | Salary, consulting fee, retainer or commission ($) | Bonus ($) | Committee or meeting fees ($) | Value of perquisites ($) | Value of all other compensation ($) | Total compensation ($) |
| Paul Andreola, CEO, President and Director | 2024 | 180,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | 180,000 |
| 2023 | 180,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | 180,000 |
| Natasha Tsai(1), CFO | 2024 2023 | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | Nil Nil |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colin Bowkett, Director | 2024 2023 | 180,000 180,000 | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | 180,000 180,000 |
| Kristaps Ronka, Director | 2024 2023 | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | Nil Nil |
| Paul Kozak Director | 2024 2023 | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | Nil Nil | Nil Nil |
| Danijel Milic, Director | 2024 2023 | N/A N/A | N/A N/A | N/A N/A | N/A N/A | N/A N/A | N/A N/A |
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. ("Malaspina"), which provides accounting services to the Company. The Company paid the following amounts to Malaspina for the accounting and administrative services provided by Ms. Natasha Tsai: $139,264 for the year ended December 31, 2024, and $107,405 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Malaspina Consultants Inc. is a private company that provides out-sourced accounting services to junior public companies.
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities and Instruments
The following table of compensation securities provides a summary of all compensation securities granted, or issued by the Company to each NEO and directors of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, for services provided, directly or indirectly, to the Company.
| Compensation Securities | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and position | Type of compensation security | Number of compensati on securities, number of underlying securities, and percentage of class | Date of issue or grant | Issue, conversion or exercise price ($) | 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, CEO(1), President and director | Stock Options | 150,000 | September 6, 2024 | $0.315 | $0.315 | $0.53 | September 6, 2029 |
| Natasha Tsai(2), CFO | Stock Options | 50,000 | September 6, 2024 | $0.315 | $0.315 | $0.53 | September 6, 2029 |
| Colin Bowkett(3), Director | Stock Options | 150,000 | September 6, 2024 | $0.315 | $0.315 | $0.53 | September 6, 2029 |
| Kristaps Ronka(4), Director | Stock Options | 150,000 | September 6, 2024 | $0.315 | $0.315 | $0.53 | September 6, 2029 |
| Paul Kozak^{(5)}, Director | Stock Options | 100,000 | September 6, 2024 | $0.315 | $0.315 | $0.53 | September 6, 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danijel Milic^{(6)}, Director | Stock Options | Nil | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Notes:
(1) Mr. Andreola holds a total of 1,550,000 compensation securities and underlying securities as at December 31, 2024.
(2) The Stock Options were granted to Malaspina, a Company of which Ms. Tsai is a managing director. Malaspina holds a total of 250,000 compensation securities and underlying securities as at December 31, 2024.
(3) Mr. Bowkett holds a total of 1,550,000 compensation securities and underlying securities as at December 31, 2024.
(4) Mr. Ronka holds a total of 1,400,000 compensation securities and underlying securities as at December 31, 2024.
(5) Mr. Kozak holds a total of 500,000 compensation securities and underlying securities as at December 31, 2024.
(6) Mr. Milic does not hold any compensation securities and underlying securities as at December 31, 2024.
Exercise of Compensation Securities by Directors and NEOs
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, 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 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 directors. The Company did not make any changes to its compensation policies during or after the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
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, 2024:
| 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 security holders | 5,775,000 | $0.21 | 3,080,714 |
| Equity compensation plans not approved by the security holders | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Total | 5,775,000 | $0.21 | 3,080,714 |
INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
None of the current or former directors, executive officers, employees of the Company, the proposed nominees 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.
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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 Equity 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.
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
Amended Equity Based Compensation Plan
Shareholders are being asked to approve an equity incentive compensation plan of the Company pursuant to which security based compensation awards may be granted to eligible participants. The name of the plan is the Amended Equity Based Compensation Plan (the "Equity Plan"). The Equity Plan permits the grant of Options (as defined in the Equity Plan), Restricted Share Units (as defined in the Equity Plan) and Deferred Share Units (as defined in the Equity Plan) (Options, Restricted Share Units and Deferred Share Units collectively referred to as "Awards").
The purpose of the Equity Plan is to (i) provide the Company with a mechanism to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified directors, officers, employees and consultants; (ii) align the interests of Participants (as defined in the Equity Plan) with that of other shareholders of the Company generally; and (iii) enable and encourage Participants to participate in the long-term growth of the Company through the acquisition of Shares (as defined in the Equity Plan) as long-term investments.
The following information is intended as a brief description of the Equity Plan and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Equity Plan, which will be available for review at the Meeting and is attached hereto as Schedule "B". Capitalized terms are as defined in the Equity Plan.
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The maximum number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to Awards issued under the Equity Plan shall not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Awards that have been exercised, settled in cash, cancelled, terminated, surrendered or forfeited shall continue to be issuable under the Equity Plan.
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The maximum number of Common Shares for which Awards may be issued to any one Participant in any 12-month period shall not exceed 5% of the outstanding Common Shares, calculated on the date an Award is granted to the Participant, unless the Company obtains disinterested shareholder approval as required by the policies of the Exchange. The maximum number of Common Shares for which Awards may be issued to any Consultant shall not exceed 2% of the outstanding Common Shares, calculated on the date an Award is granted to the Consultant or any such person, as applicable.
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Unless disinterested shareholder approval is obtained: (i) the maximum number of Common Shares for which Awards may be issued to Insiders (as a group) at any point in time shall not exceed 10% of the outstanding Common Shares; and (ii) the aggregate number of Awards granted to Insiders (as a group), within any 12-month period, shall not exceed 10% of the outstanding Common Shares, calculated at the date an Award is granted to any Insider.
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Awards under the Equity Plan shall be granted only to bona fide Employees, Officers, Directors and Consultants.
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Each Award grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the number and type of Awards granted, the settlement date for the Awards, and any other provisions as the Committee shall determine.
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The Awards granted herein may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated. All rights with respect to the Awards granted to a Participant under the Equity Plan shall be available during such Participant’s lifetime only to such Participant.
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If the date on which an Award is scheduled to expire falls during or within 10 business days of a Blackout Period applicable to the relevant Participant, and neither the Company nor the Participant is subject to a cease trade order (or similar order under Canadian securities laws) in respect of the securities of the Company, then the expiry date for that Award shall be the date that is the tenth business day after the expiry of the Blackout Period.
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In the event of a Change of Control, any Awards held by a Participant shall, if determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, automatically vest either during the term of the Award or within 90 days after the date of sale or change of control, whichever first occurs.
The Board has determined that the Equity Plan is in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders in order for the Company to continue to secure and retain key personnel and to provide additional motivation to such persons to exert their best efforts on behalf of the Company.
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS THE RATIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE EQUITY COMPENSATION 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.
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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 | Not Independent | Financially Literate |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
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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:
| Year Ended December 31, 2024 ($) | Year Ended December 31, 2023 ($) | |
|---|---|---|
| Audit Fees | 105,000 | 90,000 |
| Audit-Related Fees | - | - |
| Tax Fees | 3,250 | 2,600 |
| All Other Fees | - | - |
| Total | 108,250 | 92,600 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Pursuant to National Instrument 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices, the Company is required to disclose its corporate governance practices as follows:
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is currently comprised of five (5) 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. 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 | Total Telcom Inc. |
| Spectra Products 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.
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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, 2024.
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.
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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
Schedule “A”
NAMESILO TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Independent Advisers
15.1 The Audit Committee shall have the power to retain legal, accounting or other advisors to assist the Committee.
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B-1
Schedule “B”
NAMESILO TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
EQUITY PLAN
(See attached)
NAMESILO TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
AMENDED EQUITY BASED COMPENSATION PLAN
1. PURPOSE OF PLAN
1.1 Purpose. The purpose of the Amended Equity Based Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) of NAMESILO TECHNOLOGIES CORP., a company incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), (the “Company”) 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.
2. DEFINITIONS
2.1 Definitions. In this Plan the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings, namely:
(a) "Affiliate" means an “Affiliate”, as defined in the Exchange Policies, of the Company.
(b) “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Options, Deferred Share Units and Restricted Share Units, in each case subject to the terms of the Plan;
(c) “Blackout Period” means a period during which there is a prohibition on trading in the Company’s securities imposed by the Company on Insiders.
(d) “Board” means the board of directors of the Company or, if the Board so elects, a committee of directors (which may consist of only one director) appointed by the Board to administer this Plan.
(e) “Company” means NAMESILO TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
(f) “Consultant” means an individual who (or a corporation or partnership (a “Consultant Company”) of which the individual is an employee, shareholder or partner which):
(i) is engaged to provide services to the Company or a subsidiary of the Company other than in relation to a distribution of the Company’s securities;
(ii) provides the services under a written contract between the Consultant or Consultant Company and the Company or subsidiary; and
(iii) spends or will spend a significant amount of time and attention on the business and affairs of the Company or subsidiary of the Company.
(g) "Deferred Share Unit" means an Award denominated in units that provides the applicable Participant thereof as compensation for employment or consulting services or services as a Director or Officer with a right to receive Shares on a deferred basis upon settlement of the Award, granted under Error! Reference source not found. hereof and subject to the terms of the Plan.
(h) "Director" means a director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
(i) "Employee" means:
(i) an individual who is considered an employee of the Company or its subsidiary under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (and for whom income tax, employment insurance and CPP deductions must be made at source);
(ii) an individual who works full-time for the Company or its subsidiary providing services normally provided by an employee and who is subject to the same control and direction by the Company over the details and methods of work as an employee of the Company, but for whom income tax deductions are not made at source; or
(iii) an individual who works for the Company or its subsidiary on a continuing and regular basis for a minimum amount of time per week (the number of hours should be disclosed in the submission) providing services normally provided by an employee and who is subject to the same control and discretion by the Company over the details and methods of work as an employee of the Company, but for whom income tax deductions are not made at source.
(j) "Exchange" means the Canadian Securities Exchange.
(k) "Insider" means: (i) Director or Officer; (ii) a director or officer of a subsidiary of the Company; or (iii) a person that beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, Shares carrying more than 10% of the voting rights attached to all outstanding Shares of the Company.
(l) "Management Company Employee" means an individual employed by a person providing management services to the Company, which are required for the ongoing successful operation of the business enterprise of the Company, but excluding a person engaged in investor relations.
(m) "Market Price" means the price at which the last recorded sale of a board lot of Shares took place on the Exchange during the trading day immediately preceding the date of granting the Option and, if there was no such sale, the closing price on the preceding trading day during which there was such a sale. In the event that the Shares are not listed on the Exchange, the Market Price will be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company.
(n) "Minimum Price" means the greater of the closing Market Price of the Shares on (i) the trading day prior to the date of the grant of the Option, and (ii) the date of the grant of the Option. In the event that the Shares are not listed on the Exchange, the Minimum Price will be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company.
(o) "Officer" means a chair or vice-chair of the Board, a chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, president, vice-president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer or assistant treasurer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or an individual designated as an officer by a resolution of the Board or the constating documents of the Company.
(p) "Option" means an option to purchase Shares granted to an Optionee under this Plan.
(q) "Optionee" means a Director, Officer, Employee, Management Company Employee or Consultant granted an Option or a corporation, other than a Consultant Company, granted an Option where the corporation's only shareholder is a Director, Officer or Employee.
(r) "Period of Restriction" means the period when an Award of Restricted Share Units is subject to forfeiture based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance criteria, and/or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, in its discretion.
(s) "Plan" means this stock option plan as amended, supplemented or restated.
(t) "Restricted Share Unit" means an Award denominated in units subject to a Period of Restriction, that provides the applicable Participant thereof as compensation for employment or consulting services or services as a Director or Officer with a right to receive Shares, for no additional cash consideration, upon specified vesting criteria being satisfied and settlement of the Award, granted under Error! Reference source not found. hereof and subject to the terms of the Plan.
(u) "Shares" means common shares of the Company.
(v) "VWAP" means the volume weighted average trading price of the Shares on the Exchange calculated by dividing the total value by the total volume of such securities traded for the five Trading Days immediately preceding the exercise of the subject Option.
3. ADMINISTRATION
3.1 General. The Committee shall be responsible for administering the Plan. The Committee may employ legal counsel, consultants, accountants, agents and other individuals, any of whom may be a Permitted Participant, and the Committee, the Company, and its officers and Directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such persons. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the Participants, the Company, and all other interested parties. No member of the Committee will be liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan or Awards granted hereunder. Each member of the Committee shall be entitled to indemnification by the Company with respect to any such determination or action in the manner provided for by the Company.
3.2 Authority of the Committee. The Committee shall have full and exclusive discretionary power to determine the terms and provisions of Award Agreements, to interpret the terms and the intent of the Plan and any Award Agreement or other agreement ancillary to or in connection with the Plan, to determine eligibility for Awards, and to adopt such rules, regulations and guidelines for administering the Plan as the Committee may deem necessary or proper. Such authority shall include, but not be limited to, selecting Award recipients, establishing all Award terms and conditions, including grant, exercise price, issue price and vesting terms, determining any performance goals applicable to Awards and whether such performance goals have been achieved, and, subject to Article XIII hereof, adopting modifications and amendments to the Plan or any Award Agreement, including, without limitation, any that are necessary or appropriate to comply with the laws or compensation practices of the jurisdictions in which the Company and the Affiliates operate.
3.3 Delegation. The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members any of the Committee's administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable, provided, however, that any such delegation must be permitted under applicable corporate law.
- ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
4.1 Eligibility. Awards under the Plan shall be granted only to bona fide Permitted Participants, as per the Exchange Policies. Pursuant to the Exchange Policies, Investor Relation Service Providers are not permitted to receive Awards under the Plan.
4.2 Actual Participation. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, in its sole discretion select from among Permitted Participants, those to whom Awards shall be granted under the Plan, and shall determine in its discretion the nature, terms, conditions and amount of each Award.
4.3 Representations of Employees, Consultants and Management Company Employee. Every instrument evidencing an Award granted to an Employee, Consultant or Management Company Employee shall contain a representation by the Company and the Participant that the Participant is a bona fide Employee, Consultant or Management Company Employee.
- RESERVATION OF SHARES FOR AWARDS
5.1 Sufficient Authorized Shares to be Reserved. Whenever the constating documents of the Company limit the number of authorized Shares, a sufficient number of Shares shall be reserved by the Board to satisfy the exercise of Awards. Shares that were the subject of Awards that have lapsed or terminated shall thereupon no longer be in reserve and may once again be subject to an Award.
5.2 Maximum Number of Shares to be Reserved Under Plan. The aggregate number of Shares which may be subject to issuance pursuant to Awards and any Awards granted under any other previous or current security compensation arrangement shall be 10% of the outstanding Shares at the time of granting the Awards. If any Award expires or otherwise terminates for any reason without having been exercised in full, the number of Shares in respect of such expired or terminated Award shall again be available for the purposes of granting Awards pursuant to this Plan.
5.3 Maximum Number of Shares Reserved for Insiders. All Awards, together with all of the Company's other previously granted stock options, stock option plans, employee stock purchase plans or any other compensation or incentive mechanisms involving the issuance or potential issuance of Shares, shall not result, at the time of granting, in:
(a) the number of Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to Awards granted to Insiders exceeding 10% of the Shares outstanding;
(b) the issuance to Insiders, within a one year period, of Shares totalling in excess of 10% of the Shares outstanding; or
(c) the issuance to any one individual, within a one year period, of Shares totalling in excess of 5% of the Shares outstanding,
unless the disinterested shareholders have approved thereof.
- CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE GRANTING & EXERCISING OF OPTIONS
6.1 Agreements must specify Exercise Period and Price, Vesting and Number of Shares. In granting an Option, the Board must specify a particular time period or periods during which the Option may be exercised, the exercise price required to purchase the Shares subject to the Option and any vesting terms and conditions of the Option, including the number of Shares in respect of which the Option may be exercised during each such time period.
6.2 Minimum Exercise Price of Options. The exercise price of an Option shall not be less than the Minimum Price. If the Optionee is subject to the tax laws of the United States of America and owns (as determined in accordance with such laws) greater than 10% of the Shares at the time of granting of the Option the exercise price shall be at least 110% of the Market Price.
6.3 Number of Shares subject to Option. The number of Shares reserved for issuance to an Optionee pursuant to an Option, together with all other stock options granted to the Optionee in the previous 12 months, shall not exceed, at the time of granting of the Option:
(a) 5% of the outstanding Shares, unless the Company has obtained disinterested shareholder approval; or
(b) 1% of the outstanding Shares (including all other Shares reserved for issuance to all Optionees providing investor relations services to the Company), if the Optionee is engaged in providing investor relations services to the Company and the Shares are listed on the Exchange.
6.4 Vesting of Options. Subject to further vesting requirements required by the Board on granting of an Option, all Options shall vest and be exercisable on the following terms:
(a) If there is a Change of Control: If a Change of Control is agreed to by the Company or events which might lead to a Change of Control are commenced by third parties, all Options, subject to the Exchange's approval (if required), shall vest immediately and be fully exercisable notwithstanding the terms thereof. For the purposes hereof "Change of Control" shall mean:
(i) any transaction or series of related transactions as a result of which any person, entity or group acquires ownership, after the date of an Option, of at least 20% of the Shares and they or their representatives become a majority of the Board or assume control or direction over the management or day-to-day operations of the Company; or
(ii) an amalgamation, merger, arrangement, business combination, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company with another entity or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, as a result of either of which the Company ceases to exist, be publicly traded or the management of the Company or Board do not comprise a majority of the management or a majority of the board of directors, respectively, of the resulting entity,
and to permit Optionees to participate in any of the foregoing, the Board may make appropriate provision for the exercise of Options conditional upon the Shares so issued being taken-up and paid for pursuant to any of the foregoing.
Subject to the approval of the Exchange if the Optionee is a Consultant providing investor relations services for the Company, the Board may advance, at any time, the dates upon which any or all Options shall vest and become exercisable, regardless of the terms of vesting set out in this Plan or the agreement.
6.5 Exercise of Options if Specified Value Exceeds USD $100,000. If the Optionee is subject to the tax laws of the United States of America that part of any Option entitling the Optionee to purchase Shares having a value of USD $100,000 or less shall be treated as an 'Incentive Stock
Option' under United States Internal Revenue Code (so that the Optionee may defer the payment of tax on such Shares until the year in which such Shares are disposed of by the Optionee). For the purposes hereof value is determined by multiplying the number of shares which are subject to the Option times the Market Price (at the time of granting of the Option). That part of any Option on Shares having a value in excess of USD $100,000 shall be treated as a non-qualifying stock option for the purposes of the Code and shall not entitle the Optionee to such tax deferral.
6.6 Expiry of Options. Each Option shall expire not later than 10 years from the day on which the Option is granted.
6.7 Expiry of Options during or immediately after Trading Blackout Periods. If an Option expires during, or within five trading days after, a Blackout Period then, notwithstanding Section 6.6 or the terms of the Option, the term of the Option shall be extended and the Option shall expire 10 trading days after the termination of the Blackout Period.
6.8 Death or Disability of Optionee. If an Optionee dies or suffers a Disability prior to the expiry of an Option, the Optionee's legal representatives, before the earlier of the expiry date of the Option and the first anniversary of the Optionee's death or Disability, may exercise that portion of an Option which has vested as at the date of death or Disability. For the purposes hereof "Disability" shall mean any inability of the Optionee arising due to medical reasons which the Board considers likely to permanently prevent or substantially impair the Optionee being an Employee, Management Company Employee, Consultant, Officer or Director.
6.9 Cessation as an Optionee (With Cause). If an Optionee ceases to be a Director, Officer, Consultant, Employee or Management Company Employee by reason of termination or removal for cause any Option shall terminate immediately on such termination or removal and not be exercisable by the Optionee unless otherwise determined by the Board.
6.10 Cessation as an Optionee (Without Cause). If an Optionee ceases to be any of a Director, Officer, Consultant, Employee or Management Company Employee for any reason except as provided in sections 6.8 or 6.9, any Option shall be exercisable to the extent that it has vested and was exercisable as at the date of such cessation, unless further vesting is permitted by the Board, and must terminate on the earlier of the expiry date of the Option and the 120th day after the Optionee ceased to be any of a Director, Officer, Consultant, Employee or Management Company Employee, or such shorter time as the directors may specify when granting the Option.
6.11 No Assignment of Options. No Option or any right thereunder or in respect thereof shall be transferable or assignable otherwise than by will or pursuant to the laws of succession except that, if permitted by the rules and policies of the Exchange, an Optionee shall have the right to assign any Option (other than an 'Incentive Stock Option' under United States Internal Revenue Code) to a corporation wholly-owned by them.
6.12 Notice of Exercise of an Option. Options shall be exercised only in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreements under which they are respectively granted and shall be exercisable only by notice in writing to the Company.
6.13 Payment on Exercise of an Option. Options may be exercised in whole or in part at any time prior to their lapse or termination. Shares purchased by an Optionee on exercise of an Option shall be fully paid for in cash or by certified cheque, bank draft or money order at the time of their purchase.
6.14 Condition to Issuance of Shares. The Board may require, as a condition of the issuance of Shares or delivery of certificates representing such Shares upon the exercise of any Option and to ensure compliance with any applicable laws, regulations, rules, orders and requirements that the
Optionee or the Optionee's heirs, executors or other legal representatives, as applicable, make such covenants, agreements and representations as the Board deems necessary or desirable.
6.15 Cashless Exercise of Options. Subject to Section 6.17 hereof and the approval of the Board, which approval shall be at the Board's sole discretion, an Optionee (other than an Optionee that is an Investor Relations Service Provider) may exercise an Option by means of a "cashless exercise", where, with the assistance of a brokerage firm with which the Company has an arrangement (a "Brokerage") the subject Option may be exercised as follows:
(a) The Brokerage shall loan money to the Optionee to exercise the Options;
(b) The Brokerage shall sell a sufficient number of Shares to cover the aggregate exercise price of the Options being exercised in order to repay the loan made to the Optionee by the Brokerage; and
(c) The Brokerage shall receive an equivalent number of Shares from the exercise of the Options by the Optionee, and the Optionee shall then receive the balance of the Shares from the exercise of the Option or the cash proceeds from the balance of such Shares.
For greater certainty, the Company is not obligated to permit, facilitate or enable a "cashless exercise" of any Option pursuant to this Section 6.15 hereof or to enter into or maintain any arrangement with any Brokerage. Whether an Option may be exercised by way of a "cashless exercise" pursuant to this Section 6.15 hereof shall be at the sole discretion of the Board.
6.16 Net Exercise of Options. Subject to Section 6.17 hereof and the approval of the Board, which approval shall be at the Board's sole discretion, an Optionee (other than an Optionee that is an Investor Relations Service Provider), may exercise an Option by means of a "net exercise", where by the Optionee shall not be required to deliver payment of the exercise price in respect of the subject Option being so exercised, and instead the Optionee shall receive only the number of Shares that is equal to the quotient obtained by dividing:
(a) The product of (i) the number of Shares in respect of which the subject Option is being exercised, and (ii) the difference between the VWAP of the Shares and the exercise price of the subject Option; by
(b) The VWAP of the Shares.
At the approval of the Company, the Optionee may receive a cash payment equal to the number of Shares to be issued on the "net exercise" multiplied by the VWAP or a combination of shares or cash. For greater certainty, the Company is not obligated to permit, facilitate or enable a "net exercise" of any Option pursuant to this Section 6.16. Whether an Option may be exercised by way of a "net exercise" pursuant to this Section 6.16 shall be at the sole discretion of the Board.
6.17 Additional Provisions Regarding Cashless Exercise and Net Exercise. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan:
(a) The "cashless exercise" provisions of Section 6.15 hereof and the "net exercise" provisions of Section 6.16 hereof are at all times subject to the Exchange Policies; and
(b) Options granted to an Investor Relations Service Provider may not be exercised by means of a "cashless exercise" pursuant to Section 6.15 hereof or a "net exercise" pursuant to Section 6.16 hereof.
(c) Upon the exercise of any Option pursuant to a "cashless exercise" under Section 6.15 hereof or a "net exercise" under Section 6.16 hereof, the number of Options so exercised, surrendered or converted, and not the number of Shares actually issued, shall be used for calculating any limits with respect to the number of Options that may be granted or exercised under this Plan.
7. RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS
7.1 Grant of Restricted Share Units. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Restricted Share Units to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine.
7.2 Restricted Share Unit Agreement. Each Restricted Share Unit grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Period(s) of Restriction, the number of Restricted Share Units granted, the settlement date for Restricted Share Units, and any such other provisions as the Committee shall determine, provided that unless otherwise determined by the Committee or as set out in any Award Agreement, no Restricted Share Unit shall vest earlier than allowed by the Exchange Policies. The Committee shall impose, in the Award Agreement at the time of grant, such other conditions and/or restrictions on any Restricted Share Units granted pursuant to the Plan as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, restrictions based upon the time-based restrictions on vesting or settlement and, restrictions under applicable laws or under the Exchange Policies.
7.3 Non-transferability of Restricted Share Units. The Restricted Share Units granted herein may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the date of settlement through delivery or other payment, or upon earlier satisfaction of any other conditions, as specified by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the Award Agreement at the time of grant or thereafter by the Committee. All rights with respect to the Restricted Share Units granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be available in accordance with Section 6.5 hereof.
7.4 Dividends and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction, Participants holding Restricted Share Units granted hereunder may, if the Committee so determines, be credited with Dividend Equivalents while they are so held in a manner determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Dividend Equivalents shall not apply to an Award unless specifically provided for in the Award Agreement. The Committee may apply any restrictions to the Dividend Equivalents that the Committee deems appropriate. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine the form of payment of Dividend Equivalents, including cash or Awards. In the event the Committee determines to pay Dividend Equivalents in Awards, the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable pursuant to the Awards that may be paid must be included in calculating the limits set forth in this Plan, including, but not limited to, the limits set forth in Sections Error! Reference source not found., Error! Reference source not found. and Error! Reference source not found.. hereof. In the event that a Dividend Equivalent payable in Awards would exceed any of the limits set out herein, the Company shall pay the Participant the cash sum equal to the FMV of the Shares issuable pursuant to the Awards multiplied by the number of Shares issuable pursuant to the Awards that would have exceeded the applicable limit if issued to the Participant.
7.5 Death, Disability, Retirement and Termination or Resignation of Employment. If the Award Agreement does not specify the effect of a termination or resignation of employment then the following default rules will apply:
(a) Death: If a Participant dies while a Permitted Participant:
(i) all unvested Restricted Share Units as at the Termination Date shall automatically and immediately vest; and
(ii) all vested Restricted Share Units (including those that vested pursuant to Paragraph (i) above) shall be paid to the Participant's estate in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the Award Agreement, provided, however, that any such payment or settlement of Restricted Share Units to such Participant's estate must be completed within a period not exceeding twelve (12) months after the death of such Participant.
(b) Disability: If a Participant ceases to be a Permitted Participant as a result of their Disability, then all Restricted Share Units remain and continue to vest in accordance with the terms of the Plan for a period of ninety (90) days (or such longer period not to exceed twelve (12) months as may be determined by the Board in its sole discretion) after the Termination Date, provided that any Restricted Share Units that have not vested within 90 days (or such longer period not to exceed twelve (12) months as may be determined by the Board in its sole discretion) after the Termination Date shall automatically and immediately expire and be forfeited on such date.
(c) Retirement: If a Participant Retires while a Permitted Participant then the Board shall have the discretion, with respect to such Participant's Restricted Share Units, to determine how long, if at all, such Restricted Share Units may remain outstanding following the Termination Date; provided, however, that in no event shall such Restricted Share Units remain outstanding for more than twelve (12) months after the Termination Date.
(d) Termination for cause: If a Participant ceases to be a Permitted Participant as a result of their termination for cause, then all Restricted Share Units, whether vested or not, as at the Termination Date shall automatically and immediately be forfeited.
(e) Termination without cause or Voluntary Resignation: If a Participant ceases to be a Permitted Participant for any reason, other than as set out in Paragraphs (a) to (d) hereof, then, unless otherwise determined by the Board in its sole discretion, as of the Termination Date:
(i) all unvested Restricted Share Units shall automatically and immediately be forfeited; and
(ii) all vested Restricted Share Units shall be paid to the Participants in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the Award Agreement,
provided that all such awards shall: (i) expire within a reasonable period, not exceeding twelve (12) months, following the date the applicable Participant ceases to be a Permitted Participant; and vest in accordance with Section 4.7 hereof.
7.6 Payment in Settlement of Restricted Share Units. When and if Restricted Share Units become payable, the Participant issued such Restricted Share Units shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in settlement of such Restricted Share Units: (i) in a number of Shares (issued from treasury or purchased in the market by the Company) equal to the number of Restricted Share Units being settled, (ii) an amount in cash equivalent to the number of the outstanding Restricted Share Units held
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by such Participant multiplied by the FMV as at the applicable settlement date or Termination Date, (iii) in some combination thereof, or (iv) subject to prior written approval of the Exchange, in such other form, all as determined by the Committee at its sole discretion, subject to the Exchange Policies. The Committee's determination regarding the form of payout shall be set forth or reserved for later determination in the Award Agreement for the grant of the Restricted Share Units.
8. RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS
8.1 Grant of Deferred Share Units. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Deferred Share Units to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine.
8.2 Deferred Share Unit Agreement. Each Deferred Share Unit grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the number of Deferred Share Units granted, the settlement date for Deferred Share Units, and any other provisions as the Committee shall determine.
8.3 Non-transferability of Deferred Share Units. The Deferred Share Units granted herein may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated. All rights with respect to the Deferred Share Units granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be available in accordance with Section 7.5 hereof.
8.4 Dividends and Other Distributions. Participants holding Deferred Share Units granted hereunder may, if the Committee so determines, be credited with Dividend Equivalents while they are so held in a manner determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Dividend Equivalents shall not apply to an Award unless specifically provided for in the Award Agreement. The Committee may apply any restrictions to the Dividend Equivalents that the Committee deems appropriate. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine the form of payment of Dividend Equivalents, including cash or Awards. In the event the Committee determines to pay Dividend Equivalents in Awards, the maximum aggregate number of Shares issuable pursuant to the Awards that may be paid must be included in calculating the limits set forth in this Plan, including, but not limited to, the limits set forth in Sections Error! Reference source not found., Error! Reference source not found. and Error! Reference source not found. hereof. In the event that a Dividend Equivalent payable in Awards would exceed any of the limits set out herein, the Company shall pay the Participant the cash sum equal to the FMV of the Shares issuable pursuant to the Awards multiplied by the number of Shares issuable pursuant to the Awards that would have exceeded the applicable limit if issued to the Participant.
8.5 Termination of Employment, Consultancy or Directorship. Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain Deferred Share Units following termination of the Participant's employment or other relationship with the Company or the Affiliates. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Deferred Share Units issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination, provided that such provisions shall comply with the Exchange Policies and such Deferred Share Units expire no later than one (1) year after such Termination Date.
8.6 Payment in Settlement of Deferred Share Units. When Deferred Share Units become payable, the Participant issued such Deferred Share Units shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in settlement of such Deferred Share Units: (i) in a number of Shares (issued from treasury or purchased in the market by the Company) equal to the number of Deferred Share
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Units being settled, (ii) an amount in cash equivalent to the number of the outstanding Deferred Share Units held by such Participant multiplied by the FMV as at the applicable settlement date or Termination Date, (iii) in some combination thereof, or (iv) subject to prior written approval of the Exchange, in any other form, all as determined by the Committee at its sole discretion, subject to the Exchange Policies. The Committee's determination regarding the form of payout shall be set forth or reserved for later determination in the Award Agreement for the grant of the Deferred Share Units.
9. CAPITAL REORGANIZATIONS
9.1 Share Consolidation or Subdivision. If the Shares are at any time subdivided or consolidated, the number of Shares reserved for Options shall be similarly increased or decreased and the price payable for any Shares that are then subject to issuance shall be decreased or increased proportionately, as the case may require, so that upon exercising each Option the same proportionate shareholdings at the same aggregate purchase price shall be acquired after such subdivision or consolidation as would have been acquired before.
9.2 Stock Dividend. If the Shares are at any time changed as a result of the declaration of a stock dividend thereon, the number of Shares reserved for Options and the price payable for any Shares that are then subject to issuance may be adjusted by the Board to such extent as they deem proper in their absolute discretion.
9.3 No Fractional Shares. No adjustment made pursuant to this Part shall require the Company to issue a fraction of a Share and any fractions of a Share shall be rounded up or down to the nearest whole number, with one-half a Share being rounded up to one Share.
9.4 No Adjustment for Cash Dividends or Rights Offerings. No adjustment shall be made to any Option pursuant to this Part in respect of the payment of any cash dividend or the distribution to the shareholders of the Company of any rights to acquire Shares or other securities of the Company.
10. EXCHANGE'S RULES & POLICIES GOVERN & APPLICABLE LAW
10.1 Withholding. The Company or any of the Affiliates shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company or the Affiliate, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, provincial and local taxes or domestic or foreign taxes required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising from or as a result of the Plan or any Award hereunder. The Committee may provide for Participants to satisfy withholding requirements by having the Company withhold and sell Shares or the Participant making such other arrangements, including the sale of Shares, in either case on such conditions as the Committee specifies, provided, however, that any such withholding arrangement must comply with the Exchange Policies and shall not, without limitation, result in an alteration of the exercise price of an Award or create a "net exercise" feature, except where permitted under this Plan and pursuant to the Exchange Policies.
10.2 Acknowledgement. Each Participant acknowledges and agrees that the ultimate liability for all taxes legally payable by such Participant is and remains such Participant's responsibility and may exceed the amount actually withheld by the Company. Each Participant further acknowledges that the Company: (a) makes no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any taxes in connection with any aspect of the Plan; and (b) does not commit to and is under no obligation to structure the terms of the Plan to reduce or eliminate such Participant's liability for
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taxes or achieve any particular tax result. Further, if a Participant has become subject to tax in more than one jurisdiction, such Participant acknowledges that the Company may be required to withhold or account for taxes in more than one jurisdiction.
11. EXCHANGE'S RULES & POLICIES GOVERN & APPLICABLE LAW
11.1 Exchange's Rules and Policies Apply. This Plan and the granting and exercise of any Options are also subject to such other terms and conditions as are set out in the rules and policies on stock options of the Exchange and any securities commission having authority and such rules and policies shall be deemed to be incorporated into and become a part of this Plan. If there is an inconsistency between the provisions of such rules and policies and of this Plan, the provisions of such rules and policies shall govern.
11.2 Compliance With Applicable Laws. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be obliged to cause any Shares to be issued or certificates evidencing Shares to be delivered pursuant to this Plan, where issuance and delivery is not, or would result in the Company not, being in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, rules, orders of governmental or regulatory authorities and the requirements of the Exchange. If any provision of this Plan, any Option or any agreement entered into pursuant to this Plan contravenes any applicable law, rule, regulation or order, or any policy, bylaw or regulation of the Exchange or any regulatory body having authority over the Company or this Plan, such provision shall be deemed to be amended to the extent required to bring such provision into compliance therewith, but the Company shall not be responsible to pay and shall not incur any penalty, liability or further obligation in connection therewith.
11.3 No Obligation to File Prospectus. The Company shall not be liable to compensate any Optionee and in no event shall it be obliged to take any action, including the filing of any prospectus, registration statement or similar document, in order to permit the issuance and delivery of any Shares upon the exercise of any Option in order to comply with any applicable laws, regulations, rules, orders or requirements of any securities regulatory authority.
11.4 Governing Law. This Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein.
12. AMENDMENT OF PLAN & AWARDS
12.1 Board May Amend Plan or Awards. The Board may amend or terminate this Plan or any Awards but no such amendment or termination, except with the written consent of the Participants concerned or unless required to make this Plan or the Awards comply with the rules and policies of the Exchange, shall affect the terms and conditions of Awards which have not then been exercised or terminated.
12.2 Shareholder Approval. Approval by all holders of Shares, whether the holders are disinterested shareholders or not, is required for:
(a) an increase in the number of Shares, or percentage of the outstanding Shares, reserved for issuance under this Plan; or
(b) a change from a fixed number to a fixed percentage of the outstanding Shares, or from a fixed percentage to a fixed number, in the number of Shares reserved for issuance under this Plan.
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No approval by any holders of Shares is required for:
(a) an amendment to comply with applicable law or rules of the Exchange or of a 'housekeeping' nature required to correct typographical and similar errors;
(b) a change to the vesting provisions;
(c) a change to the termination provisions, other than an extension of an Award to a new expiry date that falls outside the maximum term currently permitted by this Plan when the Award was first granted; and
(d) a reduction of the exercise price of an Award, including a reduction effected by cancelling an existing Award and granting a new Award exercisable at a lower price, or an extension of the exercise period, if the Participant is not an Insider.
13. PLAN DOES NOT AFFECT OTHER COMPENSATION PLANS
13.1 Other Plans Not Affected. This Plan shall not in any way affect the policies or decisions of the Board in relation to the remuneration of Directors, Officers, Consultants, Employees and Management Company Employees.
14. PARTICIPANT'S RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER
14.1 Rights as a Shareholder. A Participant shall have none of the rights of a Shareholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award until the Participant becomes the holder of such Shares.
15. EFFECTIVE DATE & EXPIRY OF PLAN
15.1 Effective Date. This Plan has been adopted by the Board effective August 25, 2025.
15.2 Termination. This Plan shall terminate upon a resolution to that effect being passed by the Board.
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