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Orosur Mining Inc — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2024
Nov 13, 2024
10536_rns_2024-11-13_e35d1cab-5252-46cb-92af-68d00e001c89.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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2024 NOTICE OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
AND
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR
OF
OROSUR MINING INC.
This Management Information Circular is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by management of Orosur Mining Inc. to be voted at the Annual and Special Meeting of the Shareholders of Orosur Mining Inc. to be held on December 12, 2024 at the hour of noon (12p.m.) GMT at the offices of SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP, Prince Frederick House, 35-39 Maddox Street, London, W1S 2PP, England
November 13, 2024
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OROSUR MINING INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To be held on December 12, 2024
To the Shareholders:
TAKE NOTICE that an Annual and Special Meeting (the “Meeting”) of the Shareholders of Orosur Mining Inc. (the “Corporation” or “Orosur”) will be held at the offices of SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP, Prince Frederick House, 35-39 Maddox Street, London, W1S 2PP, England, on December 12, 2024, at the hour of noon (12p.m.) GMT for the following purposes:
(1) to receive and consider the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2024 (the “2024 Financial Statements”) and the report of the auditors thereon;
(2) to fix the board of directors of the Corporation at four (4) members;
(3) to elect directors of the Corporation for the ensuing year;
(4) to appoint the auditors of the Corporation for the ensuing year and to authorize the board of directors to fix the auditors’ remuneration;
(5) to consider, and, if thought appropriate, to pass, with or without variation, an ordinary resolution of disinterested Shareholders, to confirm and approve: (i) the cancellation of up to 3,440,000 existing stock options that were issued under the Corporation’s previous stock option plan (the “Existing Stock Option Plan”) and are now held under the Corporation’s equity incentive plan (“Equity Incentive Plan”); and, (ii) the subsequent issuance of up to 970,000 deferred share units under the Equity Incentive Plan;
(6) to transact any such other business as may properly be brought before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The nature of the business to be transacted at the Meeting is described in further detail in the accompanying management information circular of the Corporation dated November 13, 2024 (the “Circular”). Shareholders who are unable to attend the Meeting in person are requested to vote by proxy.
The directors of the Corporation have fixed the close of business on November 4, 2024 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for the determination of the Shareholders of the Corporation entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting. Only persons who are Shareholders on the Record Date are entitled to vote at the Meeting, either in person or by proxy, as described in the Circular.
This notice is accompanied by the Circular, the form of proxy, the supplemental mailing card, and in the case of those Shareholders who have so requested through the completion and return of the supplemental mailing card provided by the Corporation in its last annual mailing, a copy of the Corporation’s audited financial statements, including the report of the auditors thereon, and management’s discussion and analysis for the financial year ended May 31, 2024. For those Shareholders who did not request to receive a copy of the 2024 Financial Statements, a copy is available upon request to the Corporation and can also be found under the Corporation’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
A registered Shareholder may attend the Meeting in person or may be represented by proxy. Registered Shareholders who are unable to attend the Meeting in person are requested to date and sign the Form of Proxy that is enclosed in their package for use at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof and return it in
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the envelope provided for that purpose or in accordance with the instructions set out thereon. To be effective, the proxies must be received by the Corporation’s transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company of Canada (“Computershare”), 8th Floor, 100 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1, (Facsimile: +1-416263-9524, or +1-866-249-7775) (Attention: Proxy Department) not later than 10:00 a.m. EST on December 10, 2024 or 48 hours (other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday) prior to the time to which the Meeting may be adjourned. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Chair of the Meeting will have discretion to accept proxies received after such deadline, without notice. As set out in notes to the Form of Proxy, the enclosed proxy is solicited by management, but, you may amend it, if you so desire, by striking out the names listed therein and inserting in the space provided, the name of the person you wish to represent you at the Meeting. If your Shares are not registered in your name and you receive these materials through your bank, broker, trust company, custodian, nominee, or other financial institution or intermediary (“Intermediary”), you will likely receive a Voting Instruction Form. Please complete and return the materials in accordance with the instructions provided to you by such Intermediary. If you do not complete and return the materials in accordance with such instructions, you may lose the right to vote at the Meeting.
If your ownership in common shares of the Corporation (“Shares”) is represented by depositary interests (“Depositary Interests”) and you receive these materials directly from the Corporation or the Corporation’s UK transfer agent, you will not receive the same Form of Proxy or Voting Instruction Form sent to other Shareholders. If you hold Depositary Interests directly in your name (i.e. this may include Intermediaries) you are requested to date, sign and return the Form of Instruction enclosed in your package for use at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. To be effective, the Form of Instruction must be received by the registrar for Depositary Interests, Computershare Investor Services plc, PO Box 82, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 7NH, UK (Facsimile: +44-20-870-703-6116 Attention: Proxy Department), not later than 10:00 a.m. GMT on December 9, 2024 or 72 hours (other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday) prior to the time to which the Meeting may be adjourned. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Chair of the Meeting has the discretion to accept a Form of Instruction received after such deadline, without notice. If you hold your Depositary Interests through an Intermediary you will need to contact your Intermediary to provide them with instructions as to how your Shares should be voted. If you hold Shares through Depositary Interests and you would like to attend or vote your Shares in person at the Meeting you will need to contact your Intermediary to coordinate the issuance of a Letter of Representation from Computershare Investor Services plc.
Shareholders who are planning to return a Form of Proxy, a Form of Instruction or a Voting Instruction Form are encouraged to review the accompanying Circular carefully before submitting the Form of Proxy, Form of Instruction or Voting Instruction Form, as applicable.
Dated this 13th day of November, 2024
By order of the Board of Directors
“ Louis Castro ”
_______
Louis Castro, Executive Chairman
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COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS – VOTING AND PROXIES
Q. Who is entitled to vote?
- A. You are entitled to vote if you hold Shares of the Corporation as of the close of business on November 4, 2024. Each Share is entitled to one vote.
Q. How do registered Shareholders (other than Depositary Interest Holders) vote?
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A. A registered Shareholder is a person whose Shares are registered in her, his or its own name in the register of Shareholders maintained for Orosur by Computershare. If your Shares are registered in your name, you can vote your Shares in one of the following ways:
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(1) in person at the Meeting;
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(2) by signing and returning your Form of Proxy by mail in the prepaid envelope provided or by fax to the number indicated on the Form of Proxy; or
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(3) using the telephone or the internet by following the instructions set out in your personalized Form of Proxy.
If your Shares are not registered in your name but are held by a nominee (usually a bank, trust company, securities broker or other financial institution), please see the question and answer below.
Q. What’s the difference between a registered and a non-registered Shareholder?
- A. If your Shares are not registered in your name, but are held in the name of your bank, broker, trust company, custodian, nominee, or other financial institution or intermediary (“ Intermediary ”), you are a “non-registered” Shareholder. Even though you are the beneficial owner of the Shares the Shares may be registered either in the name of an Intermediary or in the name of a clearing agency (such as CDS &Co, the nominee of CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc.). Your Intermediary is required to seek instructions from you as to how to vote your Shares.
Generally, there are two kinds of “non-registered” Shareholders, those who object to their name being made known to Corporation (called “ OBOs ” for “ Objecting Beneficial Owners ”) and those who do not object to the Corporation knowing who they are (called “ NOBOs ” for “ Non-Objecting Beneficial Owners ”).
Certain Shareholders whose Shares are represented by Depositary Interests in the United Kingdom (“ Depositary Interest Holders ”) may also be non-registered Shareholders. See below under “ Q. How do Depositary Interest Holders vote their Shares ” for information relevant to Depositary Interest Holders. For purposes of this Management Information Circular specific instructions for OBOs and NOBOs does not apply to Depositary Interest Holders.
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Q. If my Shares are not registered in my name but are held in the name of a nominee or Intermediary (such as a bank, trust company, securities broker or other financial institution), how do I vote my Shares?
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A. Since the Corporation has access to the names and addresses of NOBOs, the Corporation has chosen to distribute Meeting materials directly to such Shareholders. Since the Corporation does not have access to the names and addresses of OBOs, the Corporation has distributed Meeting
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materials to the clearing agencies and Intermediaries (or their service provider, such as Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions “ Broadridge ”) for onward distribution to OBOs. Intermediaries are required to forward Meeting materials to non-registered Shareholders unless a non-registered Shareholder has waived its right to receive them. Very often, Intermediaries will use service companies, such as Broadridge, to forward the Meeting materials to non-registered Shareholders.
Intermediaries may have their own form of proxy, mailing procedures and provide their own return instructions. Generally, non-registered Shareholders who have not waived the right to receive Meeting materials will either:
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(1) be sent a Voting Instruction Form which is not signed by the Intermediary and which, when properly completed and signed by the non-registered Shareholder and returned to the Intermediary or its service provider, such as Broadridge, will constitute voting instructions which the Intermediary must follow. For example, Broadridge typically prepares and mails a machine-readable Voting Instruction Form, with instructions to complete and return to Broadridge, or otherwise communicate voting instructions to Broadridge (for example, by way of the internet or telephone); or
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(2) less typically, be sent the Form of Proxy which has already been signed by the Intermediary which is restricted as to the number of Shares beneficially owned by the non-registered Shareholder. Because the Intermediary has already signed the Form of Proxy, it is not required to be signed by the non-registered Shareholder. In this case, the non-registered Shareholder who wishes to submit such Form of Proxy should otherwise properly complete the Form of Proxy and deposit it with the Corporation’s registrar and transfer agent.
Q. How do Depositary Interest Holders vote their Shares?
- A. Almost all of the Corporations’ Depositary Interest Holders hold Shares through an Intermediary. Forms of Instructions will be mailed to such Intermediaries. The Intermediaries will only vote your Shares in accordance with instructions that you provide to them. Your Intermediary may not forward the meeting materials to you and may not contact you to seek voting instructions. If you wish to vote your Shares, you will need to contact your Intermediary to provide them with instructions as to how your Shares should be voted.
Q. What if I am a non-registered Shareholder and do not give any voting instructions?
- A. If you do not provide voting instructions, your Shares will not be voted.
Q. What happens if I want to attend the Meeting and vote in person?
- A. If you are a registered Shareholder and wish to vote in person, you may present yourself to a representative of the Corporation at the Meeting. Your vote will be taken and counted at the Meeting.
The Corporation does not have the names of its non-registered Shareholders. Therefore if a nonregistered Shareholder wants to vote in person at the Meeting or appoint a proxy to vote in person at the Meeting instead of sending in voting instructions in advance of the Meeting, the nonregistered Shareholder should cross out the name(s) of the management proxy holders named in the applicable form and write in either the non-registered Shareholder’s name or the name of their
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proxy in the blank space provided and return the Form of Proxy or Voting Instruction Form in accordance with the applicable instructions.
If you hold Shares through Depositary Interests (and through an Intermediary) and you would like to attend or vote your Shares in person at the Meeting you will need to contact your Intermediary to coordinate the issuance of a Letter of Representation from Computershare Investor Services plc. Without a properly issued Letter of Representation, Depositary Interest Holders holding Shares through an Intermediary will not be entitled to vote their Shares at the Meeting.
Q. What if my Shares are registered in more than one name or in the name of a company?
- A. If the Shares are registered in more than one name, all those persons in whose name the Shares are registered must sign the Form of Proxy, Form of Instruction or Voting Instruction Form. If the Shares are registered in the name of a company or any name other than your own, you should provide documentation that proves you are authorized to sign the Form of Proxy, Form of Instruction or Voting Instruction Form. If you have any questions as to what documentation is required, contact Computershare prior to submitting your required form.
Q. Can I appoint someone other than the individuals named in the enclosed Form of Proxy or Voting Instruction Form to vote my Shares?
- A. Yes, you have the right to appoint some other person of your choice who needs to be a Shareholder of the Corporation to attend and act on your behalf at the Meeting. If you wish to appoint a person other than those named in the enclosed Form of Proxy or Voting Instruction Form, then strike out those printed name(s) appearing on the Form of Proxy or Voting Instruction Form, as applicable, and insert the name of your chosen nominee in the space provided. NOTE: It is important to ensure that any other person you appoint is attending the Meeting and is aware that her/his appointment has been made to vote your Shares. Nominees should, on arrival at the Meeting, present themselves to a representative of the Corporation.
Depositary Interest Holders are not entitled to appoint some other person to attend and act on their behalf at the Meeting using the Form of Instruction. Depositary Interest Holders will need to contact their Intermediary to coordinate the issuance of a Letter of Representation from Computershare Investor Services plc.
Q. How will the Shares be voted if I send my proxy?
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A. The Shares represented by your Form of Proxy or Voting Instruction Form must be voted as you instruct in the Form of Proxy or Voting Instruction Form. If you properly complete and return your Form of Proxy or Voting Instruction Form but do not specify how you wish to vote, your Shares will be voted as your proxy holder sees fit. Unless contrary instructions are provided, Shares represented by a Form of Proxy or Voting Instruction Form will be voted as follows:
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(1) FOR setting the Board of Directors of the Corporation at four (4) members;
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(2) FOR the election of Directors of the Corporation as set out in this Management Information Circular; and
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(3) FOR the appointment of Baker Tilly WM LLP, Chartered Accountants as auditors of the Corporation for the ensuing year and to authorize the Directors to fix their remuneration.
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- (4) FOR (i) the cancellation of up to 3,440,000 existing stock options that were issued under the Corporation’s Existing Stock Option Plan and now held under the Equity Incentive Plan ; and, (ii) the subsequent issuance of up to 970,000 deferred share units under the Equity Incentive Plan.
If you are a Depositary Interest Holder and you properly complete and return your Form of Instruction but do not specify how you wish to vote, your Shares will not be voted and the Form of Instruction will be rejected.
Q. What is quorum for the Meeting?
- A. A quorum is needed to transact business at the Meeting. The Corporation’s by-laws require two persons present in person, each being a Shareholder entitled to vote or a duly appointed proxy or proxyholder, representing 5% of the issued Shares entitled to vote.
Q.
How many votes are required to pass a matter on the agenda?
- A. A simple majority of the votes cast, in person or represented by proxy, by those eligible to vote is required for each of the matters specified in this Management Information Circular where Shareholders are entitled to vote FOR or AGAINST a matter.
Q. When are the Forms of Proxy due?
- A. Duly completed and executed Forms of Proxy, where applicable, must be received by the Corporation’s Canadian transfer agent at the address indicated on the enclosed envelope no later than 10:00 a.m. EST on December 10, 2024 or no later than 48 hours before the time of any adjourned meeting (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays). If you received a Voting Information Form please see the deadline and instructions included thereon. If you are a Depositary Interest Holder and you received a Form of Instruction, duly completed and executed Forms of Instruction must be received by the Corporation’s UK transfer agent at the address indicated on the enclosed envelope no later than 10:00 a.m. GMT on December 9, 2024 or no later than 72 hours before the time of any adjourned meeting (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays).
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MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR
(dated as of November 13, 2024)
FOR THE ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
OROSUR MINING INC. TO BE HELD ON December 12, 2024
NOTE: Shareholders who do not hold their common shares of Orosur (“Shares”) in their own name as registered Shareholders should read “Advice to Non-Registered Shareholders” herein for an explanation of their rights.
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
This circular (“Management Information Circular”) is provided in connection with the solicitation by management of Orosur Mining Inc. (the “Corporation”) of proxies for the annual and special meeting (“the Meeting”) of the shareholders of the Corporation (the “Shareholders”) to be held at the Offices of SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP, Prince Frederick House, 35-39 Maddox Street, London, W1S 2PP, England, on December 12 2024, at the hour of noon (12p.m.) GMT .
Management of the Corporation does not contemplate a solicitation of proxies otherwise than by mail. The costs thereof will be borne by the Corporation.
APPOINTMENT AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES BY REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS
The information provided in this section headed “Appointment and Revocation of Proxies by Registered Shareholders” is generally applicable to registered Shareholders who are not Depositary Interest Holders except where references to Depositary Interest Holders is explicit. Generally a registered Shareholder would receive a Form of Proxy and a non-registered Shareholder (such as an OBO or NOBO would receive a Voting Instruction Form).
Appointing a Nominee to Vote at the Meeting
A Shareholder has the right to appoint a nominee (who need not be a Shareholder) to represent her, him or it at the Meeting, other than the persons designated in the enclosed proxy form, by inserting the name of her, his or its chosen nominee in the space provided for that purpose on the form, or by completing another proper form of proxy. Such Shareholder should notify the nominee of her, his or its appointment, obtain her, his or its consent to act as proxy and should instruct her, him or it on how the Shareholder’s Shares are to be voted. In any case, the Form of Proxy should be dated and executed by the Shareholder or, where the Form of Proxy has been executed by an attorney of the Shareholder, by the Shareholder’s attorney authorized in writing, with proof of such authorization attached.
Depositing a Valid Proxy
A Form of Proxy will not be valid for the Meeting or any adjournment thereof unless it is completed, dated, signed and delivered to the registrar and transfer agent of the Corporation, Computershare Trust Company of Canada (“ Computershare ”), 8[th] Floor, 100 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1, (Facsimile: +1-416-263-9524, or +1-866-249-7775) (Attention: Proxy Department), at least 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, before the time of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof
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For those Shareholders who hold Shares that are represented by Depositary Interests, a Form of Instruction will not be valid for the Meeting or any adjournment thereof unless it is completed, dated, signed and delivered to the registrar for Depositary Interests, Computershare Investor Services plc, PO Box 82, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 7NH, UK (Facsimile: +44-20-870-703-6116 Attention: Proxy Department), at least 72 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, before the time of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. See “ Advice to Depositary Interest Holders ” below for additional information.
A Form of Proxy or Form of Instruction returned as described above must be signed by the Shareholder or by the Shareholder’s attorney duly authorized in writing or, if the Shareholder is a corporation or association, the Form of Proxy or Form of Instruction must be executed by an officer or by an attorney duly authorized in writing. If the Form of Proxy or Form of Instruction is executed by an attorney for an individual Shareholder or by an attorney of a Shareholder that is a corporation or association, the instrument so empowering the attorney, as the case may be, or a notarial copy thereof, must accompany the Form of Proxy or Form of Instruction. If not dated, the Form of Proxy or Form of Instruction will be deemed to have been dated the date that it is mailed to Shareholders.
Voting of Shares
The Shares represented by the Form of Proxy will be voted or withheld from voting in accordance with the instructions of the Shareholder on any ballot that may be called for and, if the Shareholder specifies a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the Shares will be voted accordingly. The Form of Proxy confers discretionary authority upon the named proxyholder with respect to matters identified in the accompanying Notice of Meeting and other matters which may properly come before the Meeting. If a choice with respect to such matters is not specified, it is intended that the person designated by management on the form will vote the Shares represented by the Form of Proxy in favour of each matter identified in the form.
If you are a Depositary Interest Holder and you properly complete and return your Form of Instruction but do not specify how you wish to vote, your Shares will not be voted and the Form of Instruction will be rejected.
Revoking a Proxy
In addition to revocation in any other manner permitted by law, a Shareholder who has given a proxy may revoke it, any time before it is exercised, by:
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(a) depositing an instrument in writing executed by the Shareholder or by such Shareholder’s attorney duly authorized in writing or, if the Shareholder is a corporation, by an officer or attorney thereof duly authorized indicating the capacity under which such officer or attorney is signing, at the Toronto office employed by the Corporation, 82 Richmond Street East, Toronto, Ontario M5C 1P1, Canada (Attention: Omar Gonzalez), at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting, or any adjournment thereof; or
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(b) attending the Meeting or any adjournment thereof and registering with the scrutineer or as a Shareholder present in person, whereupon such proxy shall be deemed to have been revoked.
Only registered Shareholders have the right to revoke a proxy. Non-registered Shareholders that wish to change their voting instructions must, in sufficient time in advance of the Meeting, contact Computershare or their Intermediary (as defined below) to arrange to change their voting instructions.
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ADVICE TO NON-REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS
The information provided in this section headed “ Advice to Non-Registered Shareholders ” is generally not applicable to Depositary Interest Holders.
Who are Non-Registered Shareholders?
The non-registered Shareholders of the Corporation should review the information set forth in this section carefully. If your Shares are not registered in your name, but are held in the name of your bank, broker, trust company, custodian, nominee, or other financial institution or intermediary (“ Intermediary ”), you are a “ non-registered Shareholder ”. Even though you are the beneficial owner of the Shares, the Shares may be registered either in the name of an Intermediary or in the name of a clearing agency (such as CDS & Co.). Your Intermediary is required to seek instructions from you as to how to vote your Shares since only proxies deposited by Shareholders who appear on the records maintained by the Corporation’s registrar and transfer agent as registered holders of Shares or duly appointed proxyholders will be recognized and permitted to vote at the Meeting.
In Canada, the vast majority of shares held by non-registered shareholders are registered under the name of CDS & Co. (the registration name for The Canadian Depositary for Securities Limited, which acts as nominee for many Canadian brokerage firms). In the United States, the vast majority of such shares are registered in the name of CEDE & Co. (the registration name for The Depository Trust Company, which acts as nominee for many U.S. brokerage firms). Shares held by brokers (or their agents or nominees) on behalf of a broker’s client can only be voted at the direction of the non-registered Shareholder. Without specific instructions, brokers and their agents and nominees are prohibited from voting shares for the broker’s clients. Therefore, each non-registered Shareholder should ensure that voting instructions are communicated to the appropriate person well in advance of the Meeting.
Generally in Canada, there are two kinds of non-registered Shareholders – those who object to their name being made known to the Corporation (called “ OBOs ” for “ Objecting Beneficial Owners ”) and those who do not object to the Corporation knowing who they are (called “ NOBOs ” for “ Non-Objecting Beneficial Owners ”).
Communications with NOBOs
The Corporation takes advantage of certain provisions of National Instrument 54-101 – Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer (“ NI 54-101 ”), which permit the Corporation to deliver proxy-related materials directly to NOBOs who have not waived the right to receive them. As a result, NOBOs can expect to receive a scannable Voting Instruction Form (a “ VIF ”), together with the Meeting materials, from Computershare. These VIFs are to be completed and returned to Computershare in accordance with the instructions. Computershare is required to follow the voting instructions properly received from NOBOs. Computershare will tabulate the results of the VIFs received from NOBOs and will provide appropriate instructions at the Meeting with respect to Shares represented by the VIFs they receive.
Should a NOBO wish to attend and vote at the Meeting in person, the NOBO must insert the NOBO’s name (or such other person as the NOBO wishes to attend and vote on the NOBO’s behalf) in the blank space provided for that purpose on the VIF and return the completed VIF to Computershare or the NOBO must submit, to the Corporation or Computershare, any other document in writing that requests that the NOBO or a nominee of the NOBO be appointed as proxyholder. In such circumstances with respect to proxies held by management in respect of securities owned by the NOBO so requesting, the Corporation must arrange, without expense to the NOBO, to appoint the NOBO or a nominee of the NOBO as a proxyholder in respect of those securities. Under NI 54-101, if the Corporation appoints a NOBO or a nominee of the
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NOBO as a proxyholder as aforesaid, the NOBO or nominee of the NOBO, as applicable, must be given the authority to attend, vote and otherwise act for and on behalf of management in respect of all matters that may come before the Meeting and any adjournment or continuance thereof, unless corporate law does not permit the giving of that authority. Pursuant to NI 54-101, if the Corporation appoints a NOBO or its nominee as proxyholder as aforesaid the Corporation must deposit the proxy within the timeframe specified above for the deposit of proxies if the Corporation obtains the instructions at least one (1) business day before the proxy cut-off time. If a NOBO or a nominee of the NOBO is approved as a proxyholder pursuant to such request, the appointed proxyholder will need to attend the Meeting in person in order for their votes to be counted.
NOBOs that wish to change their vote must in sufficient time in advance of the Meeting contact their Intermediary to arrange to change their vote. NOBOs should carefully follow the instructions of their Intermediaries, including those regarding when and where to complete the VIF’s that are to be returned to their Intermediaries.
Communications with OBOs
In accordance with NI 54-101, the Corporation has distributed copies of the Meeting materials to Intermediaries for onward distribution to OBOs . NI 54-101 requires Intermediaries to forward the Meeting material to non-registered Shareholders (unless, in the case of certain proxy-related materials, the nonregistered Shareholder has waived the right to receive them) and seek voting instructions from nonregistered Shareholders in advance of shareholders’ meetings.
The various Intermediaries have their own mailing procedures and provide their own return instructions to clients, which should be carefully followed by non-registered Shareholders in order to ensure that their shares are voted at the Meeting. The Form of Proxy or Voting Instruction Form supplied to a non-registered Shareholder by its Intermediary is substantially similar to the Form of Proxy provided directly to registered Shareholders by the Corporation. When properly completed and signed by such non-registered Shareholders and returned to the Intermediary or its service company (such as Broadridge), such forms will constitute voting instructions which the Intermediary must follow. The purpose of this procedure is to permit non-registered Shareholders to facilitate instructing the registered Shareholder (i.e. an Intermediary) how to vote on behalf of the non-registered Shareholder. The Corporation will not pay for Intermediaries to deliver the proxy-related materials and Voting Instruction Form to OBOs. In the case of an OBO, the OBO will not receive the materials unless the OBO’s Intermediary assumes the cost of delivery.
Should an OBO wish to vote at the Meeting in person, the OBO must insert the OBO’s name (or such other person as the OBO wishes to attend and vote on the OBO’s behalf) in the blank space provided for that purpose on the personalized Form of Proxy or Voting Instruction Form and return the completed request to the Intermediary or its service provider (such as Broadridge) or the OBO must submit, to their Intermediary, any other document in writing that requests that the OBO or a nominee of the OBO be appointed as proxyholder. In such circumstances an Intermediary who is the registered holder of, or holds a proxy in respect of, Shares owned by an OBO is required under NI 54-101 to arrange, without expense to the OBO, to appoint the OBO or a nominee of the OBO as a proxyholder in respect of those Shares. Under NI 54101, if an Intermediary appoints an OBO or the nominee of the OBO as a proxyholder as aforesaid, the OBO or nominee of the OBO, as applicable, must be given the authority to attend, vote and otherwise act for and on behalf of the Intermediary, in respect of all matters that may come before the Meeting and any adjournment or continuance thereof, unless corporate law does not permit the giving of that authority. Pursuant to NI 54-101 an Intermediary who appoints an OBO or its nominee as proxyholder as aforesaid is required under NI 54-101 to deposit the proxy within the timeframe specified above for the deposit of proxies if the Intermediary obtains the instructions at least one (1) business day before the proxy cut-off
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time. If the OBO or a nominee of the OBO is appointed a proxyholder pursuant to such request, the appointed proxyholder will need to attend the Meeting in person in order for their votes to be counted.
Broadridge Services
The vast majority of brokers now delegate responsibility for obtaining instructions from clients to Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions (“ Broadridge ”) in Canada. Broadridge typically prepares a machine-readable Voting Instruction Form, mails those forms to non-registered Shareholders and asks non-registered Shareholders to return the forms to Broadridge, or otherwise communicate voting instructions to Broadridge (by way of the Internet or telephone, for example). Broadridge then tabulates the results of all instructions received and provides appropriate instructions respecting the voting of shares to be represented at the Meeting. A non-registered Shareholder who receives a Broadridge Voting Instruction Form cannot use that form to vote Shares directly at the Meeting. The Voting Instruction Forms 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 a broker or other Intermediary, please contact that broker or other Intermediary for assistance.
General
These proxy-related materials are being sent to both registered Shareholders and non-registered Shareholders. If you are a non-registered Shareholder, and the Corporation has sent these proxy-related materials directly to you, your name and address and information about your holdings of Shares have been obtained in accordance with applicable securities requirements from the Intermediary on your behalf. By choosing to send these materials to you directly, the Corporation (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.
The Corporation is not sending proxy-related materials using notice-and-access this year.
All references to Shareholders in this Management Information Circular and the accompanying Form of Proxy and Notice of Meeting are to registered Shareholders unless specifically stated otherwise.
ADVICE TO DEPOSITARY INTEREST HOLDERS
Certain Shareholders who hold their Shares as Depositary Interests (“ Depositary Interest Holders ”) through Computershare Investor Services plc, as depositary (the “ Depositary ”), and who are registered directly on the list maintained by the Depositary, can vote the Shares represented by their Depositary Interests by completing, signing and returning the Form of Instruction provided by the Depositary. To be valid the Form of Instruction must be completed, signed (exactly as the Depositary Interest Holders’ name appears on the Form of Instruction) and returned by mail using the enclosed envelope, or by courier or hand delivery to the registrar for Depositary Interests, Computershare Investor Services plc, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZY UK (Facsimile: +44-20-870-703-6116) (Attention: Proxy Department), at least 72 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, before the time of the Meeting or any adjournment thereof in order for the Depositary to vote as per the Depositary Interest Holder’s instructions at the Meeting.
If you hold your Depositary Interests through an Intermediary you will need to contact your Intermediary to provide them with instructions as to how your Shares should be voted. If you hold Shares through Depositary Interests and you would like to attend or vote your Shares in person at
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the Meeting you will need to contact your Intermediary to coordinate the issuance of a Letter of Representation from Computershare Investor Services plc.
VOTING OF PROXIES
Shares represented by a properly executed Form of Proxy in favour of the person designated on the enclosed Form of Proxy will be voted or withheld from voting in accordance with the instructions given on the Form of Proxy. In the absence of such instructions, such Shares will be voted FOR the approval of all resolutions identified in this Management Information Circular.
The enclosed Form of Proxy confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein with respect to amendments and variations to matters identified in the Notice of Meeting and with respect to any other matters which may properly come before the Meeting. At the time of printing this Management Information Circular, the management of the Corporation knows of no such amendments, variations or other matters to come before the Meeting.
VOTING SHARES AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
The Corporation is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Shares without par value.
As of the date of this Management Information Circular, the Corporation has 235,620,423 issued and outstanding Shares. Holders of Shares on the Record Date (as defined below) are entitled to one vote at the Meeting for each Share held.
The Corporation will prepare a list of Shareholders of record at the close of business on November 4, 2024 (the “ Record Date ”) for the purpose of determining those Shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting. A holder of Shares named on that list will be entitled to vote the Shares then registered in such holder’s name.
To the knowledge of the directors and executive officers of the Corporation, only Newmont Mining Corporation beneficially owns, or controls or directs, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the outstanding Shares, being approximately 29.2 million Shares, representing approximately 12.4% of the total outstanding Shares.
PARTICULARS OF MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON AT THE MEETING
1. Financial Statements
The audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for the year ended May 31, 2024 and the report of the auditors on the financial statements will be available at the Meeting. These documents are also available on SEDAR+ under the Corporation’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
2. Number of Directors
As of November 13, 2024, there were four directors of the Corporation, all of whose terms expire at the Meeting. Unless otherwise directed, it is the intention of management to vote proxies FOR fixing the number of directors to be elected at four.
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3. Election of Board of Directors
Unless otherwise directed, it is the intention of management to vote proxies FOR the election as directors of the four nominees listed under this section.
The enclosed Form of Proxy permits Shareholders of the Corporation to vote for each nominee on an individual basis. In the absence of instructions to the contrary, the Shares represented by proxy will, on a poll, be voted for the nominees herein listed. Management does not contemplate that any such nominees will be unable to serve as directors. However, if for any reason any of the proposed nominees do not stand for election or are unable to serve as such, the persons named in the Form of Proxy reserve the right to vote for any other nominee in their sole discretion.
There is no contract, arrangement or understanding between any proposed management nominee or any other person, except the directors and officers of the Corporation acting solely in their capacity as such, pursuant to which the nominee is to be elected.
The persons named on the enclosed Form of Proxy intend to vote FOR the election of each of the proposed nominees whose names are set out below unless a Shareholder has specified in her, his or its proxy that her, his or its Shares are to be withheld from voting for the election or a proposed nominee.
In the following table and notes thereto is stated the name of each proposed director, the province or state and country in which he is ordinarily resident, all offices of the Corporation now held by him, his principal occupation, the period of time for which he has been a director of the Corporation, and the number of Shares of the Corporation beneficially owned by him, directly or indirectly, or over which he exercises control or direction, as of the date of this Management Information Circular:
| Brad George Non-independent |
Brad George Non-independent |
Brad George Non-independent |
|---|---|---|
| Perth, Western Australia, Australia Chief Executive Officer since July 2020 |
||
| Brad George has been the CEO of Orosur (his present principal occupation) since July 2020, having joined the Board initially as a non-executive director on May 1, 2020. He is a geoscientist by profession, with over 30 years’ experience in global mineral exploration, development and financing. In particular, Mr. George has a long history in South America, having managed, assessed, and financed projects and companies in a range of countries across the continent. Mr. George spent several years as a rated mining analyst in London, focusing on AIM-listed miners and thus has a sound understanding of capital markets and financial management of exploration, feasibility and development programs. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, and is a JORC Competent Person for the reporting of mineral exploration results. Over the last five years Mr. George has been (and continues to be) a director of Australian-based geoscience consulting firm International Geoscience Pty Ltd. Mr. George is not currently a director of any other publicly listed companies. |
||
| Number of Shares Beneficial Owned, Controlled or Directed (directly or indirectly) |
Board/Committee Membership During Fiscal Year 2023 |
Attendance at Meetings During Fiscal Year 2023 |
| 312,000 | Board of Directors | 10/10 |
| Area of Expertise | Other Public Board Directorships |
| Number of Shares Beneficial | Board/Committee | Attendance at Meetings |
|---|---|---|
| Owned, Controlled or | Membership During Fiscal | During Fiscal Year 2023 |
| Directed (directly or | Year 2023 | |
| indirectly) | ||
| 312,000 | Board of Directors | 10/10 |
| Area of Expertise | Other Public Board Directorships |
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| Geology, Mining, Business Strategy, Management, Corporate Finance |
||
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Masney Independent |
||
| Ontario, Canada Non-Executive Director since July 2020 |
||
| Thomas Masney brings a wealth of quoted company experience to Orosur. He has been CFO of both TSX and AIM-listed companies. He is a Canadian CA, CPA and has worked internationally for both mining and corporates in other sectors, having trained initially with Ernst & Young Global Limited and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. He has strong links with the investor and professional services community in Toronto. He is currently the CFO of Pond Technologies Holdings Inc. (2014 to current), his current principal occupation, which is listed on the TSXV and was the CFO of Melior Resources Inc. (2012 to 2016) which is listed on the TSXV and has subsequently changed its name to Ranchero Gold Corp. Mr. Masney serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee. |
||
| Number of Shares Beneficial Owned, Controlled or Directed (directly or indirectly) |
Board/Committee Membership During Fiscal Year 2023/24 |
Attendance at Meetings During Fiscal Year 2023/24 |
| 10,000 | Board of Directors Audit Committee Remuneration Committee |
9/10 5/5 1/1 |
| Area of Expertise | Other Public Board Directorships | |
| Corporate Governance, Business Strategy, Accounting, Restructuring, Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance |
Pond Technologies Holdings Inc. | |
| Louis Castro Non-Independent |
||
| London, England Chairman since April 2020 |
||
| Louis Castro is a chartered accountant and former investment banker with more than 30 years’ investment banking and industry experience. He has been Executive Chairman of Orosur Mining Inc., his current principal occupation, since January 2021. He is a non-executive director and chairman of the audit committee at Tekcapital plc, Innovative Eyewear Inc., Tomco Energy plc and Veteran Capital Corp. Before going into industry, he worked in investment banking, originally with SG Warburg (now UBS) and eventually as CEO of Northland Capital Partners, an investment bank and broker, where he represented a significant number of tech industry, mining and oil and gas clients, including clients in South America. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, having qualified at PricewaterhouseCoopers, and he has a double degree in Engineering Production and Economics from the University of Birmingham. |
||
| Number of Shares Beneficial Owned, Controlled or |
Board/Committee Membership During Fiscal Year 2023/24 |
Attendance at Meetings During Fiscal Year 2023/24 |
| Geology, Mining, Business Strategy, Management, Corporate Finance |
||
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Masney Independent |
||
| Ontario, Canada Non-Executive Director since July 2020 |
||
| Thomas Masney brings a wealth of quoted company experience to Orosur. He has been CFO of both TSX and AIM-listed companies. He is a Canadian CA, CPA and has worked internationally for both mining and corporates in other sectors, having trained initially with Ernst & Young Global Limited and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. He has strong links with the investor and professional services community in Toronto. He is currently the CFO of Pond Technologies Holdings Inc. (2014 to current), his current principal occupation, which is listed on the TSXV and was the CFO of Melior Resources Inc. (2012 to 2016) which is listed on the TSXV and has subsequently changed its name to Ranchero Gold Corp. Mr. Masney serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee. |
||
| Number of Shares Beneficial Owned, Controlled or Directed (directly or indirectly) |
Board/Committee Membership During Fiscal Year 2023/24 |
Attendance at Meetings During Fiscal Year 2023/24 |
| 10,000 | Board of Directors Audit Committee Remuneration Committee |
9/10 5/5 1/1 |
| Area of Expertise | Other Public Board Directorships | |
| Corporate Governance, Business Strategy, Accounting, Restructuring, Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance |
Pond Technologies Holdings Inc. | |
| Louis Castro Non-Independent |
||
| London, England Chairman since April 2020 |
||
| Louis Castro is a chartered accountant and former investment banker with more than 30 years’ investment banking and industry experience. He has been Executive Chairman of Orosur Mining Inc., his current principal occupation, since January 2021. He is a non-executive director and chairman of the audit committee at Tekcapital plc, Innovative Eyewear Inc., Tomco Energy plc and Veteran Capital Corp. Before going into industry, he worked in investment banking, originally with SG Warburg (now UBS) and eventually as CEO of Northland Capital Partners, an investment bank and broker, where he represented a significant number of tech industry, mining and oil and gas clients, including clients in South America. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, having qualified at PricewaterhouseCoopers, and he has a double degree in Engineering Production and Economics from the University of Birmingham. |
||
| Number of Shares Beneficial Owned, Controlled or |
Board/Committee Membership During Fiscal Year 2023/24 |
Attendance at Meetings During Fiscal Year 2023/24 |
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| Directed (directly or indirectly) |
||
|---|---|---|
| 205,000 | Board of Directors Audit Committee |
10/10 5/5 |
| Area of Expertise | Other Public Board Directorships | |
| Corporate Finance, Business Strategy, M&A, Management, Corporate Governance |
Tekcapital plc Innovative Eyewear Inc. Tomco Energy plc Veteran Capital Corp |
|
| Nicholas (Nick) von Schirnding Independent |
||
| London, England Non-Executive Director since January 2021 |
||
| Nick von Schirnding has over 25 years’ experience in mining and natural resources. Mr. von Schirnding’s current principal occupation is as Executive Chairman of Arc Minerals plc, a London listed mining group with interests in Africa, and also a director of Fodere Group, a private company that has developed environmentally sustainable technology to extract high value minerals from ore. In addition, Mr. von Schirnding is Non-Executive Chairman of Metals Exploration plc and is a director of Jangada Mines plc which are both listed on AIM in London. Previously, Mr. von Schirnding was CEO of Asia Resource Minerals plc (formerly Bumi plc), a FTSE listed mining company and was instrumental in successfully restructuring their 25mtpa open pit coal mining operations. Mr. von Schirnding was also deputy chairman of Berau Coal, Indonesia’s fourth largest listed coal company. Prior to this he held senior roles at both Anglo American plc and De Beers. Mr. von Schirnding has worked and lived in both developed and emerging markets including the UK, India, SE Asia, Africa and South America. He has a degree in law from the University of Cape Town. Mr. von Schirnding serves as Chairman of the Remuneration Committee. |
||
| Number of Shares Beneficial Owned, Controlled or Directed (directly or indirectly) |
Board/Committee Membership During Fiscal Year 2023/24 |
Attendance at Meetings During Fiscal Year 2023/24 |
| Nil | Board of Directors Audit Committee Remuneration Committee |
9/10 4/5 1/1 |
| Area of Expertise | Other Public Board Directorships | |
| Strategic Development, M&A, Restructuring, Operational Change, Corporate Governance |
Arc Minerals plc Jangada Mines plc Metals Exploration plc |
| Number of Shares Beneficial | Board/Committee | Attendance at Meetings |
|---|---|---|
| Owned, Controlled or | Membership During Fiscal | During Fiscal Year |
| Directed (directly or | Year 2023/24 | 2023/24 |
| indirectly) | ||
| Nil | Board of Directors | 9/10 |
| Audit Committee | 4/5 | |
| Remuneration Committee | 1/1 | |
| Area of Expertise | Other Public Board Directorships | |
| Strategic Development, | Arc Minerals plc | |
| M&A, Restructuring, | Jangada Mines plc | |
| Operational Change, | Metals Exploration plc | |
| Corporate Governance |
The Board recommends that Shareholders vote FOR the approval of each of the nominees listed above for election as directors of the Corporation for the ensuing year.
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Each director elected will hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until his successor is duly elected, unless the office is earlier vacated in accordance with the by-laws of the Corporation.
Except as disclosed below, no proposed director:
-
(a) is, as at the date of this Management Information Circular, or has been, within 10 years of the date of this Management Information Circular, a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company (including the Corporation) that,
-
(i) was subject to a cease trade order or similar order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation that was issued while the proposed director was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; or
-
(ii) was subject to a cease trade order or similar order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation that was issued after the proposed director ceased to be a director, chief executive officer of chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer;
-
(b) is, as at the date of this Management Information Circular, or has been within 10 years of the date of this Management Information Circular, a director or executive officer of any company (including the Corporation) 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 (aside from the reorganisation procedure that has been taking place in Loryser SA, Orosur´s Uruguayan subsidiary, where both Louis Castro and Brad George are currently directors);
-
(c) has, within the 10 years before the date of this Management 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 proposed director; or
-
(d) has been subject to, at any time, any penalties or sanctions imposed by
-
(i) a court relating to securities legislation or a securities regulatory authority or has entered into, at any time, a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority, or
-
(ii) a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable security holder in deciding whether to vote for a proposed director.
For the purposes hereof, the term “order” means:
-
(a) a cease trade order;
-
(b) an order similar to a cease trade order; or
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(c) 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.
4. Appointment of Auditor
It is the intention of management to propose to the Shareholders to vote for the reappointment of Baker Tilly WM LLP as the auditor of the Corporation, to hold office until the next annual meeting of the shareholders, at a remuneration to be determined by the Board.
Unless otherwise directed, it is management’s intention to vote the proxies FOR an ordinary resolution to reappoint the firm of Baker Tilly WM LLP, as auditor of the Corporation and to authorize the directors to fix their remuneration.
5. Incentive Securities Resolution
At the 2023 annual and special meeting, the Shareholders approved the adoption of the Corporation’s omnibus equity incentive plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan”) to replace the previous 2021 option plan (the “Existing Stock Option Plan”). At the Meeting the Corporation will seek disinterested Shareholder approval of: (i) the cancellation of up to 3,440,000 existing stock options (the “Stock Option Cancellation”) with an average exercise price of CDN$0.254 and with expiration dates ranging from May 4, 2025 to January 29, 2031; and, (ii) the issuance of up to 970,000 deferred share units (each a “DSU”) (the “DSU Issuance”) issued under the Equity Incentive Plan to the holders of such existing stock options.
As part of the DSU Issuance, set out below are the numbers of DSUs which will be issued to non- executive directors and executive officers of the Corporation:
Non-executive directors: up to 120,000
Executive directors: up to 850,000
The number of existing stock options subject to the Stock Option Cancellation and the number of DSUs issued as part of the DSU Issuance will be subject to the number of current holders of existing stock options that consent to have their existing stock options cancelled. Holders of existing stock options that do not take up the Corporation’s offer to cancel their existing stock options and to receive the DSUs, will continue to hold the existing stock options governed by the Equity Incentive Plan.
In accordance with the TSXV Policy, the approval of the Stock Option Cancellation and the DSU Issuance will require disinterested Shareholder approval, being the approval of a majority of the votes cast by the Shareholders at the Meeting excluding votes held by the persons that will hold such DSUs and stock options and their Associates and Affiliates (as defined below).
“ Associates ” includes an individual’s spouse, children and any relative who lives in the same residence as such person. “ Affiliates ” means a corporation, incorporated association or organization, body corporate, partnership, trust, fund, association and any other entity other than an individual (each a “ Company ”), that is affiliated with another Company, including a subsidiary entity. An “ Insider ” includes all directors and senior officers of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and any person who beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the issued and outstanding Shares.
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As of the date of this Management Information Circular, the persons that will be issued DSUs upon cancellation of their existing stock options and the Insiders and the Associates and Affiliates thereof (collectively, the “ Affected Persons ”), are Louis Castro and Nick von Schirnding. The Affected Persons hold an aggregate of 205,000 Shares, representing 0.087% of the issued and outstanding Shares, which shares will be excluded for the purposes of determining whether the Stock Option Cancellation and the DSU Issuance will proceed. The exercise price of the existing stock options held by the Affected Persons range from Cdn$0.04 to Cdn$0.46. The DSUs to be issued to the Affected Persons will be issued at conversion ratios ranging from 0.2 to 1, depending on the exercise price of the existing stock options.
Accordingly, at the Meeting, disinterested Shareholders will be asked to consider and, if thought appropriate, pass an ordinary resolution (the “ Incentive Securities Resolution ”) approving the Stock Option Cancellation and the DSU Issuance substantially in the form set forth below:
“BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
-
the cancellation of up to 3,440,000 existing stock options (the “ Existing Stock Options ”) governed by the Corporation’s Equity Incentive Plan, with an average exercise price of Cdn$0.254 and with expiration dates ranging from May 4, 2025 to January 29, 2031, together with such revisions as the TSX Venture Exchange (the “ Exchange ”) may require, is hereby approved;
-
the issuance to former holders of Existing Stock Options of up to 970,000 deferred share units under the Corporation’s Equity Incentive Plan, which was appended as Schedule “B” to the Corporation’s 2023 Annual and Special Meeting Notice and Management Information Circular dated November 17, 2023, together with such revisions as the Exchange may require, is hereby approved; and
-
any director or officer of the Corporation is hereby authorized and directed to do all such things and execute, for and on behalf of the Corporation, all such documents and other instruments as may be necessary or desirable in order to give effect the foregoing resolutions.”
Unless otherwise directed, the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy, if named as proxy, intend to vote FOR the Incentive Securities Resolution.
6. Other Business
While there is no other business other than that mentioned in the Notice of Meeting to be presented for consideration by the Shareholders at the Meeting, it is intended that the proxies hereby solicited will be exercised upon any other matters and proposals that may properly come before the Meeting, or any adjournment or adjournments thereof, in accordance with the discretion of the persons authorized to act thereunder.
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS OR COMPANIES IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
No Person has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in matters to be acted upon at the Meeting other than the election of directors. For the purpose of this paragraph, “ Person ” shall include each person: (a) who has been a director or executive officer of the Corporation at any time since the beginning of the Corporation’s last financial year; (b) who is a proposed nominee for election as a director of the Corporation; or (c) who is an associate or affiliate of a person included in subparagraphs (a) and (b).
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STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The purpose of this section of this Management Information Circular is to disclose all compensation paid, payable, awarded, granted, given, or otherwise provided, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, or a subsidiary of the Corporation, for the most recently completed financial year, to each NEO (as defined below) in accordance with Form 51-102F6V – Statement of Executive Compensation – Venture Issuers (“ Form 51-102F6V ”). Unless otherwise stated, “dollars” or “$” means U.S. dollars.
Interpretation
NI 51-102 defines “ Executive Officer ” to mean, for a reporting issuer, an individual who is,
(a) a chair, vice-chair, or president;
(b) a chief executive officer or chief financial officer;
(c) a vice-president in charge of a principal business unit, division or function including sales, finance or production; or
(d) performing a policy-making function in respect of the issuer.
Form 51-102F6V further defines “ Named Executive Officers ” or “ NEOs ” to mean each of the following
individuals:
(a) each individual who, in respect of the Corporation, during any part of the most recently completed financial year, served as chief executive officer (“ CEO ”), including an individual performing functions similar to a CEO;
(b) each individual who, in respect of the Corporation, during any part of the most recently completed financial year, served as chief financial officer (“ CFO ”), including an individual performing functions similar to a CFO;
(c) in respect of the Corporation 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 Form 51-102F6V), for that financial year; and
(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 Corporation, and was not acting in a similar capacity, at the end of that financial year.
Named Executive Officers
The Corporation’s NEOs for fiscal year ended May 31, 2024 are: Louis Castro, Executive Chairman; Brad George, CEO; Omar Gonzalez, CFO; and Joaquín Sarroca, Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary.
Oversight and Description of Director and NEO Compensation
Role of the Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee was established by the Board to assist in fulfilling the Board’s responsibilities relating to compensation issues and to establish a plan of continuity for executive officers.
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The Remuneration Committee reviews and recommends the compensation philosophy and guidelines for the Corporation which includes reviewing compensation for executive officers for recommendation to the Board.
The Remuneration Committee makes determinations as to each component of the compensation program with respect to each executive officer based on comparison to other similar size companies and remuneration surveys for similar sized companies after internal discussions which drew upon the experience of the members of the Remuneration Committee with respect to industry practices and performance relative to informal expectations.
The Corporation has contracts with all of its NEOs that have been approved by the Remuneration Committee. Omar Gonzalez, CFO, who is engaged under a contract with Marrelli Support Services; Brad George, CEO, is engaged under a contract with his services company; Louis Castro, Executive Chairman, is retained through a service contract; and, Joaquín Sarroca who started working as legal counsel in May 2014, and is retained through a service contract. In May 2020 he also became Corporate Secretary. All of the aforementioned contracts, as well as the employment terms for new appointments and amendments to existing agreements, were approved by the Remuneration Committee.
Composition of the Remuneration Committee
The members of the Remuneration Committee were, as of May 31, 2024, Messrs. Nick von Schirnding (Chair of the Committee) and Thomas Masney. Each member of the Remuneration Committee neither at present nor in the past, has occupied executive positions in the Corporation nor has been an employee of the Corporation or any subsidiary, and each is considered an independent director for the purposes of National Instrument 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices (“ NI 58-101 ”). Each member of the Remuneration Committee has direct experience that is relevant to his responsibilities in executive compensation.
Elements of Executive Compensation
The Corporation’s policy regarding compensation of the Corporation’s executive officers is structured to provide a competitive compensation package that supports both the short-term and long-term goals of the Corporation, to attract and retain suitable and qualified executive management, to establish a compensation framework which is industry competitive, and to align the compensation level of each executive to that executive’s level of responsibility.
In order to attract and retain key personnel, the Corporation’s executive compensation covers the following major types of compensation:
-
Annual Base Salary
-
Participation in the Corporation’s Stock Option Plan
-
Participation in a Bonus Scheme such as annual cash bonuses if bonuses are declared
Annual Base Salary
The objectives of the base compensation are to retain high calibre individuals, recognize market pay and acknowledge the competencies and skill of individuals. Base salary for the NEOs is determined by the Board upon the recommendation of the Remuneration Committee.
The initial base salaries of the Corporation’s executive officers were determined through the assessment of their experience, their level of expertise, their responsibilities, their previous remuneration, and the salaries
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paid by companies in the peer group. Thereafter, base salaries were determined through the individual’s performance, the Corporation’s performance, and comparisons with other companies in the same industry as described below.
In prior years, the Corporation engaged a compensation advisory firm, to provide support to the Remuneration Committee in assessing the reasonableness of the compensation for the Corporation’s executive officers. For the last few years, the Corporation has not engaged an external third-party review of compensation but has performed an internal review and used peer group data.
Stock Options, RSU’s and DSU’s
The Board continues to believe that equity-based compensation is an appropriate way for the Corporation to ensure that the interests of its Board, its management team and key employees are aligned with its shareholders and to attract and retain the best possible talent. The Corporation recognizes that better outcomes result from long-term incentives involving stock options, RSU’s and DSU’s which are provided under the existing Equity Incentive Plan which was approved by the Corporation’s Shareholders on December 19, 2023.
Bonus Scheme
Annual cash bonuses may be awarded at the sole discretion of the Board, based on recommendations of the Remuneration Committee, for individual achievements, contributions or efforts that the Remuneration Committee has determined can reasonably be expected to have an additional positive impact on the value of the Corporation to Shareholders. Cash bonuses are based on the achievement of pre-determined objectives, the identification, negotiation and completion of new projects; the re-negotiation of existing projects; raising capital for the Corporation and, the successful realisation of assets in Uruguay thereby significantly satisfying Loryser’s creditors agreement.
Compensation for Fiscal Year 2024
Louis Castro, Executive Chairman and Director
Compensation awarded to, earned by, paid or payable to Louis Castro for the most recently completed financial year consisted of his annual salary of £182,160. The previous service agreement between Louis Castro (trading as Albany Hill Associates) and the Corporation which was dated January 12, 2021, carried an annual base salary of £165,600. The annual base salary was reviewed by the Remuneration Committee on January 23, 2022, and increased to £182,160 which is comparable to compensation packages for senior officers of comparable AIM listed companies.
Brad George, CEO and Director
Compensation awarded to, earned by, paid or payable to Brad George for the most recently completed financial year consisted of his annual base salary of US$198,000. The previous service agreement between Brad George’s service company, Total Earth Solutions Ltd, and the Corporation carried an annual base salary of US$180,000. The annual base salary was reviewed by the Remuneration Committee on January 23, 2022 and increased to US$198,000 which is comparable with compensation packages for senior officers of comparable AIM listed companies.
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Omar Gonzalez, CFO
Compensation awarded to, earned by, paid or payable to Marrelli Support Services Inc. for the provision of Omar Gonzalez as CFO of the Corporation for the most recently completed financial year consisted of a monthly fee of Cdn$2,000 together with an annual fee of Cdn$24,000 for the preparation of the year end accounts and dealing with the auditors. The monthly fee is set out in a services agreement entered into on February 20, 2019 between Marrelli Support Services and the Corporation. Marrelli Support also provides the services of a chief financial officer to other reporting issuers.
Joaquín L. Sarroca, Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Compensation awarded to, earned by, paid or payable to Joaquín Sarroca for the most recently completed financial year consisted of his annual base salary of US$162,540.
Director and Named Executive Officer Compensation
The following table sets forth director and NEO compensation, excluding compensation securities, for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2024 and May 31, 2023. As permitted under Form 51-102F6V, information has only been provided with respect to the two most recent fiscal years of the Corporation. For information related to the compensation payable to the Corporation’s NEOs prior to the two most recent fiscal years of the Corporation, please refer to the Corporation’s information circulars in respect of each such year, copies of which are available under the Corporation’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
As at May 31, 2024, the Board comprised two non-executive directors being Thomas Masney and Nick von Schirnding and two executive directors being Louis Castro, Executive Chairman, and Brad George, CEO.
All directors are reimbursed for travel and other expenses they incur when they attend meetings or conduct Corporation business but they do not receive “per attendance” fees.
| Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and Position |
Year | Salary, Consulting Fee, Retainer or Commission ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Committee or Meeting Fees ($) |
Value of Perquisites |
Value of All Other Compensation ($)(1) |
Total Compensation ($) |
| Louis Castro Executive Chairman, Director |
2024 | 229,992 | nil | nil | nil | nil | 229,992 |
| 2023 | 207,953 | 29,996 | nil | nil | nil | 237,949 | |
| Brad George CEO, Director |
2024 | 198,000 | nil | nil | nil | nil | 198,000 |
| 2023 | 186,750 | 27,000 | nil | nil | nil | 213,750 | |
| Omar Gonzalez CFO(2) |
2024 | 54,072 | nil | nil | nil | nil | 54,072 |
| Joaquín L. Sarroca |
2024 | 162,540 | nil | nil | nil | nil | 162,540 |
| 2023 | 147,540 | 20,000 | nil | nil | nil | 167,540 |
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| Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | Table of Compensation Excluding Compensation Securities | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and Position |
Year | Salary, Consulting Fee, Retainer or Commission ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Committee or Meeting Fees ($) |
Value of Perquisites |
Value of All Other Compensation ($)(1) |
Total Compensation ($) |
| Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
|||||||
| Thomas Masney Director(3) |
2024 | 55,000 | nil | nil | nil | nil | 55,000 |
| 2023 | 52,083 | 5,000 | nil | nil | nil | 57,083 | |
| Nick von Schirnding Director(4) |
2024 | 50.031 | nil | nil | nil | nil | 50,031 |
| 2023 | 45,301 | 4,347 | nil | nil | nil | 49,648 |
Notes:
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(1) “Value of All Other Compensation” would include, if applicable, any incremental payments, payables, and benefits to a NEO or director that were triggered by, or resulted from, a scenario related to change of control, severance, termination or constructive dismissal payments that occurred before the end of the applicable financial, and all compensation related to defined benefit or defined contribution plans.
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(2) During the year ended May 31, 2024, the Corporation paid professional fees and disbursements of US$54,072 to Marrelli Support Services Inc., (“ Marrelli Support ”) for Mr. Gonzalez, an employee of Marrelli Group, to act as the Chief Financial Officer (“ CFO ”) of the Corporation and for accounting services. This is the first year that Mr Gonzalez has served as CFO of the Company. These services were incurred in the normal course of operations for general accounting and financial reporting.
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(3) Thomas Masney receives an annual retainer of US$55,000 as a non-executive director and Chairman of the Audit Committee
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(4) Nick von Schirnding receives an annual retainer of £39,600 as a non-executive director and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.
Stock Options and Other Compensation Securities
The following table sets forth all compensation securities granted or issued to each director and NEO by the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries in recent financial years for services provided or to be provided directly or indirectly, to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries . In the most recent financial year, the year ended May 31, 2024 no compensation securities were granted or issued.
| Compensation Securities | Compensation Securities | Compensation Securities | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and Position |
Type of Compen- sation Security |
Number of Compensation Securities, Number of Underlying Securities, and Percentage of Class(1) |
Date of Issue or Grant dd/mm/yy |
Issue, Conversion or Exercise price($) |
Closing Price of Security or Underlying Security on Date of Grant($) |
Closing Price of Security or Underlying Security at Year End ($) |
Expiry Date dd/m/yy |
| Louis Castro(2) Executive Chairman, Director |
Stock Options |
240,000 1,700,000 900,000 |
4/5/2020 10/12/2020 11/3/2022 |
Cdn$0.04 Cdn$0.325 Cdn$0.22 |
Cdn$0.04 Cdn$0.325 Cdn$0.18 |
Cdn$0.065 | 4/5/25 10/12/30 11/3/27 |
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| Compensation Securities | Compensation Securities | Compensation Securities | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and Position |
Type of Compen- sation Security |
Number of Compensation Securities, Number of Underlying Securities, and Percentage of Class(1) |
Date of Issue or Grant dd/mm/yy |
Issue, Conversion or Exercise price($) |
Closing Price of Security or Underlying Security on Date of Grant($) |
Closing Price of Security or Underlying Security at Year End ($) |
Expiry Date dd/m/yy |
| Brad George(3) CEO, Director |
Stock Options |
200,000 1,700,000 900,000 |
4/5/20 10/12/20 11/3/22 |
Cdn$0.04 Cdn$0.325 Cdn$0.22 |
Cdn$0.04 Cdn$0.325 Cdn$0.18 |
Cdn$0.070 | 4/5/25 10/12/30 11/3/27 |
| Omar Gonzalez(4) CFO |
Stock Options |
nil | |||||
| Joaquín L. Sarroca(5) Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
Stock Options |
46,666 500,000 400,000 |
14/11/2019 10/12/2020 11/3/2022 |
Cdn$0.05 Cdn$0.325 Cdn$0.22 |
Cdn$0.05 Cdn$0.325 Cdn$0.18 |
Cdn$0.070 | 14/11/24 10/12/30 11/3/27 |
| Thomas Masney(6) Director |
Stock Options |
300,000 300,000 |
10/12/2020 11/3/2022 |
Cdn$0.325 Cdn$0.22 |
Cdn$0.325 Cdn$0.18 |
Cdn$0.070 | 10/12/30 11/3/27 |
| Nick von Schirnding(7) Director |
Stock Options |
300,000 300,000 |
29/1/2021 11/3/2022 |
Cdn$0.46 Cdn$0.22 |
Cdn$0.46 Cdn$0.18 |
Cdn$0.070 | 29/1/31 11/3/27 |
Notes:
(1) Options vest as to one half on the date of grant and one half on the anniversary of the grant.
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(2) On May 31, 2024, Mr. Castro held 2,840,000 stock options (1.2% of shares in issue as at 13 November 2024) and 205,000 Shares of the Corporation.
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(3) On May 31, 2024, Mr. George held 2,800,000 stock options (1.2% of shares in issue as at 13 November 2024) and 312,000 Shares of the Corporation.
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(4) On May 31, 2024, Mr. Gonzalez held nil stock options and nil Shares of the Corporation.
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(5) On May 31, 2024, Mr. Sarroca held 946,666 stock options (0.4% of shares in issue as at 13 November 2024) and 110,334 Shares of the Corporation
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(6) On May 31, 2024, Mr. Masney held 600,000 stock options (0.25%of shares in issue as at 13 November 2024) and 10,000 Shares of the Corporation.
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(7) On May 31, 2024, Mr. Schirnding held 600,000 (0.25% of shares in issue as at 13 November 2024) stock options and nil Shares of the Corporation.
The following table sets out the exercise by each director and NEO of the Corporation of compensation securities during the most recently completed financial year.
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| Exercise of Compensation Securities by Directors and NEOs | Exercise of Compensation Securities by Directors and NEOs | Exercise of Compensation Securities by Directors and NEOs | Exercise of Compensation Securities by Directors and NEOs | Exercise of Compensation Securities by Directors and NEOs | Exercise of Compensation Securities by Directors and NEOs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name and Position |
Type of Compensation Security |
Number of Under- lying Securities Exercised |
Exercise price per Security ($) |
Date of Exercise |
Closing Price per Security on Date of Exercise ($) |
Difference Between Exercise Price and Closing Price on Date of Exercise ($) |
Total Value on Exercise Date($)(1) |
| Louis Castro Executive Chairman, Director |
Stock Options | nil | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Brad George CEO, Director |
Stock Options | nil | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Omar Gonzalez CFO |
Stock Options | nil | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Joaquín L. Sarroca Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
Stock Options | nil | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Thomas Masney Director |
Stock Options | nil | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Nick von Schirnding Director |
Stock Options | nil | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Notes:
(1) This column represents the number in the column “Number of Underlying Securities Exercised” multiplied by the number in the column “Difference Between Exercise Price and Closing Price on Date of Exercise”.
Stock Option Plan
The Corporation had an Existing Stock Option Plan for the purpose of advancing the interests of the Corporation by encouraging directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates to acquire Shares, encouraging them to remain associated with the Corporation and furnishing them with additional incentive in their efforts on behalf of the Corporation.
Effective December 19, 2023 the Board replaced the Existing Stock Option Plan with the Equity Incentive Plan. The following is a summary of the material terms of the Equity Incentive Plan. Such summary is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Equity Incentive Plan, a copy of which is attached as Schedule “B” to the Corporation’s management information circular dated November 17, 2023 and filed under the Corporation’s profile on www.sedarplus.ca.
Types of Awards
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The Equity Incentive Plan provides for the grant of Options, RSUs and DSUs (each an “ Award ” and, collectively, the “ Awards ”). All Awards are granted by an agreement or other instrument or document evidencing the Award granted under the Equity Incentive Plan (an “ Award Agreement ”).
Plan Administration
The Equity Incentive Plan is administered by the Board, which may delegate its authority to a committee or plan administrator or trustee. Subject to the terms of the Equity Incentive Plan, applicable law and the rules of the TSXV or such other stock exchange on which the Corporation’s shares may be listed from time to time, the Board (or its delegate) will have the power and authority to:
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(i) designate the Eligible Participants (as defined below) who will receive Awards (an Eligible Participant who receives an Award, a “ Participant ”);
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(ii) designate the types and amounts of Awards to be granted to each Participant;
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(iii) designate the number of shares to be covered by each Award;
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(iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award, including any vesting conditions or conditions based on performance of the Corporation or of an individual (“ Performance Criteria ”);
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(v) subject to the terms of the Equity Incentive Plan, determine whether and to what extent Awards will be settled in cash or shares (including shares that may be purchased in the secondary market by an administrator or trustee for delivery to a Participant), or both;
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(vi) to interpret and administer the Equity Incentive Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to it, or Award made under it; and
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(vii) make such amendments to the Equity Incentive Plan and Awards made under the Equity Incentive Plan as are permitted by the Equity Incentive Plan and the rules of the applicable stock exchange.
Limits with respect to other Share Compensation Arrangements, Insiders, Individual Grants, Annual Grant Limits.
The Equity Incentive Plan provides the follow limitations on grants:
The maximum number of shares issuable pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plan, and any other share compensation arrangement, shall not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding shares from time to time (calculated on a non-diluted basis).
The maximum number of shares issuable to participants who are Insiders (as a group), together with shares reserved under any other share compensation arrangement, shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the issued and outstanding shares from time to time (calculated on a non-diluted basis).
The maximum number of shares issued to participants who are Insiders (as a group), together with shares reserved under any other share compensation arrangement, within any one year period shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the issued and outstanding shares from time to time (calculated on a non-diluted basis).
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Subject to the shares of the Corporation being listed on the TSXV, (a) the maximum number of shares issuable to any one participant under Awards in a 12-month period shall not exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding shares (unless requisite disinterested shareholder approval has been obtained to exceed); (b) the maximum number of shares issuable to any one consultant in a 12- month period shall not exceed 2% of the issued and outstanding shares; and (c) the maximum number of shares issuable to all participants retained to provide Investor Relations Activities (within the meaning of the policies of the TSXV) shall not exceed 2% of the issued and outstanding shares in any 12-month period, in each case measured as of the date of grant of an Award.
Eligible Participants
Any employee, executive officer, director or consultant of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries is an “ Eligible Participant ” and considered eligible to be selected to receive an Award under the Equity Incentive Plan, provided that only directors and executive officers are eligible to receive DSUs.
Eligibility for the grant of Awards and actual participation in the Equity Incentive Plan is determined by the Board or its delegate.
Description of Awards
Options
A share purchase option (each, an “ Option ”) is an option granted by the Corporation to a Participant entitling such Participant to acquire a designated number of shares from treasury at an exercise price set at the time of grant (the “ Option Price ”). Options are exercisable, subject to vesting criteria established by the Board at the time of grant, over a period as established by the Board from time to time which shall not exceed 10 years from the date of grant. If the expiration date for an Option falls within a black-out period the expiration date will be extended to the date which is ten business days after the end of the black-out period, which may be after the date that is 10 years from the date of grant. The Option Price shall not be set at less than the market value of such shares at the time of the grant, and in any event shall not be less than the minimum exercise price imposed by the TSXV from time to time. At the time of grant of an Option, the Board may establish vesting conditions in respect of each Option grant, which may include performance criteria related to corporate or individual performance.
Restricted Share Units
A restricted share unit (each an “ RSU ”) is an Award in the nature of a bonus for services rendered that, upon settlement, entitles the recipient to receive shares as determined by the Board or, subject to the provisions of the Equity Incentive Plan, to receive the Cash Equivalent or a combination thereof at the discretion of the Board. The Board may establish conditions and vesting provisions, including Performance Criteria, which need not be identical for all RSUs. RSUs that are subject to Performance Criteria may not become fully vested prior to the expiry of the restricted period. RSUs expire no later than December 31 of the calendar year which commences three years after the calendar year in which the performance of services for which the RSU was granted, occurred, and in the case of RSUs granted to a director, executive officer, employee or consultant of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, no later than 12 months following the date the Participant ceases to be a director, executive officer, employee or consultant of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries. An RSU may be forfeited if conditions to vesting are not met.
The Board, in its discretion, may award dividend equivalents with respect to Awards of RSUs. Such dividend equivalent entitlements will not be available until the RSUs are vested and paid out.
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Deferred Share Units
A deferred share unit (each, a “ DSU ”) is an Award attributable to a person’s duties as a director or executive officer that, upon settlement, entitles the recipient to receive such number of shares as determined by the Board, or, at the discretion of the Board, to receive the cash equivalent or a combination thereof, as the case may be, and is payable after Termination of Service (as described in the Equity Incentive Plan) of the Participant. Participants may elect annually to receive a percentage of their annual base compensation in DSUs. In addition, the Board may award such additional DSUs to a director or executive officer as the Board deems advisable to provide the Participant with appropriate equity-based compensation for the services he or she renders to the Corporation. The Board, in its discretion, may award dividend equivalents with respect to Awards of DSUs. DSUs must be settled no later than December 31 of the calendar year following the year in which the recipient of the DSU ceased to be a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, and in any event no later than 12 months following the date the Participant ceases to be a director, officer, employee or consultant of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.
Effect of Termination on Awards
Unless otherwise provided for in an Award Agreement or determined by the Board on an individual basis, in the event of the Participant’s:
(i) Voluntary Resignation: All of the Participant’s unvested Awards are immediately forfeited on the termination date, and any vested Options remain exercisable until the earlier of, unless otherwise determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, thirty (30) days following the termination date and the expiry date of the Option;
(ii) Termination for Cause: All of the Participant’s vested and unvested Options immediately terminate, and all unvested RSUs are immediately forfeited on the termination date;
(iii) Termination not for Cause: All of the Participant’s unvested Options immediately terminate and any vested Options remain exercisable until the earlier of, unless otherwise determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, ninety (90) days following the termination date and the expiry date of the Option. All unvested RSUs are immediately forfeited on the termination date;
(iv) Termination due to Disability or Retirement: All unvested RSUs are immediately forfeited on the termination date. Any vested Options remain exercisable until the earlier of, unless otherwise determined by the Board in its sole discretion, ninety (90) days following the vesting date of the Option and the expiry date of the Option;
(v) Termination Due to Death: The Participant’s unvested RSUs are immediately terminated upon the death of a Participant, and any vested Options remain exercisable by the Participant’s beneficiary until the earlier of 12 months following the termination date and the expiry date of the Option; or
(vi) Termination in Connection with a Change of Control: If the Corporation completes a transaction constituting a Change of Control (as described in the Equity Incentive Plan) and within 12 months following the Change of Control, (i) a Participant who was also an officer or employee of, or a consultant to, the Corporation prior to the Change of Control, has their position, employment or consulting agreement terminated, or the Participant is constructively dismissed, or (ii) a Participant who was also a director ceases to act in such capacity, then all of the Participant’s unvested RSUs immediately vest and shall be paid out, or in the case of unvested Options shall vest and become exercisable. Any Options that become exercisable in these circumstances shall remain exercisable until the earlier of ninety (90) days following the termination or dismissal date and the expiry date of the Option.
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Change of Control
In the event of a Change of Control (as described in the Equity Incentive Plan) the Board will have the power, in its sole discretion, to modify the terms of the Equity Incentive Plan and/or the Awards to assist the Participants to tender into a take-over bid or participate in any other transaction leading to a Change of Control.
Employment Consulting and Management Agreements
The Corporation is party to the following employment/services agreements with its current NEOs, Mr. Louis Castro, Executive Chairman, Mr. Brad George, CEO, Mr, Joaquín Sarroca, legal counsel, and Mr Omar Gonzalez, CFO who replaced Mr Victor Hugo after the financial year end. The agreements have an indefinite term and are subject to termination and change of control terms as described under this section.
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Pursuant to an agreement between the Corporation and Mr. George’s service company, Total Earth Solutions Ltd, Total Earth Solutions is entitled to receive monthly fees of US$16,500 (aggregate annual amount of US$198,000). Upon termination by the Corporation without cause or upon a change of control, Total Earth Solutions would be entitled to receive a payment equivalent to 12 months’ fees.
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Pursuant to a services agreement between the Corporation and Louis Castro (under the trading name of Albany Hill Associates), Albany Hill Associates is entitled to receive monthly fees of £15,180 (aggregate annual amount of £182,600). Upon termination by the Corporation without cause or upon a change of control, Albany Hill Associates would be entitled to receive a payment equivalent to 12 months’ fees.
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Pursuant to a consulting agreement between the Corporation and Marrelli Support, a private company which employs Mr. Gonzalez, Marrelli Support receives a monthly management fee equivalent to US$4,506. The parties may terminate this agreement at any time by providing the other party with thirty (30) days’ written notice.
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Pursuant to a services agreement between the Corporation and Mr. Sarroca, Mr. Sarroca is entitled to receive monthly fees of US$13,545 for his legal and secretarial services. Upon termination by the Corporation without cause, Mr. Sarroca would be entitled to receive a payment equivalent to 4 months’ fees.
The Corporation has not provided compensation, monetary or otherwise, during the most recently completed fiscal year, to any person who now or previously has acted as a Named Executive Officer of the Corporation, in connection with or related to the retirement, termination or resignation of such person and the Corporation has provided no compensation to such persons as a result of change of control of the Corporation, its subsidiaries or affiliates.
Pension Plan Benefits
The Corporation does not have any pension or retirement plan, nor sickness benefits plan
Indebtedness of Directors and Executive Officers
As of the date hereof no individual who is or, at any time during the most recently completed financial year was, a director or executive officer or an employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, and no person who is a proposed nominee for election as a director of the Corporation, and no associate of any of
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the foregoing is or at any time since the beginning of the most recently completed financial year had been (i) indebted to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or (ii) indebted to another entity where such indebtedness was the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding provided by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS LIABILITY INSURANCE AND INDEMNIFICATION
The Corporation has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for the benefit of the directors and officers of the Corporation issued March 31, 2024 and expiring on March 31, 2025.
Neither the Corporation nor the directors or officers have paid any sums to settle any action or satisfy any judgment incurred by any director or officer in respect of any civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which they were made party because they were or have been directors or officers of the Corporation.
INTEREST OF INFORMED PERSONS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS
Other than Newmont Mining Corporation which owns 29,213,186 shares (approximately 12.4% of the issued shares of the Corporation), since the commencement of the Corporation’s most recently completed financial year, no informed person of the Corporation, nominee for director or any associate or affiliate of an informed person or nominee, had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction or any proposed transaction which has materially affected or would materially affect the Corporation. An “ informed person ” means: (a) a director or executive officer of the Corporation; (b) a director or executive officer of a person or company that is itself an informed person or subsidiary of the Corporation; (c) any person or company who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, voting securities of the Corporation or who exercises control or direction over voting securities of the Corporation or a combination of both carrying more than 10% of the voting rights other than voting securities held by the person or company as underwriter in the course of a distribution; and (d) the Corporation itself, if has purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any of its Shares for so long as it has held any of its securities.
AUDIT COMMITTEE INFORMATION
Audit Committee Charter
The text of the Audit Committee charter is attached hereto as Schedule “A”.
Composition of the Audit Committee
The following are the current members of the Committee:
| Thomas Masney | Independent(1) | Financiallyliterate |
|---|---|---|
| Nick von Schirnding | Independent(1) | Financiallyliterate |
| Louis Castro | Non-Independent(1) | Financiallyliterate |
(1) As defined by National Instrument 52-110 – Audit Committees (“ NI 52-110 ”)
Relevant Education and Experience
For information on the education and experience of the members of the Audit Committee, please refer to details under the heading “ Particulars of Matters to be Acted Upon at the Meeting – 3. Election of Board of Directors ”.
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Pre-Approval Policies Procedures
All services to be performed by the Corporation’s independent auditor must be approved in advance by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of services other than audit services is compatible with maintaining the auditors’ independence and has adopted a policy governing the provision of these services. This policy requires the pre-approval by the Audit Committee of all audit and non-audit services provided by the external auditor, other than any de minimis non-audit services allowed by applicable law or regulation.
External Auditor Service Fee (By Category)
The aggregate fees billed by the Corporation’s external auditors for the last two fiscal years in respect of services rendered to the Corporation and its subsidiaries are as follows (in US dollars):
| Fiscal Year End | Audit Fees ($) |
Audit Related Fees(1) ($) |
Tax Fees(2) ($) |
All Other Fees(3) ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 125,820 | nil | nil | nil |
| 2022 | 125,990 | nil | nil | nil |
Notes:
(1) Fees charged for assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of an audit, and not included under “Audit Fees”.
(2) Fees charged for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning services.
(3) Fees for services other than disclosed in any other column.
Exemption
The Corporation is relying on the exemption in section 6.1 of NI 52-110 that exempts “venture issuers” from the requirements of Part 3 ( Composition of Audit Committee ) and Part 5 ( Reporting Obligations ).
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DISCLOSURE
Board of Directors
NI 58-101 refers to the definition of an “independent” director as a director who has no direct or indirect material relationship with the Corporation. A “material relationship” is a relationship which could, in the view of the Board, be reasonably expected to interfere with the exercise of the director’s independent judgment. Certain relationships are considered to be material relationships with the Corporation.
As at November 13, 2024, the Board comprised four members, two of whom (Thomas Masney and Nick von Schirnding) are “independent” within the meaning of NI 58-101. Louis Castro is not independent as he is Executive Chairman and Mr. Brad George is not independent as he is Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.
For details regarding other reporting issues of which current directors of the Corporation are also directors please refer to details under the heading “ Particulars of Matters to be Acted Upon at the Meeting – 3. Election of Board of Directors ”.
The attendance record of each director for all Board meetings during the Corporation’s most recently completed financial year is as follows:
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| Name | **Meetings attended/Total meetings ** |
|---|---|
| Louis Castro | 10/10 |
| Brad George | 10/10 |
| Thomas Masney | 9/10 |
| Nick von Schirnding | 9/10 |
Orientation and Continuing Education
The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation is responsible for providing an orientation and education program for new directors of the Corporation. When a new director is added, he or she is given the opportunity to become familiar with the Corporation by meeting with the other directors and with the officers and representatives of the Corporation. As each director has a different skill set and professional background, orientation and training activities will be tailored to the particular needs and experience of each director.
The Company provides continuing education to directors through management presentations to ensure that their knowledge and understanding of the Company’s business remains current. The Company’s nominated adviser, financial and legal advisers are also available to the Company’s directors
Ethical Business Conduct
The directors of the Corporation have adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics (the “ Code ”) a copy of which may be found on the Corporation’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Employees who know of or suspect a violation of the Code or of any applicable laws, rules or regulations have an obligation to report this information immediately to a member of management. The directors of the Corporation are responsible for monitoring compliance with the Code and for regularly assessing its adequacy.
The directors of the Corporation as a whole ensure that directors exercise independent judgment in considering transactions and agreements in respect of which a director or executive officer of the Corporation has an interest by requiring that such director or executive officer does not participate in the discussion or decisions regarding the transaction or agreements. directors and executive officers of the Corporation are urged, where appropriate, to retain independent professional advice to ensure the fulfillment of their duties.
Nominations of Directors
The Board performs the functions of a nominating committee with responsibility for identifying and recommending new candidates. While there are no specific criteria for Board membership, the Corporation attempts to attract and maintain directors with a wealth of business knowledge and a particular knowledge of mineral exploration and development or other areas (such as finance) which provide knowledge which would assist in guiding the officers of the Corporation. The candidates are interviewed by the Chairman and by at least two other directors of the Corporation separately, who then discuss their views on the candidate and make a recommendation to the Board.
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Compensation
The Corporation’s executive remuneration program is administered by the Remuneration Committee whose composition and processes are disclosed under the heading “ Statement of Executive Compensation ” above.
Other Committees of the Board of Directors of the Corporation
Due to the small size of the Board, the Board does not have any other formal committees other than the Audit Committee and the Remuneration Committee. However, during the year ended May 31, 2024, the Board as a whole assumed all of the functions of a typical health safety and environmental (HSE) committee and a typical corporate governance committee.
In regard to HSE matters, the Board has oversight responsibilities with respect to due diligence in the development and implementation of systems and programs for the management of health, safety and environment with a view to ensuring the Corporation remains on the leading edge in the ongoing institution of best-in-class practices.
In regard to corporate governance matters, the Board ensures that the Corporation adopts sound corporate governance practices which are both in the interest of its Shareholders and contribute to effective and efficient decision making.
Assessments
The directors assess, on a regular basis, the contributions of the Board as a whole, and individual Board members contributions to it and to the Committees, in order to determine whether each is functioning effectively. There is a formal assessment process in place wherein the assessment is done by way of a questionnaire to which directors respond anonymously. The Corporate Secretary of the Corporation receives the questionnaires and reports back to the Board where conclusions and issues are discussed by the directors. The next assessment will be done in December 2024. Nothing untoward was noted in the previous assessment and there have been no changes in the Board’s operating procedures since that assessment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The financial information of the Corporation is provided in the Corporation’s comparative Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis for its most recently completed financial year ended May 31, 2024.
Additional information relating to the Corporation is on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Please note that the Corporation’s comparative Financial Statements and the related Management Discussion and Analysis for the year ended May 31, 2024 are also available online at the Corporation website (www.orosur.ca) or upon request by a Shareholder.
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SCHEDULE “A” AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
Composition
1 . The Committee will be comprised of no less than two directors of the Corporation.
Unless waived, 24-hour notice must be given. Quorum of meetings shall be a majority of members. Meetings may be by telephone or in person. The current members are Thomas Masney (Chairman); Nick von Schirnding; and, Louis Castro. The majority of the members are independent non-executive directors.
2 . The length of term to be served by directors on the Committee will be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”), giving consideration to the benefits of periodic rotation of committee membership.
3 . One of the members will be appointed Chairman of the Committee by the Board.
4 . A secretary to the Committee will be appointed by the Chairman of the Committee. The Secretary of the Committee may or may not be a member of the Committee.
5 . With the approval of the Board, the Committee may retain persons having special expertise to assist the Committee in fulfilling its responsibilities.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities which the Committee is required to satisfy itself of, on behalf of the Board, are to:
1 . Recommend to the Board:
(i) the external auditor to be nominated for the purpose of preparing or issuing an auditors’ report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Corporation; and
(ii) the compensation of the external auditor.
2 . Oversee the work of the external auditor engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an auditors’ report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Corporation, including the resolution of disagreements between the management and external auditor regarding financial reporting;
3 . Pre-approve all non-audit services to be provided to the Corporation or to its subsidiaries by the Corporation’s external auditor;
4 . Ensure that the Corporation’s annual financial statements are fairly presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and to recommend to the Board whether the annual financial statements should be approved;
5 . Ensure that the information contained in the following financial publications is not significantly incomplete, misleading or erroneous:
(i) Management Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”)
(ii) Annual Information Form (“AIF”) if required
(iii) Quarterly Financial Information
(iv) Prospectuses
6 . Review the Corporation’s financial statements, MD&A and annual and interim results press releases before the Corporation publicly discloses this information;
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7 . Ensure that adequate procedures are in place for the review of the Corporation’s public disclosure of financial information extracted or derived from the Corporation’s financial statements and must periodically assess the adequacy of those procedures.
8 . Ensure that there are established procedures for:
(i) The receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the issuer regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters;
(ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Corporation of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; and
(iii) the review and approval of the Corporation’s policies regarding partners, employees and former partners and employees of the present and former external auditor of the issuer.
9 . Ensure that the Corporation has implemented appropriate systems of internal control over financial reporting, and appropriate systems of internal control to ensure compliance with legal, regulatory and ethical requirements.
Meetings
1 . The Committee will meet at least four times per year. The meetings will be scheduled to permit timely review of the interim and annual financial statements and for meetings with the external auditors, prior to a submission of observation and recommendations to the Board. Additional meetings may be held as deemed necessary by the Chairman of the Committee or as requested by any member or the external auditors.
Reporting
1 . The minutes of all meetings of the Committee, signed by the Chairman of the Committee and the Secretary to the Committee, are to be provided to the Board. Oral reports on recent matters not yet minuted are to be provided to the Board by the Chairman of the Committee.
Supporting schedules and information reviewed by the Committee will be available for examination by any director upon request to the Secretary to the Committee.
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